Under Canvas in Kenya Luxury Safari Holiday Vacation – 8 Days. Experience an amazing exclusive African Safari under the canvas of world-class internationally acclaimed luxurious tented camps, located in some of Kenya’s best wildlife
viewing destinations the Maasai Mara Game Reserve and Lewa Downs Conservancy.
Trip Highlights
- Stay at a hotel with great history as meeting place and first port of call for generations of travelers to East Africa's spectacular game parks including Theodore Roosevelt, Karen Blixen Dennis Flinch among others The Fairmont Norfolk Hotel Nairobi City.
- Stay at a luxurious comfortable private tented camp in Lewa Conservancy with a personal test steward to take care of your every need.
- Learn about Lewa's ground breaking conservation efforts and the integration of a working cattle ranch and a wildlife conservancy where cattle and wildlife graze side by side.
- Visit and see the rare and endangered black Rhino, Grevy's Zebra, Sitatunga, wild dogs and the Somali Ostrich found in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
- Take part in the variety of Lewa's optional unique activities like local village visits, estuarine or horseback safaris, Carmel walks, night game drives, helicopter excursions or even vintage bi-Plane excursions.
- At the Maasai Mara visit a local Maasai village to learn the authentic Maasai Culture and get a feel of the Maasai pastoralist heritage.
- Visit a site declared a Seventh Wonder of the Natural World and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Experience the all year round superb game viewing opportunities the Maasai Mara is renowned for.
- See the big five, the big cats and other wildlife found in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve.
- Get inspired on an optional Hot Air Balloon Safari Excursion over the Maasai Mara at Dusk gliding over the Mara plains, watching the animals from above and the sun rise to the east followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush where you land.
- Take an optional full day excursion to an Island on Lake Victoria the second largest fresh lake in the world to fish.
- Follow and try to catch the Great Wildebeest Migration from July to October said to be the greatest show on earth.
- Conduct a guided Nature walk with a naturalist to learn about plants, trees, and insects and even how to approach animals on foot, spot animal signs that are not easily noticed.
- Enjoy a sundowner at a to a specially chosen vantage point overlooking the Mara plains at watch the beautiful sun set in the Maasai Mara
- Enjoy a delicious elegant candle lit dinner in the bush at a private and secluded clearing in the middle of the wilderness.
- Enjoy a camp fire indulging in wines, brandies and liqueurs while relaxing and absorbing the peace and beauty of an African night at the Maasai Mara.
The Detailed Under Canvas in Kenya Luxury Safari Holiday Vacation – 8 Days Luxury Safari Holiday Vacation Itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi City
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta Airport you will be met and transferred by private vehicle to The Fairmont Norfolk Hotel Nairobi.
The Fairmont Norfolk Hotel Nairobi is set in mature gardens in the centre of the city; it has been a meeting place and first port of call for generations of travelers to East Africa's spectacular game parks including Theodore Roosevelt, Karen Blixen Dennis Flinch among others. Recently renovated, the Fairmont Norfolk still retains its charm.
The hotel has 165 rooms set around a central garden area which, despite being in the centre of downtown Nairobi, has a wide variety of bird life. All the rooms have en suite bathrooms and satellite television. There is a choice of four restaurants at the hotel; they range from the grandest in Kenya to casual. All have very good food, as does the Delamere Terrace where city businessmen still meet for a drink after work and from where many a safari has set out in the hundred years since the Norfolk first opened its doors.
Meals Included: Dinner
Overnight: Fairmont Norfolk Hotel
Day 2: Nairobi City - Lewa Downs Conservancy
After an early breakfast, transfer to Nairobi's Wilson Airport for a scheduled flight to Lewa. Upon arrival at Lewa our driver guide will be at hand to meet you and transfer you to the Private Camp.
Lewa Private Camp is the ultimate and most exclusive form of safari and you certainly will not be forfeiting on comfort or luxury. Each tent is set with camping furniture and hand woven rugs in warm organic colors to blend in with the environment.
Your very own personal tent steward will make sure that the Egyptian cotton sheets cotton sheets on your large, comfortable bed are freshly ironed and that a hot water bottle is slipped beneath your duvet on a chilly night. While you are at supper, he will have turned down your bed, slipped in a hot water bottle and drawn around your mosquito net. After lunch take a game viewing drive to experience the phenomenal wildlife within the conservancy.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Lewa Private Camp
Day 3: Lewa Downs Conservancy
The day is at leisure to experience the surrounding area and wildlife. A onetime cattle ranch, then a guarded black rhino sanctuary and now the headquarters of a nonprofit wildlife conservancy has gained a worldwide reputation for extending its benefits of conservation beyond its borders. Also known as the Lewa Downs was formed in 1995 incorporating the Ngare Ndare Forest covering over 62,000 acres about (250km²).
The conservancy is home to a wide range of wildlife including the rare and endangered black Rhino, Grevy's Zebra, Sitatunga and the Somali Ostrich. The conservancy holds about 12% of the Kenya's black Rhino population and the largest single population of Grevy's zebras in the world more than 350 individuals. Besides all these it is home to the lion, leopard, elephant and the African buffalo.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Lewa Private Camp
Day 4: Lewa Downs Conservancy
Another day to explore the area and experience the phenomenal wildlife of Lewa Downs Conservancy.
Game viewing is never dull in the Lewa, and patience is often rewarded with unique sightings. A pride of lion stalking their prey, a solitary leopard retrieving its kill from the high branches of an acacia tree; or even a herd of elephant protecting their young from opportunistic predators.
Besides game viewing you also have an opportunity to indulge yourself in the many arrays of activities that are on offer. Village visits, Horse rides, Camel walks, Night game drives or even Helicopter or Bi-Plane excursion. These can be arranged on request and at an extra cost.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Lewa Private Camp
Day 5: Maasai Mara Game Reserve
Today and after breakfast you will be picked by your guide and with game drive en-route will transfer you to Lewa airstrip for your scheduled flight to Masai Mara. Upon arrival at the airstrip the Sanctuary Retreats guide will be at hand to meet you at the airstrip and drive you with a short game drive to the Camp. You may be rewarded with sightings of elephant, buffalo, giraffe and a host of other plains' game.
On arrival at the private camp relax and freshen up in your tent before lunch is served. In the afternoon there is time to relax before enjoying one of the many activities offered. Take a game viewing drive to experience the phenomenal wildlife or visit the Maasai village to learn about the local Maasai culture and get a feel of the Maasai pastoralist heritage.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Mara Private Camping
Day 6: Maasai Mara Game Reserve
You have two full days to enjoy the epic Mara, while game drives are included in your package, on request at an additional cost we could arrange a balloon excursion or a fishing trip to the second largest fresh lake in the world - the Lake Victoria. You can also request for Bi-Plane excursions. The terrain of the reserve is primarily open grasslands and a fabulous place for seeing big cats, all of the big five, a variety of plains game and over 300 bird species.
From around July to October, there's the greatest show on earth - the wildebeest migration. You might choose to go for a walk with our naturalist and learn about plants, trees, insects and even how to approach animals on foot, as your guide shows you how to spot animal signs which are everywhere but not that easily noticed.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Mara Private Camping
Day 7: Maasai Mara Game Reserve
One of the afternoons and as the activity comes to an end, drive to a specially chosen vantage point overlooking the Mara plains. Enjoy drinks as you take in the beauty of the rapid sunset coloring the acacia dotted plains and transforming the world in a matter of minutes.
On your last evening drive out into the bush where a private and secluded clearing has been prepared for an elegant dinner in the middle of the wilderness. The table setting is as sophisticated and elegant as found in the finest restaurants. Candles flicker in the darkness, throwing golden lights on the table cloth as smiling waiters serve a delicious dinner. After dinner retire to the warmth of the campfire where brandies and liqueurs are served as guests relax and absorb the peace and beauty of an African night.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Mara Private Camping
Day 8: Maasai Mara Game Reserve – Nairobi City
Spend your morning game viewing in the Mara and return to camp for lunch. In the afternoon your guide will transfer you to the airstrip for the flight to Nairobi's Wilson Airport. On arrival we will meet you and drive you the short distance to Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International airport for your departure flight.
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch
Prices
Please treat the prices shown as a price estimate. Your final price might go up or down following seasonal prices in the different lodges, camps and resorts. All prices indicated are per person, based on 2 persons sharing a room, and on estimated high season rates.
Rates Include
- Exclusive use of camp
- Accommodation
- Three meals daily (depending on arrival and departure times)
- Soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beers at the game lodges and camps
- Teas and coffees at the game lodges and camps
- Refreshments while on game viewing drives
- Laundry at the game lodges and camps
- 2 daily scheduled shared safari activities with our highly qualified guides including: Morning and afternoon game drives
- Maasai village visit
- Nature walk
- Sundowners and bush meals in specially selected spots
- Scheduled flights as per itinerary
- Transfers in Nairobi & Parks
- Extra lunch on last day
- Mobilization
Rates Exclude
- Items of a personal nature i.e. Gratuities; premium brand beverages; curios; telephone accounts etc.
- Visas and travel insurances
- Park Fees
- Private game drives available as an optional upgrade service
- Bank charges
- Balloon flights and fishing excursions at Sanctuary Olonana (Booked on request)
- Any other item not mentioned above
- All optional excursions or activities i.e. spa treatments, Bi-Plane or Helicopter Excursion, camel walks, horse rides and nature walks, balloon safaris. (Booked on request)
