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Kenya Wildlife Safari: A Tailor-Made Journey
9 days from $10,595
Experience Kenya’s stunning diversity of landscapes and wildlife in two premier wildlife parks—Meru National Park and the Masai Mara—on an intimate safari experience that takes you off the beaten path. Settle into two small, elegant camps and enjoy daily safaris in private concessions that share borders with the national parks. Visit a rhino sanctuary and an elephant orphanage in Nairobi, and learn about East Africa’s flora and fauna from top guides.
or call 855-215-8690
Highlights
- Encounter an astonishing array of species at two of Kenya's top national parks: Meru and the Masai Mara.
- Stay in deluxe safari camps and explore on guided game drives, night safaris, and bush walks.
- Visit the renowned Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and the Nairobi Giraffe Center.
- Travel by light aircraft, enjoying aerial views of the bush and avoiding lengthy drives.
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Sample Itinerary
To see itinerary, please click on an option below.
The following itinerary is a sampling of the experiences that we offer on a Tailor-Made Journey. Working with our country specialists, you can customize your itinerary to fit your timing, your budget, and your interests, including accommodations, activities, and the places you visit.
Day 1 — Nairobi
Upon your arrival into Nairobi, a driver will be waiting to take you to the charming Macushla House. Enjoy the rest of the day to relax and stroll the quiet grounds, home to many species of birds.
Day 2 — Nairobi
This morning, visit the nearby Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, run by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which has been rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned elephants since 1977. Get a close-up view of this endangered species, meet their caregivers and watching them feed and interact with young elephants. Then head to the Nairobi Giraffe Center to learn about the world’s tallest species, and step into the past at the Karen Blixen Museum, the setting for the celebrated author’s book, Out of Africa. (B)
Day 3 — Meru National Park
A private transfer brings you to Wilson Airport, where you’ll catch a light aircraft flight to Meru National Park. Your home here is a cottage at Elsa’s Kopje, built into a hillside overlooking the site where Joy and George Adamson rescued lion cubs—a story made famous by the book and movie Born Free. Head out on your first safari after lunch, encountering a wide range of creatures with your seasoned guide. (B,L,D)
Days 4-5 — Meru National Park
During two days in this beautiful wilderness area, set out on game drives and guided walks, watching for the “Big Five” and much more, including unusual species such as Grevy’s zebras and reticulated giraffes. This is a birder’s paradise, with some 400 species having been spotted in the park. Meru National Park is also home to a large rhino sanctuary, which harbors both black and white rhinos. Learn about about conservation efforts, and meet with local Maasai people to learn about their traditions and everyday life. (2B,2L,2D)
Day 6 — Masai Mara National Reserve
Return to Nairobi by light aircraft and fly on to the sweeping landscapes of the Masai Mara. Transfer to your intimate tented camp, set within the private Naboisho Conservancy adjacent to the Masai Mara. (B,L,D)
Days 7-8 — Masai Mara National Reserve
Spend two full days discovering the wildlife of this legendary park with knowledgeable guides on private game drives, guided walks, and elegant meals in the bush. The Masai Mara is big cat country, so keep your eyes peeled for lions, cheetahs, and elusive leopards. Over the summer months, it also hosts the legendary wildebeest migration, where well over a million wildebeest and zebras tramp through the savanna, on the search for green pastures. During your free time, relax at the pool or read a book in the library, or pay a visit to a nearby Maasai village to learn more about this ancient pastoralist culture. (2B,2L,2D)
Day 9 — Nairobi/Return home
Return to Nairobi by light aircraft and transfer to the international airport for your onward flight. (B)
Included meals are denoted as follows: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Reception (R), Dinner (D)
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Starting Price
Dates
Availability
Price
Choose the dates that work for you
Available
from $10,595
| Occupancy | Double |
|---|---|
| Estimated Price | $10,595 |
Prices shown are per person based on double occupancy, and do not include international air. Reduced pricing may be available for triple or quad accommodations, or for parties of six or more travelers.
Starting price reflects the itinerary shown here, and are intended as a broad indication of how much you should budget for your trip. We can tailor your trip to match your budget by adjusting the trip duration or departure date, and choosing accommodations and activities that suit your needs and interests.
Prices are based on rates of exchange, airfare & fuel (where applicable), tariffs, taxes, and other costs as of the tour publication date. We reserve the right to correct errors and to increase program prices to cover increased costs, tariffs, and taxes received after prices are published and to reflect currency fluctuations.
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Tour Details
Accommodations
Macushla House
Nairobi, Kenya
Macushla House is a charming, owner-run guesthouse in the quiet Langata area of southwest Nairobi. There are just six guestrooms, each individually decorated with a canopy bed and an en suite bathroom. Public areas include a veranda with seating areas, and two lounges where guests can play board games or read a book from the library, as well as a self-service bar. The gardens offer comfortable sitting areas and an attractive swimming pool, and vervet monkeys are known to swing from the branches. The hotel is conveniently located a short drive from the Giraffe Centre, the Karen Blixen Museum, Nairobi National Park and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
Elsa's Kopje
Meru National Park , Kenya
Elsa's Kopje is not only an elegant safari camp, it also helped save Meru National Park, home to some of the highest biodiversity in East Africa. Nestled on the top of Mughwango Hill, where George and Virginia Adamson of Born Free fame set up their first camp, Elsa’s Kopje spans some 215,000 acres of wilderness. From their hilltop perch, the main lodge and 10 cottages afford spectacular views of the landscape. Public areas include an open-sided sitting space and dining tent with comfortable armchairs and a library, as well as a pool built into the rocks. Each cottage features a stylish, spacious interior and stone bathroom. Along with morning and evening game drives, guests can enjoy fishing, a visit to a local village, spa services, and more.
Hemingways Ol Seki Mara Camp
Naboisho Conservancy, Kenya
At the heart of the Naboisho Conservancy, which borders the northeast edge of the Masai Mara, Ol Seki comprises just 10 stunning safari tents and a common dining tent and library with expansive decks overlooking the bush. Each canvas tent is airy and elegantly appointed with an en suite bathroom and a private deck where you can have your meals or afternoon tea served if you wish. Along with day and night game drives and bush walks on the conservancy’s nearly 50,000 acres, guests can enjoy horseback safaris, village visits, cave exploration and more.
Gift Membership – Friends of Smithsonian
When you travel on a Tailor-Made Journey, you will receive a Friends of the Smithsonian Archivist Circle membership*. Benefits include:
- An annual Smithsonian calendar with full-color images of exceptional art and artifacts, mailed in the fall.
- Subscription to Smithsonian, the award-winning magazine of the arts, sciences, and history.
- Invitations to four exclusive virtual programs for Friends of the Smithsonian members with Smithsonian experts.
- Access to special members‑only hours at select Smithsonian venues.
- 10% discount in Smithsonian Museum Stores (good on purchases up to $200); 10% discount with the SmithsonianStore.com, and Folkways Recordings
- Special member rate for tickets to the Smithsonian’s IMAX® theaters and Einstein Planetarium.
- Free admission to the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City.
- A complimentary copy of the Smithsonian annual pocket guide profiling exhibitions and work across the Institution.
- Invitation to a special welcome members-only tour at a Smithsonian Museum (offered one time to Archivists upon joining at this level).
*Offer only available for first-time Smithsonian members.
Reading List
*As an Amazon Associate, Smithsonian Journeys earns from qualifying purchases.
Highly Recommended
Also Recommended
Travel Insurance
For the convenience of our travelers, Smithsonian Journeys includes a basic medical expense and evacuation plan through Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand, at no additional charge. This plan provides post-departure Medical and Dental coverage of $250,000 per person and Emergency Assistance and Transportation coverage of $1,000,000 per person (U.S. Residents Only). Note: For full details regarding these coverages please review the following Plan Documents here.
In addition, we recommend that travelers purchase a travel protection plan to help protect their travel investment from unforeseen events such as cancellation due to illness, flight delays due to adverse weather, baggage loss, and more. For your convenience, Smithsonian Journeys offers an optional Travel Protection Plan administered by Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand. For those interested, optional "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage is available for an additional charge. Note: Certain eligibility requirements apply and Cancel for Any Reason coverage is not available to New York residents. For full details regarding this coverage please review the following Plan Documents here.
To learn more about the Travel Protection Plan, you may visit https://www.generalipartner.com/smithsonianjourneys or call the administrator, Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand at (866) 501-3252.
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