14 Days Big Cats Expedition

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met and assisted to transfer to Emakoko. The Emakoko is a boutique lodge uniquely positioned on the edge of the Nairobi National Park. It is located a short 45 minute drive from either of Nairobi’s airports. The drive through the park itself, with its beautiful scenery and abundance of plains game is a superb way to start any East African safari. What better way to start a holiday by supporting the conservation of this unique area and in particular, by supporting the endangered Black Rhino which are prolific in this park.

The Nairobi National Park, despite its proximity to the capital city of Kenya, boasts a spectacular assortment of birds and wildlife, with over 400 species of bird recorded in one day. With an excellent possibility of spotting four of the Big Five, many Nairobi residents find the lodge a perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of city life. By staying at The Emakoko you are directly contributing to the protection and conservation of Nairobi National Park and its wildlife.

You will transfer to the Wilson Airport for your flight to Amboseli National park. On arrival you will be met and assisted to check in for an early lunch at luxurious Elewana Tortilis Camp - Tortilis is a peaceful permanent tented camp nestled within a private corner of the park. The camp has received numerous awards from the likes of Ecotourism Kenya and Good Safari Guide, in addition to a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence! Accommodation is booked on a full-board basis, including all meals, a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, and a laundry service. The camp is open all year round.

Amboseli is also known for its magnificent elephants – a population of over 1000 elephants reside in the parks eco-system that features some of the largest in Africa. Boasting a vast and beautiful unspoiled landscape stretching from the foothills of the mighty Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli National Park is one of Kenya’s finest wildlife sanctuaries that you will soon discover after landing in the country and transferring to your accommodation beneath the trees. En route, you and your family will discover the majesty that is Amboseli during a guided safari drive within a kitted-out 4x4 vehicle. From giraffes picking at towering acacia trees to buffalo grazing the golden savannah plains, your first moments in Kenya will showcase the country’s rich tapestry of indigenous wildlife.

You will transfer to the Wilson Airport for your flight to Lewa Conservancy. On arrival you will be met and assisted to check in for an early lunch at the Lewa Wilderness Camp - An intimate and luxurious lodge perched on the northern slopes of Mt Kenya. Lewa Wilderness is situated on the edge of one of Kenya’s most private game sanctuaries, the wildlife-rich Lewa Conservancy. Guests are accommodated in charming cottages which include spacious bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, fireplaces and verandas.

Guest areas include a cosy sitting room, an open-air dining area and a saltwater pool boasting breathtaking panoramas of the valley below. Healthy and delicious meals are prepared with fresh produce from the lodge’s verdant organic garden. Adventures include game drives into the wildlife-rich Lewa Conservancy, camel riding, nature walks, horseriding, tennis and cultural visits to a nearby Maasai village. Those in need of leisure time can simply relax with a book in the pretty garden or take a refreshing dip in the inviting pool.

Lewa Conservancy. With unbridled vistas of Mount Kenya soaring towards the south and sweeping panoramas of arid lands cascading towards the north, your glamping resort in this UNESCO World Heritage Site affords a luxurious introduction to the Kenyan wilderness. You will cruise across thorny plains to serene watering holes with an experienced ranger for a welcoming first safari upon arrival. There are many ways to appreciate the natural beauty encompassing Lewa beyond extensive safari trips. You may meander the flourishing Ngare Ndare Forest bordering the conservancy, where you would wallow in the crystal clear springs slowly filled by light silver waterfalls and cross sturdy canopy bridges soaring above the forest floor. You may also explore Lewa on horse or camel, trotting the plains in eager anticipation of up-close encounters with the wondrous wildlife.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to your local airstrip onto your schedule flight to Meru National Park. On landing you will be met and assisted to transfer and check in at the famous Elsa's Kopje. Barely visible on approach, Elsa’s Kopje blends seamlessly into its surrounds. Perched high on top of Mughwango Hill, this superb lodge stands as tribute to Elsa, the orphaned lioness made famous in the movie Born Free. Charming cottages are crafted around the natural features of the hill, each with a spacious bedroom, open sitting rooms, ensuite bathroom and large veranda with breath-taking views of the savannah below. Elsa’s Private House – with double rooms, a sitting room, veranda and plunge pool – is ideal for families.

Meru is an example of how wildlife can thrive when its space is protected. It is a success story: the land has been conserved and the animals have been protected. Wildlife populations have doubled and tripled, and today, they continue to rise at a great speed. After a short drive to Meru National Park, you will discover the wonders of wildlife conservation while out on game drives with conservationist guides. They will lead you off the trails to show how certain animals are now flourishing, including the African cheetah.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to your local airstrip onto your schedule flight to the famous Maasai mara Game Reserve. You will land at the Mara Naboisho Conservancy, you will be met and transferred to Asilia Naboisho Camp with game drive enroute. Asilia Naboisho Camp is situated in the beautiful, unspoilt wilderness of the Mara Naboisho Conservancy, offering high levels of service and an excellent location for game viewing; with the conservancy home to one of the highest population densities of lion in the world. Small in size, the camp has an intimate and exclusive feel, which is furthered by the lack of other camps in the area. The thatched lounge and dining room offers views of the nearby waterhole, while guest tents are spacious and well-equipped, balancing authenticity with comfort. Whether you opt to unwind with a book in the lounge or head out on a game drive, the camp allows you to truly immerse yourself in the African bush.

Maasai Mara Game Reserve is the best place in Africa for seeing the big cats. Open grasslands provide predators with a space to hunt. This is especially important for cheetahs, who cannot use their speed without at least a few square miles of uninterrupted land. Longer grass is best for hiding, but all three of the main cats are essentially the same color as the landscape, so they blend into their surroundings at all times of the year. You need to be able to move relatively close, so you will listen to monkeys and birds who will call raucously to alert others of a lurking predator. Mara Naboisho is a private conservancy, and your guide will be permitted to lead you off the trail.

Hot air ballooning above the Masai Mara is arguably Africa’s most iconic safari experience. Serene and surreal, it provides an ineffable impression of scale along with aerial shots of moving herds and pachyderms. After touching down from the flight, you will spend the day in Masai Mara National Reserve by driving alongside the Mara River and appreciating the incredible numbers of wildebeest and zebra that are present here. You will indulge in a picnic before returning to Naboisho late in the afternoon for some downtime at the camp.

5am coffee, early morning game drive. Breakfast. You will thereafter be transferred to the airstrip for your maiden flight to Wilson airport Nairobi. Marking the end of another memorable tour. Lunch will be on own arrangements, therafter transfer to JKIA for your onward flight.