8 Days African Bush Romance

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met and assisted to transfer to Hemingways Nairobi. Overlooking the Ngong Hills in Nairobi’s tranquil and upscale neighbourhood of Karen, this luxurious boutique hotel is a haven of elegant charm. With great service and a tranquil atmosphere, Hemingways Nairobi makes an ideal 1- or 2-night stopover for travellers beginning or ending their Kenya safari. It is popular with high-level delegations and VIPs, and is a sought-after meeting place for well-heeled Kenyans.

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.

Explore the unique landscape of Meru as you pass under mammoth baobab trees and across the savannah, entirely against the backdrop of Mount Kenya. As you trail zebra and impala in search of the Big Five, be sure to keep your eyes open for some of the rare species that make this park home. The caracal, lesser kudu and aardwolf all live within this region, revealing themselves for a lucky few. Within the park, you will also have the opportunity to visit an important rhino sanctuary that works to conserve and reintroduce the threatened species to the wilderness, from which they were totally eradicated in the 1990s.

After an activity-packed stay at Meru National Park, it will be time to move south to the rolling plains of the Masai Mara. You will leave Meru on a private charter that will fly via Nanyuki to the Mara. Be sure to look out your window as you touch down temporarily in Nanyuki – this airport is located right at the base of the snow-capped Mount Kenya. From the air, you are sure to receive your most impressive views.

You will check in at the Kicheche Mara Camp - a classic tented camp hidden in a beautiful valley in a prime wildlife area of the Mara North Conservancy. The luxury tents are laid out alongside a seasonal stream from where you can observe the resident birdlife and plains game beyond. The location is ideal as game viewing frequently starts in the camp itself and there is prime wildlife habitat on all sides providing an ideal base for your safari in the Masai Mara.

The Mara North Conservancy will provide you with the opportunity to capture many classic photos of cheetahs, elephants, grasslands, large herds, and riverside scenes. After a short transfer, three days in Mara North will become your focal point that turns sharply toward the big cats. A photographer guide will also join you for the first day of game drives. Here, you can travel off the trail, which is very important if you want to capture a wide range of animals and behaviors. All of the big cats flourish in Mara North, where there are fewer vehicles and plenty of prey. Leopards and cheetahs are solitary animals, but working in pairs means access to a larger range and bigger prey. As with your previous destinations, it will be important to always have your camera on hand.

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.