ESSENTIAL KENYA

Day 1 Arrive Nairobi

Arrive in Nairobi where you will receive a friendly welcome and transfer to your hotel, not far from the domestic airport. House of Waine offers a warm atmosphere and comfortable overnight accommodation in the quiet suburb of Karen, named after Karen Blixen of Out of Africa fame.

Overnight: House of Waine

Day 2 Nairobi - Loisaba

Transfer to Wilson Airport and fly by light aircraft into the African wilderness and Loisaba Tented Camp. Set in a private conservancy with views of Mount Kenya (on a clear day), this luxurious camp is completely fenced for safety allowing guests, and resident antelope, to roam freely. The tented rooms are set along the edge of the escarpment with stunning views and come with stylish en-suite bathrooms and private verandahs. The restaurant and bar are open-fronted onto a huge deck area and dining al fresco is encouraged while the outdoor pool is walled for privacy and is the perfect place to cool off in the heat of the day.

Overnight: Loisaba Tented Camp

Day 3 Loisaba Conservancy

Spend a full day at leisure enjoying activities from the camp. Your dedicated guide will be happy to arrange game drives, walking, riding or mountain biking. Alternatively, head down to the anti-poaching unit, learn more about their work and meet the sniffer dogs.

Overnight: Loisaba Tented Camp

Day 4 Loisaba Conservancy

Again, it is entirely up to you how you wish to spend the day with a range of activities on offer from the camp. You check out of the camp this morning and your luggage will be transferred later to Loisaba Star Beds. After lunch at Tented Camp and perhaps some time by the pool we suggest walking over to the Star Beds with your guide as this is such a lovely way to see the reserve and perhaps spot some antelope, giraffe and zebra along the way, not to mention families of warthogs. Vehicles are available if you prefer. On arrival at the Star Beds you will be shown to your 'rooms', which are covered and raised platforms, open-fronted for better immersion in your surroundings. Your bed is on wheels so that it can be drawn to the front of the platform in the evening before you retire and is surrounded by a protective mosquito net. Relax in the main living area, where a fire is lit if the evening is cool, and enjoy dinner with other guests before turning in for a night under the vast African sky.

Overnight: Loisaba Star Beds

Day 5 Loisaba - Maasai Mara

After a very special night of luxurious 'camping' out under the stars you leave Loisaba this morning and fly south to the world-famous Maasai Mara. On arrival you'll be met by your driver at the airstrip and transferred to Elephant Pepper Camp, with potential wildlife sightings en-route. The authentic tented camp has just eight luxurious rooms, well-spaced for privacy and with en-suite bathrooms and classic, campaign-style furniture. Guests gather around the camp fire in the evening, after game drives and dine on northern Italian cuisine with fresh baking and delicious salads to complete the rustic luxury feel.

Overnight: Elephant Pepper Camp

Day 6 - 7 Maasai Mara

Set in a remote corner of the Maasai Mara, Elephant Pepper Camp is surrounded by a plethora of game including more than 450 bird species and populations of lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and giraffe, to name a few. At night guests can often clearly hear the sounds of predators hunting and antelopes or zebras foraging in the undergrowth, while tucked up safely under cosy duvets. Days are spent with your guides out on game drives by 4WD, on bush walks and enjoying hearty bush breakfasts after a morning activity. It's also possible to visit your local Maasai hosts at home and learn more about their day-to-day life. At the end of the day, it's only right to partake of a sundowner as you watch the sky turn red before darkness descends, when you head back to camp for another evening by the campfire.

Overnight: Elephant Pepper Camp

Day 8 Depart

After a final early morning game drive you will be transferred to the airstrip and flown to Nairobi Wilson Airport. Here you will be met and transferred to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where a day room is available to you at the Crowne Plaza Hotel before your departure flight.