Karibu Kenya - Welcome to Kenya. Our holiday start at group hotel in Nairobi. A single timed transfer from Nairobi Airport is provided. In the late afternoon, after some rest at the hotel and maybe a swim in the pool we go to visit the Giraffe Centre. This was originally established as a breeding centre for the endangered Rothschild's giraffe, but has since developed into the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife with a main objective to provide conservation education to Kenyan school children and youth. We see the giraffes and may have an opportunity to feed them. A close wildlife encounter and conservation education is great way to start the week. We return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

SWIMMING at the hotel pool

This morning we are up bright and early for our first action packed day in Kenya. We start with our visit Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage were we can see the baby elephants being fed and taking their bath. We learn a lot about their care and how some are rehabilitated to be released back into the wild.

We then leave in our vehicle out of town. We drive (approximately 4-5 hrs) to Muteleu, a traditional Maasai Village. These are undoubtedly the best-known and most photographed people in East Africa. They are the tall, fearless and proud warriors with red robes, ochre hair and colourful jewellery. Their huts are made of cow dung and ashes, arranged in a circle. This village has been set up by the Maasai women to show visitors their daily life and culture. This in turn provides funds to send the Maasai girls to school. During the afternoon we might help them with the cattle, get water or maybe make craft items. We have a traditional meal that they cook for us and sit around the fire in the evening and maybe enjoying some singing, dancing or storytelling. We overnight in the traditional mud huts called Manyatta. This is a great and unique experience which the adults and children will love.

We have breakfast with the Maasai and then set off for our next destination - the Chyulu Hills National Park, about 4 hrs drive. We travel through verdant rolling hills of endless green, blue skies and beautiful landscapes, once described by Ernest Hemingway as 'the green hills of Africa'. At just over 2000m they are full of grasslands and acacia trees, perfect for the grazing wildlife such as antelope. We set up our wild camp in the bush for the next two nights, and with some luck the weather will be kind and we'll have some amazing views of Kilimanjaro. Our team will set up camp and cook for us, and all of our equipment (except sleeping bag) is provided. It is a magical experience to camp out in the bush in Africa. The skies are massive and the stars are incredible. Conditions allowing, we enjoy a camp fire before turning into our tents and cosy sleeping bags for the night.

Waking up in our tents, we have a simple camping bush breakfast before setting off on our walk. We transfer for around an hour to the start of our walk. The Chyulu Hills consist of numerous old volcanoes with clear visible craters, with the last eruptions around 200yrs ago. Our colourful Maasai guide will accompany us on the walk through the territory of the grazing wildlife such as eland, bushbucks, reedbucks and giraffe. We can also find smaller mammals here like the bush pigs and forest hogs. The length and route of our walk will depend on the weather and our group. The Chyulu provide walks with gentle gradients, perfect for our young explorers. If the weather is clear then we may have views to the elephant country of Amboseli to the north-west, the volcanic summits of Tsavo National Park and maybe even the massif of Kilimanjaro which is on the border of Kenya/Tanzania only some 200km away. Along the way we have a picnic lunch. There is no rush, and we enjoy our return walk to the campsite. Our guides are extremely knowledgeable about the land, the people and the wildlife and we are learning all the time whilst listening to their stories. Back at camp we have some time to freshen up and relax. As it gets dark we have our dinner listening to the sounds of the bush.

Before we set off to Loitokitok (also known as Oloitokitok) we have a final bush breakfast in camp, pack up and say goodbye to the Chyulu Hills. On the outskirts of town (2-3hrs drive) we stop at the Nalemour River for a 3 hour walk to enjoy our picnic lunch at some pretty waterfalls (although in the dry season there might be little/no water). There is an agreement with Tanzania/Kenya that citizens of these countries can travel within 10km of each country, making the town of Loitokitok an important meeting point which has a bustling market. It is also the entrance for many people who are going to climb Kilimanjaro - the start of the path for one of the routes is just over the border. Of course we have fabulous views of Africa's highest mountain from the town. This is where our cosy guesthouse for dinner and overnight.

Elephants, a safari vehicle and the mighty snow-capped Kilimanjaro in the background - the picture postcard of classic Africa - this is Amboseli National Park. The area is hot and dry with an average of 350-400mm of rainfall per year. When the rains come, marshlands and soda lakes are formed, but for the rest of the year it is mainly a dusty plain. This is where origins of the name 'Amboseli' or 'salty dust' in the local Maasai language comes from. However, it is not all dust! There are the green acacia trees and long grasses which turn a golden brown in the dry season. This small park, at under 400 km sq, is famous as one of the best places in Africa to see large, free-roaming herds of elephants - and this we shall see during our 4-5 hours of game viewing. The Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, elephant) are also present in Amboseli, so we will be on the look-out and it is likely that we shall see at least some of these. We may also see giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, impala, gazelle as well as wild dog, jackal and hyena. Our guides have a very good eye for spotting wildlife, and will be able to share all manner of facts and stories about everything that we see and the land that they live in. We rest for a late lunch at a charming lodge complete with swimming pool which we can use to cool off during the heat of the day. In the late afternoon we travel back to our accommodation in Loitokitok for a second night.

SWIMMING available

We depart this morning and travel east to the larger and much less visited Tsavo West National Park. Just over 9,000 km sq the rugged terrain here offers a lot besides the wildlife. The park spreads right down to the Tanzanian border in the south. To the east and north is the big brother - Tsavo East National Park and together they are the biggest park in Kenya, and in the top 5 largest in East and Southern Africa. Our drive to the park takes 2-3hrs. On arrival we check in at our lodge, a permanent tented camp with a glorious swimming pool. After lunch we visit Mzima Springs. These crystal clear springs are an oasis amidst the surrounding Tsavo Savannah, and they are supplied by 250 million litres of fresh water every day! This, of course, in turn creates a haven for fish, birds and wildlife especially hippo and crocodile. There are visitor platforms and a nature trail. After this magical visit we drive back to our accommodation, where we have time for some swimming before dinner.

SWIMMING available

This morning we can rise later and have a relaxed morning at this fabulous camp. The children can swim in the pool. There is plenty of wildlife around the camp and waterhole. For the super keen there is a pre-breakfast game drive (included), but most people choose to stay at camp this morning. We all relax our beautiful camp during the heat of the day. We can go for a swim, a rest, read our book or look at the vast plains surrounding the camp. In the late afternoon we will go for a game drive (again optional, but included in the price). We can see herds of elephant, wild dog, giraffe, rhino, hippo, lions, cheetah, leopard, buffalo and a prolific birdlife with around 600 species, amongst others. We have dinner at our lodge and tuck up after a fantastic day.

SWIMMING available

After breakfast and some moments to soak in this special place, we say a fond farewell to the lovely camp here in Tsavo and make our way to the coast. This is a full day of driving (approximately 6-7 hours). We will break the journey with a lunch stop and comfort breaks. We can enjoy watching Kenyan life from our vehicle as we chat or listen to some music. We head to our hotel on Diani Beach. This long stretch of white sandy beach lined with palm trees along the Mombasa South Coast is a perfect place for a few nights relaxing after our Africa adventure.

SWIMMING available

Our hotel is situated on the beach and has a lovely swimming pool. There are many beach loungers dotted into between the palm trees on the beach. Beach volley ball is often played and there is also table tennis.

Our hotel is located on the kilometre long white sandy beach of Uroa. There is usually a pleasant breeze from the sea to cool you as you relax with your book, or peacefully eat your lunch. The hotel staff will look after your needs and they will be able to book any optional excursions and water sports for you. There is kite surfing available as well as diving. Tennis, football and a volley ball court are also available during the day. All equipment is provided. At low tide the beach is perfect for long walks or a morning/evening run.

SWIMMING available

Today is another free day. If you wish to leave the hotel you can book one of the excursions such as a Dhow boat trip for snorkelling and marine wildlife spotting.
Whatever we choose we return to the hotel at the end of the day and can meet with the group for a celebratory final meal. A fitting finale to a true African adventure for the family, what more could you want!

SWIMMING available

Our holiday ends after breakfast at the hotel on the beach. Depending on our flight times we may have a chance for a last swim in the pool or the sea before we have a single timed transfer to Mombasa Airport (approximate 2 hours drive) for our flights home. If you would like a longer holiday it is easy to extend your time on the beach, please call our office for details.