Diverse wildlife, gorgeous landscapes, and wealthy cultural heritage – that is Kenya, a vacation spot that’s lengthy been on our journey want checklist. Positioned in East Africa, Kenya boastst many landscapes, from the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya to the semi-arid savannahs of the Maasai Mara and the tropical forests of the coast.
Whereas there are many causes to go to Kenya, most guests, us included, come right here to admire the nation’s numerous wildlife. With over 50 Nationwide Parks and Nature Reserves, plus over 100 group conservancies centered on wildlife conservation, Kenya is commonly thought of to be the most effective locations for a traditional safari in Africa. After many journeys to Africa and safari in locations just like the Serengeti Nationwide Park in Tanzania, Kruger Nationwide Park in South Africa and Chobe River in Botswana, we had been curious to seek out out if Kenya’s Maasai Mara would reside as much as its hype.
Planning a visit to Kenya at all times appeared like an enormous endeavor. Our data of the nation was restricted, and the concept of organizing a self-guided journey felt like a frightening process. Enter Alluring Africa.
Sundown in Kenya
About Alluring Africa
Alluring Africa is an award-winning safari clothing store providing bespoke safari experiences to among the most stunning and distant components of Africa. The corporate prides itself on placing collectively personalised experiences and distinctive journeys with customized itineraries for journeys throughout the continent.
We instantly fell in love with Alluring Africa’s take to journey planning – a holistic method centered on delivering a visit personalized to your wants and desires. We didn’t want a whole lot of convincing – it felt just like the good firm to design our first Kenya safari!
May Alluring Africa journey consultants wow us with a singular Kenya journey? Solely time would inform!
We armed them with our Kenya want checklist: an abundance of wildlife motion, snug lodging and a sustainable journey itinerary for a bite-size style of Kenya. The end result? An 8-day Kenya Safari in partnership with Governors Camps that surpassed all of our expectations! And the very best a part of all of it – we didn’t should raise a finger in coordinating or planning the journey – we merely confirmed up on the airport able to take pleasure in our Kenyan safari!
About Governors Camps
Our Kenya Safari itinerary was created in collaboration with Governors’ Camps, a long-term associate of Alluring Africa, working in Kenya since 1972.
Governors Camps assortment options six camps and lodges situated in among the most breathtaking wildlife reserves within the nation, together with the Masai Mara, Laikipia, and the Nice Rift Valley.
Identified for its luxurious Kenya safaris, distinctive service, unforgettable wildlife experiences, and powerful dedication to sustainable operations and conservation initiatives, Governors Camps turned out to be the right lodging group for our Kenyan safari.
Their award-winning properties provided the right mixture of the pure great thing about Kenya whereas offering all the fashionable facilities and comforts.
For these seeking to replicate our Kenya safari itinerary or decide up some inspiration from our journey, here’s a day-by-day account of our time in Kenya.
Our 8-Day Kenya Safari Itinerary by Alluring Africa
Day 1 – Arrival in Nairobi
We arrived in Nairobi and had been welcomed by the Governors Camp consultant. After a fast cease for tea at a close-by resort, we started our journey to our first lodging – Governor’s Loldia Home. The switch took 2 hours, however the journey was snug, and we had been in a position to benefit from the scenic views of the countryside as we made our solution to our vacation spot.
The place We Stayed: Governor’s Loldia Home
Loldia Home is a historic farmhouse set on the shores of Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake within the Nice Rift Valley. The lake is residence to many several types of wildlife and is taken into account to be a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 400 migratory and indigenous chicken species.
We had been instantly struck by the serene great thing about Loldia Home. The home options a mixture of lodging, together with rooms in the primary farmhouse or in one of many charming visitor cottages onsite. There’s an onsite infinity pool and stunning gardens with loads of indigenous crops and birdlife.
Our room at Loldia Home was spacious and tastefully adorned, that includes stunning vintage furnishings, hardwood flooring, and ornate rugs, including to the ambiance. Regardless of its conventional decor, the room had all the fashionable facilities we would have liked for a cushty keep, together with a spacious en suite lavatory with delicate particulars and a bath that oozed appeal and supreme rest.
Governor’s Loldia Home
After settling in, we indulged in some pampering with a therapeutic massage on the onsite spa – precisely what we would have liked after an extended in a single day flight to Kenya.
We spent hours enjoyable on the verandah and admiring the gorgeous views of Lake Naivasha whereas having fun with a scrumptious lunch. And because the solar set, we joined our information Gidian, for an afternoon safari recreation drive and sundowner at Lake Naivasha. It was our first peak on the wildlife in Kenya, and we had been impressed to identify hippos, zebras, warthogs, and numerous antelope species comparable to impalas and waterbucks.
We ended the day with a beautiful dinner at Loldia Home, crafted with our dietary preferences in thoughts. With glad appetites and really drained our bodies, we collapsed in our mattress, prepared for the adventures that awaited us within the days to come back.
Admiring the views at Governors Loldia Home
Buffalo grazing in entrance of Loldia Home
Sundowner at Lake Naivasha
Day 2: Lake Nakuru Nationwide Park
On day two of our Kenya safari, we departed early for a day journey to Lake Nakuru Nationwide Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Web site situated about 2 hours by automotive from Loldia Home. This can be a frequent day journey for Kenya safari excursions organized by Governors Camps.
Lake Nakuru Nationwide Park is certainly one of Kenya’s smaller Nationwide Parks, first created in 1957 as a sanctuary for birds, primarily flamingos. In 1977, it was declared a sanctuary for Rothschild’s giraffes, that are critically endangered. The park is ample with all kinds of wildlife, together with white rhinos, leopards, lions, hippos, impalas, waterbucks, over 450 chicken species, and tens of millions of Nice and Lesser Flamingoes.
We had been lucky to see many of those unimaginable creatures on our go to and had been notably in awe of the pink-hued flamingos gathered towards the lake’s sensible blue waters.
A picnic within the park provided us a possibility to increase our go to and to snap some nice photographs of the Colobus monkeys enjoying within the bushes above.
Upon returning to Loldia Home, we had a number of hours to calm down, seize dinner and set off on an evening drive round Lake Naivasha. It’s not frequent to expertise an evening safari, so we jumped on the chance and had been awarded with unimaginable sightings of hippos and hyenas, making for a really distinctive ending to our keep in Loldia Home.
Flamingos at Lake Nakuru
Relaxation cease at Lake Nakuru
Day 3: Lake Naivasha to Mugie Conservancy
On Day 3 of our Kenyan safari, we spent a stunning morning on a ship tour on Lake Naivasha. The gentle was good as we made our approach across the lake searching for birds and different wildlife. The watched fishermen forged their nets into the lake and fish eagles swooping in to grab the fish from proper below their nostril. It was a peaceable and enjoyable solution to expertise a special kind of safari in Kenya.
After breakfast, we mentioned good bye to Loldia Home and launched into a 3-4 hour drive to our subsequent vacation spot – Mugie Conservancy. The drive was lengthy, however the time flew by – we had been captivated by the colourful and numerous day by day lifetime of rural Kenya exterior of our home windows.
Stunning Mugie Home within the coronary heart of Mugie Conservancy
The place We Stayed: Governor’s Mugie Home
Upon arriving at Governor Mugie Home, the latest addition to the Governors’ Camp Assortment, we had been instantly greatly surprised by the lodge’s stunning luxurious setting. Located on a hill, the Mugie Home offers gorgeous views of the Laikipia plains, Mt. Kenya, and a watering gap that pulls wildlife. The principle home options sitting areas, an infinity pool, and a eating space.
Regardless of visiting within the excessive season, the lodge wasn’t too busy, and we had been handled to an improve to their gorgeous Honeymoon Pool Suite. The suite provided breathtaking views throughout the Laikipia plains and an opulent personal pool that includes floor-to-ceiling home windows, an opulent copper freestanding bathtub, an en-suite lavatory, and an open log fire.
It was a dreamy room, and we instantly regretted not staying right here for 3 nights!
However whereas the lodging was unimaginable, the Mugie Conservancy and its wildlife was simply as spectacular.
This 49,000-acre wildlife conservancy is situated on the northwest fringe of Laikipia and contains 22,000 acres of sanctuary for wildlife, a 156-acre lake, and a golf course. The conservancy is residence to the northern endemic species comparable to Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Jackson’s hartebeest, in addition to elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and extra. The conservancy can be residence to a number of chicken species, together with the Somali ostrich, African fish eagle, and vultures.
That afternoon, our first recreation drive allowed us to see a few of Mugie’s extra frequent animals and a extra uncommon striped hyena!
Again at Mugie Home, the employees ready us a scrumptious dinner. We had been past impressed by the creativity of the menu at Mugie and excited to seek out out that lots of the substances, notably the greens had been all sourced from the onsite backyard.
Magical sundown on a Kenya safari at Mugie Conservancy
Day 4: Full day at Mugie Conservancy
Day 4 was a busy day on our safari in Kenya, as we spent the day exploring Mugie Conservancy. Our morning recreation drive included a shock breakfast within the bush, which was a pleasant solution to begin the day.
After breakfast, we visited the Mugie Conservancy anti-poaching unit, the place we met the resident bloodhound canines and took half in a singular demonstration of their poacher-tracking expertise. A powerful hunt!
From there, we traveled to satisfy Tala the giraffe, an orphaned rescued giraffe who calls Mugie her residence. Tala was delivered to the conservancy at just some days previous by a neighborhood herder and cared for the employees on the Mugie Conservancy. Attributable to her distinctive upbringing, she wasn’t in a position to return to the wild. Now eight years previous, Tala roams the conservancy freely however usually returns to her chosen ‘residence’ on the Mugie headquarters. We had been fortunate sufficient to satisfy this mild large and had been in awe of her towering presence and tremendous lengthy, sticky-icky tongue.
Again on the lodge, we indulged in a scrumptious lunch with all kinds of scrumptious dishes, together with glorious low-carb vegetarian choices. The chef actually took our dietary must coronary heart!
After a soothing break in our rooms, we launched into an afternoon recreation drive searching for lions, utilizing Mugie researchers’ antenna to trace their actions. It was an enchanting train providing an perception into wildlife conservation at Mugie and a enjoyable game-like method to discovering the elusive cats!
We returned to the lodge simply in time for sundown drinks and one other unimaginable dinner.
Breakfast within the bush
A scrumptious lunch unfold at Mugie Home
On an anti-poaching demonstration with Mugie’s bloodhounds
Sundown at Mugie Home
Admiring the starry skies on an evening safari in Mugie Conservancy
That night, we launched into an evening drive and had the uncommon alternative to look at the unimaginable night time sky full of tens of millions of stars. The spotlight of the day was recognizing the elusive striped hyena and aardvark. An unforgettable day of wildlife sightings, schooling, and rest at Mugie Conservancy.
Day 5: Mugie Conservancy to Masai Mara
Our fifth day of this superb Kenya safari journey started with an early wake-up name. We packed up our luggage and mentioned goodbye to the gorgeous Mugie Home, taking breakfast to go en path to the airstrip. It was time for our flight to the magical Masai Mara!
We squeezed in a recreation drive en path to the Loisaba airstrip, arriving simply in time to hop right into a tiny Cessna airplane for our journey to the Mara. The flight, operated by Governor’s Aviation, was extremely scenic, offering an intimate flying expertise and gorgeous vistas of rolling hills, huge grasslands, and distant mountains. We had been grateful to the group at Mugie Home for transferring our large baggage to Nairobi, because it couldn’t be taken on the Cessna airplane.
Our flight to Mara!
We had been so excited to reach at the Masai Mara Nationwide Reserve. It’s been our dream to come back right here for a few years.
The anticipation of the following 3 days in some of the unimaginable wildlife locations on this planet had us giddy with pleasure.
The Maasai Mara Nationwide Reserve, established in 1961 as a wildlife sanctuary, began as 520 sq km however now stands at 1510 sq km and has been transformed to a recreation reserve. The Masai Mara is known for the annual Nice Migration of tens of millions of wildebeest throughout the Mara River, which is a powerful sight to behold.
The remainder of the 12 months, Masai Mara remains to be some of the spectacular and ample wildlife spots in Africa, residence to the Large 5: lion, leopard, African elephant, Cape buffalo, and black rhino, in addition to many different giant predators: cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, wild canines, grazing animals, herbivores, primates, reptiles and birds.
The place We Stayed: Little Governors Camp
Little Governors Camp, situated on the sting of the Masai Mara Nationwide Reserve, was not like every other lodging we had skilled up to now. It was the exact opposite of Mugie Home – all the way down to earth and in nature, precisely what you’d anticipate from tented camps within the Mara. .
The camp consisted of 17 luxurious tents located round a big marsh full of birdlife. The tents had been fundamental, in keeping with a extra typical Kenya tenting safari expertise, however snug and outfitted with every part we would have liked for a fantastic keep. Our tent had an ensuite lavatory with operating cold and hot water, showers, and flush bathrooms. There was a wood deck and veranda for wildlife viewing, permitting us to look at wildlife with out leaving our tents. At night time, we’d hear the hippos munching on the grass proper exterior of our tent partitions, and throughout the days, vervet monkeys frequented the close by bushes.
The frequent space at Little Governors consisted of a giant tent and a spacious deck overlooking the marsh. The tent housed a sitting space, in addition to a restaurant and bar. It was right here that we loved our meals and pre/post-dinner drinks.
Tents hidden within the bushes at Little Governor’s Camp
Our tent at Little Governor’s Camp
Our tent at Little Governor’s Camp
Keen to leap right into a safari car and discover the Mara, we didn’t waste a lot time upon arrival and joined our information, Jackson, for an early afternoon safari.
“What’s in your want checklist?” Jackson requested us as we climbed into the safari car.
“Motion”, we answered in unison. Having been on safari many instances earlier than, we weren’t inquisitive about simply seeing the animals, we wished to see their life in motion. And boy, did Jackson ship!
That afternoon, he took us to see a pleasure of lions feasting on a latest buffalo kill. The male lion was absolutely engrossed in his meal, his face, mane and paws smeared with blood. The remainder of the pleasure stood guard to a cackle of hyenas surrounding the realm. The lions growled and hyenas laughed with each try to take over the meal. It was an action-packed night, as we sat in silence, mesmerized by the sounds and sights in entrance of our eyes.
Day 6: An Motion-Packed Day within the Mara
We agreed that Day 6 of our Kenya safari was the single greatest safari day of our lives! An enormous assertion, we all know – however the sightings had been actually that spectacular!
Our early morning recreation drive began out like every other day on our Kenya safari journey. Morning tea in hand, our safari car bounced and swayed over the bumpy terrain, carrying us by way of a dense thicket and into the open grassland of the Masai Mara. The sky lit up in a canvas of orange and pink hues because the solar peeked above the horizon, portray the morning with heat gentle. Sizzling air balloons dotted the sky, a experience that’s generally included in Kenya safari packages. We felt a ping of jealousy at their sightings – nothing beats seeing the savannah from above. However an in depth encounter interrupted our ideas.
“It’s a serval”, exclaimed Max grabbing his digicam with pleasure. A uncommon and really particular sighting. Its distinctively giant ears twitched because it silently padded throughout the savannah, its noticed fur glistening within the comfortable morning gentle. Mesmerized by this elusive feline, we sat in awe, watching because it disappeared into the tall grasses, leaving us with a way of surprise and appreciation for the fantastic thing about the Mara.
Magical morning in Masai Mara
Our information, Jackson, was decided to point out us as a lot motion as doable and recommended that we take an extended drive to catch a glimpse of a resident cheetah household. After a little bit of a drive, we had been thrilled to identify a cheetah mother with three sub-adult cubs who gave the impression to be on the hunt.
After observing them from a distance, we had breakfast close by, conserving a watchful eye on their actions. When the cheetahs began to maneuver, our information expertly anticipated their actions and led us to a exceptional sighting – the cheetahs efficiently taking down their prey. It was an unimaginable expertise to witness nature in motion.
Cheetahs on the prowl
Cheetah cubs and their kill
That afternoon, we set off on one other recreation drive to the opposite aspect of the river searching for a leopard named Romi, who was identified to be along with her cub. Jackson had acquired phrase that she had made a kill and was resting in a tree along with her younger cub. The cub was small and clearly actually nervous. Jackson admitted that it was the primary time this cub had been seen with Romi. The group of automobiles gathered to witness the spectacle was on one other degree.
We took approach too many photographs whereas having fun with this particular sighting.
Mother and cub
The little leopard cub
Day 7: Safari in Masai Mara
On Day 7, we rose early to catch the gorgeous dawn within the Mara. As we set out on our morning recreation drive, we had been fortunate to identify one other serval cat as the primary gentle rays illuminated the savannah. Our pleasure didn’t finish there as we heard a couple of lion pleasure feasting on an elephant carcass and rushed to see the spectacle. Over 20 lions, together with a tiny cub, had been devouring the huge animal proper earlier than our eyes.
After a sizzling lunch on the camp, we set out on our afternoon recreation drive for one more search of Romi, the leopard. We drove throughout the bushline whe we had seen her the day earlier than, however luck was not on our aspect. At present, her and her cub weren’t feeling very pleasant.
Regardless of the quiet wildlife day, we loved a serene sundown overlooking a river. Our day ended with a one other scrumptious dinner on the camp.
Sundowner drinks within the Mara
Day 8: Masai Mara to Nairobi
Day 8 was our remaining day within the Mara, and it didn’t disappoint. We began the morning with one other stunning dawn, and we had been fortunate sufficient to identify yet one more serval cat. We couldn’t consider that we’d seen 3 of them in our brief keep within the Mara!
Then, we returned to take a look at the lion pleasure that was feasting on an elephant and located a very totally different scene in comparison with the day earlier than. Hyenas, jackals and vultures have come onto the scene, making inroads to getting their share of the carcass. Little fats lion cub continued to fill his stomach, together with a number of younger males. Finally, the pleasure moved on, leaving a frenzy of exercise on the carcass.
It was a enjoyable solution to finish our time within the Mara and a fantastic sighting to cap off our morning!
Lion pleasure surrounds an elephant carcass
Giraffes within the Mara
A number of hours later, we discovered ourselves on one other Governor’s Aviation airplane heading again to Nairobi, the place our journey started per week in the past.
The place We Stayed: Home of Waine
Home of Waine felt like a tranquil retreat away from the hustle and bustle of Nairobi metropolis, an excellent selection for a peaceable and enjoyable final night time in Kenya. The resort’s lush gardens and serene environment provided the right setting to unwind and recharge earlier than a long-haul flight again to North America.
Positioned within the quiet Karen neighbourhood, this luxurious boutique resort provided 11 bedrooms and a 2-bedroom cottage set on 2.5 acres of gorgeous, serene environment. Initially the personal residence of the Waine household, it now blends snug residing with trendy African appeal to create a fantastic residence base whereas in Nairobi.
The employees at Home of Waine confirmed us the utmost hospitality throughout our keep. We had been notably grateful to have a possibility of late check-out and use the room all through the day on the day of our departure.
Home of Waine, Nairobi
That day, we ventured out to the Kiambethu Tea Farm.
Kiambethu Tea Farm
Kiambethu Tea Farm is a historic and scenic tea property situated about half-hour from Nairobi. The farm was initially owned by an English settler household, and has been in operation for over 100 years. At present, it’s run by the third and fourth generations of the household. The present farm proprietor, Fiona, was our educated and pleasant information. Her deep data and keenness for tea was plain. We may’ve spent hours chatting along with her about her property.
In the course of the tour, we discovered the historical past of the farm and the steps concerned in tea manufacturing, from planting and harvesting the tea leaves.
The prospect to eat a freshly made lunch within the gardens whereas taking within the gorgeous surroundings was one of many tour’s highlights. The tea was among the greatest we’ve ever had, the meals was recent, served buffet model with plenty of vegan/vegetarian choices.
On the Kiambethu Tea Farm
Eat the rainbow!
It was the right ending to our time in Kenya and precisely what we would have liked earlier than boarding our flight again to North America.
Last Ideas
Our 8-day traditional safari was a implausible introduction to Kenya. We had been so impressed by the itinerary put collectively by Alluring Africa and by the unimaginable wildlife sightings we had throughout our journey.
We liked visiting the Mara but additionally loved spending time in lesser-known locations, like Lake Naivasha and Mugie Conservancy. Our expertise assembly Tala, the giraffe, and getting concerned with the anti-poaching unit at Mugie provided an actual perception into the conservation tasks and wildlife administration at this nice vacation spot. The wildlife motion within the Mara was a lot extra unimaginable than we may have ever imagined! It actually is among the greatest locations in East Africa for wildlife sightings!
The one factor that would have made this Kenyan safari higher for us was extra time. An additional week would have allowed us to go to a few of Kenya’s different Nationwide Parks and Personal Conservancies, like Mt Kenya, Samburu Nationwide park, Aberdare Nationwide Park, Tsavo East, Amboseli Nationwide Park with its iconic view of Mountain Kilimanjaro, Nairobi Nationwide Park and the Swahili coast.
We additionally felt like our journey lacked a little bit of a cultural element, as we didn’t get an opportunity to satisfy the Maasai Warriors or tour any of the Maasai villages.
However that simply means we’ve obtained a number of extra causes to return to Kenya for one more go to!
Disclaimer: Large because of Alluring Africa and Governor’s Camps for organizing our journey and internet hosting us throughout our time in Kenya. As at all times, all opinions expressed on this article are our personal, regardless of who’s footing the invoice.