Kenya Highlights, Private Tour
7 Days Starting and ending in Nairobi, Kenya
Visiting: Nairobi, Shaba National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, Maasai Mara National Reserve
Tour operator:
Tour code:
68515
Group Type:
Private
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Age range:
7-
Tour operated in:
English , French , German , SpanishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Kenya's most iconic wildlife reserves with the "Kenya Highlights, Private Tour." This immersive safari adventure takes you from the historic Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi to the breathtaking landscapes of Shaba National Reserve, where Hollywood classics like "Born Free" were filmed. Witness the unique wildlife, including reticulated giraffes and Grevy's zebras, before heading to the vibrant Lake Nakuru National Park, renowned for its flamingo-lined shores and diverse habitats. The tour culminates in the legendary Maasai Mara National Reserve, home to the Big Five and the spectacular Great Migration. Enjoy luxurious accommodations, guided game drives, and cultural encounters with the Maasai people, all while traveling in a private 4x4 vehicle with guaranteed window seats. This tour promises an intimate and enriching exploration of Kenya's natural wonders.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival Nairobi
Location: Nairobi
Accommodation Name: Sarova Stanley Hotel
After landing at Nairobi Airport, you will be met by a tour representative and transferred to the Sarova Stanley Hotel or similar. This legendary establishment traces its origins all the way back to 1902 when its late Victorian splendour made it Kenya’s first luxury hotel. The Stanley soon became a byword for opulence and sophistication, attracting big game enthusiasts and colonial administrators. Its immortal status was cemented by the experiences here of Nobel Prize-winning novelist Ernest Hemingway, whose short story, ‘The Snows of Kilimanjaro’, did so much to popularise safaris. Hemingway would gather with fellow adventurers at the Thorn Tree Café – named after the tree on which travellers would pin messages – to plan safaris or regale them with tales of ones just completed. The Stanley has long since been modernised but the spirit of the past is still palpable in every corner.
Overnight in Nairobi.
Day 2 : Nairobi – Shaba National Reserve (415 Kms – 7 Hrs)
Location: Shaba National Reserve
Accommodation Name: Sarova Shaba Game Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Leave Nairobi early after breakfast and travel northwards to Samburu, passing near Thika. Continue through breathtaking scenery dotted with rushing mountain streams and plantations of tea and coffee in the shadows of Mount Kenya, the country’s highest mountain and second in Africa. Circumventing Mount Kenya, pass through the town of Nanyuki before reaching the dusty outpost of Isiolo, the last major stop on the journey to the remote northern frontier district. From here, it’s a fairly short hop to Shaba National Reserve. It earned worldwide fame in the 1960s as the setting of the popular movie, "Born Free". Arrive at Sarova Shaba Lodge in time for lunch and then head off for an afternoon game drive returning to the lodge as the sun sets. Surrounded by trees and located on a rocky bend of the River Ewaso Ngiro, the Sarova Shaba offers a luxury seldom found in a large African bush lodge. There are 80 chalet rooms and four luxurious junior suites as well as one honeymoon suite. The tranquil flow of sparkling spring waters throughout the grounds creates an atmosphere of peace and serenity as they collect and cascade, attracting a great variety of birds. Crocodile feeding demonstrations and evening entertainment are provided by local Samburu villagers. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight in Shaba.
Day 3 : Shaba National Reserve (5-6 Hrs On Game Drives)
Location: Shaba National Reserve
Accommodation Name: Sarova Shaba Game Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast follows an early morning game drive in the lush and verdant Shaba National Reserve, which was also the setting for the multiple Oscar-winning classics, "Out of Africa". There is a large pride of lions as well as elephants, leopards, gerenuks, and elands while rare species such as the reticulated giraffe also make this habitat their stomping ground. For the remainder of the morning, you can relax by the pool, which features an island reached by a bridge from the bar, or the terrace, which overlooks the river. After lunch, there will be another game drive, returning to the lodge for sunset.
Overnight in Shaba.
Day 4 : Shaba – Lake Nakuru National Park (325 Kms – 4.5 Hrs)
Location: Lake Nakuru National Park
Accommodation Name: Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Bid farewell to Shaba National Reserve after breakfast and travel south through Isiolo, crossing the northernmost foothills of Mount Kenya, passing through Nanyuki, and continuing to Nyahururu, still known by many as Thomson’s Falls because of its 75-metre waterfall, which can be spotted in the distance. Your next stop is the spectacular Lake Nakuru; enjoy a game drive en route to Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge. The waters of the lake are often shimmering pink, from the thousands of flamingos that line the shores. After lunch, depart for an afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park. Like all the beautiful flamingos, both black and white rhinos are being carefully protected and given a new lease of life in this fully fenced 188-square-kilometre park. The rhino population numbers more than 50 and continues to multiply. The Rothschild’s giraffe is another rarity that can be seen here, and the park has its fair share of buffaloes, leopards, zebras, elands, waterbucks and lions. Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge is situated in the heart of what is Kenya's most densely populated wetland national park, which is one of six internationally protected marsh areas, known as Ramsar sites, in the country. The lodge boasts commanding views of the lake and what seems like millions of flamingos, pelicans and marabou storks. Lush gardens surround the lodge and cottage, and there is an exciting programme of activities and evening entertainment. Here the ornithological landscape appears to bloom as if it were natural foliage. The lodge has 65 modern en-suite bedrooms, and meals are served inside the lodge, by the pool or under a forest of towering acacia trees. The Rift Valley bar on the ground floor has great views of the lake. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight in Lake Nakuru area.
Day 5 : Lake Nakuru – Maasai Mara National Reserve (345 Kms – 6.5 Hrs)
Location: Maasai Mara National Reserve
Accommodation Name: Sarova Mara Game Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Wake up to breakfast before leaving the flamingo-fringed Lake Nakuru to continue the adventure at the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Drive to the town of Njoro, where you begin your ascent over the top of the Mau Escarpment. Then, heading south, travel across the ‘breadbasket’ of Kenya, covered with acres of wheat and barley, towards Narok, the gateway to the Maasai Mara. Check-in at Sarova Mara Game Camp and enjoy lunch before departing for an afternoon game drive. Return to the lodge as the sun sets. The camp is located inside the eastern section of the Maasai Mara and hidden in a wonderful little-forested valley. During the annual Great Migration, the camp is teeming with wildebeests, gazelles and zebras as it situated right in the centre of their migration path. The 75 tents have a permanent roof and floor, zip-up fronts, attached bathroom, running hot water supply and electricity. Wooden walkways, built over wide lily ponds, link the tents and manicured lawns with the main dining and bar areas. Birdlife is abundant, with kingfishers particularly common. There is also a sparkling swimming pool surrounded by sun loungers. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight in Massai Mara Reserve.
Day 6 : Maasai Mara National Reserve (5-6 Hrs On Game Drives)
Location: Maasai Mara National Reserve
Accommodation Name: Sarova Mara Game Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy an early breakfast before departing on a morning game drive. The Maasai Mara National Reserve is home to millions of wild animals, including the fabled Big Five of lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and black rhinos. There are also antelopes, gazelles, wildebeests, and many others. Return to the lodge for lunch and perhaps a siesta before setting off for an afternoon game drive and a visit to a Maasai village. Return to the camp as the sun sets. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight in Maasai Mara Reserve.
Day 7 : Maasai Mara – Departure Nairobi (310 Kms – 6 Hrs)
Location: Nairobi
Say goodbye to Maasai Mara before passing through acres of rolling wheat and barley farms, heading to Narok. From here, cross the vast plains on the floor of the Great Rift Valley while keeping an eye out for herds of giraffe and gazelle. Head up the rift escarpment and arrive in Kenya’s bustling capital at around midday. Once in the city, you’ll be dropped off in the city centre or at the airport for you to continue with your ongoing travel arrangements.
What's Included
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Tour Guide
Operated with English-speaking local driver-guide throughout the tour. French, German, Italian or Spanish driver-guide subject to availability.
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Accommodation
6 nights' accommodation in superior hotel categories such as Sarova Stanley Hotel, Sarova Shaba Game Lodge, Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge, and Sarova Mara Game Camp or similar 4*.
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Meals
Includes 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 5 dinners.
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Transport
Arrival and departure private transfer in an air-conditioned car from/to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. 4x4 vehicle with a pop-up roof and guaranteed window seat during game drives.
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Entrance Fees & Activities
All entrance fees and activities mentioned in the itinerary, including multiple game drives at Shaba Natural Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, and Maasai Mara Natural Reserve.
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Other
Meet & Greet, all park fees and government taxes, and 1 bottle of mineral water (500ml) per person per day on game drives.
What's Not Included
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Visas
Visas are not included in the tour package.
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Flights
Domestic and international flights are not included.
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Drinks
Drinks during meals are not included unless specified otherwise.
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Additional Visits
Any visit not mentioned in the program is not included.
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Porterage and Gratuities
Porterage and gratuities are not included.
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Personal Expenditures
Expenditures of a personal nature, drinks and meals or items not stated explicitly in the program are not included.
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Camera/Video Camera Fees
Any fees for camera/video camera usage are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance or any loss or extra cost arising due to unforeseen circumstances such as flight delays, accidents, etc.
, is not included.
Requirements
Passengers should bring only soft-sided bags on safari. Passengers arriving to Kenya may be asked to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate. Travellers’ cheques are generally not accepted in east Africa. US banknotes cannot be older than 2004 and must have the latest security markings (large portrait of the president). Sun protection, sunglasses, a hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.
Please Note
- Day 1, the accommodation cannot be changed as the program is based on a Full Circuit. Breaking the circuit will entail supplementary costs
- Day 7, the drop-off at a city centre hotel in Nairobi or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 01:30 pm approx. Flights to be booked 04:00 pm onwards
- Due to limited luggage space in vehicles, suitcases are unsuitable for scheduled road safaris. We recommend luggage packed in inexpensive barrel/sausage bags or soft-sided bags not exceeding 15kg and 65x46 cm. Excess luggage can be handed over to the representative at the time of briefing. It will be handed over to you on your return from the safari. Additional costs may apply to pick up drop off luggage at specific points
- No refund for unused services. Splitting of the package is not allowed
- We reserve the right to change itineraries and activities due to weather conditions, technical problems or security reasons
- Early check-in, late check-out, connecting or adjoining rooms in the hotel are subject to availability and not guaranteed
- This tour is a combination of regular tours and shared arrangements, clients may be required to change vehicles
- Park fees may change without prior notice. This is beyond our control and any increase levied will have to be covered by the client
Accommodation options
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Day 1 Nairobi:
- Superior Hotel Category = Sarova Stanley Hotel or similar 4*
Day 2-3 Shaba:
- Superior Hotel Category = Sarova Shaba Game Lodge or similar 4*
Day 4 Lake Nakuru:
- Superior Hotel Category = Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge or similar 4*
Day 5-6 Maasai Mara:
- Superior Hotel Category = Sarova Mara Game Camp or similar 4*
Accommodation options
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Day 1 Nairobi:
- Superior Hotel Category = Sarova Stanley Hotel or similar 4*
Day 2-3 Shaba:
- Superior Hotel Category = Sarova Shaba Game Lodge or similar 4*
Day 4 Lake Nakuru:
- Superior Hotel Category = Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge or similar 4*
Day 5-6 Maasai Mara:
- Superior Hotel Category = Sarova Mara Game Camp or similar 4*
Mode of Transport
Travel in style with private transfers in an air-conditioned car from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and a 4x4 vehicle with a pop-up roof for game drives, ensuring a comfortable journey with guaranteed window seats for up to 7 persons per vehicle.
Accommodation
Enjoy 6 nights of superior accommodation at 4-star hotels and lodges, including the Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi, Sarova Shaba Game Lodge, Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge, and Sarova Mara Game Camp, offering comfort and luxury amidst stunning natural settings.
Check out our Q&As
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What type of vehicle is used for the game drives during the tour?
The tour uses a 4x4 vehicle with a pop-up roof and guaranteed window seat during game drives. All transportation throughout the tour is on a private basis with a maximum of 7 persons per vehicle.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Yes, the tour package includes 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 5 dinners.
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What kind of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The tour provides 6 nights of accommodation in superior hotel categories, including Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi, Sarova Shaba Game Lodge in Shaba, Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge in Lake Nakuru, and Sarova Mara Game Camp in Maasai Mara, or similar 4-star accommodations.
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What wildlife can be expected to be seen during the game drives?
During the game drives, you can expect to see a variety of wildlife including lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, reticulated giraffes, Grevy's zebras, Beisa oryx, Somali ostriches, gerenuks, and many other species in their natural habitats.
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Is there a guide provided during the tour?
Yes, the tour is operated with an English-speaking local driver-guide throughout. French, German, Italian, or Spanish driver-guides are available subject to availability.
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What are some of the highlights of the Maasai Mara National Reserve visit?
In the Maasai Mara National Reserve, visitors can witness the world’s largest multi-species migration and see a wide variety of wildlife including the Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and black rhinos.
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What is the luggage policy for the tour?
Due to limited luggage space in vehicles, suitcases are unsuitable for scheduled road safaris. It is recommended to pack luggage in soft-sided bags not exceeding 15kg and 65x46 cm. Excess luggage can be handed over to the representative at the time of briefing and will be returned on your return from the safari.
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What does the price include?
What is included is stated specifically on the product Description. Gratuities are at your discretion. Prices do not include (unless stated otherwise) - gratuities to the guide, driver or tour manager.
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Is there any option for solo traveller?
Yes of course. Please note that the default selection shows the price per person per double room. For solo travellers, you will have to select a single room when available.
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Do you offer any travel insurance?
We do not offer Travel Insurance but would strongly recommend that you purchase a comprehensive Travel Insurance Policy prior to departure.
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When are there specific hotel names confirmed?
Confirmed hotel names are informed latest 10 days prior to client´s arrival
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Booking confirmation with Itinerary and confirmation vouchers
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
You can change it by logging into your profile and click on Bookings. Please check your cancellation policy.
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Are flights included in the tour?
No, they are not included
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Are Visa fees included in the price?
No, visa fees are not included
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Low Deposit
ARP Travel Group requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of arp travel group charges.
At 24 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.