Offbeat Kenya
9 Days & 8 Nights | Kenya Nairobi, Meru National Park, Tsavo West National Park & Mbirikani Group Ranch
Highlights
Great For
- Families – A fun-loving time for those who enjoy the outdoors
- Honeymooners – Romantic camps in off-the-beaten track locations
- Photographers – Time in one of Kenya’s less explored national parks
Available Activities
- Game drives
- Night drives
- Nature walks
- Sundowners
Best Time To Go
High Season: July to October
Green Season: November to June
Overview
Kenya is a paradise for those passionate about wildlife and safari. This itinerary idea takes you off the well-trodden path and swaps it for one you may not have considered. Meru and Tsavo National Parks may not be the most famous in the country but this is precisely why they’re such great finds: lower visitor numbers, fewer vehicles and three lodges that will surprise and delight you.
Starting in Nairobi, you wing your way to Meru and then onto Tsavo West (the park is so massive, it’s split into two). From there, the Mbirikani Group Ranch is an enormous slice of private land between Tsavo and Amboseli National Park, giving you the best of both worlds, including the Chyulu Hills.
Trip Summary
Duration
- 8 Nights / 9 Days
Destinations Visited
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Meru National Park, Kenya
- Tsavo West National Park, Kenya
- Mbirikani Group Ranch, Kenya
Accommodations Visited
Daily Itinerary
DAY 1+
The gates to Hemingways Nairobi open to usher you into a haven of calm and tranquillity. Lying in the upscale and storied neighbourhood of Karen, this is one of the city’s hotels that is most popular with high-flyers and other luminaries. You will have been collected from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by your driver-guide. Once settled in, have a swim, go for a massage or unwind on the terrace with a G&T. Tomorrow you begin your offbeat Kenya safari… Why we love Hemingways Nairobi: Arguably Nairobi’s finest modern hotel Dinner in the fine-dining restaurant A view to the Ngong Hills from the balcony Butler service, serene spa and swimming pool
DAYS 2 TO 3+
Today you are taken to Wilson Airport to fly to Kinna Airstrip in Meru National Park. Although it’s a compact park by African standards, it receives good rains and thus has rivers, rainforest, grasslands and wetlands to support a wide variety of species. Elsa’s Kopje is named after Elsa, a lion cub who was saved and then released into the wild rather than be kept in captivity, the genesis of the Born Free Foundation. The camp is home for two nights. Why we love Elsa’s Kopje: Steeped in history of lion conservation One of only two lodges in Meru Sensitively designed around Mughwango Hill Family cottage, honeymoon suite and private house
DAYS 4 TO 6+
Because it is the regional transport hub, today sees you return to Wilson Airport to catch your flight to Tsavo West National Park. With its eastern counterpart, Tsavo West makes up one of the biggest and most diverse conservation areas in Kenya. For three nights, Finch Hattons will be your sanctuary. Like Elsa’s Kopje, it also has a share of Kenyan history, being named after early safari explorer Denys Finch Hatton. You have over 400 000 hectares to explore here. Why we love Finch Hattons Luxury Tented Camp: See elephants made red with volcanic dust Multi-storey lookout tower for game watching Spa, boma, gym and swimming pool Dedicated children’s play area and helipad
DAYS 7 TO 8+
A short hop back to Wilson Airport sets you up for your final two nights in Kenya; this time at Ol Donyo Lodge on the Mbirikani Group Ranch, a large tract of private land adjacent to Amboseli National Park. Ol Donyo has been crafted to offer total comfort in the heart of this wilderness. Enjoy time at the log-pile hide to photograph elephants up close, get the bird shot you’ve been wanting or simply enjoy whatever wildlife comes down to drink. Why we love Ol Donyo Lodge: A night under the stars in the Sambu Suite Every room has a refreshing plunge pool Experienced riders can enjoy a horse safari Set out on an exciting mountain bike safari
DAY 9+
A week in two of Kenya’s most beautiful national parks will hopefully leave you feeling inspired, rejuvenated and refreshed. From the gentle hills and rolling grasslands of Meru to the wide rivers and craggy peaks of Tsavo West, this itinerary provides stunning backdrops for a passing parade of elephant, giraffe, zebra, hippo, leopard, lion, buffalo and so much more. Today you return to Wilson Airport in Nairobi. We can easily rustle time on one of Kenya’s sublime beaches afterwards for you.
Included*
- All activities specified
- All transfers specified
- All meals, drinks and sundowners specified
- Laundry if specified
Excluded*
- International flights
- Items from the safari shop
- Pre- and post-itinerary accommodation
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Medical insurance, tests and vaccinations where stipulated
- Tips / gratuities
* Subject to change. Your personal consultant will confirm all the details with you while helping you plan your safari to Africa so you have a full understanding of costs with no surprises.
Price Is Important
This itinerary is here to inspire you and prices may change due to availability, season and the year that you plan to travel.
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