This is a short but extremely rewarding safari as it allows visitors to gain a firsthand experience of the Great Rift Valley and the vast game-rich plains of the Masai Mara. The Rift Valley lakes are famous for their abundance of birdlife and other waterfowl, while Masai Mara is home to the country’s greatest concentration of wildlife.
Added Values included: Mara Serena Lodge Hippo Pool Breakfast & Lake Elementaita Serena Camp Bird Walk.
Upon arrival, clients will be met and transferred to the Nairobi Serena Hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight at Nairobi Serena Hotel in Deluxe room on a bed and breakfast basis.
Suggested Optional Nairobi Excursions for Early morning arrivals
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust – Elephant and Rhino Orphanage
Out of Africa Excursion
(Please refer to separate local excursion rate sheet for pricing and other Nairobi local excursions).
Nairobi Serena Hotel
The Serena group is renowned for offering excellent hotel facilities throughout East Africa, and the Nairobi Serena is no exception. A member of the Leading hotels of the World, the Nairobi Serena enjoys a location on the edge of the Central Park and the City Centre. Shaded by the glorious Jacaranda, Bougainvillea and Acacia trees and surrounded by lush, manicured gardens, the hotel provides a peaceful and luxurious retreat to travellers, business-people, and famous dignitaries in a bustling city.
Leaving Nairobi after breakfast, you travel towards Kenya's fertile highlands and head down the rift escarpment on the road built by Italian prisoners of war during World War II. On the way spot the charming chapel built at the foot of the escarpment. Pass the impressive Longonot earth satellite station as you head across the valley to Narok; continue your travels across acres of wheat and barley, before reaching the Masai Mara in time for lunch. Following lunch set off on your first game drive, returning to the lodge as the sun sets. Overnight at Mara Serena Safari Lodge in Lodge room on a full board basis
Mara Serena Safari Lodge
A masterful interpretation of a traditional Masai village, Mara Serena Lodge seemingly floats on a sea of savannah. A beautiful pool looks out over the wide plains. The rooms are Masai-influenced in style yet extremely comfortable. The main dining room, where delicious meals are served, has three large domes and three small ones depicting Maasai manyattas (villages). Occasionally an African al fresco barbecue is served by the pool overlooking the Mara plains. Fresh fruit juices and cocktails, wines, spirits or liqueurs are available at the bar until late in the evening. At Serena, the views are stunning. It is on this very terrain, stretching endlessly before the lodge, that the annual migrations take place. Millions of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle pass through on their way to and from their alternative feeding grounds in Tanzania.
Following an early breakfast, depart on a morning game drive, returning to the lodge mid-morning. After lunch, and perhaps a siesta, set off on another game drive and visit to the Masai Village, returning to the lodge as the sunsets. (It is possible to pre-book an optional early morning Balloon Safari at a supplementary cost). Overnight at Mara Serena Safari Lodge in Lodge room on a full board basis.
Added value Mara Serena Hippo Pool Breakfast – (not available to clients doing a Balloon Safari – instead they will have a Bush breakfast as part of the Balloon Experience) Crown your game viewing experience in the Mara with a “Bush Breakfast” by the Mara River Hippo Pools! One cannot resist the charming “Jambo” from the chefs and Masai warriors as they welcome you to our wonderfully set breakfast buffet of cold cuts, fruits, cereals and hot dishes with eggs made to your specifications as you wait. The hippos keep you company and only say “Kwaheri” (good bye) after you have had enough.
Leaving the Masai Mara after breakfast travel across the ‘breadbasket’ of Kenya, where acres of wheat and barley litter the landscape as you head north to Narok, the district headquarters of this part of Maasailand. Now travel across the vast plains on the floor of the Rift Valley, stop en route for a picnic lunch. Keep an eye out for herds of giraffe and gazelle as you head up the Mai -Mahiu, before arriving Lake Nakuru National Park for a game drive. The national park, known for its birdlife, offers a possibility to view flamingoes. It is also home to Black and White rhinos as well as the endangered Rothschild Giraffe. Late afternoon, depart to your camp situated in Soysambu Conservancy.
Overnight at Lake Elementaita Serena Camp in Deluxe Tent on a full board basis.
Lake Elementaita Serena Camp. This Luxury Camp is located on the Soysambu Conservancy, right on the shores of Lake Elementaita. Offering a blend of exclusivity and adventure, the new camp will comprise 25 luxury tents, a dining and lounge area, spa and swimming pool enjoying magnificent views of the Lake. Soysambu Conservancy is a wildlife sanctuary that offers uniqueness whilst boasting a broad range of wildlife and bird species, it is also home to the Rothschild giraffe and is East Africa’s only breeding ground for the Great White Pelican.
Following an early breakfast, leaving the Rift Valley behind, proceed to Nairobi. Once in the city, lunch is provided, followed by a departure transfer to the airport or drop off at a city centre hotel for ongoing travel arrangements.
Added Value Lake Elementaita Serena Camp Bird walk
With over 450 bird species on the Soysambu conservancy, enjoy a bird walk led by an experienced resident naturalist.
End of our services.
Suggested Optional Nairobi Excursions on return to Nairobi ex- Safari.
Lunch or Dinner at Carnivore.
Out of Africa Excursion, Shopping trips (Please refer to separate local excursion rate sheet for pricing and other Nairobi local excursions).
- Landside meet and greet services
- Transfers as specified
- Transport for safari sector in 4x4 vehicles on a Private basis with maximum 7 passengers per vehicle
- Guaranteed window seats
- Services of experienced bilingual English-speaking driver-guides (languages including Spanish, French, German and Italian are available on request and subject to availability)
- Game drives and activities as specified in the itinerary
- All accommodation and meals as specified
- All park fees and government taxes (except Zanzibar Infrastructure Tax where applicable)
- Filtered water will be provided in safari vehicles provided.
- Travellers should bring reusable water bottles
- Internal flights (if applicable) as specified in the itinerary inclusive of all airport taxes.
- International and regional flights (except where specified)
- Airport taxes except on tickets we issue
- Passport and visa fees
- Zanzibar Infrastructure Tax (where applicable)
- Hot air balloon safaris
- Driver-guide gratuities
- Dining rooms tips and porterage
- Personal travel, baggage, and medical insurance
- Drinks, Laundry, Telephone bills and any items of a personal nature (except where specified)
Hotel Envisaged OR Similar
Nairobi - Nairobi Serena Hotel in Deluxe room
Masai Mara National Reserve - Mara Serena Safari Lodge in Lodge room.
Lake Elementaita - Lake Elementaita Serena Camp in Deluxe Tent
*Park and Reserve fees used in these rates are based on current information. Should there be increases in park and/or Reserve fees, these will be passed along for all existing and future bookings.
Cost of Extra Night Masai Mara National Reserve – Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Lake Elementaita including. game drive in Nakuru – Lake Elementaita Serena Camp available on request.
Child supplement is available on request.
Arrival Information
Earliest check-in at the arrival hotel is 14h00. Travellers arriving on early morning flights are urged to book a pre-night at the arrival hotel (at an additional cost) to avoid delays in accessing the hotel rooms on arrival.
Departure Information
- This safari returns to Nairobi at 1330 hrs.
- Travellers departing from JKI Airport on a domestic or international flight should book a flight departing later than 1630 hrs.
- Travellers with a long layover before their departure flight should consider booking a day room (at an additional cost) to refresh and repack before their international journey
Additional remarks
We may have to re-route the itinerary or accommodate in similar lodges in case of non-availability.
Prices for domestic flights, airport taxes or park fees may be changed without prior notice. This is beyond our control and any increase levied will be passed to you for existing and new bookings.
Flight times mentioned for internal flights are based on published schedules but are subject to change depending on the airline’s load factors and airstrips visited.
IMPORTANT Luggage Information
Travellers should only bring soft sided bags on safari. Luggage space in safari vehicles is limited. These bags should measure no more than the following: Height 66 centimetres Length 42 centimetres Width 28 centimetres. Soft sided bags with wheels are permitted.
If travelling on internal flights during your safari, luggage allowances are strictly enforced to 15 kilograms per person including carry-on bags.
If arriving and departing from the same city, bags can be stored in our offices for a one-time fee of AUD 94.00 (per booking, not per bag or per person) to transfer and store the bags and reconnect them with the travellers for departure.
Easter Supplement: AUD 124.00 per person per night from 18 April 2025 to 21 April 2025 inclusive.