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Map of Kenya Family Safari including Kenya

Discover the wonderful animals and people of Kenya on this family safari holiday.

Swap the hubbub of Kenya's capital for the calls of flamingos, zebras and rhinos as you journey from Nairobi to Masai Mara. The impressive Great Rift Valley and Lake Naivasha make an unforgettable backdrop as you camp out under the stars. Trek across the plains in search of Africa's largest residents, including lions, cheetahs and elephants. Spend time with the Masaai people and experience their fascinating tribal culture. Witness conservation projects that help protect animals from harm and extinction.

Start
Nairobi, Kenya
Finish
Nairobi, Kenya
Destination
Kenya
Style
Basix
Theme
Family, Wildlife
Code
YGFK
Physical rating
Ages
Min 5
Group size
Min 2, Max 16

Why you'll love this trip

  • Venture into the incredible Masai Mara National Reserve for a full-day game drive

  • Make friends with warriors of the Maasai tribe around the camp fire; they'll be on guard for lions while you and your family camp overnight

  • Get a taste of Nairobi, an exciting, cosmopolitan city of sterling restaurants, cafes and museums

  • Keep your eyes peeled for black and white rhinos on an adventure through Lake Nakuru National Park

  • Encounter colourful birds and herds of zebra on a walk around Crater Lake

  • You and your family will be in excellent hands for the duration of your trip, travelling with a crew of three experienced locals – a leader, driver and cook

Is this trip right for you?

  • Please take into consideration if you are travelling with younger children that the going can be slow over the long distances and often bumpy roads. A little bit of patience will go a long way towards your enjoyment of this beautiful land! Some days have driving times of 6-7 hours. Furthermore there will be early mornings, when Africa is at its best.

  • This is a participatory camping trip and everyone will embrace the team spirit by helping with camp setup, food preparation and cleaning. You and your family will be putting up and taking down your tent as you move from place to place.

  • In Loita Hills (Day 5) you will stay in a bush camp with no shower facilities. The rewards of experiencing the Maasai culture, however, should more than make up for the lack of creature comforts.

  • Our purpose-built overland vehicles allow for excellent game viewing, equipped with large sliding windows. They have no air-conditioning, however, so they can get dusty and hot at times.

Masai tribe jump in red robes
Giraffe family in the Masai Mara in Kenya
Young lions play in the Masai Mara
Traveller jumps with Masai Tribe
Herds of zebras and wildebeest migrate in the masai mara

Itinerary
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Jambo! Welcome to Kenya. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 5pm. You can arrive at any time as there are no activities planned until this important meeting. Please ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time for this, consider arriving a day early so you are able to attend. If you are going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have these to give to your leader.

If you arrive early, perhaps head out and explore the National Museum of Kenya, the Karen Blixen Museum or the highly recommended Bomas of Kenya where traditional homesteads of several Kenyan tribes are displayed at an outdoor village.

Notes: Petty theft is common in Nairobi. As a general rule, the safest place for your valuables is on your person in a neck wallet or money belt. Your hotel room or reception may also have a safe in which to store things. If you do decide to go exploring, make sure you get local advice on where it is and isn't safe to walk – particularly for later in the day. Be careful not to leave bags unattended on chairs or the floor when you're in a bar or restaurant. Without being paranoid, appearing vigilant is a great deterrence to would-be thieves. Also, make scans of important travel documents and email them to yourself – this will save you hours of time in paperwork if anything does happen.
Accommodation
  • Heron Court Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Today will be a long day of adventuring. After breakfast, you will visit Langata Giraffe Sanctuary. This conservation project allows you to see the animals up close while learning more about them and their plight in the modern world. 

After lunch, head out of Nairobi towards Lake Nakuru (approximately 4-5 hours), arriving in time to pitch a tent at the campsite before the sun goes down.

The alkaline waters of Lake Nakuru once supported an extremely large colony of flamingos – estimated to be up to two million strong! Over the course of the year the lake changes size considerably, shrinking to its smallest in March at the end of the dry season, and changing the type of birdlife and wildlife that inhabit the area. Unfortunately changes in water levels and chemical concentration caused the permanent population of flamingos to move elsewhere in the 1970s, however the lush area around the lake remains known for its bird life.
Accommodation
  • Nakuru Camp site (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Nairobi - Langata Giraffe Sanctuary
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Head out on an early morning game drive around Lake Nakuru. Keep a lookout for the white rhinos that can often be found around the shores.

Afterwards, encounter friendly locals on a village visit before moving on to Lake Naivasha (approx: 2-3 hour drive). Lake Naivasha is a birdwatcher's paradise with floating islands of papyrus reeds. Afternoon wind and storms can cause the lake to become suddenly rough and produce high waves. For this reason, the local Maasai christened the lake Nai'posha meaning 'rough water’, which the British later misspelt as Naivasha.

There is an option to hire a bike and pedal around the lake this afternoon if you wish to stretch your legs after the drive.
Accommodation
  • Fish Eagle Inn (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Lake Nakuru - Village walk
  • Lake Nakuru - Overland Vehicle Game Drive
Optional Activities
  • Lake Naivasha - Bike hire - USD12
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

After a camp breakfast, head towards Crater Lake and take part in a guided walk along one of the many trails. The waters of the lake draw a great range of game. Giraffes wander among the acacia, buffaloes wallow in the swamps and Colobus monkeys call from the treetops, while the lake’s large hippo population while away the day in the shallows. The walk takes 3 hours and we recommend you bring with you good sturdy foot wear. It is an easy walk. We will also hit the water for a boat ride across this vast lake.

The afternoon is free to relax around the camp and take advantage of the swimming pool. 
Accommodation
  • Fish Eagle Inn (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Lake Naivasha - Game Walk in Crater Lake Game Sanctuary (entrance fee)
Optional Activities
  • Lake Naivasha - Hell's Gate NP (Game Drive) - USD40
  • Lake Naivasha - Boat trip - KES4000
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
The Crater Lake game walk and Hell's Gate National Park will also incur a USD50 transport fee per vehicle. The boat trip is for one hour and no additional fees are required.

Depart Lake Naivasha, making a short stop in Narok to do a spot of food shopping. Continue to Loita Hills (approximately 5-6 hours), stopping for lunch en route. Today's drive crosses the Great Rift Valley, Africa's immense and spectacular great divide, and takes you into the remote region of Loita Hills. This is the home of the traditional Maasai people. Visit the Maasai, who are known for their vibrant red dress and elaborate jewellery, and gain an insight into the culture and ancient ways of this proud East African community. After setting up your tent, meet your Maasai hosts. A local elder will deliver a fascinating talk about the Maasai and their history and culture. You'll be shown around a traditional Maasai home and see where the resident cattle are kept. Showers, upgrades and WiFi are not available at tonight's bush camp.
Accommodation
  • Loita Hills Campsite (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Loita Hills - Cultural talk and village visit
  • Loita Hills - Maasai Village Visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Travel from Loita to Masai Mara (approximately 1-2 hours). The road is dusty when dry, and could be slippery and soft when wet, so the going may be slow. The Masai Mara is the quintessential African experience, with sparse open plains, dramatic skies and some of the world's most tremendous animals. After setting up camp, sit down to some lunch, then travel in our 4x4 for a 3 hour game drive through the wilderness of the Mara.

Your campground tonight is located outside of the national reserve and has flush toilets and showers. There is an option to upgrade, depending on availability. WiFi is not available here.
Accommodation
  • Mara Springs Camp (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Masai Mara - 4x4 Game Drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Rise early and venture into the Masai Mara National Reserve for a full day of game driving (6hours). Explore this diverse environment and see a multitude of wildlife. Return to camp for lunch by the side of the Mara River – a great chance to spot crocs and hippos. Relax during the heat of the day before setting off again in the afternoon, expecting to return to camp around sunset.  We'll stop en-route for a picnic lunch.
Accommodation
  • Mara Springs Camp (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Masai Mara - 4x4 Game Drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Cross the plains of the Mara and climb the Rift Valley’s eastern wall past Mount Suswa on the return drive to Nairobi (approximately 6 hours). En route there may be opportunities to stop and make some final purchases. Once back in Nairobi perhaps enjoy a final dinner with the group in a local restaurant and reflect on this incredible African adventure.

If you're flying out today, please book a flight after 6:00pm.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners

Transport

Overland truck, 4 x 4 safari vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night), Cottage (2 nights), Camping with facilities (4 nights)

Included activities

  • Nairobi - Langata Giraffe Sanctuary
  • Lake Nakuru - Village walk
  • Lake Nakuru - Overland Vehicle Game Drive
  • Lake Naivasha - Game Walk in Crater Lake Game Sanctuary (entrance fee)
  • Loita Hills - Cultural talk and village visit
  • Loita Hills - Maasai Village Visit
  • Masai Mara - 4x4 Game Drive

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Kenya Family Safari trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.
3. Minimum age for children on this trip is 5 years old.
4. A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 years and under at time of travel.

Essential trip information

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