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Private Reserve Collection: Kenya all to yourself

Experience Kenya’s most intimate luxury safari lodges nestled in private reserves without the crowds and tourist caravans. You’ll meet charming hosts, expert guides and enjoy unique amenities such as sleeping under the African sky in a luxurious “Star Bed.”

Pricing starts at $6,694 per person based on shared occupancy and availability. Additional discounts are available for groups of 4 or more. Other terms and conditions apply.

day one – arrive nairobi, kenya

Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. After clearing customs and immigration checks, you are met and transferred to the Nairobi Serena Hotel.

The hotel is located a short walk from downtown Nairobi and blends a charming ambience with full five-star facilities in a surprisingly green and peaceful setting. The large and luxuriously-furnished rooms are all well appointed, with views over the lush gardens or the green expanse of Central Park. The Serena boasts one of the country’s finest health centers, the Maisha Health Club, and several restaurants catering to a wide variety of tastes, including the acclaimed Mandhari Restaurant.

The remainder of the day is at leisure and meals are on own

day two – chyulu hills

After breakfast you transfer to Wilson Airport

7:30 a.m. Depart in a scheduled flight to Chyulu Hills
8:20 a.m. You are met by Ol Donyo Wuas guides and transferred to the lodge

At Ol Donyo Wuas, Richard and Tara Bonham work with the Maasai people and through the Maasailand Preservation Trust have managed to preserve a 250,000-acre wilderness area between Amboseli and Tsavo national parks. Ol Donyo Wuas is both the Bonham’s home and a small lodge.
There are seven thatched cottages surrounding a central dining area and all but two of the cottages have their own plunge pool. All cottages have a rooftop sunbathing and sundowner area where guests can sleep out under the stars. The swimming pool is a great treat – overlooking a well-frequented watering hole, you can watch elephants drinking while you wallow in the eyelevel pool above.

After lunch, you have the choice to relax, go out on a game viewing drive or engage in other activities of your choice.

7:30 p.m. Dinner and overnight at Ol Donyo Wuas Lodge (BLD)

Day three – ol donyo wuas

You have the day to explore the activities on this private ranch in the backdrop of majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. The Chyulu Hills which dominate the land are a gazetted national park.

The activities include:

Night game viewing drives
Horse back riding and camel walks
Escorted nature/game walks
Cultural interaction with the local people

All meals and Overnight at Ol Donyo Wuas Lodge (BLD)

day four – lewa downs – borana conservancy

After breakfast you will transfer to the airstrip for a scheduled 8:30 a.m. flight to Nairobi

10:20 a.m. Connect to a scheduled flight to Lewa Downs
11:30 a.m. Met and transferred to Borana Conservancy where you arrive for lunch at Borana Lodge

In a valley which meanders out of the Laikipia Plateau onto the Samburu plains of northern Kenya, Borana is located on a private ranch and offers a tasteful retreat. The six stone, cedar and thatch cottages are set around the main house and all blend into the rugged setting. Each cottage has its own bathroom, fireplace thatched ceiling and verandah. The main house has a morning room with views over the river gorge, a drawing-room and dining area and the dramatic over-spill swimming pool is close by. Meals are of the highest quality and are hosted by the resident managers. Game viewing is conducted in open 4WD vehicles and views of Mt Kenya provide a fitting backdrop to this stunning landscape.

4:00 p.m. Afternoon game viewing drive and return to the lodge at dusk
7:30 p.m. Dinner and overnight at Borana Lodge (BLD)

days five & six – borana conservancy

You have two days to explore the conservancy.

Borana is located on a large private conservancy that has been the home of the Dyer family since the 1920’s. Having originally started the area as a cattle concern, they have now also turned their energy to conservation and are one of the country’s great success stories. They have a thriving predator population, copious herds of elephant and a plethora of plains game and smaller beasts.

The game viewing in this region really is exceptional and you can go out each day to observe it both in custom built safari vehicles and on foot. There is also a string of home reared polo ponies that are another wonderful way to explore the bush.

One of the really magic qualities of Borana is that the ranch is an accredited member of the Eco Tourism Society of Kenya, is certified organic and it plays an extremely active role in regional conservation. Michael Dyer, the oldest son, spends much of his time working with community development initiatives on health, education and environmental initiatives.

In additional to morning and afternoon game viewing drives guests have the opportunity to engage in…

Escorted game nature walks
Horse-back riding
Camel walks
Cultural interaction with the local people
Bush breakfast, lunch or dinner
Night game viewing drives

All meals and overnight at Borana Lodge (BLD)

day seven – borana – maasai mara game reserve

After breakfast you transfer to the airstrip for a scheduled 9:30 a.m. flight to Maasai Mara Game Reserve where you are met at the airstrip and transferred to Olonana Camp, your base for the next three nights.

A luxury camp idyllically nestled in the heart of Kenya’s big game country; Olonana extends a service and style reminiscent of the romantic safari era at the turn of the 19th century, and a peaceful haven from which to explore the Maasai Mara, one of nature’s most thrilling eco-systems. While retaining an old world charm, Olonana is at the forefront of eco-tourism in Kenya with solar power, bio degradable products and a wetlands project which allows for all used water to be totally recycled. The camp comprises just 14 spacious and airy en suite accommodation tents (all with 2 queen size beds, floor to ceiling mosquito net ‘windows’ and verandah) located on the banks of the Mara River, where the resident hippo pods spend their days wallowing.

1:00 p.m. Lunch at the camp
4:00 p.m. Afternoon game viewing drive and return to the camp at dusk
7:30 p.m. Dinner and overnight at Sanctuary Olonana Camp (BLD)

days eight & nine – maasai mara game reserve

You have two days to explore the reserve on morning and afternoon game viewing drives.

The jewel in Africa’s crown, Maasai Mara is host to the most spectacular array of wildlife. The open savannah, woodlands and tree-lined rivers creates an eco-system, which supports huge numbers of bird and mammal species.

Lions are found in abundance throughout the park, as are elephant, giraffe, a variety of gazelle species and zebra. Cheetah and leopard are also regularly seen and, if lucky, you may also find rhino. Game viewing is never dull in the Mara, and patience is often rewarded with unique sightings: a pride of lion stalking their prey; a solitary leopard retrieving its kill from the high branches of an acacia tree; male wildebeest sparring to attract females into their harem; or even a herd of elephant protecting their young from opportunistic predators. The annual wildebeest migration traditionally is present in the Mara from July-October and at this time nature’s dramas unfold before your very eyes at every turn.

Guests at Olonana enjoy an intimate and relaxed atmosphere where the pace of your safari can be as active or as leisurely as you wish. A wide range of ‘a la carte’ activities are offered including bush/tracking walks, Maasai walks, visits to the nearby Maasai cultural village, picnic lunches, sundowners and game viewing drives. The flexibility of Olonana allows guests to take both activities and meals as and when they wish.

There is also the option of taking a hot air balloon adventure over the Mara plains – at extra cost

All meals and overnight at Sanctuary Olonana Camp (BLD)

day ten – homeward bound

After breakfast you will transfer to the airstrip game viewing en-route

11:00 a.m. Depart in a scheduled flight to Nairobi
12:15 a.m. Met at Wilson Airport and transferred to Nairobi Serena Hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure and meals are on your own
7:00 p.m. Transfer to Jomo Kenyatta Airport for your homebound flight

The costs include:

All transfers in a private vehicle in Nairobi
Accommodation in standard twin/double bedded rooms/tents
Full breakfast throughout
Bed and breakfast at the Nairobi Serena Hotel
Full board (BLD) as indicated on safari
Tea and/or coffee with all meals
Laundry service, soft drinks, beers and house wines except at Serena Hotel
Transfers and game viewing in shared camp vehicles
All park entrance/conservation fees
All activities listed at the camps
Internal flights as quoted separately
Flying Doctors evacuation service for the duration of the trip
Government taxes and levies that are subject to change in case of increases by government/suppliers