Kenya In Luxury

Itinerary

• Kenya

  Kenya is the regional hub for the quintessential safari experience, featuring top game parks of Masai Mara, Samburu, Amboseli, and the beaches of Mombasa and Lamu. The country has the most modern infrastructure in the region and excellent flight connections to other countries in Africa. The "Big Five" animals of Africa can also be found in Kenya: the lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros and elephant. It is also famous for the annual migration, when millions of wildebeest head north to find fresh grass during the dry season. The migration varies yearly based on the rains, but tends to peak between mid-July to mid-September (in other months the migration moves around the Serengeti park in Tanzania.

• Amboseli

  Amboseli National Park, is 260 km (160 mi) south of Nairobi, on the Kenya and Tanzania border. It is most famous for its spectacular views of Kilimanjaro. A system of swamps makes this low-rainfall area one of the best wildlife-viewing experiences in the world. The park protects two of the five main swamps, and includes a dried-up Pleistocene lake and semi-arid vegetation. Noted in particular for its large elephant herds, Amboseli is the third most visited game area in Kenya after Masai Mara and Nakuru.

• Laikipia

  Laikipia District is located on the Equator in the central region of the country. The district has two major urban centres: Nanyuki to the southeast, and Nyahururu to the southwest. Its capital is the town ofNanyuki. Centered around the original Laikipia National Reserve, this area has become a sanctuary for elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, and a wealth of plains game, including many endemic northern species. Laikipia has become a focus for many conservation efforts.

• Masai Mara

  Masai Mara is the northernmost portion of the larger Serengeti ecosystem and features the best game viewing in the region. The small size funnels animals into a tight space, and park rules allow for off-road driving which means that guests can venture into plains covered with hundreds or even thousands of animals. Take an optional hot air balloon ride over the plains, with the opportunity for amazing pictures of the animal herds below.

• Nairobi

  Nairobiis the least expensive arrival city for flights with a full range of hotels and local attractions. Dubbed the “Safari Capital of the World,” cool, clear and cosmopolitanNairobiis the natural departure point for most safari itineraries. A city of contrasts, it is simultaneously the largest, the youngest, the most modern, the highest (1700m) and the fastest growing city inEast Africa. High-altitudeNairobienjoys a pleasant tropical climate all year round. There are ATMs and banks to stock up on cash, great restaurants, and malls where you can purchase any forgotten items.

• • Nairobi
  • Palacina Exterior

  Day 1: Nairobi

  You will receive a private airport transfer to/from the airport.

  In the event of serious illness, all travellers are covered by Flying Doctors Insurance. This covers the cost of emergency air evacuation service needed to fly back to Nairobi for treatment. This insurance does not cover the cost of medical treatment.

  Accommodation: Palacina

  Palacina is located in the tranquil gardens of the State House Valley. The boutique hotel is the ideal venue for those who wish to be centrally located but away from the traffic and noise of Nairobi. Set amongst beautiful gardens with views over the State House Valley, Palacina is the perfect location for a relaxing stay in Nairobi. Palacina is within easy access to downtown Nairobi, the Central Business District, Shopping centers, hospitals and other urban amenities. For weary travelers who have seen many a hotel room, Palacina is a breath of fresh air; offering all the luxuries of a five star hotel, with special personalized service, a relaxed atmosphere and great attention to detail. As a family owned and run hotel the core emphasis is on making guests feel at home during their stay in Nairobi in an atmosphere of understated elegance and warm hospitality.

• • Amboseli
  • Tortilis Camp Tent Lounge

  Day 2: Nairobi - Amboseli

  Today you will drive from Nairobi to Amboseli National Park.

  This afternoon you'll meet up with your guide and head out into Amboseli National Park. The park is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants. On a clear day, you'll also have spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

  Accommodation: Tortillis Camp

  The Tortilis Camp, set up in the centre of Amboseli National Park, is an extraordinary model of the level of opulence that can be reached by camps. An award-winning ecotourism lodge, the Tortilis Camp is built of 17 tents structured on raised wooden platforms. Each is accompanied by private bathrooms with rich hot spring water flowing from the veins of the landscape. The views here are unsurpassed, with elephants and other wildlife passing en masse. The campsite makes for lively dining, as animals stroll past with Kilimanjaro rising in the background. Meals are fresh and succulent, with vegetables and herbs gathered from the camp’s garden. Besides interacting with the surroundings, there is a swimming pool and an abundance of tours and bush walks.

• • Elephan & Mt Kilimanjaro

  Day 3: Amboseli

  You'll be up early this morning as you meet up with your private guide and driver for your game drive in Amboseli Park. Depending on how lucky you are with your viewing you'll usually be out in the park for a few hours before returning to the lodge.

  This afternoon you will meet up with your guide and head out into Amboseli National Park. Along with the great herds of elephants, the park is also home to cheetahs, lions, baboons, wildebeest and buffalo to name a few.

  Accommodation: Tortillis Camp
• • Laikipia Wildlife
  • Lion Cubs
  • Lodge

  Day 4: Amboseli - Nairobi - Laikipia

  If time allows, your expert guide will be fitting in one more game drives before dropping you off at the airstrip. It will be your last chance to see the park's diverse range of animals.

  Sit back and relax during this short flight departing the Amboseli Airport to Wilson Airport in Nairobi, Kenya today. The flight duration is approximately 45 minutes.

  This flight departs Nairobi (Wilson), and arrives in Loisaba, Laikipia, Kenya.

  A representative from your lodge will pick you up and transfer you between the lodge and airstrip.

  One of the best ways to view the wildlife at Loisaba is on a game drive. Whether you go early in the morning or late afternoon, you own informative guide will take you in an open vehicle across the open plains, through the bush or along the river bank viewing the wide variety of game, birds, plants and trees. Loisaba is a true big five destination with access to the Mugie Rhino sanctuary, regular sightings of Leopard, Lion, and Wildogs are possible!

  Fishing can be arranged in the river and dams all year round. Equipment, both modern and traditional can be supplied together with drinks and a picnic.

  Accommodation: Loisaba Lodge

  Loisaba Lodge & its celebrated Star beds lie at the border of Laikipia and Kenya’s Northern Frontier District, not far from Mount Kenya. Its 14 rooms, divided by open-air bedrooms that rise high into the sky, a snug cottage and a house, could make one truly believe they’ve been written into a magical novel. Sixty-thousand acres of private, untapped beauty and open land, inhabited by wildlife and all sorts of characters from a jungle book, contribute to the sheer beauty of this private escape. Local warriors guard the Star Beds and cook meals over an open fire, while other times traditional barbeque is prepared for a taste of the earth. Activities are endless, from game treks on foot to rock climbing, mountain biking, and river rafting. This is nature’s hiding place.

• • Camel Trekking in Loisaba

  Day 5: Laikipia

  Camel Safaris: The traditional mode of transport in the dry land of Northern Kenya and another great way to experience Loisaba. Short or longer walks can be arranged or as well as over night camel camps using lightweight tentage for the more intrepid. Or head out into the park on horseback! Experience the unique exhilaration of riding on the plains with a herd of zebra, walking gently through a graceful forest of giraffe or past a herd of elephant. On horseback it is possible to get unusually close to wildlife and our stable of horses have all been reared from birth in the bush so are quite accustomed to its presence. We do, however, require a reasonable degree of riding skill.

  Loisaba is immense: bigger than ten of the world's fully-fledged nations. You could take months exploring this land and never encounter the same view twice. We can assure you that you will not bump into anyone else and you will see the most extraordinary natural wonders - spectacular animal life that is wild, free and exhilarating to observe and a kaleidoscopic variety of birds, both endemic and migratory.

  Loisaba is made for adventure: guests enjoy complete freedom to choose how they spend their time so the only barrier is your own imagination. Trek through the bush with camels, mountain bike down the escarpment, raft, horseback-ride or drive through the wild canyons of the two great rivers that span the vast property.

  Accommodation: Loisaba Lodge
• • Masai
  • Cottars Camp 1920

  Day 6: Laikipia - Masai Mara

  A representative from your lodge will pick you up and transfer you between the lodge and airstrip.

  This flight departs from Loisaba, Laikipia and arrives in Nairobi (Wilson) Kenya, today.

  A representative from your lodge will pick you up and transfer you between the lodge and airstrip.

  This afternoon's game viewing will be exciting as you are searching for game with your private guide and driver. The leopard is difficult to see as it moves fast and is very shy. If you're lucky there is a good chance to spot them around water holes or up in a tree after a long, hot day.

  Accommodation: Cottars Camp

  Cottar’s Camp is an intimate family built camp located in a private reserve near the Masai Mara National Park, in Kenya. With eighty years of Safari service on their sleeves, the Cottar family leads you by the hand in exploring this diverse landscape. The camp provides tents for up to 12 guests in a relaxing setting built with a 1920's antique charm. Dining consists of local bush cuisine, often taken beside the waterfalls or on game drives. The outdoor veranda offers a stunning view of the surroundings and the opportunity to take a bush bath and perhaps a massage on the doorstep of this backdrop is swoon-worthy.

• • Leopard
  • Bateleur or Short Tailed Eagle

  Day 7: Masai Mara

  Early this morning you will meet up with others at the lodge for your game drive. Drives are typically done in the morning at 6:30am for a few hours. See if you can spot the ellusive leopard.

  The smallest of the four "big cats" the leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its range of distribution has decreased radically because of hunting and loss of habitat. It is now chiefly found in sub-Saharan Africa. Because of its declining range and population, it is listed as a "Near Threatened" species. Compared to other members of the Felidae family, the leopard has relatively short legs and a long body with a large skull. It is similar in appearance to the jaguar, but is smaller and more slightly built. The species' success in the wild is in part due to its opportunistic hunting behavior, its adaptability to habitats, its ability to run at speeds approaching 58 kilometres per hour (36 mph), its unequaled ability to climb trees even when carrying a heavy carcass, and its notorious ability for stealth. The leopard consumes virtually any animal that it can hunt down and catch. These stealthy animals are one of the prize sightings you may see in Masai Mara.

  On today’s afternoon game drive the choice is up to you: search for the Big 5 or expand your horizons to discover something different. Masai Mara not only has a rich mix of animals – it also has an incredible array of bird life with almost 450 different species.

  Accommodation: Cottars Camp
• • Lion Cubs: The Prince's of Masai Mara

  Day 8: Masai Mara

  Early this morning you will meet up with others at the lodge for your game drive. Drives are typically done in the morning at 6:30am for a few hours. See if you can spot the ellusive leopard.

  The smallest of the four "big cats" the leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its range of distribution has decreased radically because of hunting and loss of habitat. It is now chiefly found in sub-Saharan Africa. Because of its declining range and population, it is listed as a "Near Threatened" species. Compared to other members of the Felidae family, the leopard has relatively short legs and a long body with a large skull. It is similar in appearance to the jaguar, but is smaller and more slightly built. The species' success in the wild is in part due to its opportunistic hunting behavior, its adaptability to habitats, its ability to run at speeds approaching 58 kilometres per hour (36 mph), its unequaled ability to climb trees even when carrying a heavy carcass, and its notorious ability for stealth. The leopard consumes virtually any animal that it can hunt down and catch. These stealthy animals are one of the prize sightings you may see in Masai Mara.

  Your expert guide will meet you, and other guests, at your lodge for an afternoon game viewing drive in and around Masai Mara. See if you can spot lions in the park today. Lions live for 10-14 years in the wild. They typically inhabit savanna and grassland, although they may take to bush and forest. Lions are unusually social compared to other cats. A pride of lions consists of related females and offspring and a small number of adult males. Groups of female lions typically hunt together. Highly distinctive, the male lion is easily recognised by its mane, and its face is one of the most widely recognised animal symbols in human culture.

  The lion (Panthera leo) is one of the four big cats, 3 of which are found in Africa - lion, lepard, cheetah. With some males exceeding 250 kg (550 lb) in weight, lions are the second-largest living cat after the tiger. Until about 10,000 years ago, the lion was the most widespread large land mammal after humans. They were found in most of Africa, across Eurasia from western Europe to India, and in the Americas from the Yukon to Peru. However the lion is a vulnerable species, having seen a possibly irreversible population decline of thirty to fifty percent over the past two decades in its African range. Outside of designated reserves and national parks, you will rarely if ever see a lion. Although the cause of the decline is not fully understood, habitat loss and conflicts with humans are currently the greatest causes of concern. Reserves have helped to boost the lion population and help to bring back their numbers.

  Accommodation: Cottars Camp
• • Cheetah

  Day 9: Masai Mara - Nairobi

  If time allows, your expert guide will be fitting in one more game drive before dropping you off at the airstrip. It will be your last chance to see the Masai Mara’s vast plains & its diverse range of birds and animals.

  This short domestic flight departs from Masai Mara and arrives at Wilson Airport in Nairoba, Kenya today. The flight duration is approximately 45 minutes.

  Includes opportunity to visit local handicraft markets to shop for souvenirs.

  You will receive a private airport transfer to/from the airport.

  Accommodation: Depart

  Depart from Nairobi international airport - end of itinerary.

Accommodation

• Wildlife Encounters

  The leopard is an agile and graceful predator. Although smaller than the other members of Panthera, the leopard is still able to take large prey given a massive skull that well utilizes powerful jaw muscles. One of many spotted cats, a leopard may be mistaken for a cheetah or a jaguar. The leopard has rosette rather than cheetah's simple spots, but they lack internal spots, unlike the jaguar. The leopard is larger and less lanky than the cheetah but smaller than the jaguar. The leopard's black, irregular rosettes serve as camouflage. They are circular in East Africa but tend to be square in southern Africa.

• Culinary Delights

  Just because you are on safari doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice your palate. Enjoy a fusion of exotic and classic dishes such as traditional African and Cape Malay delicacies, fresh seafood served on the beach, Pan-African cuisine and authentic Indian curries.

• Pampered Indulgence

  After a hectic day of game drives, gourmet picnics, and leopard sightings, pull up a canvass chair around the fire, put your feet up on the old tree-stump stool in front of you, and indulge in the great old African tradition of the 'sundowner'. A sundowner consists of having a cocktail of your choice usually perched on a raised area (e.g., an escarpment, hill, rocky outcropping of rocks) as you marvel at the amazing African sunset.

• • Palacina Exterior
  • Moonflower Dining

  Palacina

  Palacina is located in the tranquil gardens of the State House Valley. The boutique hotel is the ideal venue for those who wish to be centrally located but away from the traffic and noise of Nairobi. Set amongst beautiful gardens with views over the State House Valley, Palacina is the perfect location for a relaxing stay in Nairobi. Palacina is within easy access to downtown Nairobi, the Central Business District, Shopping centers, hospitals and other urban amenities. For weary travelers who have seen many a hotel room, Palacina is a breath of fresh air; offering all the luxuries of a five star hotel, with special personalized service, a relaxed atmosphere and great attention to detail. As a family owned and run hotel the core emphasis is on making guests feel at home during their stay in Nairobi in an atmosphere of understated elegance and warm hospitality.

  • More information
• • Tortilis Camp - Tent Lounge
  • Tortilis Camp - Pool

  Tortillis Camp

  The Tortilis Camp, set up in the centre of Amboseli National Park, is an extraordinary model of the level of opulence that can be reached by camps. An award-winning ecotourism lodge, the Tortilis Camp is built of 17 tents structured on raised wooden platforms. Each is accompanied by private bathrooms with rich hot spring water flowing from the veins of the landscape. The views here are unsurpassed, with elephants and other wildlife passing en masse. The campsite makes for lively dining, as animals stroll past with Kilimanjaro rising in the background. Meals are fresh and succulent, with vegetables and herbs gathered from the camp’s garden. Besides interacting with the surroundings, there is a swimming pool and an abundance of tours and bush walks.

  • More information
• • Loisaba Lodge
  • Loisaba Lodge - Guest Room

  Loisaba Lodge

  Loisaba Lodge & its celebrated Star beds lie at the border of Laikipia and Kenya’s Northern Frontier District, not far from Mount Kenya. Its 14 rooms, divided by open-air bedrooms that rise high into the sky, a snug cottage and a house, could make one truly believe they’ve been written into a magical novel. Sixty-thousand acres of private, untapped beauty and open land, inhabited by wildlife and all sorts of characters from a jungle book, contribute to the sheer beauty of this private escape. Local warriors guard the Star Beds and cook meals over an open fire, while other times traditional barbeque is prepared for a taste of the earth. Activities are endless, from game treks on foot to rock climbing, mountain biking, and river rafting. This is nature’s hiding place.

  • More information
• • Cottars 1920 Camp

  Cottars Camp

  Cottar’s Camp is an intimate family built camp located in a private reserve near the Masai Mara National Park, in Kenya. With eighty years of Safari service on their sleeves, the Cottar family leads you by the hand in exploring this diverse landscape. The camp provides tents for up to 12 guests in a relaxing setting built with a 1920's antique charm. Dining consists of local bush cuisine, often taken beside the waterfalls or on game drives. The outdoor veranda offers a stunning view of the surroundings and the opportunity to take a bush bath and perhaps a massage on the doorstep of this backdrop is swoon-worthy.

  • More information

The Fine Print

• Trip Operator

  Horizon & Co. (founded in 1963), is a privately-owned leading boutique travel company. Horizon designs and stages authentic and deeply personal travel experiences that are carefully choreographed to induce a life-long memory. In addition to offering published trips on seven continents, Horizon builds private custom trips for discerning individuals and small groups.

• Contact Information

  Horizon & Co.
  Tel: 1-800-387-2977
  Email: admin@horizon-co.com
  Web: www.horizon-co.com

• What's Included:

  • Guaranteed departure - Accommodation, Activities, Transfers, Meals, Fees where indicated as per the itinerary - Local and international traveler assistance during your tour - Specialised and personalised services

• What's not Included:

  • Tips - Laundry - Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages unless explicitly noted - Optional activities/extras – Visas (unless noted) - Vacation insurance

• Trip Terms & Conditions

  • Your deposit is due immediately on booking (30% of program price, minimum $250). The balance is due 90 days prior to departure. We accept payment via credit card, certified check, wire transfer or money order.
  • Tour quotes do not include airfare to/from the trip start point unless noted on the itinerary
  • Cost increases in currency exchange, government fees, taxes, surcharges or hotel/lodge tariff increases between quote date and start date are payable by the client.
  • Availability cannot be guaranteed until booked. We will exercise best efforts to book hotels per the itinerary, however, in busy seasons and with client bookings made within 90 days of tour date we may be forced to offer substitutes.
  • Cancellations of confirmed bookings 90 days or more prior to departure will receive full refund minus a $350 (per person) administrative fee and any non-refundable paid fees (e.g. non-refundable airfare, cruise or hotel deposits). 60-89 days will be subject to loss of deposit. 30-59 days will be subject to loss of 50% of program price. 29 days or less will be subject to 100% of program price.
  • Payment of the program price constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions set out at www.horizon-co.com/terms-and-conditions
  • Living Standards and practices at destination may differ from those in North America with respect to provisions of utilities, services and accommodation.

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