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Safari in Kenya & Mombasa: Culture & Wildlife
From the plains of the Maasai Mara to the Swahili-influenced shores of Mombasa, this journey blends authenticity with elevated comfort.
A ten-day journey through three distinct Kenyas: the creative energy of Nairobi, the wild grasslands of the Maasai Mara, and the Swahili-influenced coast at Mombasa. Game drives and a sunrise balloon safari sit alongside gallery visits, a Rift Valley detour, and the carved doors of the old coastal towns.
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A private conservancy with just twelve tents and unrivalled lion sightings.
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A sunrise balloon safari and a champagne breakfast on the savannah.
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A Swahili coast finale, from mangroves to coral-stone alleyways.
Ideal For:
Honeymooners
Family Luxury
Culture & Conservation enthusiasts
Day to day Itinerary
Day 1 · Arrive in Nairobi
The hotel
A contemporary Design Hotels property set within Nairobi's Village Market in the leafy diplomatic district of Gigiri with easy access to the city's best galleries, restaurants and neighboring Karura Forest.
VIP benefits
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Daily breakfast
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Priority room upgrade
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Complimentary massage or visit to the Daphne Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
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Early check-in / late check-out
2:00 PM
Private transfer from the airport to Trademark Hotel, in Nairobi's Village Market district.
4:00 PM
A stroll through Karura Forest, its waterfalls, forest paths and resident colobus monkeys, all within the city.
Day 2 · Nairobi's Creative Side
10:00 AM
Art and fashion tour with a local curator, exploring Nairobi's creative scene through private ateliers and galleries.
2:00 PM
Visit to the Daphne Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to see the orphaned elephants.
7:30 PM
Dinner at one of the area's excellent restaurants, or a visit to Carnivore for its open-fire feast of various & different Kenyan meats and sides.
Day 3 · Drive to Maasai Mara
The Hotel
Hidden in a forested grove on the banks of the Ntiakitiak River inside the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy, this all-inclusive tented camp keeps just twelve tents and limits vehicles at any wildlife sighting.
VIP Benefits
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Upgrade on arrival
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Daily breakfast
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Hotel credits
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Early check-in/ Late check-out
10:00 AM
Private transfer from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara with a luxury vehicle.
3:00 PM
Check-in to Olare Mara Kempinski Masai Mara, inside the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy.
Day 4 · Into the Conservancy
6:30 AM
Game drive with a private guide, paced for wildlife photography and the chance to witness the Big Five in solitude.
Evening
Star-lit bush dinner, and an open-air bath under the African sky back at camp.
Day 5 · Sunrise Above the Mara
5:30 AM
Hot-air balloon safari at sunrise, followed by a champagne breakfast on the savannah.
Afternoon
A second game drive, or an afternoon at leisure by the pool.
Day 6 · Naivasha, Hell's Gate & Nakuru
08:00 AM
Depart for the Great Rift Valley: a boat ride on Lake Naivasha, then a walking or cycling safari through Hell's Gate National Park beneath its towering cliffs.
2:00 PM
Continue to Lake Nakuru to see its flamingos and rhino sanctuary.
Evening
Return to camp in the Mara for a final night under canvas.
Day 7 · Fly to Mombasa
The Hotel
Set in a palm garden directly on Bamburi Beach, Severin Sea Lodge has anchored Mombasa's north coast since 1972 with rounded African-style bungalows arranged around two pools and a private stretch of sand. It's a family-run, unpretentious base for the coast, from diving and windsurfing to the seafood tables of its dhow-shaped restaurant.
6:30 AM
Final morning game drive with private guide
2:00 PM
Lunch & Private bush plane from the Maasai Mara to Mombasa.
5:00 PM
Check-in to Severin Sea Lodge, set in a palm garden on Bamburi Beach.
Day 8 · Secrets of the Coast
10:00 AM
Discover the diversified region around the coastal village of Malindi. The first stop is the fascinating Mida Creek, with its numerous mangrove forests.
Afterwards, visit the ruins of Gede to learn interesting facts about the city and its former inhabitants.
The drive then leads to the small Portuguese church at Vasco da Gama Pillar, its tower set on a cliff high above the Indian Ocean.
Afternoon
Relax at the beach back at the lodge.
Day 9 · Swahili Culture
10:00 AM
Stroll through narrow alleyways lined with carved Swahili doors, coral stone houses and bustling markets.
2:00 PM
Visit a traditional village or coastal community with an anthropologist guide, learning about Swahili customs, music and crafts, ethically curated.
Day 10 · Departure
11:00 AM
Private transfer to Moi International Airport, Mombasa, for your onward flight.
Customise this Journey
Think of this as your first game drive through the itinerary, happy to circle back and add:
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More nights on the coast or in the conservancy
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A private photographer for the balloon safari
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Hiking adventures in other parts of Kenya like the amazing crater of Longonot volcano and the Great Rift Valley.
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A family-friendly wildlife conservation workshop
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An extension to Lamu or the Diani coast
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A Maasai village visit woven into the safari days
Let’s talk travel: get a personalized quote
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