Kenya Wildlife and Beaches Safari

Kenya Wildlife and Beaches Safari - From £3,600 per person excluding international flights

Day 1

Morning arrival in to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (own flight arrangements). You will be met by our representatives at the airport and transferred to Wilson Domestic Airport for a 45 minute flight to the Masai Mara and the start of your Kenya Safari. On arrival you will be met and driven to Offbeat’s Mara Camp your base for the next 3 nights. As you drive through the Mara’s magical savannah plains you never know what you might spot on the way – plains game abound and the cats are never far away. After a late lunch you can relax in this peaceful spot before head out for an afternoon/evening game drive.

Overnight: Offbeat Mara Camp - This luxury semi-permanent tented camp is situated along the Olare Orok river, on Koyiaki Group Ranch just north of the Masai Mara Game Reserve.  This is an unspoilt part of Masailand in an area full of wildlife but is suitably far enough away from any other lodge. Its situation in the heart of the greater Mara area gives it good access to this diverse area where the migrating herds and resident game are free to roam. The Mara offers amazing game viewing throughout the year and features the annual wildebeest migration in July – September. The camp has only six large tents for a more intimate bush stay and each tent has its own en-suite bathroom with hot bucket showers, wash basins and flushing loos. The spacious tents are all furnished with large, hand made cedar beds, 24 hour solar lighting and the finest linen. Offbeat Mara Camp employs and trains local Masai guides and works with the community employing many in the camp staff. (L/D)

Days 2, 3

The next couple of days are yours to explore the wonders of the Masai Mara eco-system. You have the flexibility to choose what you want to do and see, with the possibility of day and evening game drives in the Mara Reserve as well as in the surrounding Masai lands. You can also enjoy bush breakfasts and sundowners provided by the Offbeat camp and during your stay you will also have an opportunity to mix with the local Masai community – a great experience. If you aren’t out all day you can also relax in the bar and living room tent, which is furnished with comfortable sofas, library and fully stocked bar. In the evening sit back and reflect on your days adventures by the camp fire and listen to the sounds of the wild.

Overnight: Offbeat Mara Camp (B/L/D)

Day 4

This morning you will be transferred back to the Mara airstrip for a scheduled flight to Loisaba. On arrival you will then be met by a driver/guide and transfer to Sosian Ranch, just a short drive away.  You will spend the next 3 nights of your safari here. ‘Sosian’, the Samburu word for ‘Wild Date Palm’, combines the tame with the wild; ideal for those looking for a unique and intimate bush experience. Set amid stunning scenery and overlooked by snowcapped Mount Kenya, the old ranch house sits within 24,000-acres of working ranch on the Laikipia plateau.

Overnight: Sosian Ranch - This delightful lodge is located on the renowned Laikipia Plateau and is a private working ranch. The old Ranch House, which has been lovingly restored, takes you back in time to the simple grandeur of a 1940’s ranch home with a spacious dining room, billiards & game rooms and an elegantly furnished sitting room with a large fire place. Breakfast is taken on the expansive veranda and there is also a unique stone swimming pool and pool-house for those that want to enjoy a little relaxation time. There are seven double cottages to accommodate guests and each one is individually styled with 1940’s era ranch furniture and with its ensuite bathroom, with hot shower, bath and flushing loo. (B/L/D)

Days 5, 6

On the Sosian Ranch wildlife conservation and farm management go hand in hand and guests are encouraged to participate in ranch life as well as marvel at the thriving and diverse wildlife that can be found on the property. Guests can participate in ranching activities such as dipping cattle as well as horse riding through the game filled ranch, camel safaris, day and night game drives, guided bird watching, fishing and tennis. There are some delightful waterfalls that offer an alternative swimming experience along the Euaso Narok River! Sosian actively participates in a variety of predator research projects with both collard lion and wild dog on the property along with leopard.  There is an abundance of game species on the ranch; including rare species such as Jackson’s hartebeest, Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe and more than 250 species of birdlife.

Overnight: Sosian Ranch (B/L/D)

Day 7

Today you will catch a flight back to Wilson Airport, Nairobi in time to catch an afternoon flight to the magical archipelago of Lamu for the continuation of your safari. Your 90 minute flight will take you direct to the India Ocean and the airstrip on Manda Island. Then is a half-hour boat ride from the airport to Lamu Island and your barefoot beach hideaway – ‘Kizingo’. This is the perfect place to kick-back, take to a hammock and let the sunshine and soft sea air revitalize you.

Overnight: Kizingo – This wonderfully secluded and tranquil beach lodge is a fabulous escape from the modern world. The lodge is situated at one end of a spectacular 12-kilometre beach that stretches from Kizingo (which means 'the point’ in Swahili) to the fashionable village of Shela. Kizingo. It has eight beautifully appointed bandas (thatched cottages), set well apart from each other. Each banda has a large double bed romantically draped with mosquito netting and comfortable chairs for lounging. Bamboo screens unfurl to give complete privacy. The en suite bathroom is well appointed with a flushing toilet, hot water shower, wash basin and dressing area. It has a rustic feel but is an ideal barefoot hideaway retreat (B/L/D)

Days 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Enjoy idyllic days to unwind and lounge beside the sea. Why not start with morning tea in bed and watch the fishing dhows tack south to Malindi. After a leisurely breakfast take to the beach as the swimming is excellent, both in the Indian Ocean and in the calm waters of the channel that separates Lamu from the mainland. For the more energetic there is a variety of activities including a guided tour of historic Lamu Town, excellent snorkelling, the chance to swim with dolphins (in the winter months) and cycle rides to friendly African villages on the mainland. Guests can be as private or as social as they wish, opting to enjoy fine dining on the balcony of their banda (cottage) or join other guests in the bar and the dining room with magnificent views across the bay to mainland Kenya. In the evening sit around the dinner table, set on the sand beneath a zillion stars, the only sounds are the lapping of the sea and happy chatter of other guest and your hosts Mary Jo and Louis Van Aardt.

Overnight: Kizingo (B/L/D)

Day 13

Today you will catch a flight back to Wilson Airport, Nairobi and will be met once again by an Offbeat Safaris representative. You will then be driven to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your flight home (B)