Description
The Safari
An excellent short safari introduction to the safari world, this 3-night itinerary takes in Lakes Nakuru and Navaisha en route to the world-famous Masai Mara Game Reserve. For a complete holiday experience, add a beach stay in Mombasa, Zanzibar and Mauritius.
Day 1: London - Nairobi
Fly overnight from London Heathrow to Nairobi with Virgin Atlantic.
Day 2: Lake Nakuru
Pick up from the airport and head north into the Rift Valley and Lake Nakuru, famed for its vast flocks of flamingo. Enjoy a game drive in Nakuru National Park, home to rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo and numerous species of plain game. Lunch will be at Lake Nakuru Lodge, then continue on to Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge for dinner and overnight. (L/D)
Day 3: Masai Mara
After breakfast, head for the Masai Mara, Kenya's premier wildlife reserve. The Masai Mara is picture-book Africa; endless plains punctuated by flat-top acacia trees and home to an array of wildlife. Every year the reserve plays host to one of the world's great wildlife spectacles, the annual wildebeest migration.
Over 1.4 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra and gazelle, relentlessly tracked by Africa's great predators, migrate over 1,800 miles each year in search of rain-ripened grass. Check in to Mara Simba Lodge, home for the next 2 nights. After lunch, relax before embarking on an afternoon game drive. Why not pre-book a balloon excursion? Prices start from £239 per person. (B/L/D)
Day 4: Masai Mara
Today enjoy a morning and afternoon game drive and the opportunity to spot Africa's "Big Five": lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. (B/L/D)
Day 5: Nairobi
After breakfast, return to Nairobi for a stay at the Jacaranda Hotel (B)
Day 6: Nairobi - London
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return Virgin Atlantic flight to London Heathrow.
Departs: Tue from London Heathrow.
Mombasa Extension
After breakfast on day 5, bid farewell to the Mara and its inhabitants and head back to Nairobi to take your short flight to Mombasa. Your Mombasa accommodation is the all-inclusive Diani Sea Resort. On the south coast, where you will spend the next 3 nights.
After breakfast on day 8, transfer to Mombasa airport for your flight to Nairobi. Overnight at the Jacaranda Hotel. (B) On day 9 have an early transfer to the airport for your return Virgin Atlantic flight to London Heathrow.
Zanzibar extension
You could also extend your stay to the beautiful spice island of Zanzibar, a short flight away from Nairobi. After breakfast on day 5, return to Nairobi, arriving early afternoon at the Jacaranda Hotel for an overnight stay on a bed and breakfast basis. On day 6, transfer to the airport for your flight to Zanzibar where you will spend the next 5 nights at the Ocean Paradise esort on a half-board basis. After a relaxing time there, you will be transferred back to the Jacaranda Hotel for your last night's stay. Why not take this opportunity to explore the delights of Nairobi? On day 12, fly back to London with Virgin Atlantic.
Tour notes
- Safari departs Tue from the UK.
- Guaranteed window seat in a radio-equipped minibus accompanied by an English-speaking driver/guide on safari.
- Accommodation, transfers, park entrance fees, meals and game activities as specified in the itinerary have been included.
- Please travel with soft-sided bags on safari, 15kg limit.
- Excess luggage can be left in Nairobi at a small charge.
- Min 2 passengers for safari.