8 days from $2099*

Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, great hotels, transfers, many meals, touring and more!

Who wouldn't include Kenya on their "bucket list" of places to see? The legendary game reserves are filled with magnificent wildlife and offer sweeping vistas that seem to go on forever. Everywhere you go, from the teeming cities to the plains of the Masai Mara, the people are friendly and welcoming. Enjoy your own "Out of Africa" experience and visit Karen Blixen's home.

And as always, in true Friendly Planet style, we've managed to package a dream vacation at a price that is unbelievable, even to us. Your 8-day visit to Kenya includes airfare, great hotel and lodge accommodations, daily buffet breakfast, lunches and dinners on safari, transfers, game drives and more.

Afterwards, take advantage of your already-included international airfare for an optional extension to Dubai. This glitzy city is bigger and grander that anything you can imagine, yours for less than a trip to Las Vegas!

Itinerary at a Glance

Kenya Safari Express Day Destination 1 Depart USA 2 Nairobi 3 Nairobi 4 Nairobi & Lake Naivasha 5 Masai Mara Game Reserve 6 Masai Mara Game Reserve 7 Masai Mara & Nairobi 8 Nairobi/USA Dubai Optional Extension 7 Nairobi/Dubai 8 Dubai 9 Dubai 10 Dubai/USA

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Depart USA. Depart from JFK this morning on your overnight flight to Kenya.

Day 2: Nairobi. Upon arrival, our representatives will assist you with passport and customs formalities and escort you to your hotel. After a pre-safari briefing, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to explore on your own. Nairobi Safari Club

Day 3: Nairobi. This morning, visit the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphans' Nursery, where young orphaned elephant babies are hand-raised until they are released back to the natural habitat in the Tsavo National Park, where they mingle freely with the wild community.

Continue your tour at the Karen Blixen Museum. Prior to opening as a Museum in 1991, the house and surrounding 4500 acre farm were owned by "Out of Africa" author Karen Blixen from 1917 till 1931.

Continue to The Langata Giraffe Center, established to protect the endangered Rothschild Giraffe. There are also several warthogs which roam freely with the giraffes. Guests are permitted to feed the giraffes from a raised feeding platform.

Also, visit the Kazuri Bead factory. Kazuri, which means "small and beautiful" in Swahili, began in 1975 as a tiny workshop experimenting on making handmade beads. The factory is located in what used to be part of the Karen Blixen Estate. Its founder, Lady Susan Wood, started with two Kenyan women and soon discovered that there were many other women in the villages around Nairobi, most of whom were single mothers, who were in great need of regular employment. (B)

Day 4: Nairobi & Lake Naivasha.After breakfast, depart Nairobi, travelling west through Kenya's fertile farmlands and into the Great Rift Valley. Arrive at your lodge, set amidst Acacia trees, overlooking Lake Naivasha. After lunch, your safari begins with an afternoon boat ride on Lake Naivasha to view the multitude of birds and wildlife. You may see the majestic fish eagle, kingfishers, egrets and other African species of birds, as well as hippo, giraffe, buffulo, zebra and waterbuck wandering along the shores of the lake. You may also see some playful black and white colobus monkeys in the tall yellow acacia trees. Naivasha Sopa Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 5: Masai Mara Game Reserve. After breakfast, depart for the Masai Mara. This park offers wonderful scenery and plenty of game viewing. It is perhaps the only region remaining in Kenya where the visitor can see animals in the same abundance and variety as existed a century ago. Here among the grassy plains and lush landscape, you'll find lions, cheetahs, buffalo and abundant bird life such as ostriches, cranes and storks.

Every year, between June and September, millions of wildebeests and zebras migrate into the Mara in search of water. The timing of this phenomenon varies, depending on the rains, but they usually start heading back to the Serengeti in October. Whether you see the migration or not, the Mara almost guarantees you'll enjoy a magnificent time in Kenya. Enjoy lunch at your lodge then relax until later this afternoon when you'll take your first game drive through this haven of wildlife, lasting until sunset. Mara Sopa Lodge or similar (B,L,D)

Day 6: Masai Mara Game Reserve.Continue your discovery of the many species of game in the park today on two drives, one this morning and another later in the afternoon. During your game drives, you may see a variety of antelope, including wildebeest, Thomsons and Grant gazelles. The "Big Five" are found in the Masai Mara as well as cheetahs and bat-eared foxes and many other varieties of wildlife. After lunch, enjoy some leisure time at the lodge, including a refreshing swim in the pool. This afternoon you'll have an optional opportunity to visit a Masai Village for an in-depth look at this colorful and pastoral people in their natural setting ($25). (B,L,D)

Balloon Safari Adventure (optional): Early this morning, you'll have an opportunity to take an optional balloon ride across the Masai Mara. Weather conditions permitting, your Balloon Safari begins in the pre-dawn hours, a time when the magnificent view over the park is most thrilling. Toward the end of your flight, you'll rise to a height of 1500 feet for a panoramic view of the twisting Mara River and the savannah below. After an hour or so in the air, your safari finishes with a champagne breakfast in the bush, cooked on the balloon's burners. ($425)

Day 7: Masai Mara & Nairobi. Enjoy the last morning of your Africa adventure. After a leisurely breakfast, depart for Nairobi in the mid-morning, arriving in the mid-afternoon. Visit the famous Masai Market at Village Market Mall for a late lunch or early dinner and some last minute shopping. Mingle with diplomats, ex-pats and locals enjoying the start of the weekend. In the early evening, transfer to the airport to check in for your return flight to the USA via Dubai. Or, take advantage of your already-included airfare on our 3-night optional Dubai extension. (B)

Day 8: USA. Continue to the USA arriving at JFK International Airport later this morning.

Dubai Optional Extension

Why not take advantage of your already-included international airfare...

Day 7: Nairobi/Dubai. Enjoy the last morning of your Africa adventure. After a leisurely breakfast, depart for Nairobi in the mid-morning, arriving in the mid-afternoon.  Visit the famous Masai Market at Village Market Mall for a late lunch or early dinner and some last minute shopping. Mingle with diplomats, ex-pats and locals enjoying the start of the weekend. In the early evening, transfer to the airport to check in for your overnight flight to Dubai. Fairmont Hotel (B)

Day 8: Dubai City Tour. Upon arrival, our representatives will assist you through visa and customs formalities and escort you to your waiting coach for the short transfer to your award-winning, centrally located hotel. Your rooms have been booked from the night before for a guaranteed early check in. After a late breakfast, your tour manager will conduct a short orientation meeting at your hotel to review the activities available during the next few days. You will have an opportunity to arrange optional tours if you wish, or spend your time in Dubai exploring on your own. After the meeting, it's time to board your touring coach and begin your tour of the city. Stop at Dubai's picturesque Creek, which divides the city into two parts, the Deira on the northern side and Bur Dubai to the south. Next stop is the Bastakiya district, where traditional courtyard houses, with characteristic wind towers that cleverly catch the breezes to cool the houses, line the narrow alleys. Continue to the Dubai Museum, housed in the massive, restored Al Fahidi Fort.

The highlight of your city tour is a chance to take one of Dubai's most reliable and inexpensive forms of transportation, the Abra Water taxi. Your touring coach will be waiting as you disembark from your water taxi to take you back to your deluxe hotel. Lunch is on your own, either at your hotel or in one of the many restaurants around town.

This evening, we recommend an optional dinner cruise by dhow boat on the Dubai Creek. Live entertainment and a magnificent view of both sides of Dubai Creek illuminated by night add to the charm of this wonderful way to end your first day in Dubai ($63). (B)

Day 9: Dubai. Today is yours to explore the city and all it has to offer. Your deluxe hotel is located near the Burj Dubai, which will be the tallest building in the world once it is completed. Take time to visit the Mall of the Emirates, where you'll have a chance to don ski jacket, boots, gloves and hat and take to the indoor ski slopes. The temperature here is a cool, 32 degrees while outside, it might be 100!

Or, if you are in the mood for adventure this afternoon, set out on an optional desert safari tour, where you'll discover the vastness and stark beauty of the sand dunes that surround Dubai. You'll also enjoy a BBQ dinner and live belly-dancing entertainment on this exciting optional tour ($76 per person). (B)

Day 10: Dubai/USA. Transfer to the airport to board your return flight to the USA. Arrival at JFK International Airport in New York later this afternoon.

Add extra charges for Dubai Optional Extension

Destination FAQs

Quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Kenya.

Quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Dubai.

Kenya Safari Express
Included Features

• Round trip airfare from New York (JFK) via award-winning Emirates Airlines, including fuel surcharges (flight schedule)
• Accommodations at a deluxe Nairobi hotel and superior safari lodges
• Game-viewing drives with experienced drivers/game spotters, with guaranteed window seat and access to pop-up roof hatch (7 guests max per vehicle)
• Boat safari on Lake Naivasha
• Comprehensive sightseeing tours in Nairobi escorted by local, English-speaking guides
• All transfers & land transportation
• 5 full buffet breakfasts (B), 3 lunches (L), 3 dinners (D)

Dubai Optional Extension

• 3 nights accommodations at deluxe Fairmont Hotel
• All transfers
• Lavish buffet breakfast daily in Dubai
• Guided Dubai City tour
• Optional tours available

Kenya Safari Express Departures & Prices* Depart Return Book by Sep 8 After Sep 8 2010 DEPARTURES Sep 4 Sep 11 $2329 Sep 11 Sep 18 $2299 $2599 Sep 18 Sep 25 $2329 $2639 Sep 25 Oct 2 $2329 $2629 Oct 2 Oct 9 $2329 $2629 Oct 9 Oct 16 $2229 $2529 Oct 16 Oct 23 $2229 $2529 Oct 23 Oct 30 $2229 $2529 Oct 30 Nov 6 $2099 $2399 Nov 6 Nov 13 $1999 $2299 Nov 8 Nov 15 $2029 $2329 Nov 10 Nov 17 $2099 $2399 Nov 13 Nov 20 $1999 $2299 Nov 15 Nov 22 $2029 $2329 Nov 17 Nov 24 $2099 $2399 Nov 20 Nov 27 $1899 $2199 Nov 27 Dec 4 $1899 $2199

Tour prices are per person, double occupancy, including airfare. Prices in red reflect an early booking discount if you reserve by Sept. 8, 2010. * Prices do not include Additional Taxes, Fees & September 11th Security Fee for this tour of $110.

Because of the special nature of this deal, the deposit for this this tour is $600/person.

As of April 28, prices have increased $30 per person due to an increase in the fuel surcharge of Emirates Airlines.

Important Visa Information: A passport with a minimum validity of six months and a visa is required for entry into Dubai. If you are traveling on any of the following passports, you may enter Dubai on a free visa that we obtain on your behalf upon arrival: U.S., Canada and select other countries (contact us for details).

All other passport holders will require a visa prior to arrival which our representatives in Dubai will arrange on your behalf. The cost for this visa is $145 per person. We will send you forms and instructions if you require this type of visa.

Taxes & Fees Service Price Additional Taxes, Fees & September 11th Security Fee +$110 Kenya Visa (paid separately) +$50

Options & Upgrades Service Price Dubai Extension   Nov 17 unavailable All other departures +$599 Single Occupancy Rooms Kenya Safari Express +$399 Dubai Extension   Nov 17 unavailable All other departures +$299 Single room supplement for IAH, LAX, & SFO departures pre night in Dubai** +$99

* Because of Emirates Airlines flight schedules, passengers departing from Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Houston will depart one day earlier and require an additional night in Dubai, connecting to Nairobi the following morning. This fee covers the cost of the extra hotel night

DEPARTURE AIRPORTS Gateway Price New York Kennedy Intl (JFK) included Houston (IAH) +$290 Los Angeles Intl (LAX) +$290 San Francisco Intl (SFO) +$290

Departure airport prices subject to availability and may cost more based on flight availability at the time of booking.

Coming from somewhere else? Unfortunately, we don't offer departures from other cities for this tour, but you can book your own connecting flights separately.

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* Prices shown are good while inventory lasts, may reflect an early booking discount, and do not include Additional Taxes, Fees & September 11th Security Fee.

Though we do our best to provide accurate and up-to-date information on our site about our tours, sometimes oversights and typographical errors can occur. Please confirm all tour prices and details with us via email or phone prior to booking. We will not be held responsible for misunderstandings arising from such errors.