Kenya Wildlife Safari

from$3899Tour + Flights 11days

Flights
Coach
Transfers
Hotel
Meals
Guides

price per person, double occupancy,* based on Jun 7, 2019 departure from JFK

Overview

Featuring

Nairobi, then 8 game drives in Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru & Masai Mara; Stay in superior Nairobi hotels & safari lodges, Post-tour extension to the majestic Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe

Style

Small Group Tour

18 travelers max, dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout

Departures

Scheduled Dates: 8 open departures, June – December 2019

Price Includes

Round trip airfare from New York to Nairobi, including fuel surcharges and taxes and fees
All intra-Africa land transportation and transfers
8 nights' accommodations at superior Nairobi hotels and safari lodges plus day-use room on day 10
22 meals: 8 full buffet breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners, including a welcome dinner at the famous Carnivore Restaurant
Comprehensive sightseeing tours and game-viewing drives by local English-speaking guides
All-wheel drive (4x4) safari vehicles with guaranteed window seat and access to roof hatch, maximum 6 guests per vehicle
Experienced driver/guide

Optional

Masai Mara Hot Air Balloon Safari & Champagne Breakfast
Post-tour extension to the majestic Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe

Highlights

Get a chance to see the big five and more on 8 game drives
Learn about the efforts of the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphans' Nursery
Discover how the Kazuri Bead Factory Store helps local women
See the Karen Blixen Museum, home of the author of "Out of Africa"
Stop by the Langata Giraffe Center
Visit the Jane Goodall Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Enjoy a boat ride on Lake Naivasha
Dine at the famous Carnivore Restaurant

Departs

New York Kennedy (JFK) (flight schedule)

Themes

Active, Nature & Wildlife

What to Expect

This fast-paced, partially escorted tour includes a reasonable amount of walking or hiking and requires an average level of physical fitness. This tour also includes long scenic drives between destinations, sometimes on bumpy unpaved roads and may have limited rest stops.

As Seen in

Prepare for your trip Already booked? Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more.

Savvy travelers and novices alike include Kenya on their list of dream destinations, and for very good reason. Kenya is blessed with an abundance of spectacular wildlife and lavishly gorgeous, incredibly photogenic landscapes. Everywhere you go, from the teeming cities to the plains of the Masai Mara, the people are friendly and welcoming. Tourist infrastructure is amazing, often offering white glove service where the basics of running water and electricity appear impossible to find. Game reserves are magnificent, filled with all manner of wildlife, beautiful lakes and beaches, and sweeping vistas that seem to go on forever.

With more than 50 parks to choose from in Kenya alone, it's hard to decide where to go. But everyone agrees that the Masai Mara and Samburu parks are must-visit sites. Our Kenya Wildlife Safari includes them both plus a lot more! And like all Friendly Planet tours, you'll enjoy the best of Kenya at prices that are as amazing as the country itself. Want even more iconic Africa? Extend your stay with a post-tour to the majestic Victoria Falls.

To enhance your visit to Kenya and make it more complete and memorable, we offer exciting optional excursions. These are available through your guide or tour manager and must be purchased locally. See our detailed itinerary below for full descriptions of each excursion. More information, including updates on pricing and availability, will be included with your travel documents.

Dates, Prices & Options

Departure Dates & Prices

Departures & Prices, with flights per person, double occupancy*
2019 DEPARTURES
	Depart / Return	Package Price
Departs: Fri, Mar 15, 2019 Returns: Mon, Mar 25, 2019	Mar 15 – Mar 25	$3999	Departed
Departs: Fri, Apr 5, 2019 Returns: Mon, Apr 15, 2019	Apr 5 – Apr 15	$3899	Closed
Departs: Fri, May 10, 2019 Returns: Mon, May 20, 2019	May 10 – May 20	$3899	Closed
Departs: Fri, Jun 7, 2019 Returns: Mon, Jun 17, 2019 Book by Thu, Mar 21, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount!	Jun 7 – Jun 17	$3899	Select
Departs: Fri, Jul 5, 2019 Returns: Mon, Jul 15, 2019 Book by Thu, Mar 21, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount!	Jul 5 – Jul 15	$5099	Select
Departs: Fri, Aug 9, 2019 Returns: Mon, Aug 19, 2019	Aug 9 – Aug 19	$5099	Closed
Departs: Fri, Aug 30, 2019 Returns: Mon, Sep 9, 2019 Book by Thu, Mar 21, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount!	Aug 30 – Sep 9	$5199	Select
Departs: Fri, Sep 13, 2019 Returns: Mon, Sep 23, 2019 Book by Thu, Mar 21, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount!	Sep 13 – Sep 23	$4799	Select
Departs: Fri, Sep 27, 2019 Returns: Mon, Oct 7, 2019 Book by Thu, Mar 21, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount!	Sep 27 – Oct 7	$4799	Select
Departs: Fri, Oct 11, 2019 Returns: Mon, Oct 21, 2019	Oct 11 – Oct 21	$4799	Closed
Departs: Fri, Oct 18, 2019 Returns: Mon, Oct 28, 2019 Book by Thu, Mar 21, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount!	Oct 18 – Oct 28	$4799	Select
Departs: Fri, Nov 8, 2019 Returns: Mon, Nov 18, 2019 Book by Thu, Mar 21, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount!	Nov 8 – Nov 18	$4099	Select
Departs: Fri, Dec 6, 2019 Returns: Mon, Dec 16, 2019 Book by Thu, Mar 21, 2019 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount!	Dec 6 – Dec 16	$4099	Select

If you want a few extra days to explore on your own, we may be able to arrange for you to stay later than the scheduled dates, including extra hotel nights and separate airport transfers, for an additional charge. Ask us about prices and availability when (or after) you reserve. More information Want to extend your trip?

Options & Fees

Kenya Wildlife Safari
Rooming Selection
Double Occupancy	included
Single Room Supplement
Apr 5, 2019; May 10, 2019	+$499
Mar 15, 2019; Jun 7, 2019; Nov 8, 2019; Dec 6, 2019	+$599
Jul 5, 2019; Aug 9, 2019; Aug 30, 2019; Sep 13, 2019; Sep 27, 2019; Oct 11, 2019	+$1049
All other departures	+$899

Optional Excursions
Masai Mara Hot Air Balloon Safari¹	+$430

1. Flight may not operate if weather conditions are not suitable.

Separately Paid Fees
Kenya Visa Fee¹ (paid separately)	+$50

1. All visitors to Kenya must obtain a visa. Comprehensive visa instructions will be included in the confirmation packets to all passengers. Please inquire with the Kenyan Consulate about reduced visa fees.

Optional Victoria Falls Post-Tour Extension¹
Victoria Falls Extension
Oct 18, 2019; Nov 8, 2019; Dec 6, 2019	+$1199
Apr 5, 2019; May 10, 2019; Jun 7, 2019; Aug 30, 2019; Sep 13, 2019; Sep 27, 2019	+$1299
Jul 5, 2019; Aug 9, 2019	+$1399
Mar 15, 2019; Oct 11, 2019	unavailable
Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls) Visa Fee² (paid separately)	+$30
Rooming Selection
Double Occupancy	included
Single Room Supplement	+$399
Chobe National Park, Botswana
Full Day Chobe National Park excursion with lunch³	+$195

1. The Victoria Falls extension requires that your flights be confirmed separately by the airlines. Please note that it typically takes 3 to 5 business days to confirm your extension flights with the airline, and that we will notify you immediately upon confirmation of the flights. This extension also requires a minimum of 2 passengers to operate.

2. Zimbabwe visa fee for Victoria Falls is paid locally for US passport holders: $30 for single-entry, $60 for multiple-entry. Optional excursions to Zambia or Botswana require a double or multiple entry Zimbabwe visa.

3. This excursion requires a passport and double or multiple entry Zimbabwe visa.

So that we can offer you the best deals, our packages are, like most hotels and cruises, priced based on double occupancy rooms or cabins. We charge solo travelers an extra fee to cover the extra costs of single occupancy rooms or cabins. (Consider: if you booked a $200/night hotel room solo, you would pay the $200 yourself; but if a couple booked the same room, each one would pay only $100.) But you only pay extra for the rooms or cabins, nothing else, including meals, sightseeing, tips, etc.

Want to find a roommate and avoid single occupancy fees? We can help! Learn more Why are single rooms more?

Flights & Departure Cities

Departure Airports
New York Kennedy (JFK)	included

This package includes round-trip flights from the city listed above. Please review the flight schedule, especially if you're booking connecting flights.

Want to fly from another city? Unfortunately, we do not offer flights from cities not listed, but you can book your own connecting flights. Some schedules may require an overnight in NYC prior to departure for Kenya.

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart USA

Depart the USA on your overnight flight to Nairobi, Kenya

Day 2: Arrive Nairobi

Accommodations: 2 nights Tamarind Tree Hotel, Nairobi. Included meals: Dinner.

Upon arrival in Nairobi, following customs and immigration formalities, meet our representative and transfer to your hotel.

This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at the famous Carnivore Restaurant.

Day 3: Nairobi

Included meals: Breakfast.

Visit the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

Discover how local women make handmade beads at the Kazuri workshop

Visit the Karen Blixen Museum

See the endangered Rothschild's giraffe at the Langata Giraffe Center

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast, visit the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphans' Nursery, where young orphaned elephant babies are hand-raised until they are released back to their natural habitat in the Tsavo National Park. Here they are able to mingle freely with the wild community.

After lunch on your own, continue to the Kazuri Bead Factory Store, where the guide will explain the hand-making process. Founded in 1975 by Lady Susan Wood, the factory started as a tiny workshop experimenting in making handmade beads, only employing two Kenyan women and today has grown to employ many other women, most of them single mothers. Then, visit the Karen Blixen Museum, which is the former home of "Out of Africa" author Karen Blixen and served as the farm house for her 4500 acre farm from 1917-1931.

Later, visit The Langata Giraffe Center, established to protect the endangered Rothschild's giraffe. There are also several warthogs which roam freely with the giraffes. Guests may feed the giraffes from a raised feeding platform. Return to the hotel for remainder of the day at leisure.

Day 4: Samburu Game Reserve

Accommodations: 2 nights Samburu Intrepids Tented Camp. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Travel north to the remote Samburu Reserve arriving at the lodge for lunch

Enjoy an afternoon game drive and dinner at the lodge

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast, travel north to the remote Samburu Reserve. This is the homeland of the nomadic Samburu people, whose culture attaches great value to tending their livestock of cattle, sheep, goats and camels as their main economic activity. The Samburu people dress is dramatic with bright reds, braided hair and skin daubed in red ochre.

Samburu is rich in species not seen in southern Kenya's more famous parks, such as Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, beisa oryx and gerenuk. You'll also have a good chance of spotting lions, cheetahs and the elusive leopard. The semiarid landscape is dramatic, with the rugged outcrop known as Mt. Ololokwe a prominent feature. Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch. This afternoon, depart on a game drive returning to the camp as the sun sets.

Day 5: Samburu Game Reserve

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Morning game drive

Lunch, followed by some free time to relax

Early evening game drive

Full Day Itinerary: Enjoy another day of game viewing drives in the Samburu Game Reserve during two safari drives, one in the morning and another in the early evening, in a safari vehicle with roof hatch access for perfect game viewing and photography. Guided by your expert driver, enjoy searching for animals native to this fascinating and beautiful area.

Day 6: Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Accommodations: 1 night Sweetwaters Tented Camp, Ol Pejeta. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Depart for Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at your camp

In the afternoon, visit the Jane Goodall Chimpanzee sanctuary followed by a game drive

This evening, sit by the lit waterhole to view the animals

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast, depart for the 90,000 acre Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The conservancy is situated on the equator, in Kenya’s Laikipia District, between the foothills of the Aberdares and the snow-capped Mount Kenya. The conservancy hosts a large variety of animals, including Grevy’s zebra, Jackson’s hartebeest, cheetah and chimpanzee. Enjoy lunch at your camp. In the afternoon, visit the Jane Goodall Chimpanzee sanctuary followed by a game drive. In the evening sit by the lit waterhole to view the animals.

Day 7: Lake Nakuru & Lake Naivasha

Accommodations: 1 night Naivasha Sopa Lodge, Lake Naivasha. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Early this morning, travel to Lake Nakuru National Park

Stop for a picnic lunch, continue to Lake Naivasha arriving at your lodge

Enjoy an afternoon boat ride on Lake Naivasha, dinner and overnight

Full Day Itinerary: Early this morning, travel to Lake Nakuru National Park. Travel south through the town of Naromoru and then head west via Nyahururu (still known to many as Thompsons Falls). This park is a rhino sanctuary, offering the rare opportunity to see these endangered animals. It's also home to rare Rothschild's giraffes, buffalo, leopards and lions. Stop for a picnic lunch. Drive to Lake Naivasha arriving at your lodge. Check in and then enjoy an afternoon boat ride, dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Masai Mara National Reserve

Accommodations: 2 nights Mara Intrepids Tented Camp, Masai Mara Reserve. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

After breakfast, head out for the Masai Mara National Reserve

Enjoy lunch at your lodge, then relax

Later this afternoon, take your first game drive in the Masai Mara

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast, head out for the Masai Mara National Reserve, which borders Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. Every year, between July 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 grassy plains and lush landscape offer a huge variety of game including lions, cheetahs, buffalo and abundant bird life such as ostriches, cranes and storks. Enjoy lunch at your lodge, then relax until later this afternoon when you'll take your first game drive through this haven of wildlife.

Day 9: Masai Mara National Reserve

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Morning game drive, or take an optional hot air balloon safari

Lunch at the lodge, followed by some free time to relax

Late afternoon game drive

Full Day Itinerary: Today you will take two safari drives, one in the morning and another in the early evening, in a safari vehicle with roof hatch access for perfect game viewing and photography.

You'll have the choice for an early morning Hot Air Balloon safari, which provides a thrilling opportunity to soar high over the plains for animal viewing from above. Whether you go by air or land, you will enjoy searching for animals native to this fascinating and beautiful area accompanied by your expert guide, who will amaze you with his ability to spot game hidden in the bush.

Optional Excursion: Masai Mara Hot Air Balloon Safari and Champagne Breakfast $450 (if purchased locally, $430 if pre-booked).

Take to the sky over herds of wildlife in the Masai Mara game reserve, flying in a hot air balloon. The balloon can soar over the most inaccessible and undisturbed parts of the reserve and offers a bird's eye view of the plains below. After an hour or so in the air, your safari finishes with a champagne breakfast in the bush. This is certain to become a once in a lifetime experience you will remember long after returning from Kenya! Flight may not operate if weather conditions are not suitable.

Day 10: Masai Mara & Nairobi/Depart Kenya

Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Hotel, or similar, Nairobi (day-use room). Included meals: Breakfast & lunch.

Depart the Masai Mara for Nairobi

Enjoy a farewell lunch at a local restaurant

Transfer to the airport for your overnight return flight

If continuing on the Victoria Falls extension, overnight in Nairobi

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast, depart the Masai Mara for Nairobi and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Then, transfer to your day-use room to relax and freshen up before your return flight. Finally, bid farewell to Kenya as you transfer to the airport for your return flight.

If continuing on the optional Victoria Falls post-tour extension, you will overnight in Nairobi and continue on the extension itinerary below.

Day 11: Arrive USA

Arrive in the USA today

Victoria Falls Post-Tour Optional Extension

Why not take advantage of your already-included international airfare to visit Victoria Falls, one of the world's most spectacular natural wonders. You'll return to the U.S. 4 days after the return dates shown.

Day 11: Nairobi & Victoria Falls

Accommodations: 3 nights Elephant Hills Resort or similar.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Victoria Falls

Remainder of the day at leisure

Full Day Itinerary: This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Victoria Falls. You'll soon discover why this UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered one of the greatest natural wonders—and the largest curtain of falling water in the world! Located at the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, Victoria Falls consists of numerous falls separated by islands in the river below. The Zambezi River spills more than 2 million gallons per second over the Bakota Gorge, casting multiple rainbows and resulting in an awe-inspiring display of raw power unrivaled by other natural wonders. The tremendous roar of the water and the ever-present cloud of spray give the falls their local moniker, "Smoke that Thunders."

Check into your award-winning safari lodge, located high on a plateau bordering the Zambezi National Park. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure at one of the hotel swimming pools or game-viewing platforms. Elephants, buffalo and other wild animals often graze on hotel lawns.

Day 12: Victoria Falls

Included meals: Breakfast.

Guided tour of Victoria Falls

Sunset cruise on the Zambezi River

Full Day Itinerary: Your exploration of the falls begins with a guided tour of the Zimbabwe side.

Later today, experience the glorious falls from an up-close vantage point as you set sail on a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. Be on the lookout for hippos, monkeys, elephants, and crocodiles that frequent the waters and the surrounding areas.

Day 13: Victoria Falls

Included meals: Breakfast.

Day at leisure or partake in an optional full day excursion to Chobe National Park

Full Day Itinerary: Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore this magnificent natural wonder on your own on the well-marked trails through the rain forest that wind up to and around the falls. The trails allow for excellent picture-taking from a variety of vantage points (be sure to protect your camera if it's not waterproof). There are a wide range of optional excursions available locally on request basis including game drives, walking safaris, bungee jumping, and more. We recommend the full day tour of Chobe National Park in Botswana.

Optional Excursion: Chobe National Park, Botswana, $195. Take advantage of an optional full day excursion to the Chobe National Park in Botswana, renowned for its large elephant population. Begin the day with a safari boat cruise on the Chobe River. Afterwards, enjoy lunch at the Chobe Game Lodge and end the day with an afternoon game drive in an open vehicle. This excursion requires a passport and double or multiple entry Zimbabwe visa.

Day 14: Depart Victoria Falls

Included meals: Breakfast.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Nairobi, Kenya

Check into your overnight return flight home

Day 15: Arrive USA

Your memorable African adventure ends as you touch down this morning in New York

Hotels

Elephant Hills Resort

First Class

Elephant Hills Resort is situated on a small hill overlooking the Zambezi River, 2.5 miles upstream from the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. In this prime wilderness location, you can relax in total comfort and luxury while still experiencing the African wildlife.

More information

In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.