Kenya Wildlife Safari

from$3799Tour + Flights
10days

per person, double occupancy* based on Nov. 8, 2018 departure from NYC

$400 Early Bird Discount. Expires Aug. 9, 2018.* All prices reflect savings.

Overview

Featuring

Nairobi, then 9 game drives in Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru & Masai Mara; Stay in deluxe Nairobi hotels & superior safari lodges

Style

Small Group Tour
18 travelers max, dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout

Departures

Scheduled Dates; select from 7 open departures, July – December 2018

Price Includes

Flights
Coach
Transfers
Hotel
Meals
Guides

Round trip airfare from New York to Nairobi, including fuel surcharges and taxes and fees
All intra-Africa land transportation and transfers
7 nights accommodations at Deluxe Nairobi hotels and Superior Class safari lodges plus day-use room on day 9
20 meals: 7 full buffet breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners, plus a special farewell lunch at the famous Carnivore Restaurant
Comprehensive sightseeing tours and game-viewing drives
All-wheel drive (4x4) safari vehicles with guaranteed window seat and access to roof hatch, maximum 6 guests per vehicle
Experienced driver/guide
Comprehensive sightseeing tours in Nairobi by local English-speaking guide
Visit Jane Goodall Chimpanzee sanctuary

Optional

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

Highlights

Nairobi, Samburu Game Reserve, Visit Jane Goodall Chimpanzee sanctuary, OL Pejeta Conservancy, Lake Naivasha & Masai Mara National Reserve

Departs

New York City (NYC); other gateways on request (flight schedule)

Themes

Active, Nature & Wildlife, Family Friendly

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 (available for 2018 departures).

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

Early Bird Discount: Save up to $400 per person if you book by Aug. 9, 2018!

Departures & Prices per person, double occupancy*
2018 DEPARTURES
	Depart / Return	Package Price	Early Bird	Early Bird Good Thru	Your Price
Departs: Thu, May 10, 2018 Returns: Sat, May 19, 2018	May 10 – May 19	$3399	–	–	–	Departed
Departs: Thu, Jun. 7, 2018 Returns: Sat, Jun. 16, 2018	Jun 7 – Jun 16	$3499	–	–	–	Closed
Departs: Thu, Jun. 21, 2018 Returns: Sat, Jun. 30, 2018	Jun 21 – Jun 30	$3899	–	–	–	Closed
Departs: Thu, Jul. 5, 2018 Returns: Sat, Jul. 14, 2018	Jul 5 – Jul 14	$4399	–	–	–	Closed
Departs: Thu, Jul. 19, 2018 Returns: Sat, Jul. 28, 2018 Book by Thu, Aug. 9, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount!	Jul 19 – Jul 28	$4899	–$400	Aug 9	$4899	Select
Departs: Thu, Aug. 2, 2018 Returns: Sat, Aug. 11, 2018	Aug 2 – Aug 11	$4999	–	–	–	Closed
Departs: Thu, Aug. 16, 2018 Returns: Sat, Aug. 25, 2018	Aug 16 – Aug 25	$4899	–	–	–	Closed
Departs: Thu, Sep. 6, 2018 Returns: Sat, Sep. 15, 2018 Book by Thu, Aug. 9, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount!	Sep 6 – Sep 15	$4899	–$400	Aug 9	$4499	Select
Departs: Thu, Sep. 20, 2018 Returns: Sat, Sep. 29, 2018 Book by Thu, Aug. 9, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount!	Sep 20 – Sep 29	$4899	–$400	Aug 9	$4499	Select
Departs: Thu, Oct. 4, 2018 Returns: Sat, Oct. 13, 2018 Book by Thu, Aug. 9, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount!	Oct 4 – Oct 13	$4799	–$400	Aug 9	$4399	Select
Departs: Thu, Oct. 18, 2018 Returns: Sat, Oct. 27, 2018 Book by Thu, Aug. 9, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount!	Oct 18 – Oct 27	$4799	–$400	Aug 9	$4399	Select
Departs: Thu, Nov. 8, 2018 Returns: Sat, Nov. 17, 2018 Book by Thu, Aug. 9, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount!	Nov 8 – Nov 17	$4199	–$400	Aug 9	$3799	Select
Departs: Thu, Dec. 6, 2018 Returns: Sat, Dec. 15, 2018 Book by Thu, Aug. 9, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount!	Dec 6 – Dec 15	$4199	–$400	Aug 9	$3799	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 you reserve. More information Want to extend your trip?

Options & Fees

Kenya Wildlife Safari
Rooming Selection
Double Occupancy	included
Single Room Supplement
May 10, 2018	+$199
Jun 21, 2018	+$299
Nov 8, 2018; Dec 6, 2018	+$699
Jun 7, 2018; Jul 19, 2018; Aug 16, 2018	unavailable
All other departures	+$899

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
Jun 7, 2018; Jul 5, 2018; Jul 19, 2018	+$1699
May 10, 2018; Aug 2, 2018; Sep 20, 2018	+$1799
Sep 6, 2018; Oct 4, 2018; Oct 18, 2018; Nov 8, 2018	+$1899
Aug 16, 2018	+$1999
Jun 21, 2018	unavailable
All other departures	+$1599
Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls) Visa Fee² (paid separately)	+$30
Rooming Selection
Double Occupancy	included
Single Room Supplement
Jun 7, 2018; Jun 21, 2018; Jul 5, 2018	unavailable
All other departures	+$199
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 City (NYC)¹	included

1. NYC departures will be from either JFK or EWR based upon availability when you make your reservation. Your flight itinerary showing which airport that you are departing from will be emailed to you in 24-48 hours.

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

We can arrange flights from many other cities. Ask us about your preferred departure city when you reserve, and we'll get back to you with the price and availability within 3 business days. Of course, you can also book your own connecting flights. More information Want to fly from another city?

How to Make a Reservation

To make a reservation, simply select an available departure date and reserve online using our secure booking system. Or call one of our travel specialists at 800-555-5765. But first, check out our Things to Know section.

We only require a per-person deposit payment, which you can pay with your credit card or PayPal account. This deposit will be applied towards the cost of your package, and is generally non-refundable (details). The balance is due 75 days prior to departure (or within 72 hours, if you're booking less than 75 days prior to departure), and can be paid by credit card, PayPal, check or money order.

Deposit
Deposit	$1600

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart USA

Depart the USA on your overnight flight to Nairobi, Kenya

Day 2: Arrive Nairobi

Accommodations: 1 night EKA Hotel Nairobi.

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

Day 3: Samburu Game Reserve

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

Travel north to the remote Samburu Reserve

After a stop for lunch, continue to your lodge, enjoying a game drive en route

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. After a stop for lunch, continue to your lodge, enjoying a game drive en route.

Day 4: 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 5: Ol Pejeta Conservancy

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

After a morning game drive and breakfast, 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 a morning game drive and 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 6: 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

Enjoy lunch at one of the lodges, followed by a game drive

Later, drive to Lake Naivasha for an afternoon boat ride 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. Enjoy lunch at one of the lodges, followed by a game drive. Later drive to Lake Naivasha for an afternoon boat ride and overnight.

Day 7: Masai Mara National Reserve

Accommodations: 2 nights Mara Intrepids 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 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.

Optional Excursion: Masai Village Tour, $25 (purchased locally). This afternoon, you can get an in-depth look at this colorful and pastoral people in their natural setting. Experience what the Masai tribal life is like as you walk through a traditional village compound. You'll be greeted by the village chief and be escorted around the village by a local host who will explain the history, culture and practices of the Masai. Before departing the village, enjoy a cultural performance by the young men of the tribe, the famed warrior "morans". Credit cards not accepted for this excursion.

Day 8: 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 have the option of replacing one safari drive with an optional balloon safari, which provides a thrilling opportunity to soar high over the plain 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 guided by your expert driver, who will amaze you with his ability to spot game hidden in the bush.

Optional Excursion: Masai Mara Hot Air Balloon Safari & Champagne Breakfast, $450 (purchased locally). Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take a balloon ride across the Masai Mara. Weather conditions permitting, your flight begins in the pre-dawn hours, when the view over the park is most magnificent. Toward the end of your adventure, you'll rise to a height of 1,500 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. Flight may not operate if weather conditions are not suitable.

Day 9: Masai Mara & Nairobi/Depart Kenya

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

Depart the Masai Mara for Nairobi

Enjoy a farewell lunch at the famous Carnivore Restaurant

Visit the Karen Blixen Museum and the Kazuri Bead factory

Stop at the Langata Giraffe Center

Transfer to the airport for your overnight return flight via Europe

If continuing on the Victoria Falls extension, overnight in Nairobi

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast, depart the Masai Mara for Nairobi and enjoy an "all you can eat" farewell lunch at the famous Carnivore Restaurant. After lunch visit the Karen Blixen Museum. Before becoming 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 Kazuri Bead factory. Kazuri, which means "small and beautiful" in Swahili, began in 1975 as a tiny workshop experimenting in making handmade beads. The factory is located on part of the former 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 them single mothers, who were in great need of regular employment.

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.

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 via Europe.

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

Day 10: 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 10: Nairobi & Victoria Falls

Accommodations: 3 nights Victoria Falls Safari Lodge 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 unrivalled 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 11: 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 12: 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 rainforest 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 13: Depart Victoria Falls

Included meals: Breakfast.

Transfer to the airport for your short flight to Johannesburg, South Africa

Check into your overnight return flight home

Day 14: Arrive USA

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

Videos

Reviews

Dave and I just got back from our trip on Monday—we had a blast! It was a great trip in every way! All of the Friendly Planet representatives in both Dubai and Kenya were helpful, pleasant and professional. We will be sure to book through Friendly Planet again!

Kathy McGuire & Dave Merrithew, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada