The Ultimate Kenya Journey
- 15 days
- Maasai Mara
Two weeks and four landscapes: the Mara plains, the Laikipia highlands, the northern deserts and the Indian Ocean.
From
USD 14,500
pp
Luxury Safari
Signature
The Mara in Style
Six nights split between the national reserve and a private conservancy, with a balloon flight and guiding of a standard that spoils you for anywhere else.
- Duration
- 7 days / 6 nights
- Main destination
- Maasai Mara
- Pace
- Easy
- From
- USD 6,850
The journey
This is the Mara done properly and slowly. Rather than racing between parks, you stay long enough to follow individual animals across days — the difference between seeing a cheetah and watching one hunt.
Three nights in a classic camp inside the reserve put you on the river for the crossings. Three more in a private conservancy buy you night drives, walking, and a fraction of the vehicles.
Highlights
- Three nights inside the reserve, on the Mara river for crossings
- Three nights in a private conservancy with night drives and walking
- Hot air balloon at dawn with a bush breakfast on landing
- A private vehicle and guide for the full six nights
Day by day
| Day | Where | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Nairobi to the Maasai Mara | Light aircraft from Wilson Airport, landing on a Mara airstrip before lunch. Afternoon game drive en route to camp, with time to settle before sundowners on the riverbank. |
| 02 | The reserve | A full day in the reserve with a packed breakfast, following whatever the morning turns up rather than working to a schedule. Return to camp through the late golden light. |
| 03 | Balloon over the plains | Pre-dawn lift-off, an hour drifting over the plains as the light comes up, and a champagne breakfast where you land. Afternoon at leisure or a second drive. |
| 04 | Into the conservancy | Transfer north to a private conservancy, game viewing along the way. The first night drive after dinner — genets, civets and often lion beginning to hunt. |
| 05 | On foot | A morning walking safari with a Maasai guide and an armed ranger, reading tracks and learning the small things vehicles drive past. Afternoon drive at your own pace. |
| 06 | A day without a plan | Yours to shape. Most guests take a long drive to a far corner of the conservancy with a picnic, and return after dark. |
| 07 | Mara to Nairobi | A final morning drive, then the airstrip and a midday flight back to Wilson, connecting to onward international departures. |
Where you stay
-
Classic tented camp, Mara reserve
River-facing tents, walking distance to the crossing points.
3 nights
-
Private conservancy camp
Eight tents across 30,000 acres, with night driving and walking permitted.
3 nights
What it covers
Included
- All accommodation on a full-board basis
- Return light aircraft flights Nairobi–Mara
- Private vehicle and professional guide throughout
- Park and conservancy fees
- Hot air balloon flight with breakfast
- House drinks at both camps
- Emergency evacuation cover
Not included
- International flights to and from Nairobi
- Kenyan visa and departure taxes
- Travel insurance
- Premium wines and champagne
- Gratuities for guides and camp staff
When to travel
July to October for the migration. January to March for predators with young and lower rates.
Where this trip goes
Other trips to consider
Signature
Amboseli & Kilimanjaro
- 5 days
- Amboseli
A short, concentrated trip built entirely around big tusker elephants and the mountain behind them.
From
USD 3,450
pp
KES 98,000 residents
Signature
Wild Kenya: Mara to Samburu
- 9 days
- Maasai Mara
Two ecosystems that could not be less alike — the Mara grasslands and the arid north — linked by a single short flight.
From
USD 7,900
pp
KES 285,000 residents