Offering balance, authenticity and a range of simply phenomenal locations, this luxury private safari makes a wonderful introduction to Kenya’s wildlife. Guided by some of the best naturalists in the business, discover the natural wonders of Lewa, the Masai Mara and Shompole, while having the opportunity to engage with important conservation and community projects.
While virtually any time of year is interesting and productive from a wildlife perspective, do note that there is more rain from March to May and from November to December. The Mara’s Great Migration is best observed from July to September.
Price depends on the experiences and accommodation included, and your time of travel. It is based on two adults travelling for 10 nights and does not include international flights.
1 night at Giraffe Manor, 3 nights at Lewa House, 3 nights at Ngare Serian, 3 nights at Shompole Wilderness
What makes this safari special?
- Privately guided by some of Kenya’s top naturalist guides, you’ll experience a spectacular diversity of habitats and the wildlife that inhabits them.
- Be joined for breakfast by a Rothschild giraffe at Giraffe Manor.
- Privately explore the intense wildlife of Mara North Conservancy with the amazing guides at Serian.
- Be inspired by Lewa House’s sensational vistas before getting involved in their wonderful conservation initiatives.
- Spend time learning about the lives of the traditional Maasai cattle-herding communities at Shompole.
- Opportunity to bring in a helicopter for expeditions into northern Kenya or an overflight of the flamingo colonies of Lake Magadi.
Your Kenya safari holiday itinerary
Tall tales over breakfast
Nairobi
There are few better ways to begin your Kenya safari than a night on arrival at Giraffe Manor. Not only does it give you the chance to acclimatise and recover after a long flight in lovely comme il faut surroundings. It offers the unique opportunity to interact with the hotel’s resident herd of endangered Rothschild giraffe, who will happily join you for a bite to eat as they poke their enormous heads through your breakfast room window. A word to the wise, though. Book at least a year ahead, if not more, if you want room at the inn.
Leaning into Lewa
Lewa Conservancy
Taking off in a bush plane from Wilson airport, you’ll soon be in Kenya’s Laikipia Highlands. At Lewa House, every experience is designed to enthral and inspire – leaving you with an indelible connection to one of Africa’s most vital conservation efforts. Pause to take in stirring views of Mount Kenya and the plains below before heading out on safari with your expert guide. Game drives will provide magical encounters with rhino, elephant and Grevy’s zebra, while horseback safaris and guided bush walks allow you to track wildlife footprints, identify native plants, and immerse yourself in the rhythms of the African wilderness. If you want to learn more about Lewa’s conservation initiatives, meet the rangers who protect the area’s rhinos and counter poaching. Cultural experiences are also woven into your journey, with visits to local Samburu and Maasai communities that partner with the conservancy. Through storytelling, traditional dances, and hands-on activities, you’ll discover how conservation and culture thrive together here.
Magical Mara
Mara North Conservancy
Swapping the escarpments of Laikipia for the broad savanna grasslands of the Masai Mara, you’ll have three days of private wildlife viewing at the wonderful Ngare Serian. Days here are filled with thrilling private game drives, walking safaris and fly camping beneath the stars. What sets Ngare Serian apart, though, is the exceptional guiding. Whether tracking lions, spotting elephants or marvelling at a cheetah at full tilt, a safari here is not just about watching the wildlife—you’re understanding its rhythms, behaviours and beauty in ways that feel personal and profound. Hot air ballooning and helicopter rides over the Mara are also available, and are a thrilling way to see the landscapes of the Mara and its wildlife from a different perspective.
Into the Rift Valley
Shompole Conservancy
A short private flight will take you from the Mara into Africa’s Rift Valley, where Shompole Wilderness stands as a shining example of how to integrate community and conservation. You’ll enjoy unparalleled privacy and tranquility, with breathtaking views of vast landscapes teeming with wildlife. With your deeply knowledgeable Maasai guide, explore the conservancy on game drives, walking safaris and river trips. There are two exceptional hides where you can silently watch and photograph the wildlife come and go, while further afield, a visit to the blood-red alkaline waters of Lake Magadi and its flamingo colonies is a must, especially if you choose to do this by helicopter. When not out on safari, take the opportunity to spend time with one of the local Maasai communities, learning about village life, what it takes to herd cattle in this unforgiving environment and sharing laughs over a calabash of warm freshly pulled milk.
Where you'll stay on your luxury Kenya safari
Great journeys need great places to lay your head. These are our tried and tested suggestions.
Giraffe Manor
Set at the foot of the Ngong Hills outside Nairobi, Giraffe Manor, is an iconic place to stay (as long as you book early enough). Ivy-clad colonial splendour and manicured gardens are one thing, but there’s one reason above all others that you’d want to stay here. After all, who could resist the opportunity to share a table with a Rothschild giraffe poking its head through your window for some breakfast?
Lewa House
Perched high in the Laikipia Escarpment with outrageous views towards Mount Kenya and the plains below, Lewa House offers a magical blend of luxury, purpose and wilderness. What makes Lewa House truly special is its deep commitment to conservation; staying here supports critical efforts to protect endangered species like black rhino and Grevy’s zebra while supporting local communities. Expertly guided game drives, bush walks, and horseback safaris allow you to connect intimately with nature. Whether spotting elephants on the open plains or learning about Lewa’s groundbreaking anti-poaching initiatives, every moment feels meaningful.
Ngare Serian
Hidden among the gallery forest of the Mara River in Kenya’s Mara North Conservancy, Ngare Serian offers a deep sense of privacy, serenity and an understated, almost old-fashioned glamour. The camp is reached by crossing a rope bridge across the Mara River, and you’ll find here a dining marquee and just four huge riverfront tents set out on decks, with supremely comfortable beds where you can fall asleep to the sounds of grunting hippo. Each has an adjoining bush bathroom, and a luxurious bathtub built into the veranda decking, with a view over the river.
Shompole Wilderness
A stay at Shompole Wilderness offers a very private and immersive escape far from the crowds in Kenya’s pristine southern Rift Valley. Perched above the Ewaso Ngiro River, and a short distance from the surreal beauty of alkaline Lake Magadi and its flamingo colonies, it’s a place that not only offers great wildlife viewing but also the chance to dig deeper and learn about the lives of the traditional Maasai herders who own Shompole. It’s the kind of community-based conservation initiative that we love–inspiring, authentic and, above all, deeply connecting.
Customise your luxury Kenya safari
All of our journeys are fully bespoke, and can be customised to meet your needs, interests and preferences. Here are a few ideas to inspire you.
Add a few days to explore the wonderful Mathews Range of northern Kenya, staying at wonderful Sarara Camp and visiting the Reteti elephant sanctuary.
Greet the dawn in a hot-air balloon as you float above the wakening wildlife of the Masai Mara.
For the perfect bush and beach combination, spend some time decompressing in the Seychelles – Alphonse Island is a real favourite of ours.
Let us bring in helicopters for a picnic on Mount Kenya, an expedition to Lake Turkana or for some aerial photography of the flamingo colonies of Lake Magadi.
Extend your trip with a week tracking chimps, gorillas and golden monkeys in the mountains of Rwanda.
Looking for more inspiration?
We have a huge range of inspiring private experiences and accommodation options available. Get in touch with our Kenya specialists.
ENQUIRELearn more about our luxury holidays, or call our expert Africa team on +44 1367 850566 / 1-855-216-5040 (toll free) to discuss how we can turn your dreams into something truly magical.
“There is something about safari life that makes you forget all your sorrows and feel as if you had drunk half a bottle of champagne”