Budget Kenya Family Safari

February 26, 2018February 26, 2018admin

Summary of this Budget Safari Package

This Budget Kenya Family Safari takes you to an exciting mix of Kenya’s finest wildlife destinations offering loads of activities to keep you and the kids enthralled. Accommodation is at family-friendly lodges and luxury tented camps, and the itinerary is designed to keep driving distances to a minimum making this the ideal mid-range trip for families visiting East Africa.

After a short stay in Nairobi, Kenya’s bustling megacity, you are whisked off to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, near Mount Kenya. At Sweetwaters Sanctuary in Ol Pejeta, you have the unique experience of meeting our closest relatives in Kenya’s only chimpanzee rescue centre. Then it is on to Lake Nakuru National Park for superb game viewing and bird watching, before exploring Hell’s Gate National Park on foot or by bicycle. Next, take an optional boat ride on Lake Naivasha and head to the world-famous Masai Mara. The next few days in Kenya’s premier game reserve, Masai Mara, gives you plenty of time to spot the Big Five and rich array of other wildlife roaming the open plains, as well as visiting a local Maasai village to get a taste of traditional Kenyan culture.

Itinerary for this Tour

Day 1: Nairobi – Kenya

On day one of this Budget Kenya Family Safari, you arrive in Nairobi, where you and your family will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, is jam-packed with activities to suit all tastes. Visit the world-famous David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the Giraffe centre or go for a stroll in the Karura Forest. Alternatively, find a cafe and sample some genuine Kenyan coffee on Kenyan soil.

The first day is yours to explore the city or relax at the hotel and enjoy the rooftop swimming pool. Dinner at the comfortable, centrally-located hotel is included this evening.

Meals included: Dinner
Travel: Transfer from airport to hotel
Accommodation: Hotel in Nairobi

Day 2: Nairobi to Sweetwaters & Ol Pejeta Conservancy – Kenya

After breakfast on day two, you are collected from the hotel in Nairobi and driven north towards Mount Kenya. The whole afternoon is spent visiting rescued chimpanzees at Sweetwaters game ranch.

Set inside the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Sweetwaters gives rescued chimps a second chance at a normal life. Sweetwaters is Kenya’s only sanctuary for the rehabilitation of chimpanzees. Numbering nearly 40 animals, Sweetwaters provides an environment as close to their natural habitat as possible. The chimps are split into two groups separated by the Ewaso Nyiro River. You and your family will have the opportunity to learn all about our closest relatives, as well as other African wildlife! The Conservancy is also a dedicated Black rhino breeding area making it an unforgettable stopover.

In the evening we enjoy dinner and spend the night at a tented camp. Sweetwaters is geared towards families and there are activities that will keep everyone engaged from board games and camel rides to lion tracking and night drives.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Travel: 220km (about 3.5hrs)
Accommodation: Tented camp
Included Activities: Sweetwaters chimpanzee sanctuary
Optional activities (own cost): Night game drive, guided bird walks, lion tracking (morning only), board games and library, camel rides, tree planting and watercolour painting

Day 3: Sweetwaters to Lake Nakuru National Park – Kenya

This morning, we leave Sweetwaters after breakfast and head for Lake Nakuru National Park. We arrive at a camp in good time for lunch and after a refreshing stop, head out for an afternoon game drive.

Lake Nakuru, a soda lake on the floor of the Great Rift Valley is rich in bird life and home to over 400 different species. Its claim to fame, however, is its large flocks of flamingos. The sight of millions of flamingoes making the lake appear ringed in pink is spectacular. In addition to the abundant bird life, it is also an important haven for the endangered species of Rothschilds giraffe and both black and white rhino. Lake Nakuru is rich in wildlife giving you and your family the chance to spot lions, waterbuck, buffalo, baboons and much more.

In the evening we settle down at our family-friendly lodge overlooking Lake Nakuru and its wild surroundings. Sit back and relax, taking in the lovely views, swimming in the pool and enjoying a hearty meal.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Travel: 300km (about 4.5hrs)
Accommodation: Lodge overlooking Lake Nakuru
Activities: Game drive, Lake Nakuru National Park

Day 4: Lake Nakuru to Hell’s Gate National Park – Kenya

On day four of the Budget Kenya Family Safari, we indulge in a leisurely breakfast before driving to Lake Naivasha. Reaching Lake Naivasha, we visit the nearby Hell’s Gate National Park which can be explored without a safari vehicle.

Hell’s Gate National Park is characterized by diverse topography and stunning geological scenery. It is a rarity in Kenya because, due to a lack of large predators like lions, you can explore on foot. While exploring the park you can see African buffalo, zebra, eland, hartebeest, Thomson’s gazelle, baboon and over 100 bird species including vulture, Verreaux’s eagle, augur buzzards and swifts. Rare lammergeier vultures, as well as Chandler’s mountain reedbuck and klipspringer antelope also call the park home.

To get the most out of Hell’s Gate, visitors are encouraged to hire bicycles (own cost) and explore the wonders.

After an active day of exploring we drive to one of two comfortable lodges near Lake Naivasha for a tasty meal and a laid-back evening. We usually stay at a family-friendly lodge located along the shores of Lake Naivasha on expansive grounds where giraffes, monkeys and waterbuck are regularly spotted, with hippos grazing on the lawns at night. Alternatively, we stay at another family-friendly lodge near Lake Naivasha, boasting large grounds with plenty of recreational activities for the whole family.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Travel: about 100km (about 1.5hrs)
Accommodation: Family-friendly lodge at Lake Naivasha
Activities: Hell’s Gate National Park
Optional activities (own cost): Bicycle ride in Hell’s Gate

Day 5: Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara National Reserve – Kenya

There is time to relax after breakfast this morning or, for the more adventurous, take an optional boat ride (own expense) on Lake Naivasha. The lake offers a different perspective on the land-based animals, exceptional scenery and plenty of up-close hippo encounters.

After your morning adventures, we set off for the world-famous Masai Mara National Park. Travelling via the Great Rift Valley, we arrive in time for lunch at our camp where you will settle in and relax before the afternoon game drive. The iconic Masai Mara National Reserve is the back-drop for an unbelievable full-afternoon game drive. Welcome to the great plains of Africa! The Masai Mara is an unfenced wilderness area that stretches over more than 1500 square kilometres. The reserve is home to the most famous East African tribe the Masai whom you will see along the roadside herding cattle in their red robes. Mara is home to herds of wildebeest, zebra and other antelope as well as giraffe and buffalo. There are plenty of predators too with lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena. We stay out until dusk when the animals are at their most active.

Day five of our Budget Kenya Family Safari ends at our overnight lodge, arriving in time for dinner. We stay at one of two luxury tented camps near Masai Mara National Reserve. One of the tented camps is situated along the Oloirigynyisho River, looking out over Oloolotikoshi Hills. This comfortable camp offers beautiful sunset views and frequent sightings of zebras, wildebeests, elephants and other wildlife at the river. The other mid-range camp is also close to Masai Mara Reserve, providing an authentic African safari experience in comfort and style, surrounded by the untamed bush.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Travel: about 250km (about 5.5hrs)
Accommodation: Tented Camp near Masai Mara
Activities: Masai Mara National Park, game drive
Optional activities (own cost): morning boat ride on Lake Naivasha

Day 6: Masai Mara Game Reserve & Maasai Village – Kenya

On day six, we rise with the sun in the great African wilderness of Masai Mara National Park. We depart for an early morning game drive before returning to camp for breakfast. The cool morning is perfect for seeing the wild game at their most active before the heat of the day sets in. We return to the base camp where you can relax and soak up the African ambience at your leisure.

After lunch, we set off on a two-hour nature walk with a local Maasai guide. The Maasai have lived on these plains for centuries and your guide will share his experience and expertise with you. Learn about the fauna and flora of the region and the way that the Maasai people use the plants. Your guide will teach you the hidden secrets of the African savannah, like how to find medicine in the bush and how to track wildlife and birds. In addition to this, your children can learn some bush survival tips like knowing how to behave in the presence of wild animals.

After this thoroughly informative and fascinating excursion, visit the Maasai manyattas. At this local village, a local Maasai guide will give you an intriguing account of the Maasai people and their age-old traditions. You will have the opportunity to see first-hand an ancient way of life that still survives on the plains of Mara today. Finally, participate shoulder-to-shoulder in some local Masai traditional dance.

As the sun sets on a fulfilling day, return to your scenic tented camp for dinner and a relaxing overnight surrounded by nature.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Travel: Game drive
Accommodation: Tented Camp near Masai Mara
Activities: Masai Mara National Park, game drive, Masai nature walk, Maasai manyatta visit

Day 7: Masai Mara National Reserve – Kenya

Today, spend a full day exploring the Masaai Mara National Park in search of the Big Five of Africa. From July to October, you may also see the spectacular annual wildebeest migration. There is an option (own expense) to take an unforgettable hot air balloon safari. Dinner is served back at the well-equipped camp, where we spend the evening telling tales around the campfire and gazing at the stars.

The famous Masai Mara Game Reserve is Kenya’s most popular and most visited game sanctuary. It was used as the location of the well-known film ‘Out of Africa’ because of its spectacular scenery and outstanding natural beauty. Mara is home to a huge variety of plains wildlife from wildebeest and zebra to lions, cheetah and hyenas. From July to August the park hosts one of nature’s truly great events. Millions of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle migrate from the Serengeti, across the Tanzania border and the Mara River to reach the sweet grass plains of the Masaai Mara National Park. It is awash with high drama. Crocodiles lurk in the river and lions and other predators lie in ambush in the long grass. In addition to the unforgettable game experience, about 452 species of birds have been recorded in the park.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Travel: Big 5 game drive
Accommodation: Tented Camp near Masai Mara
Activities: Masai Mara National Park, Big 5 game drive.

Day 8: Masai Mara to Nairobi – Kenya

After a leisurely breakfast, we exit the park and drive back to Nairobi, arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon we visit the Giraffe Centre where we have the chance to feed the giraffes by hand – a favourite with the children. In the evening, we enjoy dinner at the renowned carnivore restaurant where your safari comes to close.

After dinner, you will be dropped off at the airport for your onward flight.