Day 1: Arrival & Transfer to Giraffe Manor

On arrival at Nairobi Airport, a representative will meet you and drive you to Giraffe Manor where you will be spending the night.

This elegantly charming manor house was built in 1932 by Sir David Duncan and is set in 120 acres of rolling grounds. In 1974, Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville purchased the house and founded the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife on the property. Their first move was to bring in five baby Rothschild’s giraffe, a highly endangered subspecies found only in this region of East Africa. They thrived under the Leslie-Melville’s care, and grew to produce offspring of their own, who now freely wander the grounds of Giraffe Manor. Betty chronicled the tale in her wonderful book, ‘Raising Daisy Rothschild’. Staying at Giraffe Manor contributes to conservation of endangered species and the education of African schoolchildren in the importance of preserving their unique wildlife heritage, as a portion of your fee is set aside for these causes.

The Manor is elegant, exclusive and charming. Made to feel like a home away from home, you are encouraged to settle in, relax, and do as you please. This is the only place in the world where you share such delightful surroundings with a herd of giraffe for company: at mealtimes they are known to poke their heads through the windows of the breakfast or dining room and try to cadge a little treat from you!

Day 2-4: Samburu Game Reserve

As your flight takes off from Nairobi and gains altitude, you will make out the Aberdare Mountain Range that forms a part of the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley. Soon the patchwork of farmland gives way to a wild, rugged terrain with the ribbon of the Uaso Nyiro River cutting through it, and Mount Kenya looming in the distance. Touching down, you will meet your guide who will take you for a short game drive to Saruni Samburu.

Saruni Samburu’s six luxury, eco-chic villas are open and spacious, heralding spectacular views over Kalama Conservancy and Mount Kenya. As the only lodge in over 200,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness teeming with wildlife to explore exclusively, and guided by Samburu warriors passionate about their land and culture, the safari experience at Saruni Samburu is intimate and truly exceptional.

Set off on a late afternoon game drive with your guide, and feel the pulse of this unique environment flow through you as the breeze gently ruffles your hair. This harsh but hauntingly beautiful environment is home to an extraordinary variety of wildlife, from some of Africa’s largest bull elephants to all of the big cats. Leopards in particular love the large and spreading acacia tortilis trees that are everywhere, using them as a refuge to stash their kills out of lions and hyena’s reach.

Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times to venture out into the bush, given that these periods are when the wildlife are most active. The wildlife in these northern lands is among Kenya’s most unique, and we recommend scanning the plains for the ‘Samburu Special Five:' the reticulated giraffe, the gerenuk, the grevy’s Zebra, the Somali ostrich and the beisa oryx. An especially lucky few may even have the chance to see the endangered African wild dog. These packs of fierce spotted hunters are among the continent’s most successful predators, and are capable of tackling prey as large as wildebeest. They are, however, endangered as a result of a decline in territory, and their susceptibility to domestic animal disease. Elusive and ingenious, a moment with a wild dog would be a truly coveted sighting.

Day 5-7: Masai Mara Game Reserve

After your final morning game drive, enjoy a delicious brunch on the terrace before departing for the airstrip. Fly southwards to the great open plains of the Masai Mara that open out before you in a vista that seems to go on forever.

This is the scene where one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth takes place- the Great Migration. At certain times of year, in excess of a million wildebeest, zebra and gazelles pass through this region on their endless circular trek in search of water and fresh grazing brought by the rains. Undeterred by voracious predators that follow, and treacherous river crossings teeming with enormous crocodiles, they march blindly forward, driven by an instinct older than time.

Outside of the migration, a host of resident animals remain, and big cats sightings here are considered some of the best in Africa. The game drive gives you a taste of the wide-open spaces, gentle hills and epic plains of the Mara before you arrive at Elephant Pepper Camp - your home for the next 3 nights. This intimate and eco-friendly camp sits with a light footprint in a grove of shady trees with sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. Although being extremely environmentally friendly, no concession to comfort and luxury is spared. Elegantly designed and gorgeously furnished with a blend of tribal fabrics and artworks mixed together with tasteful antiques, the lodge feels as much as part of the landscape as the surrounding trees that envelop it.

In the company of an expert guide, you set off into the wilds to experience the magic of the Mara for yourself. The gentle hills are coated in acacia trees- the iconic, flat-topped trees that immediately bring the image of Africa to mind. The Mara River is the lifeline of the region and a source of fresh water for a multitude of animals, but it is also, however, a dangerous crossing point for the wildebeest and zebra during the migration. The masses build up along its banks, fervent with an almost palpable anxiety before the first animals take the plunge and begin to cross, spurring those behind into action. The raging torrent claims some of the weaker swimmers, and the Mara’s enormous crocodiles fight amongst themselves for their share of the bounty. The crossings are fraught with tension and drama, and few will fail to be moved by this incredible sight.

Day 8-11: The Majlis - Manda Island

A charter flight wings you directly from the Masai Mara to Lamu on the Indian Ocean coastline. A representative will meet you at the airport and drive you to the Majlis.

The Majlis hotel is a privately owned luxury beach hotel on Manda Island in the Lamu archipelago, off Kenya’s Northern Coast. With a superb beachfront location and breathtaking views over the bay and Lamu Island, it offers the perfect setting and the ideal accommodation for barefoot luxury and informal pampering on your trip to Kenya. The boutique hotel offers 25 exquisite deluxe rooms and suites divided into three beachfront villas. The rooms, all presented in timelessly elegant Lamu Island style, are very spacious, well appointed, and fully air-conditioned. The Majlis restaurant will not fail to impress with a panoramic view of the bay and the finest cuisine. Additional state-of-the-art facilities include two bars, two swimming pools, and an activity center that co-ordinates a wide variety of water sport activities.

Lamu is a must visit destination - cast into the Indian Ocean off the North coast of Kenya, the island and town of Lamu is heir to a distinctive tradition that is over a thousand years old. Lamu town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Swahili culture and style of Lamu are a rich cultural mix of East African, Arab, and Indian influences. Visit to The Majlis is a must during a trip to Kenya. It is an apt place for organizing beach weddings, reception parties, executive meetings, renewing marriage vows, enjoying safari beach holidays, and a lot more.

The natural surroundings of Lamu islands are spectacular and offer a variety of activities to suit all tastes and to keep active all day long. Lamu’s rich history as a former sultanate marrying Arabic and African cultures can be admired though excursions and Boat Excursions trips during safari and beach holidays in Kenya.

The Majlis is one of the best hotels Lamu Kenya and offers a series full day and half day experiences which focus on wellness, Swahili culture, sports, arts & crafts as well as environmentally conscious excursions. The gentle rhythms of the day are punctuated by wonderful al fresco mealtimes that feature surf-fresh seafood, juicy tropical fruits and fish pulled straight from the sea. Listening to the waves gently wash against the shore, while a cooling ocean breeze ruffles your hair, you indulge in lovingly prepared cuisine with your toes in the sand.

Day 12: Depart / Fly to Nairobi

After 4 Nights of pure bliss, it is finally time to depart your little paradise of the Majlis. A charter flight waits to wing you back to Nairobi, where you join your connecting flight home.