Realm of the Original African Animal Safari
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zanzibar and Mombasa
Wild, adventurous and wonderful. Immense concentrations of wildlife, amazing birdlife, rich and diverse cultures…places like no where else on earth: Mount Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Crater, Masai Mara, Serengeti plains, Murchison Falls - source of the great River Nile, the long, timeless white-sand beaches of Zanzibar…East Africa, the home of safari.
Learn more in our 
East Africa Safari Planner.(3.1MB)
Review our Safari Price List.(2.9MB)
Mara Siana Tented Camp
Prices effective:
01 January 2010 - 14 December 2010
Package: USD $2891.00 (Per Person - sharing)
Single Supplement: USD $453.00 (Per Person - single occupancy)
Child (age 12 - 16) (Twin Room) USD $1738 Child (age 2 - 11) (Twin Room) USD $1619 Child (age 2 - 11) (3rd or 4th in Room) USD $1388 Prices vary according to season
Mara Intrepids Club
Prices effective:
01 January 2010 - 14 December 2010
Package: USD $2977.00 (Per Person - sharing)
Single Supplement: USD $500.00 (Per Person - single occupancy)
Prices vary according to season
8 Day Topi Family Safari
The tour is ideal for families with children, as we include a dedicated full time children’s educational and entertainment program, the “Adventurers' club” (aged 4-12 years).
For years children have been accompanying their parents to Africa to witness the world’s greatest creatures, marvel at its wildest landscapes, and partake of its oldest cultures – only to return home knowing very little about what they have actually seen.
Now the Heritage Group is changing all that, thanks to its uniquely educational and inspirational Adventure’s Club. The Adventurers’ Club offers the ultimate children’s holiday. Accompanied by highly trained naturalists and cultural specialists, children will be treated to an enlightening series of walks, talks, visits to neighboring schools and villages, games and activities designed to help them better understand their wild surroundings.
For example, a typical day out in the Mara with a young Masai naturalist, John Ole Kerore, might include a visit to a “manyatta” village to watch a dance and help the local boys separating young and old sheep. Learn to shoot a bow and arrow, make fire with sticks, make jewellery, play animal hide-and-seek, learn tracking and identify animals, birds, insects and butterflies.
The following itinerary combines game viewing and extra curricular activities geared towards young people. It is very participatory and will give the children a real African experience. It will be their holiday of a lifetime.
Day 1 - Nairobi
Deservedly, Kenya has been described as having everything that is beautiful in Africa within her borders. Abundant wildlife and birdlife living free; hospitable people; a culture that is both complex and fascinating; outstanding scenic beauty of the immensity of the rolling savannas, the peace of the desert regions of the north, the majesty of the highlands and the glaciated peaks of Mount Kenya; the grandeur of the Great Rift Valley and the alluring white coral beaches, all easily accessible to the visitor.
If Nairobi was nothing more than a city that has grown from zero population to 2 million and 2 1/2 square km to 700 square km in the last ninety years it would be remarkable! But it is also a brawling, dynamic maelstrom of cultures and enterprises that reflect its melting pot heritage. The city may seem a little contradictory and eccentric but mainly it is memorable – both in the contrasts and experiences that it affords, and in its setting.
Transfer from Nairobi airport to Nairobi Serena hotel on an overnight bed and breakfast basis.
Situated at the periphery of city centre overlooking Jamhuri park. The Serena’s tropical gardens, attractive African decor and friendly staff give it a very homely atmosphere. A superbly managed hotel of consistently high standards and a “Leading hotel of the World”.
Day 2 - Samburu
Drive north to the arid bush country of Samburu, north of Mt Kenya. Lunch and afternoon game viewing in Samburu, a seemingly inhospitable area brought to life by the Uaso Nyiro river on which the wildlife depend. Spend the next two nights at Samburu Intrepids club overlooking the river.
The Samburu National Reserve lays some 300km north of Nairobi and adjacent to the Buffalo Springs National Reserve separated only by the Uaso Nyiro River. Arid, rugged, but savagely beautiful the two reserves cover an area of about 300 square km. With less than 300 mm of rain a year the wildlife depends for its very existence on the river fed from the rich forests of the Aberdare Mountains, 300km away. Several species of wildlife are found in Samburu, which are not found in other Kenya parks lying south of the equator. Among the most striking of these are the reticulated giraffe and Grevy's zebra. Lion, cheetah and leopard are all found here and elephant are plentiful. For the most part the reserve is hot by day but cool at night.
The Samburu Intrepids Club, completed at the end of 1990, occupies an outstanding, shady site on the banks of the Uaso Nyiro River in the western section of the Samburu National Reserve. On first appearance Samburu Intrepids is more reminiscent of a fantasy tree house set on stilts with its vaulted thatched roofs and sprawling wooden terraces. Set under the shade of the trees, the 25 tents are elevated on individual decks overlooking the river. The tents are more than spacious, comfortable, and furnished with mahogany furniture, fashioned by gifted craftsmen. The tents have oversized four poster beds, plus en-suite bathrooms with showers and dual wash hand basins, and even large overhead ceiling fans to cool the tents in the heat of the day. A dazzling swimming pool is surrounded by shaded terraces and a garden of indigenous plants. Another form of relaxation is to visit Samburu country across the river on the back of a camel.
Day 3 - Samburu
A full day game viewing in Samburu. Look for lion, elephant or hippo along the river trail. Most interesting are the unusual species like oryx, gerenuk, reticulated giraffe and, if lucky, kudu.
Day 4 - Sweetwaters
Return to the Highlands to Sweetwater private ranch and Rhino sanctuary, lying between Mt Kenya and the Aberdares. Afternoon game viewing including a visit to the Rhino and Chimpanzee conservation projects. After dinner take an optional night game drive (payable locally) or relax at the "waterhole" bar. Overnight at Sweetwaters tented camp.
Sweetwaters Tented Camp lies in the heart of the privately owned Sweetwaters Game Reserve. A 3 hour drive from Nairobi, this wonderful place enjoys magnificent views across the African bush to the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya. Overlooking a floodlit waterhole, the camp offers visitors an unforgettable opportunity to watch and photograph game in its natural habitat. Accommodation is provided in 25 luxuriously appointed tents set under thatch with en suite facilities and private verandah. Game drives are offered by four wheel drive vehicle, walking safaris escorted by a knowledgeable ranger, and night game drives ensure that there is always plenty to do! There is also a swimming pool for relaxation.
The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary is the only one of its kind in Kenya. Visitors can enjoy the unique opportunity of observing the chimps by boat on the Ewaso Ngiro River which flows through the middle of the 1 sq km sanctuary. The riverine forest and savannah grasslands that make up the sanctuary are home to 26 orphaned chimps varying in age from 2 to 15 years. Most of these chimps originally came from the Jane Goodall Institute in Burundi, where a great many were placed after being rescued from a miserable existence. Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary is playing a critical part in finding a solution for the plummeting population of chimps in the wild through education and rehabituation of this, our closest living relative. It is a wonderful experience to see these marvelous creatures in a natural environment.
Day 5 - Rift Valley Lakes
Descend from the Kenya Highlands into the Great Rift Valley and on to Lake Nakuru, famous for its wonderful birdlife, including great flocks of flamingo lining the shores of the lake like a pink ribbon. Nakuru park is also one of the best places in Kenya to see Rhino. Lunch and afternoon game drive beside the lake. Continue to Lake Naivasha for overnight at Rift Valley lodge.
The Great Rift Valley Lodge sits at about 7,000 feet from which elevation it enjoys magnificent views to the west and east. The vistas stretch from the shimmering waters of Lake Naivasha to the jagged volcanic crater of Mount Longonot. The Great Rift Valley Lodge offers 21 twin and 9 double rooms all with private balconies overlooking the spectacular valley floor. The rooms are beautifully furnished with large four-poster beds, handmade wooden furniture, African prints and modern en suite bathrooms. The social heart of the Rift Valley Lodge is the clubhouse building which offers fine dining and beautiful views from its panoramic restaurant and broad balconies. Around the clubhouse, the lush fairways and sparkling lakes of the 6,580-yard golf course fan out in different directions. Visitors can take advantage of the sports facilities including a driving range and practice greens, two tennis courts and a freeform swimming pool.
Day 6 & 7 - Masai Mara
Morning free for optional activities such as a boat trip on the lake, guided walk in the nearby tropical rain forest or an excursion to Crater lake (famous for its rare Colobus monkeys). After lunch fly directly into Kenya’s finest wildlife reserve, the Masai Mara. Afternoon game viewing. Spend the next 2 nights at either Mara Siana tented camp (recommended family option) or Mara Intrepids Club.
Set in the heart of Africa's Great Plains, the Masai Mara boasts 1,672 square kilometers of unspoilt wilderness. It is home to the highest concentration of animals and birds anywhere on the continent. Throughout the year the Mara is a place of natural drama, a kaleidoscope of color and life. The famed "Big Five" - Elephant, Rhino, Lion, Buffalo and Leopard - roam the reserve, together with hundreds of others from the fastest animal on earth, the Cheetah, to one of the most secretive, the Bat-eared Fox. After the rains, when the first flush of grass turns the Mara's golden savannah green, the mesmerizing wildlife spectacle anywhere takes place here: the Great Migration. This is the time when 1.5 million Wildebeest, accompanied by vast numbers of Zebra and Gazelles make the long and dangerous trek from drier lands in Tanzania, northwards to this corner of Kenya. For most of the century the Mara has drawn those searching for adventure and the thrill is still the same today with days spent face to face with nature at its most untouched and enthralling.
Mara Intrepids is sheltered in an indigenous forest bordering the Talek River, its location for game-viewing is second to none. Mara Intrepids reflects the "grand safari" style of bygone days, coupled with modern amenities. The 30 accommodation tents are arranged to assure maximum privacy. They are spacious, comfortable, handsomely furnished with custom milled African mahogany furniture, oversized four poster beds, en suite bathrooms with showers, running hot and cold water, flush toilets and electricity. Early morning tea and coffee is served in your tents by unobtrusive stewards. All the tents face the river and have easy access to the main dining tent. The camp is fully equipped with a range of four-wheel drive vehicles specifically designed to enhance the game viewing experiences. You can relax around the sparkling swimming pool, browse in the wildlife library, shop at the well-stocked gift boutique, or sip your favorite drink in the evening from the elevated wood decked bar, overhanging the river. At the other end of the camp is an elevated viewing deck where the sunset views over the plains are unforgettable. The Club's resident naturalist is on hand to explain the various species you will encounter. You can even join for walking safaris.
Day 8 - Nairobi
Morning game viewing and lunch at the camp. Later in the afternoon, transfer to airstrip for scheduled flight to Nairobi (option to fly back to Nairobi in the morning). Transfer to NBO airport or a Nairobi hotel.