Itinerary Highlights
What's Included
- Flights
- Accommodation Throughout
8 nights from £6,228 per person
Derek Schuurman
Travel Specialist
Our Great Plains Conservation safari offers sublime game-viewing with the luxuries of vast, exclusive wilderness areas, few people and some of the finest guiding and hosting Kenya has to offer. In the foothills of the Chyulus, Ol Donyo Lodge looks out over an immense landscape, inhabited by all the 'Big Five' which you can experience on day and night game drives, on foot, on horseback or on a mountain bike. Mara Plains Camp, in the Olare Orok Conservancy, a continuation of the Masai Mara National Reserve, provides the full richness of a Masai Mara safari - big cats, abundant and diverse plains game, and the annual Great Migration - without the crowds.
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart on the British Airways daylight flight to Nairobi. On arrival, overnight at the Palacina Hotel, breakfast included.
Staying at
AfroChic
Day 1 Depart on the British Airways dayli...
Depart on the British Airways daylight flight to Nairobi. On arrival, overnight at the Palacina Hotel, breakfast included.
Day 2 Amboseli
This morning, transfer to Wilson airport for the early morning flight to Ol Donyo Lodge. After brunch, you can relax and watch the animals coming to the waterhole below the lodge, take a swim, or set off on an escorted bush walk - which may not be a tame affair of medicinal plants, tracks and spoor! In the afternoon, you can choose a game-drive or sundowners on one of the kopjes or a mountain-bike safari; and continue with a night-drive after dinner!
Staying at
Ol Donyo Lodge
Day 3 Spend your days in the mist forest ...
Spend your days in the mist forest of Chyulu Hills National Park or a on a riding safari or game drives on the plains. Make time to savour the views, to watch the daily rhythms at the waterhole, or simply watch the bird life. You may wish to sleep out on your roof terrace, under the bright stars of the African sky, pondering the immensity of the universe.
Day 5 Masai Mara
Depart on the morning flight to the Mara where you will be met for a game drive transfer to Mara Plains. It is really beautiful. The six tented rooms overlook a stream with fabulous birds to the grasslands beyond â where you may see 9 or 10 species grazing at any one time. It's a healthy habitat for wildlife, with plenty of young animals. Four prides of lion include part of the Olare Orok in their territories, and there are two break-away groups trying to establish their own territories.
Day 6
Your safari is completely flexible at Mara Plains. Stay out for as long as you like - your meal will be prepared when you return or brought to you, if there is something engrossing going on. The camp has outstanding guides, including one of Kenya's four guides with a Gold qualification.
In contrast with the Masai Mara National Reserve, only three small camps (18 rooms) have traversing rights in the Olare Orok Conservancy, so the wildlife is relaxed (I sat within 6' of a cheetah and her young.) and you can watch for as long as you like. Another difference is that night drives and bush walks are permitted in the conservancy and really enhance your safari - there is nothing like sitting among grazing hippos at night. On night drives, Mara Plains uses a special filter to avoid dazzling the wildlife, which allows you to have much better sightings of nocturnal animals or the progress of a hunt.
Staying at
Mara Plains Camp
Day 6 Your safari is completely flexible ...
Your safari is completely flexible at Mara Plains. Stay out for as long as you like - your meal will be prepared when you return or brought to you, if there is something engrossing going on. The camp has outstanding guides, including one of Kenya's four guides with a Gold qualification.
In contrast with the Masai Mara National Reserve, only three small camps (18 rooms) have traversing rights in the Olare Orok Conservancy, so the wildlife is relaxed (I sat within 6' of a cheetah and her young.) and you can watch for as long as you like. Another difference is that night drives and bush walks are permitted in the conservancy and really enhance your safari - there is nothing like sitting among grazing hippos at night. On night drives, Mara Plains uses a special filter to avoid dazzling the wildlife, which allows you to have much better sightings of nocturnal animals or the progress of a hunt.
Derek Schuurman
Travel Specialist
Pricing Information & Dates
8 nights from £6,228 per person
Derek Schuurman
Travel Specialist
Price Includes
- Return International Flights as per the itinerary
- All airport taxes and security charges
- Accommodation and meals as specified
- Transfers as specified
- Activities and excursions as specified
- All entrace fees on sightseeing tours as specified
Price Excludes
- Travel Insurance
- Any meals not specified in the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
- Optional excursions
Pricing Notes
Prices are per person sharing, with business class flights.With econony flightsFrom £4295 low seasonFrom £5515 high season
Why Choose Us?
Passionate travel experts
- We've been leading wildlife travel since our first South Africa tours over 25 years ago
- Our Travel Specialists have lived in their specialist area for years
- We work with local guides to immerse you deeper in our diverse range of experiences
Personal & tailor-made
- You'll speak to your own expert who'll share their first-hand knowledge
- We'll make your itinerary seamless with 24/7 emergency contact available
- Your Travel Specialist will listen to ensure you have the best chance of seeing the wildlife you love
Responsible by nature
- We take care to actively contribute to the conservation of environments we visit
- For select countries, we make a charitable donation on your behalf when you make your booking
- We've partnered with conservation experts and NGOs to curate responsible tours
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office check www.gov.uk/travelaware
