A Safari, Beach and Cultural Experience
11 Days (Maasai Mara, Diani and Nairobi)
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Hotel
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Meals
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Transfer
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Staff Guide
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$9250pp
Adults (12 yrs and over)
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$4625pp
Children (5-11 yrs)
Overview
This 11 days/10 night experience covers the diversity of Kenya, from its incredible people in communities in and around Nairobi, to an amazing wildlife safari in the Masai Mara. And to cap off a journey you will remember for life, 4 days are spent at Diani beach on the south coast. A place where the warm waters of the Indian Ocean will help you recharge your batteries before you head home.
A Wildlife Safari in the Masai Mara
From Nairobi you will head off for 4-day wildlife safari in the Maasai Mara. The Maasai Mara National Reserve is an area of 1500 square kilometres of savannah wilderness in southwestern Kenya, which runs along the Tanzanian border. Its animals include lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, and hippos. Wildebeest traverse its plains during their annual migration. The landscape has grassy plains and rolling hills and is crossed by the Mara and Talek rivers and the area is dotted with villages of Maasai people. On this 4-day excursion your days will be spend in morning and evening game drives, and in between, learning all about the local environment and eco systems which sustain the wildlife. The Masai Mara has the highest density of wildlife anywhere in Africa as is one of the most popular destinations for observing wildlife in the world.
People and Community – a cultural and social purpose adventure
This is 4-days of inspiring cultural experiences visiting four grassroots Kenyan communities that tourists rarely have a chance to meet. You will see life from a different perspective as your fees help support One Horizon’s sustainable projects and activities that are bringing positive changes to local communities. A social purpose aspect of your holiday and one you will find incredibly rewarding and satisfying. Giving back whilst on your vacation! You can help at a local soup kitchen, meet the strong and courageous women at a vocation and lifestyle training centre, and be inspired by some entrepreneurial Kenyan grandmothers. This experience will leave you humbled and heartened, and you will finish this experience by spending time with the Maasai and learn about their fascinating way of life that hasn’t changed for centuries.
Beaching it at Diani on the South Coast
After your amazing cultural experience, it’s your time to embrace another side of magical Kenya, Diani. Diani is one of the major tourism areas in Kenya and is known for its coral reefs, black-and-white colobus monkeys, and for the closely located Shimba Hills National Reserve. It is one of the major centers on the Indian Ocean coast and it is located 30 kilometres south of the history laden city and port of Mombasa.
Diani beach, where you will stay for your visit, has been voted Africa’s leading beach destination five times since 2015. The beach is 17 kilometres long and has many restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, and shopping centres that enthral visitors.
Diani Beach is the most popular swimming, kitesurfing, jet skiing and snorkelling location on the coast. It is the perfect place to relax and chill out after your adventure in Kenya and a place you will never forget. The warm waters of the Indian ocean lap the Baobab resort where you will spend 3 idyllic days. A playground that draws visitors back time and time again.
Gallery
We are a proud member of The International Ecotourism Society
Which brings together individuals and organisations committed to helping local communities and the environment.
Itinerary
4 Days/3 Nights of an Incredible Wildlife Safaris
Flying to the Masai Mara & Ashnil Mara Camp
Mid-morning, you will head off to Wilson Airport for the 45-minute flight to the Masai Mara and the incredible camp ASHNIL MARA.
Upon arriving at the airport in Nanyuki, you will transfer to a 4-wheel drive vehicle for your trip to the camp. And along the way you will see some of the amazing wildlife that call the Mara home.
Ashnil Mara Camp, with 50 luxury tents, is in the Masai Mara National Reserve and close to the Mara River, famous for the wildebeest migration.
The luxury Masai Mara camp is arguably in one of the very best positions in the Masai Mara for game viewing and also provides the perfect setting to sit and relax at the end of an exciting day of game drives.
But as soon as you arrive at the camp and are settled in, its off on a game drive and some of the most exciting wildlife viewing accompanied by your driver/guide who can provide every detail about the wildlife you will see.
The game drive experiences will delight you as your guide will take you to the places that game frequent.
The bush telegraph between the drivers is amazing and they alert each other to where the game is all happening. And whether you ‘game it’ all day or for just an hour or so, ASHNIL camp welcomes you back each day. With a great pool and delicious food, it is an incredible experience in every way and it’s the ultimate retreat.
Returning to Nairobi for the next part of your journey
On Day 4 its up early for your last game drive before heading to the airport en-route to Nairobi where you will begin your community adventures with One Horizon.
During this part of your tour, your stay will be the 5-star family run Palacina Hotel. It will be your base during your adventures and is one of the most outstanding hotels in Nairobi.
4 days/3 nights of Social Purpose – Local Community Adventures
Maasai Life – An unbelievable day
You will venture into rural Maasai country where you will meet a family and immerse yourself in the midst of the daily hustle and bustle of Maasai village life.
Your host will be one of the village elders, an heir to his clan, and you will meet his wife and children too. The male children of the family are young morans, the traditional defenders of the tribe.
You’ll learn about their traditional ‘rites of passage’ while also discovering the intricacies of the Maasai family structure.
An amazing day where you will get the chance to become an honorary Maasai, learn how to throw a traditional spear and the techniques needed to survive in the bush.
Grandmothers and their pigs are changing the Future
On day 2 of your community adventure you will visit another local community. You will meet some of the endearing and entrepreneurial Kenyan grandmothers who play a vital role in raising their grandchildren.
You will visit a grandmother’s pig farm and discover how pig breeding is providing for the family. You will be able to sit down with the grandmothers and listen to their powerful stories of how they broke the cycle of poverty. And in between, there is some joyful singing and dancing over a cup of Kenyan tea. On this inspirational day you learn experience how resilient Kenyans can be.
Helping at a Soup Kitchen
Getting involved in helping disadvantaged communities is both an opportunity to engage with local people and a rewarding way for travellers to contribute to alleviating the impact of poverty in Kenya.
Today you will visit a children’s centre on the outskirts of Nairobi which provides the children with a regular meal each day. You can lend a hand by helping to prepare and distribute wholesome food, and you will witness firsthand how communities work together to help the most vulnerable.
New Beginnings for some Incredible Women
You will spend the last day of your community adventure with some amazing Kenyan women who have managed to overcome the most difficult challenges that life can bring.
You will visit a Women’s Empowerment Centre where local women undertake an 18-month program that teaches them lifestyle, trade and entrepreneurial skills so they can set up their own businesses.
The experience of meeting these determined and resourceful women will allow you to walk away with a new perspective on how teaching empowerment and skills can help lift people out of poverty to support and keep families together.
3 Days/3 Nights at Diani Beach
On the morning of Day 8 we depart for the airport for our flight to Diani and Baobab Resort.
You depart for 45-minute flight to Ikunda. Upon arriving at Ikunda airport you will be met and transferred to Baobab Resort. Your driver will be there to escort you for a short 10-minute drive to the resort.
After settling into your room, you will probably feel like enjoying the beach or any or any of the 5 pools at the resort. Or perhaps grabbing a pizza or refreshing drink from the pool side cafes.
If you are particularly adventurous you can also choose activities from either windsurfing, kitesurfing, jet skiing or snorkelling. Or a boat ride out to the reef to see the fish feeding is always great fun.
The idyllic pace of Baobab Resort is only interrupted by your energy levels. There is also beach volleyball, a dance class, water polo, volleyball, or pool aerobics to partake of every day.
Or you can watch all of these activities as you sip on your cocktail as you lay by the pool. Your only interruption is to target the restaurants or pool side snacks which are available throughout the resort.
You will be picked up from the resort and taken to Ikunda airport for your flight back to Nairobi and the end of your vacation.
Inclusions
- Your accommodation at Palacina Hotel, the night before you embark on your wildlife safari on Day 1
- 5 nights’ accommodation at Palacina Hotel (inclusive as above)
- 2 dinners with the One Horizon team at Nairobi restaurants on Days 4 and 6
- Light luncheons daily and unlimited fruit, tea, coffee and water during your community adventures
- Air-conditioned car transfers – each day we’ll collect you from your hotel at 9 am and drop you back at about 4 pm. On the days that include team dinners, we’ll pick you up at 7 pm and return you to your hotel after the evening’s activities
- One Horizon staff with you every step of the way
- 3 nights’ accommodation at Ashnil Mara Camp – meals on full board
- 3 nights’ accommodation at Baobab Resort in Diani – meals on full board
- Flight tickets Nairobi – Mara – Nairobi – Diani – Nairobi
- Game drives in the Mara
- Services of an English-speaking driver guide in the Mara
- Airport transfers in the Mara
- Transfers from Wilson Airport to JKIA for the Diani flight
- Return Hotel Transfers in Diani to Baobab Resort
Exclusions
- Alcoholic drinks not included
videos
Testimonials
Harry
We had an outstanding trip and the team at One Horizon was amazing. We certainly saw what the best of Kenya from the wildlife of the Mara to meeting real and amazing Kenya using all their ingenuity to prosper. And to complete the trip we spend some great days in the sun enjoying the swimming and fun of the beach at Diani. It was, for us as a family, the perfect trip with One Horizon’s meticulous planning exceeding all our expectations. Highly recommended
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