Experience Kenya

The park is located right next to and within the Nairobi city region. Travelers landing at the Nairobi airport can literally see the park and wildlife as the flyover and land at the airport. The national park covers 45.26 square miles (117.2 sq km) and was the first national park established in Kenya. The varied habitats of the park bring a variety of mammals and bird species.

Nairobi National Park does not disappoint with predators including lion, leopard, cheetah, and hyena. Other large mammal species include buffalo, black rhino, baboon, eland, gazelle, hartebeest, hippopotamus, impala, giraffe, wildebeest, and waterbuck. There is an abundance of bird species with the vulture and ostrich being two of the larger or more intriguing species.

Breakfast at Tamarind Tree (10 am)

We return to Tamarind Tree for breakfast after your safari

The National Museum of Kenya (1 – 3 PM)

The Institution of National Museums of Kenya is anchored on four pillars notably culture, history, arts and nature. The newly constructed Nairobi National Museum is next door to the Tamarind Tree hotel.

The Museum hosts both temporary and permanent galleries that attract learners and tourists alike. It has the following permanent galleries: The Cradle of humankind gallery; The Story of mammals; The History of Kenya; Cycles of Life Gallery; Numismatic exhibition and Asian African Heritage exhibition galleries respectively.

The National Museum of Kenya (1 – 3 PM)

Late Afternoon Tea (4pm)

Following the visit to the National Museum, an afternoon tea has been planned in a curio village where our guests can browse at the same time. A relaxing end to the day before returning to your hotel.

Return to the hotel (5pm)

Dinner Included

Today you will visit a local community to meet some of the endearing and entrepreneurial Kenyan grandmothers who play a vital role in raising their grandchildren.

You will visit one of the grandmother’s pig farms and discover how their small business is helping support their families. And you will hear stories of their life’s journey which are inspirational and uplifting. You will also see and learn about how to cook a traditional Kenyan meal of ugali over a 3 stone fire. And in between there is some joyful singing and dancing over a cup of local tea.

On this amazing day you learn how resilient people can be and meet grass root Kenyans going about their lives. We also join the grandmothers for lunch and tea/coffee. It’s a great way to relax and get to know the locals in a way few travellers ever do.

Return to the hotel (4pm)

Dinner Included

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is renowned for its work rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned baby elephants. The Nursery is where an orphan’s journey begins – a journey that will culminate, years down the line, in their reintegration back into the wild.

From 11am to 12pm, you will spend an unforgettable hour with the nursery herd. Keepers are on-hand to introduce you to each of the elephants, sharing their unique rescue stories and explaining the threats facing elephants. Funds from your visit help support the rescue and rehabilitation of the orphaned elephants.

Lunch at Galleria Shopping Center (1-2 pm)

After your visit to the elephant orphanage, we stop at one of Nairobi’s most vibrant shopping centres for lunch at Art Caffe. Art Caffe has an international menu and there is something for everybody.

The Giraffe Centre (3.00 – 4.00 pm)

The Giraffe Centre is a Kenyan non-profit organisation. Its main purpose is to educate people on Kenya’s wildlife and environment.

The Fund was established in 1979 by the late Jock Leslie-Melville, and his wife. They began the Giraffe Centre after discovering the sad plight of the Rothschild Giraffe which was an endangered species. There are now over 300 Rothschild Giraffe breeding in various Kenyan national parks.

Return to the hotel (4.30 pm)

Dinner Included

You will spend a half day visit on 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 in the area 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 vocational skills can lift people out of poverty to support and keep families together.

Scenic Lookout (1.30 – 3pm)

From the Women’s Center we will head the short distance to the most amazing views over Nairobi and the Rift Valley. The lookout is also the site of Kenya’s only working wind farm and the touring wind turbines provide energy to the local community.

It’s a great place to capture some amazing images and an equally great place to have a picnic lunch.

Lunch: A picnic lunch will be prepared so that you can relax and take in the views over the greater Nairobi area

Return to the hotel (4pm)

Dinner Included

The name Mamba is Swahili for crocodile. This is home to around 70 Nile crocodiles that are known to be the largest of the crocodile species and the most dangerous. There are five crocodile pens in the farm.

The Nile crocodiles are very aggressive. They are grouped into families and have been given names. Peter is the eldest of them all and is 24years old. The young crocodiles are between 9-18 years and are kept separate from the adult crocodiles. These helps keep them safe as older crocodiles can at times turn on the younger crocodiles.

Kazuri Beads (12.00 – 1 pm)

Kazuri beads is a fair trade success story in Nairobi that dates back to 1975, when it was founded. Kazuri was the brainchild of Lady Susan Wood, who was born to English parents in Africa. She began with two local women who made ceramic beads by hand – the word “kazuri” means “small and beautiful” in Swahili – and soon realized she could expand and help many more unemployed women.

Today, Kazuri employs more than 300 women, makes over five million beads a year, and exports beads to 20 different countries. The women have also begun to make other pottery goods with the same colourful designs.

Lunch: (1.30 – 3.00 pm) The area of Karen which you will be visiting today has many little boutique cafes which we will retreat to for a great meal and conversation

Return to the hotel (4pm)

Dinner Included

Set in 150 acres of grassland studded with Acacia bushes and trees, Sopa resort is not only home to resident giraffe, waterbuck and both Vervet and Colobus monkeys, but it is also a night stop for the hippos when they leave the lake every night to come and trim the grass on the lodge’s expansive lawns.

A day is spent at the lodge enjoying all the sights of the natural landscape from the grounds of the lodge. But before arriving at Sopa the first stop is the magnificent Rift Valley Lookout where you stop to take in the incredible views of the Rift Valley. And from there it’s down to the lake which is the second largest freshwater lake in Kenya and the home of many hippos. Lake Naivasha is at the highest elevation of the Kenyan Rift valley at 1,884 metres (6,181 ft).

After a great lunch at the lodge, its then time to take in the wildlife that call the lodge home. You are taken on a leisurely outing with our support staff with you every step of the way and carrying everything to make it a great experience.

Lunch: Today lunch is the Sopa Lodge restaurant

Return to the hotel (4.30 pm)

Dinner Included

Today you will venture into rural Maasai country where you will meet a Maasai family and immerse yourself in the midst of the daily hustle and bustle of Maasai village life. And for some of your time at the village you will be seated with the family in their manyatta (a mud home built by the women).

Your host is one of the village elders, an heir to his clan, and you will meet his wife and children as well. The male children of the family are young morans, the traditional defenders of the tribe.

You will 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, and see a demonstration of the techniques needed to survive against predators.

Lunch: Lunch will be prepared and catered for by One Horizon and will be taken at the Maasai village

Return to the hotel (3.30pm)

Dinner Included

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 problems 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 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.

Return to the hotel and end of tour