Great Migration safari

Today we welcome you to Kenya! Upon landing, your local leader is there to meet you and drive you to the hotel in Nairobi where you can freshen up. If there's still time in the day and you're keen, let us take you to Nairobi National Museum. Far from a traditional, dusty museum, this one is full of vibrant and contemporary artworks. The displays also cover the themes of culture, nature and history. If you're tired and would prefer to rest, why not opt for drinks alongside the hotel's rooftop swimming pool and enjoy the view of the city on your first night in Kenya?

This morning you visit Nairobi's Giraffe Centre where you stroll along a high walkway all the better to enjoy eye-to-eye meetings with endangered Rothschild's giraffes! You then head to the charming Karen Blixen Coffee Garden for a delicious outdoors lunch. Who's Karen Blixen, you ask? She's the Danish author who fell in love with Kenya and was portrayed by Meryl Streep in Out of Africa. In the afternoon, head to the fascinating Ocean Sole factory where salvaged flip-flops are upcycled by skilful local artisans into beautiful and colourful animal sculptures.

This morning you're driven west along the Great Rift Valley to reach Maasai Mara National Reserve, home to the Great Migration herds between roughly June and October! The reserve is also renowned for hosting the Big Five as well as many other fan favourites like cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, zebras, hyenas, caracals, servals, warthogs, wildebeests, crocodiles, Thomson's gazelles, impalas, Coke's hartebeests, ostriches and secretary birds. In fact, over 95 mammal and 500 bird species have been recorded in the reserve!

Today's game drives are all about finding and witnessing the phenomenon of the Great Wildlife Migration. The largest land-based migration on earth, it sees around two million hoofed animals (mostly wildebeests and zebras) move together in search of water and green grass. Ironically, when they must cross a river, they don't want to linger, because hungry crocs are going to nab a meal!

For those who are keen, there's an optional hot air balloon flight this morning. You head out before dawn so that you're in the air for sunrise. What a great way to understand the extent of the enormous Great Migration herds! This afternoon you go on another game drive. It takes time and patience to spot some of the shyer animals, so the more time you're out there, the higher your chances of seeing everything!

This morning you have the option to go on a guided nature walk. It's exciting to get out of the vehicle and stretch your legs. Your Maasai guide has expert knowledge of the animals and terrain, as the Maasai live in communities surrounded by such wildlife. In the afternoon you go on another game drive to look for those animals who have been acting shy thus far!

Today is your last day in the Maasai Mara. Have a leisurely breakfast and try to soak in that view of the endless, animal-filled plains to take home with you! We drive you back to Nairobi so that you can fly out in the evening.