Grand Safari Tour of Kenya

Your east African safari holiday begins at London Heathrow this morning, meeting the Tour Manager before boarding a daytime flight to Nairobi. Kenya has a staggering number of national parks and reserves, dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and natural habitat.

This holiday takes in seven of the country's Top Ten reserves, ranging from Aberdare in the Central Highlands and Samburu, close to the equator, to Lake Nakuru in the Great Rift Valley and the world-renowned Maasai Mara. Each park is home to a unique variety of wildlife in addition to the Big Five animals.

Landing in Nairobi late this evening, we are met at the airport and transferred to our hotel in the city's popular Westlands district. The rest of the day is free for you to dine independently.

After breakfast, we are transferred by a private safari vehicle to the Aberdare National Park in Kenya's Central Highlands.

Known for its wildlife, misty forests, river valleys and cooler climates, Aberdare is one of Kenya's most popular national parks. We arrive in time for lunch at the Aberdare Country Club, located on a slope of Mweiga Hill, offering fantastic views of the Aberdare Highlands.

Later, we transfer by private vehicle to our accommodation, the Treetops Lodge. First opened in 1932, this beautiful hotel is built around an ancient tree and is famous as the site where Queen Elizabeth II was staying when she ascended to the throne. It is situated in front a watering hole and along an elephant migratory path, making it a perfect site to view the area's stunning wildlife.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our journey continues northwards after breakfast. Enroute, there may be an opportunity to view Mount Kenya, the second highest peak in Africa, if cloud coverage allows. We cross the equator as we travel into the arid landscape of the tranquil Samburu National Reserve.

After checking in to our lodge, we enjoy lunch and some free time to settle into our new accommodation. We have our first drive into Samburu this afternoon, providing an opportunity to spot some of the wildlife of the reserve and view the rugged beauty of this remote wilderness.

We return to the lodge to enjoy a sunset dinner. Our lodge has a magnificent outlook, over the Buffalo Springs and Uaso Nyiro River, and the guest rooms provide fantastic views across the savannah, where elephants and rare wildlife graze.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our day in this exceptional reserve begins with an early morning safari into the park, followed by breakfast at the lodge. The rest of the morning is at leisure to relax by the lodge pool or enjoy the views from the terrace or balcony of your room overlooking the plains, before lunch is served.

An afternoon safari into Samburu gives us another chance to spot some of the unique wildlife. In particular, we can look out for the Samburu 'Special Five' animals: the Grévy's zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk (also known as a giraffe gazelle) and the beisa oryx, all of which are mostly spotted in Samburu and northern Kenya. The most common mammals we are likely to see are elephant, present in large numbers across the reserve.

As our afternoon drive concludes, we return to the lodge for dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, we drive south to the thundering Nyahururu Falls, an impressive 230 feet of cascading water tumbling from lush green forest into the rocky gorge of the Ewaso Ng'iro river below. We enjoy lunch in this unique setting, before continuing our journey.

We travel onwards to Lake Naivasha, the highest lake in the Great Rift Valley. Famous for its dense population of hippos, at times the lake turns a magnificent shade of pink as an abundance of flamingos congregate on its waters.

On arrival at the Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort, we check in for two nights, then the rest of your day is free. You may like to relax by the pool or take a stroll around the expansive grounds, where you may well meet wandering giraffes or grazing hippos.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, we experience the stunning scenery of Kenya's Great Rift Valley on a half-day wildlife drive at Lake Nakuru National Park.

This UNESCO World Heritage site is a protected area for both black and white rhino and the Rothschild's giraffe, with a 117-mile area fenced off to protect these animals from poachers. It is also possible to spot hyenas, lions or an elusive leopard here, as well as two species of waterbuck. Besides a large population of flamingos, birdlife here includes African fish eagles, hoopoes, pelicans and other migratory bird species.

After lunch, we enjoy a boat safari on Lake Naivasha where we may spot wildlife on the shore while looking out for birds such as pied kingfishers, spoonbills and white-breasted cormorants. After today's brilliant excursions, we return to the lodge for dinner and our final night in these beautiful surroundings.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

One of the highlights of your holiday awaits today as we head to the renowned Maasai Mara, a diverse ecosystem of tropical grassland, acacia trees and patches of forest. This is an incredible destination for wildlife viewing through most of the year, whether it's a pride of lions stalking the savannah, a cheetah racing after its prey or enormous crocodiles wading in the Mara River.

Named after the indigenous Maasai people, the Mara is one of the world's most popular game reserves, renowned for its outstanding wildlife conservation and its annual wildebeest, antelope and zebra migrations across the vast Serengeti plains. We arrive at Maasai Mara in time for lunch at Mara Maisha Camp, our accommodation for the next three nights.

After lunch, we set out on an afternoon safari until dusk, the ideal time to spot wildlife as the sun drops towards the horizon. Home to Africa's Big Five, we may see herds of buffalo, zebra or a lounging family of cheetahs. Later, we return to our lodge for dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The Maasai are semi-nomadic people and one of the most recognisable tribes of east Africa. They are known for their red 'shukas' (woven cotton body wrappings), elaborately beaded necklaces, proud warrior heritage and tribal tradition of singing and dancing. Today, we meet with the village elder and members of the renowned tribe on a visit to a traditional Maasai village.

We spend time in their circular village of mud and grass huts, known as a boma, hearing about the Maasai's deep connection to their land and cattle, a symbol of wealth and cultural identity. Meeting with residents of the village, we learn about their craftsmanship, culture and heritage.

After lunch at our hotel, we take an afternoon safari into the abundant wildlife, led by a local guide. Later, we return to our lodge with time to relax before dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our third day in this vast national park is free to enjoy as you wish, and you could continue to explore the extensive plains in search of the Big Five.

To make the most of your time in the park and maximise the chance of viewing wildlife, opt for a full-day safari in the park. A picnic lunch will be provided before heading out to view wildlife in the Mara's vast savannah, returning to your lodge later in the day. Alternatively, you could take a morning and afternoon safari into the reserve, travelling in 4×4 vehicle and keeping an eye out for herds of elephants, big cats and hyenas.

Between wildlife drives at Mara Maisha Camp, you could enjoy a relaxing time by the swimming pool with a refreshing drink, taking in amazing views across the savannah.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Departing Maasai Mara this morning, we head to the Oloolua Forest for lunch. During Kenya's war for independence, this forest was a hiding place for Mau Mau freedom fighters, but today the forest provides a tranquil escape from the bustling city.

We take a short walk under the canopy and, as we reach a clearing, birdsong is replaced by the sound of drums and a traditional song of welcome. Here, a storyteller appears, whose tales seem to weave a spell which will pull you into the magic of stories passed down through generations, of great warriors and tricky tortoises, among others. After listening to the folk tales, we have lunch.

Next, we visit the Giraffe Centre, established in 1983 as a sanctuary for the then endangered Rothschild's giraffe. There is an opportunity to learn more about giraffe and hand-feed them while watching a semi-tame family of warthog's snuffle with their hooves in search of edible scraps. We continue to Nairobi and dine at the city's famous Carnivore restaurant.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We start our journey eastwards today, as we travel to Amboseli National Park. Approaching the park, if the skies are clear, we will be rewarded with views of the legendary Mount Kilimanjaro. We arrive at Ol Tukai Lodge, where we check in and enjoy lunch.

Our home for the next two nights is located in Amboseli National Park at the foot of Africa's highest mountain. Amboseli is famous for its large population of big-tusked elephants and our lodge, surrounded by open plains, is a great location to spot them. The name Amboseli means 'salty dust' in the Maasai language, and it is typical to see elephants wallowing in the dry white earth here.

This afternoon, we enjoy our first drive in the national park in search of the animals and birdlife, before we return to the lodge for dinner, overlooked by Mount Kilimanjaro.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We depart the lodge after breakfast for a full-day safari, viewing the incredible wildlife roaming Amboseli National Park. With a picnic lunch, we can make the most of our time searching the wetlands, swamps and wide-open plains for its diverse animal families.

Set against the glorious backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, there's a chance to spot the tallest land mammal, the Maasai giraffe, as well as the herds of big-tusked elephants the park is known for. You may also spot zebras, impalas, cheetahs and lions, as well as some of the park's 400 species of birds. The open landscape lends itself to wildlife spotting, providing great visibility across the plains.

As the sun sets on the horizon and Kenya's skies begin to darken, we return to our lodge for dinner, which can be enjoyed under the night sky if you wish.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, we set off for Tsavo West National Park, where the scenery becomes more dramatic, with denser and taller vegetation. On our way to the reserve, we stop at a rhino sanctuary to learn about the conservation efforts here, and how the numbers of rhinoceros are steadily increasing thanks to the sanctuary's important work.

Next, we continue to Mzima Springs, a blissful green oasis within the national park, with four natural springs providing a serene habitat for hippos and Nile crocodiles. Lunch will be provided at Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge, with open views across the otherworldly red-earth landscape. After lunch, we embark on an afternoon safari in the national park, where our guide will help you spot leopards, buffalo, elephants, hippos, zebras, monkeys and hopefully much more.

Later, we are transferred to our home for the next two nights, Salt Lick Safari Lodge, in time for dinner. This unique accommodation is comprised of guest rooms modelled after traditional African huts, elevated on stilts in front of a watering hole - an incredible location for viewing the local wildlife up close.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We awaken in the beautiful Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. Once used as a game hunting ground, the sanctuary was established in 1970 to allow for conservation and to promote wildlife viewing across the beautiful mountainous landscapes.

This morning, we set out on our first wildlife drive of the day. Bird watching is a real highlight in this area, with 350 different bird species residing here. Three of the species are endemic to Taita itself - the Taita thrush, Taita apalis (one of the rarest birds in the world) and Taita white eye. Taita Hills is also home to a unique museum, which outlines World War One as it was played out in east Africa, with artefacts and archival photos on display.

After lunch and some free time at the lodge, we take an afternoon drive into the wildlife sanctuary hoping to spot some of the 56 mammal species who reside here, including buffalo, giraffe, eland, kudu, zebra, hartebeest, wildebeest, impala, water buck and Grant gazelle. As our safari concludes, we return to our lodge for dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an early breakfast, we transfer to Voi station to board Kenya's only standard-gauge railway, the Madaraka Express.

Experience Kenya's diverse landscapes from a different viewpoint as we travel westwards through Tsavo East National Park, passing lush volcanic hill and arid open plains. From our First Class seats, we have another chance to spot wildlife as we journey through this beautiful region. The railway is elevated in areas along the route to allow for the natural movement of animals, and we pass small towns and villages before arriving in Nairobi.

In Nairobi, we are met and transferred to our hotel where we are allocated dayrooms to freshen up and relax before starting our return journey home. Later, we are transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for our overnight flight to the UK.

• Breakfast

On this epic safari tour, we have experienced the highlights of seven of Kenya's most popular national reserves and wildlife sanctuaries, home to hundreds of different bird and animal species that we have been able to admire in their natural habitats. As well as viewing an astonishing array of wildlife, we have also enjoyed insightful glimpses into Maasai culture and the Oloolua Forest folktales and soaked up the beauty of Africa's ancient Great Rift Valley and Mount Kilimanjaro.

As we land in the UK this morning, your holiday draws to a close and you are free to continue your journey home.