Kenya: Lewa & Mara and the Seychelles

Nairobi - Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

Upon arrival into Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport you are met by your professional English speaking driver/guide and 4x4 safari vehicle and transferred to Nairobi Wilson Airport to catch your internal flight into the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Lewa Wilderness Lodge is situated within the 60,000 acre Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, which uses a truly successful conservation model, recognised throughout Kenya. Resting on the northern slopes of Mount Kenya, at roughly 1,615m above sea level, this is not a malarial area.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

The remarkable Lewa Wildlife Conservancy consists of a wide range of ecosystems, ranging from swamp to savannah; it supports a huge diversity of wildlife and is a sanctuary for many species, including black and white rhinos, giraffe and Grevy's zebra. During the next couple of days you will enjoy day and night-time game drives in 4x4 vehicles, with guided bush walks, bush meals and sundowners. Lewa Wilderness Lodge arranges Masai tribal community visits, aerial safaris in a classic bi-plane, horse riding, camel rides, farm and craft tours, and visits to a pre-historic archaeological site. Other activities available at the lodge include tennis and a massage service.

Lewa - Masai Mara

This morning, you transfer back to the airstrip in order to meet your internal flight to the Masai Mara. From here, you are transferred to the wonderful Rekero Camp, game driving en-route. Rekero is an intimate camp with a personal service and is owned and run by people who are extremely passionate about what they do. This seasonal camp, set up between the months of June and March, provides some first class game viewing during that time period. Owned and run by Gerard Beaton and Jackson of Big Cat Diary fame, the camp is renowned for its rustic charm, first class service and unbeatable guiding. Professional Masai guides accompany you on your safari around this fantastic area of the Mara, which is great for both viewing of the annual wildebeest migration, as well as spotting the big cats.

Overnight: Rekero Camp (B, L, D)

Wildlife in the Masai Mara

The Serengeti-Mara ecosystem supports the most diverse migration of grazing mammals in the world and the Masai Mara is crucial in sustaining this mass migration of wildebeest, zebra and gazelles and is a highlight of your wildlife holiday in Kenya. Its rich grasslands are able to support these vast herds of migrating animals from Tanzania during critical points in the dry season. Their arrival spells a bonanza for the Mara’s big cats and it is no wonder that BBC film crews have based themselves here for several years filming their Big Cat Diaries.

The rolling grasslands of the Mara Reserve are dominated by the red oat grass that form an endless sea of waving long grass dotted with solitary Balanites, the Desert Date Tree. There are also picturesque areas of savannah woodland dominated by numerous acacia species which are a favourite haunt of the Masai giraffe. The Mara’s famed rivers are lined by lush riverine forest areas and are home to numerous pods of hippos. The grassland plains are the stomping grounds for the migrating wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle as well as Grant’s gazelle, topi, eland, impala and large herds of buffalo. The cats are never far away from the plains game and lion and cheetah are mostly seen on the rolling savannah plains of the Mara reserve and Masai community lands, whilst leopard prefer the riverine forests along the Mara and Talek rivers making for an exciting wildlife safari.

For much of the year the Mara Reserve itself is dominated by the longer grasslands which attract the migrating herds from Tanzania and this area is at its best for wildlife viewing at the peak of the migration.

Overnight: Rekero Camp (B, L, D)

Masai Mara Reserve - Nairobi

This morning there may be time for a final game drive before being transferred to the Mara Airstrip for you flight back to Wilson Airport in Nairobi. On arrival you will be met and transferred to Ole Sereni, where you will spend the night

Nairobi - Seychelles

This morning you are picked up and transferred to the airport for your onward flight to the Seychelles. On arrival you are met and whisked off to the exotic Maia Luxury Resort and Spa for your instalment of sun, sea and sand. The rest of the day is free for you to settle in to your stunning new surroundings.

Overnight: Maia Luxury Resort & Spa (B)

Seychelles

Spend the next five nights relaxing, sun worshipping, snorkelling, diving or enjoying some of the water sports at Maia Luxury Resort & Spa. Resting on the pristine Anse Louis beach on the southwest coast of Mahé, Maia utilises the beauty of the natural surroundings to complement its lavish resort. Taking care to build around the delicate environment, Maia made certain that no stone was moved building the resort – the result being a seamless commune of fertile surroundings and lush repose. It is a paradise within a paradise!

Overnight: Maia Luxury Resort & Spa (B, D)

Seychelles - Depart

After that sublime rest and relaxation, it is time to head back to the real world. You will be picked up from you hotel and transferred by speedboat to the airport ready for you flight home