On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, you will be met by Andrew with our specialized six seater air-conditioned transfer vehicle. Andrew will transfer you to the domestic airport, Wilson, for your scheduled flight to Samburu's Kalama airstrip. You will be met in Samburu by your driver/guide from Saruni Samburu and have a leisurely game drive through the Samburu and West Gate conservancies en-route to the camp, arriving in time for a delicious lunch.
Your days can be spent as you wish and your driver/guides will discuss each day with you as you go along. The norm is an early wake up with coffee/tea around 6am to depart on a pre-breakfast game drive at about 630am. Being so close to the equator Kenya’s sunrise and sunset varies by an hour at most throughout the year, the temperature can also be comparatively cold in the early mornings and evenings, so it is a good idea to dress in layers when you go out on a drive as the middle of the day will be hot and dry.
After a sumptuous breakfast, the middle of the day is yours to do with as you please, many people go back to their tents and have a shower, perhaps read and take a nap before lunch or play board games in the main mess/lounge area of camp. After lunch you have a few hours to relax again before heading out around 330/4pm on an afternoon game drive – perhaps follow up on the pride of lion you saw in the morning, or head out to look for an elusive leopard or cheetah. After the game drive is time for a well-deserved pre-dinner drink around the camp fire and a chance to swap stories with other guests.
Road transfer from JKIA to Wilson airport;
Scheduled Safarilink flight from Wilson airport to Samburu Kalama airstrip;
Shared return airstrip transfers to Saruni Samburu using the lodge's vehicle;
Three nights' accommodation at Saruni Samburu on fully inclusive basis, all meals, house wines, house soft drinks, house beers, house spirits and laundry;
Shared game drives, night game drives, guided bush walks, bush meals, sundowners and picnic excursinos.
One complimentary Back & Neck massage (30 mins.) per room.
Champagne, premium spirits & standard cellar wines.
Additional Wellbeing Space treatments.
After breakfast you will be transferred back to Samburu's Kalama airstrip where your private charter aircraft to Ol Lentille awaits. You will fly south-west along the course of the Ewaso Nyiro river, this area is dry and rocky with dramatic scenery and is home to abundant and diverse wildlife. On arrival you will be met by the lodge representative and taken to The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille where you are booked to stay for three nights.
Ol Lentille is four lavish private villas with discreet butler service and spectacular views set in a private conservation area of over 40,000 acres of stunning hills and valleys. This pristine private landscape is over three times the size of Manhattan and offers guests the ultimate exclusivity and privacy.
They are a pioneering conservation and community project in partnership with the local Samburu and Maasai communities at one of the highest points of Laikipia.
Exclusivity, pristine game viewing, authentic cultural experiences, numerous activities and first class hospitality are offered in abundance.
The aim is for guests to leave relaxed, refreshed and in awe of their special location and experiences.
Charter flight from Samburu to Loisaba airstrip with Tropic Air;
Return airstrip transfers using the lodge's vehicle;
Three nights' accommodation at The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille on fully inclusive basis, including house wines and spirits, beer and soft drinks;
Day and night game drives, each house has exclusive use of a 4 x 4 safari vehicle;
Personal staff; butler, valet, askari and guide;
Walking safaris, camel trekking, mountain and quad biking, conservation initiatives first hand, authentic community experiences of both the Maasai and Samburu culture, unlimited spa treatments, sundowners and bush meals in stunning locations, croquet, boules, and archery, Wifi access available in the reception area, laundry.
Champagne, luxury spirits, selected wines.
Activities and meals not mentioned in the inclusions.
This morning you will have an early breakfast and drive an hour and a half to the nearby Loisaba airstrip where you will catch a scheduled flight westwards to the Masai Mara’s Olkiombo airstrip. The Masai Mara is considered the 7th Wonder of the World because of the annual wildebeest migration. On arrival at Olkiombo you will be met by your camp representative and transferred back to Mara Plains Camp.
Upon arriving at the camp, you walk across a bridge over the river, through a thick, riverine forest, up a small slope to some giant steps, only to be greeted by an endless horizon with one, single, flat-topped tree – the quintessential shape of East Africa – right in your line of sight.
It’s a small detail, perhaps, but one which Great Plains co-founder Dereck Joubert spent days considering as he paced the approach to ensure the impact of arrival in camp was maximised. On deciding the best route, his only hope remained that an elephant didn’t flatten that all-important tree!
Such are the apparently unimportant decisions which, when added up, go towards making Mara Plains Camp the marvelous combination of romance, adventure, discovery and exploration that it is.
When sitting in the middle of one of the richest wild ecosystems in the world it’s exceptionally important not to try and upstage what nature has provided, so the design of Mara Plains is one of understatement and quiet class. The decor pays homage to the essence of East Africa and its chief influences – Maasai and Arab culture. Ancient Swahili heritage is reflected in large wooden doors from the coastal island of Lamu, and accents of deep red and purple honour the great Maasai chiefs and warriors who have roamed this land for millennia.
Add to this cultural melting pot a nod to the colonial era, with rich leathers, copper and brass used in expedition-style campaign furniture and you have a lavish, residential atmosphere which complements, rather than overwhelm the surrounding wilderness.
One of only five camps on the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, guests at Mara Plains have unrivalled access to more than 100,000 acres of exclusive, low-vehicle density tourism land, home to extensive areas of important habitat for a vast number of wildlife species, while still having unfettered access to the Maasai Mara’s additional 375,000 acres.
Road transfer The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille to Loisaba airstrip;
Scheduled flight from Loisaba airstrip to Ol Kiombo airstrip with Safarilink;
Shared return airstrip transfers with the Mara Plains vehicle;
Three nights' accommodation at Mara Plains Camp on fully inclusive basis, including soft drinks, beer, non -premium wine and laundry;
Shared game drives using the camp's vehicle;
Conservancy fees.
Champagne, premium spirits and cellar wines
Exclusive use of vehicle, subject to availability and comes at an extra cost;
Activities and meals not mentioned in the inclusions.
After a last leisurely breakfast on the Mara Plains you will catch your scheduled flight back to Nairobi's Wilson airport. On arrival at Wilson you will be greeted by Andrew's smiley face and he will transfer you to JKIA for your international departure flight….. OR………
Breakfast at Mara Plains Camp;
Scheduled flight from Mara to Wilson Airport on Safarilink;
Airport transfer from Wilson Airport to JKIA.
Activities and meals not mentioned in the inclusions.
