10N/11D KENYA HIGHLIGHTS - 4 Star

Experience charged per person

Take a morning or an evening ride within the 600-acre Endangered Species Enclosure, accompanied by knowledgeable staff on Ol Pejeta’s safari horses. These rides will take you on a journey through a predator-free area set aside by Ol Pejeta for the recovery of the northern white rhinoceros. As well as meeting the last three remaining northern white rhinos on the planet, you will ride through herds of the highly endangered Gravy’s zebra and Jackson’s hartebeest. You will also encounter many other species including southern white rhinos and a myriad of plains game.

The rides will only be open to experienced riders and some proof of riding ability will be required at point of booking; clients judged to be of insufficient riding ability will not be permitted to undertake this activity.

Available twice daily from the Morani Information Centre at 10:00am and 3:00pm.

Thanks to Ol Pejeta Conservancy’s private status it is able to offer night game drives, an activity not available in most national parks and reserves in Kenya. A night game drive offers visitors an opportunity to discover Ol Pejeta Conservancy ‘after hours’. With the help of a filtered spot light, the drives can produce some unusual sightings of nocturnal animals, including aardvark, white-tailed mongoose, caracal cat and even perhaps, bat eared fox. Lion, often sleeping during the day are often sighted alert and active at night, and even on occasion, the more elusive leopard.

Available daily between 7:00pm – 9:00pm and 9:00pm – 11:00pm.

A unique opportunity to track and learn about the lions of Ol Pejeta and contribute towards their conservation. Guests can participate in helping us to gather vital research information needed to monitor the collared lions. In the event that the collared lions are inaccessible, other lion sightings are reported and the same identifying features such as whisker spots, ear tears and nose spotting recorded. It is a great way to learn about lions and all of the information gathered is passed on to the Ol Pejeta Ecological Monitoring Department.

Available daily between 6:30am – 8:30am and 3:30pm – 5:30pm.

A unique opportunity to learn more about the day-to-day care of the chimpanzees in our care.
Gain exclusive access to feeding time and the enrichment activities within their enclosures. Chimpanzees are not indigenous to Kenya. One can also adopt a chimp.

Available daily between 09:30am – 1:00pm and 2:00 pm – 4:30pm.

The bush walk gives visitors the opportunity to learn about game trails and spoor identification as well as the insects, birds and smaller mammals of Ol Pejeta. The walk is not designed to be strenuous however a reasonable level of fitness is required, as you can expect to be walking for around two hours.

Available daily between 7:00am – 8:00pm.

Game drives offer a unique opportunity to spot wildlife including the curious-looking aardvark and elusive leopard.

Mara Serena Game Drives Credit: Serena Hotels

Mara Serena Game Drives Credit: Serena Hotels

Mara Serena Game Drives Credit: Serena Hotels

The Maasai are undoubtedly one of the most famous traditional cultures on earth. In fact, the Manyatta are usually a circular encampment of long, low, rounded houses, created by daubing cattle dung over a framework of sticks. Visiting a Manyatta is a good way to learn more about the Maasai culture and everyday life. Many ceremonies involve the ritual slaughter of cattle or goats with meat being distributed among the community, according to social rank.

At other times, live cattle are bled by opening a vein on the neck or flank with the point of an arrow. The blood is collected in a gourd and the wound closed with ashes. Then the blood is either drunk immediately while fresh or mixed with milk. Even at slaughter, blood is collected and mixed with milk to be drunk later. Sour milk is also considered a delicacy.

Ololoolo escarpment forms the western boundary of the Mara triangle running along a geological fault line forming the edge of a granite plateau that rises to a height of 400 meters from the bottom.

The escarpment receives more rain than the rest of the Mara triangle and lots of fresh water streams radiate from its face disappearing into the ground only to reappear in swamps lower down. As a result of the rains a growth of thick vegetation is found to be growing along the escarpment This terrain of the escarpment ranges from rocky crags, boulders strewn slopes and well-watered wetlands. The icing on the cake has to be the ability to enjoy the endless plains of grass of the Mara Plains which are a site to from atop the escarpment.

There are several tracks along the escarpment used by the Germans during WW1. These tracks create an edge for adventure seekers.

The hiking trail starts at the Ngira-re rangers outpost (1645m) and gently ascends up for 4 km to a height of 1935m to reach the top (vertical height 290 Metres). The hiking takes 1- 2.5 hours ascending and 1 hour descending.

Guests leave the lodge after breakfast (7:30am) and drive for 1 hour to the foot of the escarpment. The entire hike takes approximately 3 hours and guests are driven back to the lodge for lunch.

Recommended Attire includes;
- Long trousers
- Hiking boots/sports shoes/safari boots
- Hat/cap
- Water (provided by the lodge)Walking sticks (provided by the lodge).

Float above the Mara plains in a dimension of unsurpassed tranquillity and beauty. The hot air balloon lifts you into the clear blue sky at dawn and gives you an eagle’s view of the wildlife pageant below. You will glide over the treetops with the early birds and be wafted gently over the plains, above the bustle and bumps of the ground below, but cruising close to enjoy the spectacular scenery.