Kenya - Loisaba and Laikipia

Take a game drives into one of the most unique game parks in the World, the Nairobi National Park.

Visits to see the orphaned elephants. Born from one family’s passion for Kenya and its wilderness, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is today the most successful orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in the world and one of the pioneering conservation organisations for wildlife and habitat protection in East Africa.

https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/

Founded in 1979 as a core breeding centre of the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe it further escalated its conservation efforts in 1983, opening up an outstanding environmental education centre. Take a tour around the Centre and feed the giraffes.

http://giraffecenter.org

Nairobi is just around the corner for those who need to get last minute items. Although our boutique is fully stocked, we would be happy to take you to any of the local shopping areas in Nairobi. Our driver guides are not only wildlife specialists, they also understand the art of bargaining.

An interesting project to deter large predators such as lion, leopard, hyena and cheetah, from killing livestock held in enclosures. This simple project was invented by an 11-year-old boy, Richard Turere whose family and neighbors were faced with predator incursions and livestock depredation on almost a daily basis in Kitengela (an area bordering the Nairobi National Park).

The ‘anti predator’ scheme involved a solar lighting system which charges batteries during the day and at night powers lights around the homestead. The lights are low power LED’s which flash continually throughout the night and have so far proved to be a great success. A study was carried out on this scheme and predator attacks and so far homesteads which this lighting scheme have not had one single predatory attack since their implementation.

The Emakoko has purchased twenty two units which have been given to 10 homes in the area – and so far those households have not been attacked. There are however more homes which desperately need these and if you would like to make a donation towards one of these units the community would be very grateful. The cost per unit to buy and install is $240.

Don't miss the opportunity to visit the Emakoko garden and Netty’s (daughter of Anton and Emma) tree project. Starting with just a handful, the garden has grown to over 3,500 seedlings! The trees are donated throughout Nairobi to anyone who would like to start their own Shamba (garden), and contribute to the reafforestation of Nairobi and the surrounding suburbs.

Enjoy a massage from the comfort of your room (additional cost - paid directly). Feel your jetlag dissipate as you listen to the animal sounds of Nairobi National Park.

Loisaba's abundant wildlife across is rolling landscape is truly wild. Loisaba is a corridor of an elephant migration route, and holds a healthy population of lion as well as notable northern species such as the Grevy zebra, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich. Loisaba is also a home range for the rare and special wild dog.

Loisaba has a fleet of custom-built Land Rover safari vehicles, with special features for photography. The guides of Loisaba are all KPSGA Bronze and Silver rated and have intimate knowledge of the wildlife and the culture of the area.

All game drives are inclusive in a Game Package.

Leaving the car behind for a bush walk allows an up-close and intimate experience of nature. Take a walk with one of Loisaba's excellent guides, and learn how to recognise animal signs and tracks, appreciate the smaller creatures and flora of Africa, all while enjoying the surroundings at a slower pace.

Guided Bush Walks are inclusive in a Game Package.

Horse riding provides a chance to experience wildlife from a different perspective. Trotting through herds of zebra, impala or giraffe is an exhilarating experience. Loisaba's horses are bush-raised and trained, allowing you to get close to the wildlife.

Horse riding is at an additional cost, and normally lasts for 2 hours. Only riders with experience can partake in this activity.

Camels are a sight synonymous with Kenya's northern regions. Enjoy a ride on a traditional mode of transport along the Ewaso Nyiro river or across the plains.

Camel trekking is at an additional cost, and normally lasts for 2 hours.

The Samburu of Northern Kenya, a pastoralist tribe, are renowned for their colourful and impressive dress. Guests to Loisaba are invited to visit a local Samburu village to learn about the Samburu people and their culture.

Game drive to Samburu village is included in Game Package, but an entry fee that goes to the community is an extra.

Loisaba Conservancy has its own dedicated anti-poaching team, comprising of four sniffer dogs - Warrior, Machine, Memusi and Nanyokie - and their human handler team. Visit the team and learn about their day to day training and activities, and also view an anti-poaching demonstration in action.

A donation fee is charged that goes towards Loisaba's anti-poaching activities.

For some excitement and adrenalin, take a mountain bike and your guide and explore some of the biking trails around Loisaba Conservancy on two wheels.

Mountain biking is inclusive in a Game Package

If you are a fishing enthusiast, we have some great dams for both catfish and tilapia! We include a short game drive to the dam, where you may see hippos and other wildlife.

Fishing is inclusive in a Game Package.

Enjoy a delicious gourmet meal amidst the sights, sounds and smells of the African bush. The perfect ending to a bush walk, horse ride or camel safari.

A spectacular African sunset is always best enjoyed with your favourite drink in hand.

Experience authentic Maasai and Samburu culture, by visiting a traditional homestead, having a cup of smoky milk tea with a mama or a drink of honey mead with the Wazee (Elders). Learn about the social structure of the homestead, and the joys and challenges of everyday life. This is a very natural and authentic experience where you are treated as a guest, not a tourist.

For the more adventurous, we will set up dinner at the manyatta. Chef David will barbecue a goat and we will have dinner under the stars inside the manyatta, sharing for a moment, the life of our Maasai and Samburu neighbours.

A tradition unique to northern Kenya, the "singing wells" are dug in dry river beds by warriors to find water for their cows. The warriors form a human pyramid in the 10-12ft wells to bring buckets of water to the surface, while singing individual songs to each of their cows. The songs, reverberating in the valley, and heard well before you see the wells are a magical and haunting experience.

Be invited to a wedding, where the bride and groom go through elaborate rituals before departing for their new home, with the event culminating in a joyful celebration of their new life together which all the in the area are invited to join.

Or maybe attend a women's blessing ceremony, a young man's circumcision day or the initiation of a new age set of warriors.

Those unique moments are always fascinating, moving and memorable.

The 40,000 acres of the private Ol Lentille Conservancy are a vital wildlife migration corridor and as such, remain unfenced. It is home to large herds of elephant, painted wolves, leopards, hyenas, greater kudus, elands, as well as many species of smaller antelopes. Rare northern species such as the Grevy's zebra and gerenuk are also found here. Ol Lentille is also a paradise for bird watching, with many rare species making their home here. This is Africa at its most wild and original. Without fences, the animals move in and out of the conservancy following ancient migration routes and are not habituated to humans.

With 40,000 acres of unspoilt and dramatic wilderness, Ol Lentille is ideal for walking adventures, from a gentle walk down a dry river bed that reveals spectacular "lost world" views to a vigorous climb up Ol Lentille peak, Laikipia's tallest, or a full day adventure hiking in hidden valleys

A camel safari through the African bush, led by Maasai warriors, and ending at the bend of a river for a tranquil picnic lunch under a fig tree, and perhaps a refreshing swim in the river.

Go for an exciting quad biking adventure around the community lands, or down the rugged trails of the conservancy (16 years and above),

Enjoy a relaxing spa treatment in the comfort of our secluded spa, followed by herbal tea served on the spa deck

Around a roaring fire at the lodge's "boma", the warriors appear unexpectedly out of the darkness, singing rhythmically and dancing like dervishes. Their vertical jumps, a way of demonstrating their athletic prowess to the young women who accompany them. Almost unconsciously, our Ol Lentille staff get dragged into the dancing circle, and then our guests.

That signature Ol Lentille activity is an exhilarating evening, that culminates in a traditional Kenyan meal served under the stars.

Visit Africa's only habituated baboon colony, a 30mn drive from Ol Lentille lodge. The field researchers will talk you through the behaviour and organization of that large group of baboons (numbering up to 100 individuals), as they slowly make their way to a rocky outcrop to roost for the night. That activity usually ends with a sundowner nearby, as you watch the baboons settling in for the night.

At Ol Lentille we pride ourselves on never serving you a meal twice in the same location. You can enjoy meals in the privacy of your villa, on the pool deck, in the Gallery or on the rooftop. We arrange bush breakfasts, picnic lunches and bush dinners in a number of spectacular locations. And our sundowners are truly memorable!

We visit both inside the Masai Mara National Reserve and outside, in our Olderkesi Conservancy. You can do either morning, evening or all day game drives. Please note that viewing the main migration river crossings requires a full day out as they are located some way from camp. We believe that wildlife viewing should be a private , special and un-rushed experience.

Cottar's wildlife drives Credit: Cottar's Safaris

Swimming pools for guests to enjoy as and when they wish.

Credit: Cottars Safaris

After a day out game driving, soak and relax in our unique canvas bush bath: A traditional style canvas bath is set up in the open-air outside your tent, as you bathe, you can enjoy the wild beauty of the Masai Mara.

Cottar's Safaris traditional canvas bath Credit: Cottar's Safaris Cottar's Safaris traditional canvas bath

We have a number of treatments available at the Spa which is located near the main Mess Tent area. We only use organic ingredients and allow our guests to choose the ingredients to make their spa experience truly bespoke.

Spa treatment Credit: Cottar's Safaris

Visit a Maasai Village and experience their rich culture. This involves a trip to their Manyattas (mud huts), village setup (security, healthcare, education and management of resources e.g. meals, water, firewood), local market with wonderful Maasai artefacts/attire for sale, their live-stock and much more. You will learn about ancient traditions as well as contemporary struggles and adaptations to modern life.

Village visit Credit: Cottar's Safaris

An hour-long flight at dawn ascend to one thousand feet or more to see the enormous and wonderful panorama of the Maasai. Followed by champagne breakfast upon landing.

S505 per person. Minimum age is 4 years and activity must be pre-booked.

Balloon safari Credit: Cottars Safaris

Children, from 5 years and above, soon become immersed in this captivating and fun outdoor classroom, where the guides become the teachers, explaining different species and the importance of conservation.

Kids' Entomology Safari Credit: Cottars Safaris

All walks are led by a professional guide and accompanied by a licensed gun bearer. Bush walks can start from camp or can be a part of a game drive. They give you the chance to view the unique ecosystem from a completely different perspective, and to learn about botany and entomology, and how to interpret animal tracks and signs. The walk can be as long or as short as you wish.

Guided Bush Walks Credit: Cottar's Safaris

Children and families are invited to learn the ways of a warrior with the African bush as your classroom. A session includes spear throwing ; bow and arrow practice; Maasai jumping, dancing and singing and tracking, depending on age and ability.

Warrior school fire Credit: Cottar's Safaris

Take your taste-buds on a journey through some of East Africa’s best coffees. Our coffee expert will take you through the history of coffee in East Africa, whilst comparing the different tastes and aromas. He will explain how different climates and processing methods result in very different coffees. It’s a must-do tasting experience for any coffee lover!

Coffee tasting at Cottar's Credit: Cottar's Safaris

Get a behind the scenes and experience the protection of the elephants in the Greater Mara ecosystem with Mara Elephant Project (MEP) including meeting the rangers, refreshments and an interactive presentation about the work of MEP. Activity must be pre-booked.

Conservation Helicopter Flight Credit: Mara Elephant Project

One hour learning with the only all-female conservation rangers unit in the Maasai Mara.

Conservation Rangers Credit: Cottars Safaris

Immersive Raptor Experience with Kenya Birds of Prey Trust (KBOPT), learn about conservation efforts in Mara for vulnerable raptors. Activity must be pre-booked.

Raptor rehabilitation Credit: Cottars Safaris

The Mara Meru Cheetah Project provides science for conservation on cheetahs and understanding on predators’ role within the broader ecosystem. Guests can choose from a range of experiences from a one-hour talk on cheetah with our guides, to spending a half-day out in the field followed by a talk with the head of Mara Meru Cheetah Project, Dr. Elena V. Chelysheva, PhD.

Mara cheetah Credit: Cottars Safaris

A short walk around Cottar's 1920s Camp, visiting our Explorer's Tent, 4Cs centre and back of house to view our organic vegetable garden, solar power farm and sustainability initiatives.

Cottar's 1920s Camp organic farm Credit: Cottar's Safaris

Dinner is setup out in the conservancy, under the vast African sky; with sundowners by the fire to start, followed by a three course meal, accompanied by the fantastic sounds of the wilderness at night.

Credit: Cottar's Safaris

From your wildlife drive vehicle or whilst out on a walk, throw seedballs around that will eventually sprout when the rains come. They are encased in a special coating which will activate at the right time for germination. Your packet contains approximately 225 indigenous tree, or grass or plant or flower seeds that are critical to the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem.

We are replenishing the tree species that are endangered in our area. Indirectly, we are also supporting species such as elephants, butterflies, bees and other insect life that is key to the biodiversity in this area. This is a free activity although donations are welcome. Thank you for helping our local ecosystem and helping Cottars become net positive!

Cottar's Safaris Seedball Dispersal Credit: Cottar's Safaris

Make traditional Maasai beaded jewellery with a Maasai Mama

Cottar's Safaris - beading with Mama Naishuru Credit: Cottar's Safaris

Spend a few hours visiting our local primary school, you will get to meet the children and sit in on a few classes if you wish, or join in on the daily football game. Something for those seeking a more engaging and immersive safari experience. Activity must be pre-booked.

Cotta's Safaris local school visit Credit: Cottar's Safaris Cotta's Safaris local school visit

Under the vast African sky, while enjoying an evening cocktails by the fire, guests get to enjoy the time-honoured celebration of song and dance by our local Maasai warriors.

Maasai singing and dancing Credit: Cottar's Safaris

Learn Western and African interpretations of the African night sky, and understand how the same view can elicit such illuminating and culturally different stories. The night skies of Kenya are phenomenal. Learn from our top guides about the stars seen from the African equator.

Stargazing Credit: Cottars Safaris