TAN-13-DAYS OF EAST AFRICA (TAN/KEN) *

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.

Spend a few hours in the company of young orphan elephants and learn about incredible rescue efforts and the world famous rehabilitation programme. You may also find yourself adopting one of the herd.

Karen Blixen Museum is a national museum in Kenya situated about 19 kilometres from Nairobi City centre. It was built in 1912, and was home to the iconic Danish author of ‘Out of Africa’ (won an Oscar Award)-Karen Blixen. This famous author, artist and poet lived here while setting up her coffee farm at the foot of the Ngong Hills.

In case you missed out, Out of Africa is a book which Karen Blixen wrote about her stay in Kenya and of her beloved farm, and was later made into a great movie. It shows her struggles she underwent to keep her estate and how her understanding and love grew for the culture and the people around her.

During your stay at Hemingways Nairobi Hotel, take some few hours of your time and visit Karen Blixen Museum. This will give you a chance to travel back in time where you can re-live your memories of Out of Africa. If you are a lover of history, then this is the place for you.

You can pick up a copy of the famous film at the museum shop or browse for handicrafts, posters and postcards, books and other Kenyan souvenirs.

A short drive from Hemingways Hotel, Nairobi National Park offers either an immediate safari experience on landing in Kenya or a final last look prior to departing home. It is the oldest national park in Kenya, established in 1946, and is the only national park in the world located within a capital city.

With wide-open grass plains and the backdrop of the city, scattered acacia bushes play host to a wide variety of wildlife including the endangered black rhinos, lions, leopards, buffalos, cheetahs, hyenas and giraffes among others. Visitors can enjoy Nairobi National Park game drives to view all these wild animals. For the bird lovers, the park also has over 400 bird species for your watching.

Some of the other fun activities to engage in the park include camping, picnics and hiking. The park also has various facilities for corporate events, team building sessions, weddings and video and film production.

Other attractions to explore within and around Nairobi National Park include the Nairobi Safari Walk, the Ivory Burning Site Monument and David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

Whether you’re visiting Nairobi for work or leisure, a game of golf at the nearby Karen Country Club is not to be missed for golf enthusiasts. Guests at Hemingways Nairobi enjoy preferential rates at this golf club. This golf club was opened in the 1930’s, a large part of the 18-hole course was built on the former coffee estate of the Danish pioneer Karen Blixen. Indeed the shade trees from her coffee plantation still dominate parts of the course, eighty years after they were planted.

The course is superbly maintained with greens built to PGA standards and has played host to the Kenya Open in recent years. Karen’s golf course is as pretty as a picture, its flourishing wildlife (both flora and fauna) encouraged by an active policy of nature and wetlands conservation and promotion. Everywhere there is colour and beauty.

The Giraffe Centre is a non-profitable organization whose main objective is to provide conservation education for school children and the youth of Kenya.

Visit the feeding platform to get up close and personal with a giraffe and take a stroll through the nature sanctuary for a tranquil getaway with serene views and sounds of nature.

Game drives happen twice per day: in the morning and again in the late afternoon. We can also stay out late to spot nocturnal animals and venture off-road. Our vehicles are seven-seaters with open sides or five-seaters with roofs that open so you can stand for a better view. All vehicles are fitted with power points and fridges, so we can comfortably cruise around the bush all day.

A night safari gives guests the opportunity to spot animals that spend the day snoozing. Our vehicles are equipped with special spotlights that give you the thrilling experience of watching predators as they stalk their prey.

There’s nothing like a walking safari for learning about the Mara ecosystem. A passionate and specially trained Asilia guide will lead a walk through the savannah, pausing to explain bird and animal behaviour, and how all the small things work together, from termites to dung beetles. (additional cost)

This is one of the most exciting activities Asilia has to offer and is perfect for those who want an intimate safari experience. Set out on a walking safari in the afternoon and spend a night fly camping in a remote part of the conservancy. We’ll cook dinner over a campfire under the stars and the sounds of the bush will lull you to sleep. We return to the main camp the next morning. (additional cost)

Asilia can organise a trip to a nearby Maasai village, where you can meet our neighbours and learn about Maasai life. We take great care to plan these trips with sensitivity and respect for the local communities. (additional cost)

Our guides are great with kids. Many of them are parents themselves and love taking children on safari. They can teach them bush skills such as how to track animals, while telling Maasai folktales and stories about life in the Mara. We can plan games or visit a local school to meet future pen pals and learn more about Maasai culture.

You won’t regret the early start when you find yourself sailing over the Mara plains as the sun peeks over the horizon. A hot-air balloon ride offers an incredible vantage point. From above, follow the river and glide over a confusion of wildebeest, journey of giraffes or dazzle of zebras. Balloon rides are at an additional cost and are subject to weather conditions. (additional cost)

Naboisho is home to one of Asilia’s specially modified photographic vehicles. The open vehicle allows keen amateurs and professional photographers alike to shoot at eye level with wildlife. It is equipped with all the gear to ensure award-winning shots — from beanbags and camera rests to 360° swivel seats. You can read more about the vehicle here. Please enquire to ensure availability of the vehicle and confirm any additional fees. (additional cost)

Due to the high concentration of wildlife, many research programmes are conducted in the Mara Naboisho Conservancy. Researchers sometimes visit camp and spend an evening with guests sharing their findings and experiences of working in the bush.

Wildlife viewing and bird watching game drives are offered twice per day. Experienced guides encourage guests to see and experience the Serengeti through their eyes, sharing a world of small and large wonders that only they truly know and understand. Guests can arrange full days in the bush with picnic lunches or shorter excursions returning to enjoy the tranquility of camp.

Balloon safaris are a romantic and evocative way of experiencing the wilderness of East Africa, as you silently fly over the plains teeming with herds of wildlife in the early morning. Typically, a balloon safari begins around 6 am and lasts for around 1-2 hours. Balloon safaris (additional cost) take off from designated sites in the nearby Ndutu Area. The safari is followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush, a fitting end to a memorable flight in the wild. (At an additional cost)

Experience the wild while being able to give back to the community and experience the true life of the Tanzania inhabitants.

Game drives at Dunia can be tailored to suit your requirements. Choose to rise with the birds and head out on an early morning game drive, return to camp for a light lunch and then head out again in the afternoon or embrace a full day in the bush, supplied with a delicious packed breakfast or picnic lunch to maximize game viewing time. Please discuss your preferences with your guide or manager.

There’s just something about soaring aloft in a hot-air balloon over the plains of the Serengeti. You will take to the skies in the early morning as the sun’s first rays peek over the plains, and after an hour or two, you’ll come back down to earth for a champagne picnic in the bush. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Please note that there is an additional charge for this activity.

Dunia welcomes children from 5 years of age and older. We guarantee a private safari vehicle to families of 4 or more during the low season, but during high season families with children under 12 are obliged to use a private game-viewing vehicle at extra cost. Our bush guides have a wealth of insightful experience and they will captivate you and your children with bush-wise facts, wildlife know-how, games, local customs, and incredible stories of life in the wilderness.

Enjoy a game drive in one of the most game-rich areas in the world, the Ngorongoro Crater. Explore the vast 300km2 floor with an experienced guide and stop for lunch in a shady spot under the trees, maximising your time in this unforgettable landscape. Our seven-seater closed vehicles are fitted with power points so you’re able to charge your devices, as well as a fridge to keep your drinks deliciously frosty.

The Olmoti climb follows an ancient Maasai cattle trail through mountain forest, grasslands and rocky outcrops. Make the most of outstanding birding opportunities and the chance to see a vast array of butterfly species. At the top, you are rewarded with a magnificent view of the crater below.

Descend into the Empakaai crater accompanied by an NCA ranger and walk to the sparkling soda lake on the crater floor, famous for the pink flamingo that congregate on its shores. Because of the camp’s proximity to Empakaai, it is the only property that gives you the opportunity to make this a half-day excursion.

Guests will have the opportunity to join a Maasai staff member on a visit to a local community. Many of our staff members are drawn from the surrounding communities and are always eager to share their experiences, providing a richer understanding of the culture that defines this corner of East Africa. Guests will be invited to a Maasai boma to gain an insight into the traditional cattle-herding practices and school visits will also be available depending on the time of year.