Premier Kenya - 10 nights/11 days

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.

Strong populations of wildlife find their habitat in and around the ol Donyo Lodge environs. While the "Big Five" are here - rhino, elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo - they are often elusive; however, cheetah, fringe-eared oryx, gerenuk, and giraffe make for frequent viewing. Guests are able to track wildlife by open safari vehicles, as well as by foot, or horseback (described below). The best times to be out are from first light for the morning drive, and from 4-4:30 pm for the afternoon drives. These are the times when most of the action is likely to happen. Night drives give you the opportunity to discover a range of unusual and nocturnal animals and view the breathtaking African stars. These drives commence after dinner service at approximately 9:30 pm. Please remember that the vehicles are open and it can be quite chilly in the early mornings and evenings, so take very warm clothing with you on your drives. There are also shukha (blankets) and lined ponchos provided in the vehicles if you get cold while out.

With 275,000 acres of open plains and the dramatic, ancient volcanic soil Chyulu Hills to explore at ol Donyo Lodge this vast region provides a truly unique riding experience. Riding is available all year round at no additional cost.

RIDE OPTIONS
INTERMEDIATE AND ABOVE
For Intermediate riders and above we offer 2 to 4 hour rides exploring the concession. Enjoy exhilarating medium to fast-paced canters and encounters with our famous big Tuskers.
For this riding option, you need to be riding fit, confident and competent, ride with an independent seat and be able to control an easy horse at all paces over uneven terrain.
PLAINS RIDE
Novice riders can enjoy a gentle 60/90 minute ride exploring the open plains.
All riders will need to have a short assessment in our arena prior to setting out to ensure all guests riding out can control their horses and are comfortable at a short trot. If riders do not have the required experience they will be offered a lesson in the arena instead. Plains riders will be given some instruction, a minimum requirement is a short trot.

Another huge benefit of staying outside national parks is that here we are allowed to appreciate the stunning landscape around us on foot, peacefully without the noise of engines. The Chyulu Hills were designed for walking and hiking. We highly recommend this unforgettable experience. Our resident tracker will accompany you and your guide and will carry a firearm. Your guide and the lodge managers will be able to suggest different walks depending on fitness and your interests, such as birding, spelunking, or exploring the plains. Each is a voyage of discovery unveiling secrets of the bush, wildlife movements, medicinal plants and uniquely adapted flora and fauna. Wear good walking shoes, a hat and camouflage-coloured clothing so as not to alarm the wildlife, and take binoculars. Your guide will have water for you.

This is a good opportunity to exercise but also another way of viewing the landscape and wildlife in the area. We recommend cycling during the cooler hours of the day, either in the early morning or late afternoon. Cycling usually takes place on the plains heading toward the kopje or el Mau.

Just below the lodge’s main area is our famous ‘log-pile’ hide named as such because of its elaborate and impressive interwoven construction. A short walk with a cool drink in hand, and you’ve arrived at a secret shaded spot from which to view the many mammals that come in for a drink. This is a tremendous experience, especially during the midday siesta.

Our proximity to Amboseli National Park gives the opportunity for full-day excursions to the park. Guests depart the lodge after breakfast for a leisurely drive across the plains and through small villages. We usually arrive at the park in the mid-morning and depart in the mid-afternoon (with a picnic lunch and a full selection of drinks). We have selected this time of day as it coincides with the time when the guests from the other nearby larger lodges are on siesta, and vehicle density is at its lowest. This is also the time when the elephant and plains game congregate around the waterways and marshes in high density. This excursion can only be guaranteed in advance, please book it at the time of reservation and is subject to additional cost.

ol Donyo Lodge is the ultimate family safari destination. The Young Explorers program is designed to enhance both a child's and a family’s overall safari, weaving themes of conservation and culture into each fun activity with the intention of giving children tangible examples and moments to bring back to their peer group. The future of conservation is, after all, in the hands of these young ambassadors.

We offer a full range of activities from bush survival skills including making sling shots, bows and arrows and creating fire using traditional Maasai techniques, to watercolor painting and so much more.

FITNESS

- Yoga mat, and light weights available in each suite;

- Stationary exercise bikes:

- Guests can enjoy a run/walk on the airstrip.

A Bell 505 helicopter is available, and guests can enjoy 180-degree views with a choice of aerial scenic tours. These include viewing the Chyulu Hills, Amboseli, and Mount Kilimanjaro from the air. In addition to the scenic tours, guests can also visit Amboseli to explore this area with a Great Plains guide and safari drive as well as reserve helicopter transfers from Nairobi to our Mara-based safari camps or Nairobi and ol Donyo Lodge .

Day and night game drives in exclusive vehicles, and guided bush walks on Lewa Wildlife Conservancy are included activities for guests staying at Sirikoi Lodge.

Fantastic views of distant mountain ranges and a beautiful backdrop of snow-capped Mount Kenya provide a perfect setting for game drives and bush walks.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is teeming with birdlife with over 350 species across the diverse topography which includes rolling open plains, hills and kopjes, thick forest, valleys, escarpments, wetlands and rivers.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy has a huge variety of wildlife with over 70 different species of mammal. There are roughly equal numbers of black and white rhino – at the latest count there were 65 black and 46 white. The world's largest resident population of the endangered Grevy zebra resides on Lewa as well as elephant, buffalo, greater kudu, oryx, lion, leopard and cheetah amongst many other mammal species.

Guests have the unique opportunity to see conservation in action – to go behind the scenes of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy’s operations to experience firsthand how conservation and anti-poaching really works, and to see all that Lewa is doing for wildlife and the surrounding communities. This includes visiting the Operations Room, Tracker Dog Unit, meeting the security or anti-poaching team, and visiting the Lewa school and clinic. These are all included activities for guests staying at Sirikoi Lodge.

Sirikoi guests can horse ride on Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and on Borana Conservancy. Riding is a fantastic opportunity to get close to plains game such as zebra and giraffe, and to view the beautiful scenery from a new perspective. You are matched to your horse based on your level of experience and confidence, and we cater for both amateur and expert riders. Rides are lead by an experienced riding guide and are usually taken exclusively rather than with other riders.

Riding on Lewa takes place in the afternoons. Guests depart the lodge at 3pm, go on a short game drive to the stables, where they will start riding at about 4pm. You will ride for about an hour across the plains and among the wildlife. You can choose to continue on your evening game drive to arrive back at the lodge at 7pm. There is also the option to ride camels on Lewa.
Time: 4 hours (1.5 hours riding time), from 3pm – 7pm

Riding on Borana takes place in the morning or afternoon – we recommend the morning. Guests depart Sirikoi at 6:30 with a picnic breakfast. After a short game drive to Borana, you will start riding at about 7am until roughly 8:30am. The terrain on Borana is varied as you ride across rolling hills and open plains, getting up close to plains game.
Time: 4 hours (1.5 hours riding time), from 6am – 10am

Details: You do not need to be an experienced rider to enjoy this activity – both stables cater for riders of all abilities. Wearing closed, comfortable shoes is recommended. Both stables use English saddles, not Western saddles, and riding hats are provided.

Visiting the Ngare Ndare Forest on the boundary of Lewa offers a complete contrast to the wide open plains of the conservancy, and is a favourite activity among Sirikoi guests. Walking through the forest canopy of enormous indigenous trees on the elevated walkway and diving into the blue glacial pools and waterfalls is an exceptional experience of a very different wilderness.

Guests depart Sirikoi in the morning after breakfast and drive for 40 minutes through a few small modern-day Kenyan rural communities, to reach the forest. The elevated canopy walkway is about 10m high and 400m long, ending at a beautiful lookout deck. There is the option to take lunch to the forest and enjoy a feast on the deck.

Time: 4 hours

Details: Pack your swimming costumes, and Sirikoi will pack towels. Wear good shoes for walking. This activity is not recommended for those who struggle with agility or those who are afraid of heights.

Visiting the Il Ngwesi community is a unique opportunity to learn firsthand about the ancient customs, culture and the daily lives of the Laikipiak Maasai. You depart after breakfast at the lodge, and the game drive to Il Ngwesi is about 90 min. You will be shown around their ‘manyatta’ or homestead, learn about their traditions and share in their rich singing and dancing. On the way back to Sirikoi, you may choose to have a picnic lunch.

Time: 4-5 hours (3 hours driving, 1 – 2 hours with the community)

Details: The road to Il Ngwesi is rough – we do not recommend this activity for those who struggle in a bumpy Land Rover.

Sirikoi offers three different helicopter excursions, each exciting and bespoke, taking you through incredible scenery on an immersive and thrilling wilderness experience like no other. Flying over the extraordinarily diverse landscapes will undoubtedly be the highlight of your safari!

The helicopters take a maximum of 5 passengers. Helicopter excursions are best booked in advance.

The Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is found in the remote Mathews Range Mountains, among the second largest elephant populations in Kenya. It is the first community owned and run elephant sanctuary in the world. The orphanage rescues and takes in abandoned elephant calves with the aim to raise them and release them back into the wild herds adjoining the Sanctuary.

Guests enjoy a beautiful scenic helicopter flight over the arid wilderness of Samburu and into the mountains to visit the Reteti Elephant Orphanage. This flight is roughly 30 minutes to an hour, usually departing Sirikoi after an early breakfast at 7:30, to be at the orphanage from 8:30 - 10:00, as feeding time is at 9:00am. After visiting the elephant sanctuary, you will continue flying among breathtaking landscapes, stopping for refreshments in the Mathews Range with an amazing view.

Time: 4 hours (3 hours flying time)

Details: Wear light clothing and pack a hat and sunscreen, as the climate in much hotter in Samburu.

Sirikoi offers three different helicopter excursions, each exciting and bespoke, taking you through incredible scenery on an immersive and thrilling wilderness experience like no other. Flying over the extraordinarily diverse landscapes will undoubtedly be the highlight of your safari!

The helicopters take a maximum of 5 passengers. Helicopter excursions are best booked in advance.

Mount Kenya – Glacial Peaks and Alpine Lakes
This early morning helicopter excursion takes you over the snow-tipped peaks, across the moorlands and down through the undulating forested valleys of the mighty Mount Kenya – the second highest mountain in Africa. Departure time is strictly 7:00am, with the option of an early breakfast at the lodge before taking off, or a picnic breakfast to take with and enjoy up the mountain. You will land on the mountain for refreshments; take a walk and even indulge in a few hours fly-fishing for rainbow trout in the alpine lakes.

Time: 3-4 hours (2 hours flying time)

Details: Pack a jersey or windbreaker, and a hat and sunscreen, as the air is cold and the sun is fierce at altitude. Be sure to drink plenty of water on this excursion to avoid dehydration. This excursion is not advised for people who struggle with altitude.

This excursion is truly astounding, taking you through some of the last remaining untouched and wild wilderness of the world to the most remote secret corners of Kenya. You will fly over rocky outcrops and arid plains, winding river beds and ‘painted’ valleys, volcanic craters and ancient lava flows, lakes of flamingoes and crocodile pools, cycad forests and desert sand dunes, through the Great Rift Valley to the Jade Sea – Lake Turkana. You have the option of a unique cultural encounter with the Pokot tribal community – nomadic pastoralists rarely visited by outsiders.

You will leave Sirikoi at 7:00am before it gets too hot. Either after a quick breakfast at the lodge before taking off, or with a picnic breakfast to take with you. Plenty of refreshments and snacks will be packed for you to take along. You will fly and explore for approximately 5 hours before returning back to Sirikoi for a late lunch.

Time: 6-7 hours (5-6 hours flying time)

Details: The climate is hot and dry the further north you go. Wear light clothing and pack a hat, sunscreen and swimming costume. Be sure to drink plenty of water on this excursion. If you don’t want to fly all the way to Lake Turkana, but would like to explore the north, you can bring down the flying time to lower the cost of the excursion.

Safari drives (day & night) take place in some of the Mara’s most coveted vehicles. Each of the four Toyota Land Cruisers is open-sided, canopied and customised for photographers (fold-down screens, raised roofs, photographic bars, multi-plug invertors). With just four to six guests each, the Cruisers also have fully-stocked fridges stocked with drinks and snacks. No two days are the same on safari. Safari drives typically start at sunrise, returning for lunch and depart again in the mid-afternoon before returning just after sunset. However, very often we will go out all day, deep into the Reserve or Conservancy with a packed breakfast and lunch. One visit per guest per 3-night stay

included, additional visits subject to park fees. Very often, our safaris will continue into the night, a possibility because of our location on a private conservancy. Night drives are particularly prolific in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, and while they take patience, sightings commonly include lesser-known nocturnal mammals and even lion and hyena hunts.

Each of Mara Plains’ guest suites has a professional camera set, including a camera body and lenses. Photos will be downloaded to a memory stick on guest’s departure. Each suite comes with a pair of high-quality binoculars for guest use as well. Photographic tuition can be arranged for guests (at an additional cost) and we recommend prior booking if possible. Tuition can be either on company cameras or own guests’ personal cameras.

Hot air ballooning is available, but should be booked in advance and is subject to availability and additional cost. Departures are very early in the morning to allow time to transfer to the nearest launching point.

Safaris with kids are much the same – a time to stimulate all the senses. Safaris open up a whole new world to us all, but for kids it is magical. While new animals are a huge part of the excitement of safari, stepping away from everyday life in favor of spotting animal tracks and practicing your newly learnt traditional bush survival skills is an experience that kids and parents alike will cherish.

The Great Plains Young Explorers Program blends fun with conservation learning. On arrival each child receives a Young Explorers pack full of all that is needed for them to become a Conservation Ambassador. The pack includes an activity book full of interesting information including animal tracks, seTswana or Kiswahili vocabulary, facts on flora, fauna and stars, word games and a safari journal. Great Plains guides and staff seamlessly modify the level of activities according to age.

The Naboisho Women's Group cultural experience is supported by the Great Plains Foundation, enabling the group to purchase raw materials in bulk including a tailor hired to work on leather products. Available to guests staying at Great Plains Conservation camps all profits from the sale of their wares are ploughed back into the women's business training to ensure this group is self-sustainable. Items available for purchase include, but are not limited to, beaded & leather products, coasters, bracelets, necklaces, belts, dog collars, earrings, and decorated dawa sticks for example.