x2 Art Safari Kenya

You will fly from London Heathrow Airport to Africa, to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi, Kenya. 

Upon arrival you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to your hotel for the night.  Here you will meet Virginia & Wendy over a welcome drink - the two passionate artists who, over the following week, will show you the best places in Kenya from a creative perspective. 

After a scrumptious breakfast the group will gather together to discuss the holiday. You will be given elaborate welcome packs followed by a session for artists where you will look at work of relevant artists. Virginia & Wendy will also discuss sketchbook techniques with you so that you are all set for the days ahead. Partners have the morning to relax around the pool. 

A short distance from your lodge is  the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage which you will visit later on this morning. Not only does this orphanage offer wonderful photo opportunities, by merely visiting the orphaned elephants you contribute to their conservation and their reintroduction into the wild. After an encounter with these gentle giants you are now heading into the wild, to Nairobi National Park. Wide open grass plains where you can still see the tall buildings of the city in the backgroun, scattered acacia bush play host to a wide variety of wildlife including the endangered black rhino, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, buffaloes, giraffes and diverse birdlife with over 400 species recorded. 

Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush and then continue game driving. You will arrive back at your lodge late in the afternoon. There is time for a refreshing dip in the pool, a chat about the day gone past whilst enjoying a well-deserved drink, before dinner is served at the lodge. 

An early start as today you are heading deeper into Africa. As you depart Nairobi city you will head north and drive through Thika's pineapple fields. The road narrows as you climb up to the misty hills around Nyeri. On your right you will see Mt Kenya, Kenya's highest mountain.  Stunning views abound. 

You will arrive at your Sieku. This 'glamping' experience has taken all the best bits of the upmarket lodges and combined them with a rustic and authentic glamping element. The result is a small, bespoke and luxurious camp where the importance of comfortable living is recognized. Rooms are equipped with king beds, feather and cotton bedding, freshly-cut flowers, handmade furniture, oriental carpets, woven rugs, organic soaps, and succulents planted in shells and driftwood from the Indian ocean. Guests with a real and wholesome appreciation of the outdoors will love the great views of the Laikipia landscape, big firepits, log fires, picnicing areas with mountain views, day-beds, and hidden-away chilling areas in the bush. 

Enjoy a picnic lunch at the Blue Pools - refreshingly cool natural pools with an idyllic waterfall. Heading back to camp sundowner drinks are served overlooking the African wilderness. Review your sketchbooks with Virginia & Wendy at hand to give advice and handy tips. They will furthermore tell you all about tomorrow's programme as you will be visiting remote Samburu Game Reserve. Dinner will be served before you will retire for a restful night's sleep. 

An early start for a full day of exploring one of Kenya's wildest game reserves: Samburu. Going on a full-day game drive gives  you plenty of opportunity to see the wildlife, soak up the vistas, sketch, photograph and paint. 

The reserve is rich in wildlife and famous for its abundance of northern specialist species such as the Grevy Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk and the Beisa Oryx ). The reserve is home to almost a 1,000 elephants. Large predators such as the Lion, Leopard and Cheetah are an important attraction (Kamunyak the Miracle Lioness that adapted the baby Oryx is a resident in the reserve). Wild dog sightings are also a common attraction to this unique and protected area. 

At the end of the day you will return to Sieku in time for sundower drinks. Enjoy discussing the day's happenings and the progress you made with your work. A scrumptious dinner will be served with the sounds of the bush in the background. 

Sunrise in Africa is one of the most magical moments. The sounds, smells but mostly the sights - the changing light, the wildlife which has just woken up, the dramatic skies. Take it all in and enjoy a morning to have a prolonged creative session to work in the grounds, expressing your thoughts and feelings. Partners will be taken on a walk to explore the local flora & fauna or they can relax soaking up the peaceful surroundings. 

It's time to say farewell to the friendly staff of Sieku. You are going to Nakuru National Park - remember the film 'Out of Africa' with Robert Redford & Meryl Streep? Some of the scenes where shot here! Arriving in the afternoon you will enjoy a game drive en route to the lodge where dinner will be served. After dinner there will be time to chat through the expectations and opportunities for the following day. 

Lake Nakuru Lodge offers beautiful views over the park, with its wildlife right at your front step. You will spend two nights here. 

Lake Nakuru is among Kenya's finest national parks. Flanked by rocky escarpments, pockets of acacia forest and at least one waterfall, the park is gorgeous year-round and is home to both black and white rhinos, lions, leopards, hippos and endangered Rothschild's giraffes.The name of both a large soda lake and the national park that surrounds it, Lake Nakuru has become synonymous with vast flocks of brightly coloured flamingos with thousands and sometimes millions of the iconic birds calling the lake's shores home.

An early start to catch the best light on your morning game drive. You will return to the lodge in time for a buffet breakfast. The rest of the morning will be spent painting and developing sketches with guidance from Virginia and Wendy. 

In the afternoon you will visit the viewpoint and enjoy a sundowner drink out there in the bush. Dinner will then be served back at the lodge before you retire for a restful night's sleep. 

Choose to go on an early morning game drive or opt for a sleep-in. After a buffet breakfast you have the rest of the morning to paint, reminisce and simply enjoy your surroundings. Lunch will be served at the lodge before heading back to Nairobi, via the Great Rift Valley. 

You will be warmly welcomed back at Macushla by the now familiar team. There is time to freshen up before you all head out for a farewell dinner at one of Nairobi's best boutique restaurants, which has regular art exhibitions. 

On your last day in Kenya you will visit Kitengela Glass, a hidden gem close to Nairobi National Park.  Prior to entering the main gate of Nairobi National Park, be prepared for the myriad of sculptures, glass art, and variety of animals along the rough and wildly entertaining road to “Nani’s” Kitengela Glass. Upon arrival, feel the magic of Kitengela by following the secret mosaic pathways leading to niches of busy artisans transforming recycled glass, scrap metal, and an assortment of other materials into beautiful artwork, jewellery, and home décor. Undoubtedly, a treasure trove for all to behold!

Enjoy lunch in one of Nairobi's Tin Roof Cafe's: "our boutique, outdoor cafés offer a healthy range of salads, sandwiches and smoothies. We like life away from malls because we prefer quiet, green spaces."

You will be back at Macushla in the afternoon where we have reserved your room for you until you depart. There is time to freshen up and for everyone to come together to enjoy each other’s art before a simple dinner is prepared. It's then time to say goodbye to the friendly Macushla team. Your driver will drop you off at Nairobi Airport in time for your flight back to London. 

Thank you for joining us on this bucketlist artist safari. Once the safari dust has settled we would love to hear all about your experience with us and hope to welcome you back in the not-too-distant future.