Arrival in Nairobi. We will meet you ayt the airport and transfer you to your city hotel and brief you shortly on your safari adventure. Depending on when you arrive we can visit the Karen Blixen Museum and the Giraffe Center (Extra cost). Karen Blixen Coffee Garden Cottages
Today you fly from Nairobi to Maasai Mara Game Reserve, so named because it means the “spotted plains” in Maasai language. This is home to the greatest concentration of large mammals and is widely recognized as Africa’s ultimate wildlife reserve. The park is the northern extension of the vast Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, famous for its annual migration of wildebeest. Flight and transfer to the lodge with a game drive en route. After check-in, enjoy a delicious hot lunch. Later in the afternoon enjoy a game-viewing drive in this spectacular place of breathtaking sceneries, never-ending plains and the most abundant variety of wildlife remaining anywhere in the world.
During your stay, explore this great reserve in depth. You may see elephants, giraffes, prides of lions, and thousands of impalas, topi, Grants, and Thomson's gazelle. Birds are prolific including immigrants, 450 bird species have been recorded among them 57 birds of prey. The Mara is the scene of the annual migration of millions of wildebeest up from the Serengeti plains in search of water and grasses. While in Mara, you will have the option to float above the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem onboard a hot air balloon followed by a gourmet champagne breakfast. (extra charge)
Your stay will be at Leopard Hill. The Leopard Hill camp is located in a secluded valley providing views of historically and culturally significant Masai Mara Fig Trees and three wildlife abundant watering holes. This twin tree, dubbed Double Fig Tree, was struck by lightning in the 1950s, as told by the local people. The tree was splintered in two, giving it its unusual shape. Built almost under this Fig Tree, the camp has the perfect sunrises. While enjoying your morning coffee on the terrace, you can witness as the sun rises over the eastern horizon, the sky blazing in magnificent colours, completed by the majestic silhouette of the Double Fig Tree.
Each tent offers king-size double or twin beds, a bathroom featuring bio-flush toilets and two showers, one inside and one open-air safari shower, in-room Wi-Fi, a private elevated viewing deck, and a fireplace with exceptional views of Naboisho Conservancy.
Leopard Hill has a spacious lounge tent adjacent to the dining area. The lounge houses a bar and library with interesting safari books. The Dining area is for communal use and as such we kindly request all our guests to be courteous towards the people they are sharing the space with and keep their mobile phones off while at the restaurant since it is a Mobile-free Zone. For those who would like to treat themselves, they offer a range of massage options that are specially designed to relax, refresh, and rejuvenate the body administered by a professional therapist in the privacy of your tented room or on your private deck.
Here you will be prepared and will have your Maasai Wedding ceremony. You can choose to wear some items of traditional Maasai beaded - jewellery – such as necklaces or, in the case of the bride, a traditional headdress. If you’d like to arrive at the site chosen for the ceremony with a Maasai guard of honour, this can be easily arranged. Typically, a group of morans (warriors) will arrive in traditional dress and escort the groom to meet his bride. They’ll sing as they walk and, after the ceremony, they’ll often give a display of jumping and dancing. The groom is invited to join in. In many unions, the groom is also presented with a ceremonial beaded stick, or sometimes two sticks – a white one to symbolize wealth, a black one to symbolize peace.
Many couples elect to be married by a Maasai elder (though their union will be formalized by a registrar before or after this ceremony). The presiding elder will shake a cow-tail switch over the couple and wish them a long and safe life. These are the words that are spoken by the elder:
Entaseriana – Be safe forever.
Entobikoi – Have a long life.
Entubul emputa enkop – Multiply and fill the earth.
Meishuro Nkera Inyi – May your children succeed in life.
Metapaasha Intae Ilmeita – May all bad things move away from your family.
Entorik Enkop – May you lead the world.
To which the bride, groom and wedding party answered in unison: NAAI – Oh God. Finally, the bride will be given a Maasai name, such as Nalotuesha, which means ‘she who comes with the rain’.
With the ceremony over, the reception can take place either indoors or outdoors under the shade of acacia or a starlit African sky.
ACTIVITIES
- Day game drives
- Night game drives
- Guided walks
- Bird watching
- Community visits
The day after your wedding you may want to relax and enjoy the lodge or head out to explore all the amazing wildlife that can be found on the Naboisho Conservancy. The region is especially famous for its Big at sightings as well as herds of buffaloes and wildebbeests.
Spend another day exploring the Masai Mara. You could also book an excursion to enjoy a sunrise balloon ride over the Masai Mara, which offers a spectacular birds-eye view of the landscape below and the wildlife dotted across the plains. (Extra cost).
You will fly from the Masai Mara to Nairobi and then from Nairobi to Diani Beach and will be transferred to Chale Island. Chale Island is a headland rather than an island, located at the northern end of Msambweni Bay in Kwale County in southeastern Kenya. Originally, "Chale" was the name of a Digo warrior who was buried on this island after passing away. Chale Island is known as a sacred kaya by the locals.
Enjoy your honeymoon at the Overwater Suite or On the Rock Suite at The Sands at Chale Island. Situated on Chale Island along a white sandy beach, The Sands at Chale Island is surrounded by indigenous forest and offers magnificent sea views. The resort boasts 3 outdoor pools and a spa.
The rooms and suites at The Sands are elegantly decorated and reflect traditional architecture. Each is equipped with air conditioning, an en-suite bathroom, and a Swahili-style bed. Guests can enjoy sea views from all rooms. The resort's main restaurant serves Traditional Kenyan cuisine, mixed with both Italian and Oriental dishes. Katika Ziwa specializes in seafood. Cocktails and refreshments can be enjoyed at 2 bars. Guests can unwind at the spa, which offers 9 open-air treatment rooms and a fitness room. Other facilities at the resort include a gift shop, a tour desk, and a shared lounge. Ukunda Airstrip is 15 km away and airport shuttles can be arranged for a surcharge. Activities offered include diving, snorkeling, and canoeing.
We will drop you in Mombasa at the airport for your international flight.
