Kenya - Follow the Great Migration Safari September 17 - 29, 2022

September 17, 2022

Welcome to Nairobi! Upon arrival you will be met by a Civilized Adventures team member and transferred to your hotel. 

September 18, 2022

You have a full day exploring Nairobi with a private driver/guide and your first experience up close with elephants (rescued orphan elephants) and giraffes. We include a stop at Kazuri Beads; which is a local organization / co-operative supporting single mothers in Kenya with selling local crafts. 

September 19, 2022

Today the group flies from Nairobi and heads south towards the Tanzanian border.  A short flight to Amboseli National Park, and a 45-minute drive to Tortilis Camp,  where you stay the next 3 nights. The camp is situated in a prime location under the shadow of Mt Kilimanjaro. 

Upon arrival at camp, your guide, who will be with you for the next 3 days, will give you an orientation of what to expect followed by lunch. This afternoon you will have your first game drive. The National Park & conservancy area is known for its large herds of Elephants & is also a birders paradise - basically a photographers dream! 

September 20, 2022

This morning you have an option of a game drive or a walking safari. Tortilis Camp walking guides are Maasai from the area and have been walking in this wilderness since they were very young. They enjoy sharing their knowledge of the small things, tracks, traditional uses of herbs and the Maasai way of life. The Tortilis guides know the individual elephants, and their family relationships – plus the territory of resident lions and other local fauna. You will have exclusive access to the 30,000-acre Kitirua conservancy and know every hyena den, the seasonal flowers and migratory birds.

September 21, 2022

As you are enjoying a full day of morning and/or afternoon game drives, you should also be aware that you are staying in an Eco-lodge that is 100% solar powered. Tortilis also employs around 60% of its staff from the local community, training them from scratch to become professional guides or employed at the lodge.  

September 22, 2022

This morning the group will fly from Amboseli to Lewa Conservancy (via Nairobi).

Upon arrival at Elewana Safari Camp, you will have an orientation followed by Lunch.  This afternoon is your first game drive in the protected conservancy.  This area has over 105 endangered black rhino & over 99 white rhino; They also boast the world's largest population of the endangered Grevy zebra.  Your 4x4 safari Toyota Land Cruisers are unrivalled with feature enhancements specifically designed for comfort and photography – open sided with 3 rows of seats, photographic equipment stands, and charging sockets.

September 23, 2022

This morning the group will have the opportunity to visit the Conservancy Headquarters where they have cutting edge Rhino conservation programs in place as well as learning about their outstanding work with anti poaching sniffer dogs.  Your guide will offer the opportunity to interact & engage with the staff who are working behind scenes to protect the Rhinos that you see while on safari. 

Afternoon game drive or perhaps a camel or horse ride before your Sundowner overlooking Mt Kenya in the background. 

September 24, 2022

If you haven't had a chance to sign up for the optional extra night game drive - please consider this a splurge!  Your guides can help organize this activity the morning of or day before. 

Your last day could be a game drive, a village visit or perhaps a visit to the Ngare Ndare forest.  

September 25, 2022

This morning you will travel from Lewa Conservancy back to the airstrip to fly into the heart of the Masai Mara. A short flight ( ~45min ) connects you to your final safari camp in Kenya; Elewana Sand River Mara camp. 

Your accommodation for the next 4 nights is situated on a secluded and picturesque site.  Close to the border of the Serengeti National Park, and within the Masai Mara National Reserve, Sand River Mara camp lies on the most northerly route of the spectacular Annual Migration.

The camp and tents replicate the heyday of exclusive permanent tented camps of the late 1920’s - you will find luxury plus wildlife right off your own private verandah.  After your orientation and lunch, you will have your first game drive in the famous Masai Mara.  

September 26, 2022

This time of year in the Mara is known for the Wildebeest Migration. If timing is right, the group should be fortunate to be in a prime location right on the banks of the sand river with the bordering Tanzania Serengeti off in the distance. The camp has prime 'front row seats' for the river crossings. In fact, you can easily just step out onto your tent deck to watch and listen for the animals. 

Daily game drives will be organized by your safari guide which will have you immersed with the herds around you. 

September 27, 2022

While your days will be full exploring the Masai Mara, let us not forget the colourful inhabitants of this exceptional landscape. The Maasai are a proud semi-nomadic cattle-rearing people with a fascinating culture, divided into a number of sub-tribes some of which share the Mara region. The Maasai are an ever-present reminder of the history and cultural heritage of this sublime and enigmatic landscape and will surely leave a lasting impression for all.  

Your guide will offer an opportunity to visit a local school for a cultural experience and one that Elewana properties keenly support with community conservation and education.  A fantastic adventure and viewpoint is to wake with the birds and enjoy a hot air balloon ride over the Masai Mara.  Words cannot adequately describe how fun this truly is. This needs to be pre-booked and we suggest doing so before arriving in Kenya. 

September 28, 2022

A day full of exploring the Masai Mara awaits you, and then one last sundowner to end your trip.

September 29, 2022

This morning you will be transferred to the Masai Mara airstrip for your 40-minute flight back to Nairobi Wilson airport. Upon arrival, our Civilized Adventures team will meet you and transfer you to the Boma hotel where day use rooms are available until your transfer to the international airport in the evening.

For the one interested to join our beach extension, this morning you will depart the Masai Mara on a flight (approx.1 hour) to Diani Beach airstrip. From here it's a 15 min drive to the beach hotel. 

OPTIONAL EXTENSION - From September 30 to October 02, 2022 

You have the next 3 days to unwind and relax in the 10 room luxury hotel. Minimal tourists at the hotel and direct access to the stunning Mombasa Beach will make your stay even more rewarding.  All meals are included + water activities. The small boutique hotel will help you with any reservations if you wish to go on a snorkel day trip or scuba diving. 

October 03, 2022

After lunch, you are met and transferred back to Diani Beach Airstrip on time for your flight to Nairobi Wilson. 

Upon your arrival, you are met and transferred to Nairobi international airport on time for your international flight back to Canada.