East Africa – Adventure of a Lifetime
Seasonal Information
Explore the treasures of Kenya and Tanzania at your own pace and in utter privacy during this exceptional itinerary. From sole use of a wildlife conservancy in Kenya to a luxurious private island where you can swim with whale sharks, your adventure passes through some of the most renowned wildlife spots in Africa, including the Serengeti and Maasai Mara. A range of unforgettable experiences and state-of-the-art luxury accommodation make this the adventure of a lifetime.
- Black rhino tracking in Laikipia
- Be a guest at Maasai home
- Serengeti hot air balloon safari
- Scuba diving on Thanda Island
- Guided Horse Riding
- Game Drive
- Safari Activities
- Dependent on the season you could take part in a short bush walk
- Bush Picnics
- Snorkelling
- Deep Sea Fishing
- Saling
Your 15-day adventure begins in Laikipia at the inimitable Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy. Enjoy being the only guests on the 58,000-acre conservancy, shoulder to shoulder with beautiful species such as the eastern black rhino, among many others. You dictate the flow of your days on this stunning Kenyan plateau strewn with forest, waterways and jutting rocks. This unique location is involved heavily in conservation, offering you the possibility to take part in any number of conservational and educational activities alongside animals and plants. Your accommodation at the lodge exceeds all expectations and features an underground tunnel to a waterhole hideout that allows incredibly close game viewing. Any manner of activity or adventure is possible here, with your base offering unparalleled luxury and comfort.
After three nights at Ol Jogi, you will move to Cottar’s 1920s Camp, where a private tented suite will carry you back to the bygone golden era of safari. Situated on its own private conservancy just a kilometre from the Maasai Mara, the camp offers the possibility of exploring these endless plains while benefitting from complete exclusivity. The Mara is home to a phenomenal array of wildlife as well as the pastoralist Maasai people. Not only the location of the great migration for a significant part of the year, it is also home to the Big Five and countless other species – as well as breath-taking sunset vistas. Cottar’s emphasizes interaction with nature beyond game drives, with a host of experiences that invite a closer appreciation and understanding of this unique environment.
Day seven will see you wave goodbye to the Masai Mara and move onto the natural next stop of the stunning Serengeti. Arguably the home of safari, this is the place to witness thundering herds of wildebeest and electrifying predator action. Set in a remote corner of the park, your private camp overlooks a valley thronging with animal life. The River Mara invites thrilling river crossings as the great migration arrives – an incredible spectacle not to miss. Spend your days in wonder at the landscape, on invigorating game drives and trekking out beneath the African sky.
Swap savannah for sand and touch down on the unspoiled shores of Thanda Island. Five nights on this idyllic slice of sand and sea won’t seem like enough, as you swim with whale sharks, watch turtles nesting and indulge in every manner of luxurious and intriguing experiences. You’ll have the island to yourselves, surrounded by gorgeous coral reefs under azure waters. Your villa and two beach bandas are the height of sophistication – with features such as an indoor aquarium and glass rim-flow swimming pool, as well as a dedicated team of experts who ensure your stay is no less than perfect. Delight in the wonders of the Indian Ocean and the silky sands beneath your feet, while staying at a property whose existence supports the conservation of the area’s beautiful wildlife. It doesn’t get more exclusive than this.
You will be welcomed at Jomo Kenyatta Airport by a member of the andBeyond team, who will drive you to Wilson Airport in time for your flight to Nanyuki Airport.
Occupying a 58,000-acre reserve on the Laikipia Plateau is Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy. Ol Jogi is strikingly unique and was designed and developed over several decades. This is a cut above even the most luxurious of safari accommodation. Eight cottage suites make up the lodge, which is used on an exclusive basis. Extraordinary rooms are adorned with king-sized beds and museum-quality artwork, featuring exquisite en suite bathrooms and access to every amenity you could dream of. Wildlife treats the lodge as part of the landscape, passing constantly and drinking at the watering hole. A hidden underground tunnel leads to a hideout where you can watch the drinking animals at a breathtakingly close distance, undetected. The expansive veranda is also a favourite spot for watching nature wander by.
Your days will be tailored to your desires, but are usually made up of game drives in beautiful different parts of the conservancy, tracking eastern black rhinos and African wild dogs, or on guided interpretive bush walks, soaking up the sights and sounds of your surroundings. Visits to the wildlife rescue centre and rhino orphanage give visitors an understanding of the conservation efforts constantly undertaken at Ol Jogi. Guided horse riding is also included, giving guests an exhilarating way to take in the landscape.
Meanwhile, there are plenty of ways to relax back at the lodge between activities. The pool is surrounded by lush vegetation and flowing water, like a hidden tropical oasis, and tended to by spa therapists to ease your muscles after the day’s adventure. There’s a Moroccan-inspired steam room, as well as a gym, sauna and jacuzzi. Table tennis is available for the actively inclined, while a games room and cinema indoors provide hours of entertainment. A living room set with a fireplace makes for the ideal gathering point on cooler evenings, while the well-stocked bar invites retelling of safari encounters. Sundowners and dinners served in the bush cap off the incredible days at Ol Jogi.
Additional recommended activities (at extra cost and by special request):
- Walk with semi-habituated baboons
- Helicopter excursions
- Quad biking
- Stargazing with astronomer
- Fishing
- Camping
- Abseiling
- Horseriding
- And much more… if you can think of it, you can probably do it
Following breakfast, you will be transferred to Nanyuki Airport for a charter flight to Keekorok Airstrip in the Masai Mara. You will then be transferred to your accommodation at Cottar’s 1920’s Safari Camp, situated in a private conservancy adjacent to the Masai Mara.
Steeped in the luxury of the safaris of old, your private tented suite is resplendent with beautiful antiques, a four-poster bed, a dressing room and an en suite bathroom. Each suite also has a private veranda, perfect for watching the incredible Mara sunrise. Butler service is discreet but diligent, while the communal areas offer yet more opulence: candlelit mess tents hung with fine paintings, spacious and comfortable drinking and relaxation areas and an unforgettable pool. Traditional canvas baths in the open bush are a mesmerising experience, as the sounds of Africa carry you away. A children’s entertainment programme and nanny mean that there’s something to occupy everyone.
The Masai Mara is, to many, the home of the quintessential safari. Home for much of the year to the brilliant migrating herds of wildebeest, gazelle and zebra that traverse Eastern Africa searching for nutrients, these vast plains lend themselves to phenomenal game sightings. Both day and night game drives are possible, facilitating excellent encounters, but Cottar’s are not satisfied to stop at traditional safari. A host of experiences are available that allow guests to be involved in conservation activities or spend time getting to know intimate aspects of the local environment. Some examples are vulture rehabilitation, foraging and wild dining, seeding for reforestation and medicinal plant walks. This is an exceptional camp that profits from the 100+ years of experience of one of Africa’s oldest safari families.
Additional recommended activities (at extra cost):
- Running with a Masai warrior
- Impact activities
- Learning with female conservation rangers
- Mara predator project experience
- Foraging and foraged dining experience
- Vulture rehabilitation and raptor experience
- Local school visit
- Endangered species talks
- Medicinal plant walk & talk
- Half-day with Mara Elephant Project
- Maasai talk
- Early wildlife identification walk
- The Explorers Tent / 4C Centre visit
- Stargazing
- Reforestation seed dispersal activity
- Professional photography experience
After a delightful breakfast, you will be taken to Keekorok Airstrip for your flight to Migori Airstrip. There you will be met and transferred to Tarime Airstrip in order to clear customs and move into Tanzania via a final flight to Kogatende.
Your home for the next three nights will be the scenic Lamai Serengeti Private Lodge. Welcome to the Serengeti! Perched atop the Kogakuria Kopje, Lamia Serengeti overlooks the fantastic Mara River Valley. This vast, open landscape is spotted with trees and boulders and intersected by the belt of activity that forms along the Mara’s banks. There’s never a dull moment! Craftily constructed tents tuck among the rocks in the private camp, offering stunning vistas of the herds from their large verandas. Guests can soak in the view from one of the rock pools or enjoy a cocktail in the fantasy bar area. Al fresco showering is the ideal start to a new day in the bush.
Let the Serengeti provide the unforgettable backdrop for your days of safari – from game drives tracking the migrating wildebeest, to hunting down members of the Big Five or on a guided bush walk that moves through ever-shifting terrain. This remote section of the Serengeti is home to excellent concentration of lion, buffalo and leopard, but what makes it so special is its proximity to the Mara river. Each year, as the herds descend on the water to drink and cross over to pastures new, a frenzy of predator action takes place. The drama of such an immense number of animals in this perennial struggle for life is truly a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.
After a delicious breakfast, be whisked away to the Thanda Island Private Marine Reserve for five nights in island bliss. You will be transferred to Kogatende Airstrip for your flight to Dar es Salaam Airport, before taking a helicopter flight to Thanda Island.
This is one of the very few truly exclusive island escapes, with only one villa and two Tanzanian bandas, for sole-use. No detail has been spared in creating a luxuriant retreat that celebrates the beauty of its location. The intimacy of the island allows wildlife to flourish while offering incomparable experiences. Swim with the beautiful giants that are whale sharks and watch turtles nest in this natural haven. The living area features an indoor aquarium, glass rim-flow swimming pool, Steinway grand piano, cocktail bar and expansive wine collection, pizza oven, cigar humidor and, perhaps best-loved of all, a wrap-around dining area with a 180 degree view of the azure ocean. A dedicated team of specialist staff ensures your every need is met and facilitates expert-led experiences.
Ways to pass the day in this paradise are endless. The island’s pristine coral reefs beg to be explored, and swimming with whale sharks is not to be missed. Jet skiing, wakeboarding, stand up paddle boarding and fishing all take advantage of the stunning blue sea. Lounge or play beach volleyball on the golden sands, while the gym and tennis courts offer plenty for the actively inclined. Unlimited spa treatments are a balm for adventurous souls and allow you to reconnect with yourself in this serene environment. Extra-special occasions include an exciting Arabian-themed night of sensory delights and tranquil lunch or sundowner dhow cruises. Or spend an evening in style, sipping on champagne as fresh oysters are picked and served to you before your eyes. There’s no need to pinch yourself, though we often find guests do.
After a final breakfast, take in a scenic helicopter flight to Dar es Salaam Domestic Terminal. An andBeyond team member will assist you to the international terminal in time for your onward travel arrangements.
Dates are flexible so please make an enquiry and tell us a range of dates you are considering so we can check availability.
Ol Jogi puts 100% of its profits directly into conservation activities, working on supporting endangered species, providing medical support for them, restoring natural habitats and collaborating with local communities. To date their wildlife rescue centre schools have hosted more than 100,000 Kenyan schoolchildren and educated them about wildlife and the need to protect it.
Cottar’s Camp is located on the 7,000 acre Olderkesi Wildlife Conservancy and supports it exclusively, employing members of the Maasai community from whom the land is rented. They also fund various amenities such as a school, water supply and medical facilities. This area provides a critical wildlife corridor to the Masai Mara.
Nomad Tanzania, of which Lamai Serengeti is part, actively promote conservation of Africa’s flora and fauna. They partner with and run several initiatives that include providing wildlife education for children in Tanzania and tackling poaching. 100% of profits from massages and purchases in their camps go to their partners and projects.
Thanda Island works alongside Tanzanian Marine Parks and Sea Sense to preserve the healthy sea life around the island and other neighbouring islands. This includes research and activities with turtles, whale sharks, the Shungimbili coral reef and dugongs. They also support programmes teaching sustainable fishing practices and sports. Thanda Island offers high quality employment and skills development to local people.
- Meet and Greet service at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
- Accommodation with activities as mentioned in the itinerary and all meals provided, as well as:
– All beverages (including fine wines and champagnes), surprise bush dinners, sundowners in the conservancy, Hammam access and treatments and gratuities at Ol Jogi
– Soft beverages and local brands of alcoholic drinks, nanny and Cottar’s Warrior School at Cottar’s 1920’s Camp
– Drinks (except premium wines & champagne) at Lamai Serengeti Lodge
– All drinks (including champagnes, fine wines, spirits and cocktails) and unlimited spa treatments at Thanda Island - Laundry
- All scheduled & private road transfers:
– Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Wilson Airport
– Migori Airstrip to Tarime Airstrip
– Dar es Salaam Domestic terminal to Dar es Salaam International terminal - Tanzania / Kenya National park fees
- Tanzania Tourism Development Levy
- Emergency medical evacuation insurance
- Administration fee
- All Flights
- Visa costs
- Vaccinations
- Health insurance
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities (included at Ol Jogi)
Particularly suited to:
- Groups and families on an exclusive adventure
- Wildlife enthusiasts
- Intrepid explorers
- Beach and ocean lovers
Suitable for ages 8 to 80
Some activities may require adult supervision
Seasonal Information
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