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.
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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
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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
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Full InfoLamai SerengetiComfortAfter 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.
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Full InfoThanda IslandLuxury
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.
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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.
Example Itinerary
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