For your personalised itinerary please call 020 7060
6747
Example Itinerary
to escape to Kenya & Lamu
Itinerary Overview
|
Day |
Activity |
Accommodation |
|
Day 1 |
Flight from London Heathrow to
Nairobi |
Overnight flight |
|
Day 2 |
Arrive Nairobi. Transfer to Porini
Safari Camp |
Porini Safari Camp, Selenkay
Private Game Reserve |
|
Day 3 |
On Safari |
Porini Safari Camp, Selenkay
Private Game Reserve |
|
Day 4 |
Transfer to Wilson Airport for
flight to the Mara. Transfer to Mara Intrepids. |
Mara
Intrepids, Masai Mara |
|
Day 5 |
On Safari |
Mara
Intrepids, Masai Mara |
|
Day 6 |
Flight to Wilson Airport. Transfer
to the Norfolk |
The Norfolk Hotel, Nairobi |
|
Day 7 |
Transfer to Nairobi Airport for your
flight to Lamu. Transfer by boat |
Banana Penthouse, Shela Village |
|
Day 8 |
At leisure |
Banana Penthouse, Shela Village |
|
Day 9 |
At leisure |
Banana Penthouse, Shela Village |
|
Day 10 |
Transfer by boat to Kizingo |
Kizingo, Kizingoni Beach |
|
Day 11 |
At leisure |
Kizingo, Kizingoni Beach |
|
Day 12 |
At leisure |
Kizingo, Kizingoni Beach |
|
Day 13 |
At leisure |
Kizingo, Kizingoni Beach |
|
Day 14 |
Transfer to Lamu Airport by
boat. Return flight to the UK via
Nairobi |
Overnight flight |
Day 1
Overnight flight from London
Heathrow to Nairobi.
Day 2
Arrive Nairobi. On arrival you will be met by
Benson, our representative from our ground handling team in Kenya. You will be transferred by road to Porini, which
is approximately 3 hours away, arriving for lunch. The last hour of your
transfer can be considered as a game drive as you go cross-country to Selenkay
and Porini Camp, your base for the next two nights.
Day 2 – 4 – Maasai Living
2 nights at Porini
Safari Camp, Selenkay Private Game Reserve, on a full board basis (all meals,
wine & beer and game drives)
The Selenkay Conservancy is well off the beaten track and has not been
visited by tourists until now. It lies in the heart of Masailand and offers
exclusive game viewing without any other tourist vehicles in the area. The
animals are truly wild and not yet habituated to the presence of vehicles. The number of visitors is limited to retain the wild and unspoilt nature
of the area and to minimise the impact on the environment.
Porini Camp has 6 spacious guest tents, comfortably
furnished and with en suite bathrooms. It is small and on the lines of the
traditional luxury safari camp. Entirely private, Porini is located in the
heart of Selenkay conservancy and is only available to a maximum of 12 guests
at a time.
All the
activities and game drives are included. You will game drive and explore the
Selenkay Conservancy; you will also go on a night game drive, a unique
experience searching for animals at their most active under a spotlight. You
will spend one full morning with a picnic lunch in the Amboseli Game Reserve
famous for its large herds of elephants, before returning to Selenkay
Reservation. You will also have the opportunity to ‘walk with the Masai’ in one
afternoon. This is a unique experience seeing Masai culture first-hand and a
chance to explore the area on foot with your own warrior guides.
For a sneak preview
& more images click here...
Day 4
Morning
game drive in Selenkay Game Reserve before breakfast. You will then be driven
to Wilson Airport for your flight to the Mara. Transfer to Mara Intrepids.
Day 4 – 6
2 nights at Mara
Intrepids Safari Camp on a full board basis (all meals, game drives and park fees)
Sitting above a sweeping bend in the Talek River, at the
confluence of the Maasai Mara's four game-viewing areas, this camp enjoys one
of the most spectacular locations in the entire Mara ecosystem. Mara
Intrepids is a luxurious tented camp. All the tents are self-contained with
their own bathrooms with shower, basin, hot and cold water and
electricity.
The camp has a private lounge/dining tent for each tent
unit, private bar equipped with refrigerators in each of the 'mini-camps',
comfortable four wheel- drive vehicles for game drives, swimming pool and
viewing tower for cocktails.
Children at Intrepids: Families visiting Mara Intrepids now have the added bonus of
a free membership of Heritage Hotels' acclaimed Adventurers' Club - while older
children will thrill to the 'wild education' offered by its big brother, the
Young Rangers' Club. The two clubs offer a unique family holiday experience,
combining a fascinating 'bush school' with excursions to historical sites,
practical conservation work, and cultural and sporting exchanges with local
Maasai and Samburu communities. Both clubs benefit from the finest and safest
hosting in the business, with a team of children's guides that has been
described as the finest on the continent.
Your stay at Mara
Intrepids includes: all meals, all park fees,
2 game drives a day with experienced guides and trackers, lectures and slide
shows on the wildlife of the Maasai Mara.
Optional extras: Hot air balloon safari, fly fishing.
For
a sneak preview & more images click here…
Day 6
Transfer to Mara Airstrip
for flight to Wilson Airport. Transfer to the Norfolk.
Day 6 – 7
1 night at the Norfolk Hotel on a bed & breakfast basis
Recently renovated, The Norfolk Hotel is centrally located
and surrounded by tranquil gardens. It was built at the turn of the century in
Tudor style and many tales of its colourful and romantic history are told. It
is said that without the Norfolk, Nairobi might never have become Kenya's
capital, for the town grew up around the hotel. No other hotel in Kenya can
offer this combination of history, five star comfort and old world
hospitality.
The large rooms and spacious garden cottages have private
bathrooms with shower, mini-bar, television and radio & direct dial telephone.
The restaurant and bar facilities are varied and include The Ibis Grill, The
Lord Delamere Restaurant and the more casual Delamere Terrace and Poolside
Restaurants.
Facilities include a ultra-modern health and fitness centre,
with sauna, steam rooms, gymnasium, aerobics room, relaxation lounge, and
massage. There is also a freshwater heated pool.
Day 7
Transfer to Nairobi Airport for your flight to
Lamu. Arrive
Lamu Airport where you will be met and taken on a short boat transfer from
Manda Jetty to Banana Penthouse in Shela.
About Lamu
Over one hundred
kilometres north of Mombasa, the tropical island of Lamu is a place of fantasy
and romance which has changed little in appearance or character over many centuries.
Formed of rolling dunes and endless beaches, where tiny villages nestle among
coconut and mangrove plantations, this remote island has two main centres, Lamu
Town and Shela Village, which offer a cultural feast and traditional style of
architecture.
Lamu Town was a trading
centre for hundreds of years, where great lateen-rigged dhows sailed in from
Arabia and India, buying and selling ivory and spices. The resultant blend of cultures has produced
the vibrant Swahili people, who are rich in history and proud of their maritime
tradition. To this day there are no cars
on the island and transport is by dhow, donkey or on foot.
Shela
village is a tangle of narrow sandy lanes, tall stone houses, smaller thatched
dwellings, mosques, ruins and a spacious square ringed with a few market stalls
and small shops. Wandering through the
village you might meet discreet women in bui-bui, young boys in gowns hurrying
to the mosque, sleepy donkeys, weathered fishermen and cats.
Just five minutes
walk from the village, the beautiful golden beach stretches for seven miles and
is lapped by warm, clear seas, ideal for swimming or bodysurfing and is one
reason why people return time and time again to Lamu. Another is the relaxed and welcoming attitude
of the locals.
Day 7 – 10
3 nights at Banana
Penthouse on a bed & breakfast basis (includes chef)
Situated in a tranquil location at the back of Shela
Village, Banana Penthouse is a stunning and romantic hideaway. Overlooking the rooftops of the beautiful
houses of Shela and the calm waters of the Indian Ocean, you can soak in the
view from any of the three verandahs, which are furnished with huge sofas,
hammocks and sun loungers. The outside
dining area also offers a spectacular location from which you can enjoy lobster
and crab dinners prepared by your chef.
The spacious ensuite bedroom is open to the sea breeze. As many guests have found, this is a place to
fall in love again!
Banana house has a chef who can do all your shopping and
cooking and will keep a running account of expenditure. The chef is included in the price so it is
strongly recommended as the local cuisine is one of the highlights of Lamu.
Activities & sites
nearby: Dhow trip to the Takwa Ruins, former
home to the people of Shela Village, dolphin trips, Snorkelling & scuba
diving (available from November to March), yoga, beach walks including walk to
Kipingani for lunch, sunset dhow trips, Lamu museum.
Optional: Banana house
has a chef who can do all your shopping and cooking and will keep a running
account of expenditure.
The chef is
included in the price and it is strongly recommended as the local cuisine is
one of the highlights of Lamu.
Click here for a sneak
preview & more images...
Day 10
Transfer to Kizingo by boat (c 45 mins).
Day 10 – 14
4
nights at Kizingo on a full board basis (all meals)
Kizingo is a small beach resort on the island of Lamu, off the
coast of Kenya in the Indian Ocean. The resort itself has six bandas (thatched
cottages), and is based around an eco-friendly idea.
Kizingo is an ideal resort to relax for a few days after a
safari, or for a longer break to fully unwind. Dining at Kizingo is of the
highest standard. Fish is their speciality, freshly caught and served with
locally grown vegetables and salads. The owners are strongly committed to
conservation, being part of the local community and play their part in
assisting the turtle hatching on the nearby beach.
If you want to get away from it
all, this is the perfect place. The
owners are superb hosts and are great company, however if you just want to
chill out on your own then your beach banda offers the ultimate privacy. Make sure
you take Louis’ boat trip to find the dolphins (and swim with them if you’re
lucky).
Activities & sites
nearby: coral reef snorkelling/diving &
swimming with dolphins, beach fishing with fly rods; course fishing (available
from November to March), creek & deep sea fishing (May to October), mosques
& museums, trips around traditional village industries, turtle-nest visits,
cycling on mainland, bird & bush walks,
For a sneak
preview & more images click here...
Day 14
Boat transfer to Manda Jetty, Lamu Airport for your
flight to Nairobi.
Arrive Nairobi for your
connecting overnight flight to the UK or if you prefer not to wait (approx 5
hours) you have the option to be met and transferred to Carnivores for an
evening meal before returning to the international airport for your return
flight.
Day 15
Arrive London Heathrow early morning.
ESTIMATE PRICE:
Estimate Total cost per person: £2155.00 per person*
Price
includes:
·
Flights:
o
London Heathrow – Nairobi return
o
Wilson Airport – Mara Airstrip return
o
Nairobi – Lamu return
·
Accommodation:
o
2 nights at Porini Safari Camp on an all inclusive board
basis (all meals, soft drinks, wine & beer, game drives and park fees)
o
2 nights at Mara Intrepids Safari Camp on a full board basis
(all meals, game drives and park fees)
o
1 night at the Norfolk Hotel on a bed and breakfast basis
o
3 nights at Banana Penthouse on a
bed & breakfast basis (includes chef)
o
4 nights at
Kizingo on a full board basis (all meals)
·
Transfers:
o
Nairobi Airport – Porini Safari Camp
o
Porini Safari Camp – Wilson Airport
o
Mara Airstrip – Mara Intrepids return
o
Wilson Airport – Norfolk Hotel
o
Norfolk Hotel – Nairobi Airport
o
Manda Jetty, Lamu Airport – Banana Penthouse
o
Banana Penthouse – Kizingo
o
Kizingo – Manda Jetty, Lamu Airport
*The above
costs are based on mid season rates and will vary depending on what time of
year you are travelling.
·
Spending Money – we have first hand knowledge of
eating, drinking and shopping in your chosen destination and are happy to
advise on that.
·
Car rental costs – if you are renting a car please
also consider fuel, toll roads and additional driver charges
·
Travel insurance – We advise you to take out fully
comprehensive travel insurance (not included)
·
Visas – There may be additional visa costs for some
countries, please enquire at time of booking.
·
Tips – We recommend 10 – 15% in restaurants and
between £5 - £20 a day for accommodation (depending on the quality of the
property and service you receive)
·
Airline surcharges – increasingly airlines are adding
surcharges to their fares due to additional fuel charges. In most cases we
absorb these costs however in
extreme circumstances (surcharges of £30 or more) these charges will be
passed on to you.
NB How to get the best from your quote:
We have put
this itinerary together based on what you have told us you are looking for from
your holiday. It is our interpretation and is in no way set in stone. You can
depart on any day of the week, stay for shorter or longer periods, add new
properties, flights, car hire or transfers. Most importantly, if the
accommodation we have chosen doesn't look right, there are loads of other
options. So if you want to change anything we would be happy to do so, just let
us know - we want to ensure we put together the ideal holiday for you.
PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR SOME
UPGRADE OPTIONS:
Alternative
option 1: In place of Mara Intrepids
Total cost
(based on two people sharing): same as above
2 nights at Porini Mara Safari Camp, Selenkay
Private Game Reserve, on an all inclusive board basis (including all meals,
wine & beer at dinner
and game drives)
Porini Camp has recently been set up in
the exclusive wildlife conservancy of Ol Kinyei, one of the most beautiful
wilderness areas in the Serengeti-Mara eco-system. This is pristine wilderness
with open savannah plains, riverine forest, springs, streams and rivers,
rolling hills and spectacular views across the Mara.
Ol
Kinyei belongs to a Maasai community who have
recently set aside the conservancy as a sanctuary for wildlife. The conservancy
holds a wide variety of the animal species for which the Mara is famous
including a large resident pride of lions.
The Porini camp has 6
guest tents sited in the shade of Yellow-barked Acacia
trees along the banks of the Laetoli, a permanently flowing watercourse within
Ol Kinyei. The tents are spacious and each has an en-suite bathroom with flush
toilet and safari shower.
The camp accommodates a maximum of 12 guests, giving the experience
of real camping in the bush in an exclusive private wilderness but with all the
comforts required by discerning travellers. Food is excellent with home baked
bread, fresh salads and high quality meals prepared by the chef. Within the Ol
Kinyei conservancy guests enjoy morning, evening and night game drives,
sundowners at scenic viewing points and escorted walks with Maasai guides.
The camp
is located less than 18 kms from the Maasai Mara park boundary. Ol Kinyei
Conservancy is 250 kms from Nairobi by road - a 4 hour journey. It has its own
airstrip for private charter flights and is 16 kms from the Siana airstrip used
by the daily scheduled flights to Mara from Nairobi.
Facilities
and activities included for all guests: Spacious Luxury Safari tents with double and single beds, solar electric
lights, en suite bath-rooms. Full day in Mara national Reserve with picnic
lunch, escorted walk with Maasai guides, sundowner drink to watch sunset from
scenic viewpoint.
For a sneak
preview & more images click here...
Upgrade Option 2: In place of Porini
Safari Camp
Total extra
cost (based on two people sharing): ₤ 205 per person
2 nights at Mara Explorer Camp on a full board basis (all
meals & game drives).
Mara Explorer has elevated the art of the
African safari to spectacular new heights. This exclusive five-star camp is
situated by a forest lined river in the middle of the Masai Mara reserve and
offers guests the ultimate wilderness retreat, where you
can watch elephants or giraffes drinking from the privacy of your verandah – or
from your own outdoor Victorian bathtub.
The camp lies at the confluence of the four main
game-viewing areas and enjoys prime views of wildebeest migration between June and September and some of the world’s most rewarding Big
Cat sightings during the remainder of the year.
Each of the 10 tents has a private deck
overlooking the Talek River. When not on
safari, guests can relax at the riverfront dining and lounge area or by the
pool at the neighbouring sister camp, Mara Intrepids.
Activities include: private game drives,
walking safaris, riverside bush breakfasts, sundowners and dinners, visits to
local villages supported by the camp.
For a sneak preview
& more images click here...
Upgrade option 3: In place of
the Norfolk Hotel
Total extra cost (based on two
people sharing): ₤ 105 per person
1 night at Ngong House in a Tree House on an all
inclusive basis (all meals & drinks)
Within ten acres of gardens are five, two storey tree houses
of the highest luxury. Ngong House is ½ hour drive from Nairobi Airport but has
an ambience like the heart of the African bush.
Crafted by
local artists, each house has its own unique style and elegant interior. Built entirely from wood the treehouses are
on two levels with a bedroom area upstairs and a living area on the lower floor.
They are raised 15 ft from the ground to gain an uninterrupted view of the
Ngong Hills over unspoiled bush.
Large four-poster beds grace the bedroom area. The house, the
main dining room with its huge fireplace and the poolside are used as
hospitality areas.
If you are
lucky enough to stay at Ngong House, it will undoubtedly be one of the most
memorable locations in which you are ever likely to stay.
Activities
& sites nearby: Nature
walks, Giraffe Sanctuary (home of the endangered Rothchild Giraffe), Elephant
Orphanage, Nairobi National Park, Karen Blixen Museum & local markets. Ngong House has four wheel drive vehicles to
transport you to the local sites
For a sneak preview
& more images click here...
Upgrade Option 4: In place of Banana Penthouse
Total extra cost (based on 2 people sharing) £60 per
person
3 nights at Garden House on a self
catering basis (includes private chef)
This beautiful, private house is ideal for couples or
families. Situated in Shela Village, it
is just a short walk from Lamu’s stunning, golden sand beach. Consisting of 3 ensuite bedrooms (2 doubles
& 1 twin), a lounge, dining room and roof terrace, the house is elegantly
furnished with hand-crafted, wooden beds & sun loungers.
The top floor features the master bedroom and roof terrace
and offers a penthouse feel. The staff
are superb and will serve you excellent seafood dinners in the beautiful, walled
garden under the light of oil lamps. The
house sleeps four people comfortably but can sleep six if necessary, although
it may be worth considering either Shela or Palm house which are more spacious.
Garden House has a chef
who can do all your shopping and cooking and will keep a running account of
expenditure. He will bake bread, suggest
menus and cook excellent Swahili fish dishes.
The chef is included in the price so
it is strongly recommended as the local cuisine is one of the highlights of
Lamu.
House facilities: well equipped kitchen, mosquito nets, towels and linen provided, CD
player, a steward, a cook and a daily maid.
Optional: Garden House
has a chef who can do all your shopping and cooking and will keep a running
account of expenditure. He will bake bread,
suggest menus
and cook excellent Swahili fish dishes. The chef is included in the price so it
is strongly recommended as the local cuisine is one of the
highlights of
Lamu.
For a sneak
preview and more images click here...
Upgrade
option 5: Peponi: In place of Banana Penthouse
Total extra cost (based on two
people sharing): ₤ 100 per person
3 nights at Peponi Hotel in
a Standard Room on a bed and breakfast basis
Peponi is still run by the Korschen family, who opened the
hotel in 1967 and retains much of the character and charm that it had then. Small
and personal, it offers the perfect rest place after a safari or a hide away
holiday from modern life. Peponi has a fresh water, free form swimming pool,
situated under two Baobab Trees overlooking the ocean.
The rooms are decorated in a unique, East African style
using carved wood and bright colours and many have a hammock or sofa on the
balcony. Harpers and Queen describe the hotel perfectly: "Peponi is
simple, fresh, cheerful and everything about it is totally original and genuine
- no frozen foods here, nor frozen smiles."
Hotel facilities: 2 bars (1 for residents only), restaurant, swimming pool,
water sports.
to escape to verdict:
Peponi probably is in one of the most popular spots on the island. There’s nothing better than sipping a cool drink
at the bar, watching the sun go down over the ocean while the dhow boats sail
past. It’s one of Lamu’s only hotels and
is full of character and is also a good option for children.
For a sneak
preview & more images click here...
Upgrade option 6: In place of Kizingo
Total extra cost (based on 2 people sharing) £230 per
person
4 nights at Kipungani on a full
board basis (all meals)
Perched on the edge of Kipungani Bay, where
the protected mangroves of Kipungani Creek meet the end of a deserted 14 km
beach on the south western tip of Lamu Island, Kipungani is the ultimate dream
destination for those seeking a true desert island holiday. As well as all the
usual aspects of coastal relaxation - sun, sand, sea-sports and spectacular
seafood - Kipungani offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in a
coastal culture unchanged for centuries.
The
property has an extremely close bond with the people of neighbouring Kipungani
Village, who will show you their ancient boat-building and mat-weaving
techniques, take you fishing or prawn-netting in the remote Dadori Nature
Reserve, or show you their model education and health facilities.
Facilities: 14
luxurious grass and thatch chalets, a beach-facing terrace with hanging
moon-beds; classic cuisine in an ocean-facing dining room; seawater pool with
all-day bar service; personal room stewards always on call.
Activities: snorkelling and diving on local coral
reefs (available from November to April), swimming with dolphins (if you're
lucky!), creek and ocean sailing on an Arab dhow, sailing on lazers, toppers
and windsurfers, water skiing and kayaking in the Kipungani channel; barracuda
fishing from the beach, dhow or speedboat, crab catching excursions with expert
fishermen, deep sea fishing on big game fishing boat, bird walks around the
property and beach dunes, visits to 14th century mosques and museum; trips
around traditional village industries; turtle-nest visits with a Turtle
Officer.
For a sneak
preview & more images click here...
