FLIGHTS FROM THE U.S. ARE OVERNIGHT, SO YOU MUST DEPART ONE DAY EARLY. Round-trip air USA to Nairobi is easy with dozens of carriers flying here. You may want to add a stopover city en route to break up your long journey. Air details and more will be coming in the trip tips.

Karibu Kenya! After touching down in Nairobi, we’ll head to the Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel – just minutes away. Settle in, maybe hit the hotel pool, and get ready to explore. Tonight, it's all about relaxing and prepping for the incredible journey ahead. You're in Africa!

Overnight: Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport (2 nights)

https://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/gb/en/nairobi/nboir/hoteldetail?

The Crowne Plaza Hotel at Nairobi Airport offers an unparalleled blend of convenience, comfort, and safety for travelers. With its prime location just minutes from the airport, it provides easy access for those with tight schedules or late-night arrivals. The hotel features modern, spacious rooms that are well-appointed, ensuring guests enjoy a restful stay amidst their travels. Guests can also take advantage of the on-site dining options and leisure facilities, adding to a relaxing atmosphere. Furthermore, the hotel's commitment to safety and security, including 24-hour surveillance and attentive staff, ensures peace of mind during your stay. Whether you're looking for a quick stopover or a comfortable base before exploring Nairobi, the Crowne Plaza seamlessly meets your needs.

Fuel up with breakfast to prepare for our drive into Nairobi! We're hitting the highlights on a guided tour, so you can relax and soak it all in. Think vibrant culture, fascinating history, and maybe even meet some new friends along the way.

Our first stop is the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where we will visit with the orphaned elephants that the center works to rehabilitate. Trust us, meeting these big babies is an experience you won't forget. It's a chance to connect with these amazing creatures and support a great cause.

Next, we're off to the Karen Blixen Museum, where we can step back in time and explore the storied world of "Out of Africa." You’ll have time to explore and grab lunch on your own at this timeless, must-see home of the world-renowned author.

This afternoon, we'll visit the Kazuri Bead Factory, a cool women's cooperative where you can see (and buy!) beautiful handmade jewelry. It's inspiring to see how they empower women and create amazing art.

We’ll return to our hotel in the late afternoon and have the evening free to prepare for our next day’s adventure.

Overnight: Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport n

After breakfast, it's time to head to the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve and an incredible drive over the Great Rift Valley.

We’ll be spending the next two nights at the luxurious Fairmont Mara Safari Club, located right on the Mara River. After settling into our tented suites, we will chill for a bit and soak up the scenery before lunch.

The Masai Mara, named after the colorful Maasai people and the Mara River, is the ultimate safari destination. Endless landscapes, golden savannahs... it's what you picture when you think of Africa.

This afternoon, we’ll head out for our first game drive. As the sun sets, the savannah comes alive. What do we hope to see? Lions, elephants, and maybe even a sneaky leopard. Fingers crossed for the Big Five — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino — plus giraffes, zebras, and a tons of other animals.

We’ll return to camp after sunset for dinner, telling stories around the fire, and falling asleep to the sounds of the wild.

Overnight: Fairmont Mara Safari Club (2 nights) https://www.fairmont.com/en/hotels/masai-mara/fairmont-mara-safari-club.html?goto=fiche_hotel&code_hotel

After breakfast, it's time to soar above the savannah on our own AFS bush plane! We're taking a private scenic flight straight to the Lentorre Airstrip, where our personal safari guide will be waiting. From there, it's a short, private transfer to Lentorre Lodge – our ridiculously luxurious base for the next couple of nights. This isn't just any lodge; it's an exclusive escape with next-level privacy and personalized service.

After lunch, we have the whole afternoon to chill and soak it all in. This place is designed for serious relaxation.

As the sun dips, prepare for an unforgettable evening Game Drive, ending with a signature Lentorre sundowner experience. Picture this: you, a drink, and a killer sunset over the African plains. For those seeking extra adventure (and amazing photos), we can extend the drive into a night safari. With fewer crowds and expert guidance, we'll witness nocturnal wildlife behavior that most visitors never see.

Back to the lodge for a gourmet dinner under the stars.

Exclusive Photo Op: Lentorre offers something incredibly special – an underground hide built especially for photographers. Imagine being just feet away from wildlife, under the cover of darkness, with a camera in hand. This isn't just wildlife viewing; it's an intimate photographic encounter! Since space is limited (max 6 people at a time), we might split the group over two nights to ensure everyone gets this unforgettable experience.

Overnight: Lentorre Lodge (2 nights) https://lentorre.com/5pm/

Lentorre Lodge sits at the edge of Kenya’s Great Rift Valley.  This isn’t your typical safari lodge. There are no fences, so wildlife just wanders through—zebra, giraffe, even the odd lion. Each villa features its own plunge pool, outdoor shower, and walls that slide away, allowing you to fall asleep to the night breeze and the sounds of Africa all around. Meals are served wherever the mood takes you, whether it’s under the stars or by a fire pit overlooking the valley.

Today's all about getting up close and personal with nature – in the best possible way.  We start our day with a baboon walk! It's a unique experience to lend for delightful photos.  This is a rare chance to explore the bush on foot with expert guides, getting a totally different perspective on the landscape and its inhabitants. And to top it off, we'll enjoy a picnic breakfast in the middle of it all. It's an experience you won't forget.

We'll head back to Lentorre Lodge to relax a bit before lunch, then, in the afternoon, if the river's cooperating, we're hitting the Ewaso Ng'iro for a tubing adventure! Picture yourself floating down the river, soaking up the sun, and ending with a sundowner. (This activity is dependent on the water levels and safety conditions.)

If tubing isn't in the cards, no worries! We'll head out for another evening Game Drive, complete with a scenic sundowner. Because let's be honest, you can never have too much wildlife viewing.

Dinner is back at the lodge, and then, if you're feeling adventurous, you can always hit up the hide again for some nighttime wildlife spotting!

Overnight: Lentorre Lodge  - Lentorre Lodge sits at the edge of Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, where the Shompole Conservancy blends into the wild, sunbaked savannah. It’s the kind of place you only find if you’re really looking—a handful of elegant villas scattered along a ridge, each one completely private and open to sweeping views of the salt flats, volcanic hills, and the endless sky.

This isn’t your typical safari lodge. There are no fences, so wildlife just wanders through—zebra, giraffe, even the odd lion. Each villa has its own plunge pool, outdoor shower, and walls that slide away so you can fall asleep with the night breeze and the sounds of Africa all around. Meals are served wherever the mood takes you, whether it’s under the stars or by a firepit overlooking the valley.

Following breakfast, it's time to say goodbye to Lentorre and hit the road back to Nairobi. This isn't just any drive, though – we're talking a scenic journey through the Great Rift Valley, with exceptional views, farms, craft markets, and little villages along the way.

After about 4 hours, we'll arrive in Nairobi and check into the one and only Giraffe Manor! This place is legendary. It's a charming old-school mansion where giraffes literally poke their heads through the windows during breakfast. We'll be staying in the Garden Manor, the newer part of Giraffe Manor, built in 2011. It's right next to the original building, and you get the exact same amazing giraffe encounters.

Our stay is all-inclusive. That means not just the meals but the drinks (house wines, beers, and spirits), laundry, Wi-Fi, entrance to the AFEW Giraffe Centre, and a bunch of other cool stuff. What's not included? Champagne, tips, massages, and anything super personal.

Relax, enjoy the grounds, the spa offerings, and of course, the giraffes.

Overnight: Giraffe Manor – Nairobi https://www.thesafaricollection.com/properties/giraffe-manor/

Giraffe Manor Hotel is one of the most unforgettable places to stay in the world

After breakfast with our new friends at Giraffe Manor, soak in those last moments in this magical place. Maybe we'll get one last chance to feed the giraffes – or just watch them wander around the grounds. Then, it's time to head to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for our flights home.