On Safari in Kenya with Dubai

Day 1

ARRIVE IN DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. Your hotel room is available for mid-afternoon check-in.

Day 2

DUBAI. This morning, your PRIVATE GUIDED SIGHTSEEING begins with a WALKING TOUR through the narrow lanes of the historic Bastakiya Quarter. Next, explore the souks (markets), including the SPICE SOUK with its aromas of exotic spices, and the GOLD SOUK with its 220 glittering shop windows. Lastly, visit BURJ KHALIFA, the world’s tallest building. Here, ascend to the AT THE TOP observation deck on the 124th floor for spectacular views and a presentation on Dubai’s history. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)

Day 3

DUBAI. Enjoy a full day at your leisure. (B)

Day 4

Dubai–Nairobi, Kenya. Welcome to Africa! Hotel rooms are available for midafternoon check-in. (B)

Day 5

NAIROBI–MOUNT KENYA NATIONAL PARK AREA. Start your sightseeing at the SHELDRICK ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE, founded and managed by Daphne Sheldrick. During your visit, learn about elephant conservation and meet elephant calves orphaned by poachers before they are re-introduced to the wild. Next, visit the GIRAFFE CENTER, a non-profit organization focused on saving the Rothschild’s giraffe. Here, you will learn a bit more about this sub-species and have the opportunity to feed them. Then, depart Nairobi for MOUNT KENYA NATIONAL PARK, where your treetop lodge is raised on stilts with unobstructed views over a floodlit waterhole. Spend the afternoon and evening observing the animals from the viewing deck or the balcony in your room. (B,L,D)

Day 6

MOUNT KENYA AREA–LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK. This morning, embark on a GUIDED FOREST WALK with a naturalist to learn more about the plant and animal life in the area. Afterward, a BUSH BREAKFAST awaits. Later, journey through the beautiful Kenyan highlands. Known as one of the most fertile agricultural areas in all of Africa, you will find farmers growing crops such as corn, wheat, coffee, and tea. Arrive in LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK and settle in for the evening. (B,L,D)

Day 7

LAKE NAKURU. Today, enjoy MORNING & AFTERNOON GAME DRIVES. The park is home to a variety of animals including giraffe, flamingo, impala, Cape buffalo, and striped hyena. This is also your best chance to see white rhino, which are commonly spotted here. (B,L,D)

Day 8

LAKE NAKURU–LAKE NAIVASHA NATIONAL PARK. After breakfast, make the short drive to LAKE NAIVASHA NATIONAL PARK. Make a stop at LIFE BEADS, an organization providing training and job opportunities to local women, disabled people, and street children. Here, trainees learn how to make a variety of handicrafts including beading and basket making. After lunch, take a GUIDED WALK around Crescent Island for a chance at an up-close view of giraffe, zebra, and more. (B,L,D)

Day 9

LAKE NAIVASHA–MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE. This morning, depart for MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE, Kenya’s most famous game area. After lunch at your lodge, set out on an AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE. (B,L,D)

Day 10

MAASAI MARA. Today, enjoy MORNING & AFTERNOON GAME DRIVES in the “Mara,” as it is called by locals. Part of the Serengeti ecosystem, the reserve boasts a strong permanent population of game. When the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra arrives, generally from August to early November, the population enlarges by almost 2 million. This provides a great food source for predators such as lion, cheetah, leopard, and hyena. (B,L,D)

NOTE:
The Great Migration is a natural event, and the arrival/departure of the migrating herds varies slightly year to year.

Day 11

MAASAI MARA–NAIROBI–DEPARTURE. Today, drive back to Nairobi, where your tour ends. We have reserved a day room at the Eka Hotel Nairobi for you to use prior to your homebound flight. Book homebound flights after 5 pm. (B)