Family bush and beach safari is a classic well-paced, balanced itinerary in three major Kenyan destinations –Lewa, Mara & Diani. This 12-days Kenya family bush and beach safari delivers sensational accommodation and a host of unforgettable experiences. Flying between destinations makes the logistics easy and the accommodation throughout is stylish, exclusive and luxurious.
The itinerary begins within the world-famous Lewa Conservancy, home to East Africa’s healthiest black and white rhino populations. Kifaru house is your first accommodation. The property luxuriates in total exclusivity with charming thatched cottages tucked away in an oasis of vibrant lawns, filled with birdsong. All have well-appointed bedrooms, with sumptuous four-poster beds and generous en-suite bathrooms.
Then it is off to Kenya’s showpiece – the Masai Mara National Reserve. Your accommodation is one of the Mara’s favorites’ – Mara bush house. Ideal for families or groups of friends, this 3-bedroom home comes fully staffed with a wildlife guide, a personal chef and a household manager to ensure your stay is as seamless as it is tranquil.
The final stage of the tour is at Kenya’s white sands and turquoise waters of Diani Beach at Swahili beach resort & spa. Swahili Beach resort and spa is the signature stopover for the modern traveler seeking roots in the days of old and a foothold on contemporary luxury.
Well-paced with plenty of time at each major safari destination, this tour is perfect for families looking for a comfortable and activity-filled holiday with all the smaller details to suit each age.
Your safari begins with a warm welcome by our representatives upon your arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi. You will be transferred to Ole Sereni Hotel for your overnight stay. Ole Sereni Hotel offers the ideal location from which to start your safari adventure as it is the only city hotel situated within a game park. With the stunning greens and gold of Nairobi National Park’s landscape punctuated by giraffe, zebra, antelope and buffalo lounging near their waterhole, the views alone make Ole Sereni one of a kind.
After breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to Wilson airport for onward transfer to the world famous Lewa conservancy. The conservancy covers 65,000 acres, a vast wilderness. Lewa has dramatic views to the south of snow capped Mt. Kenya, and to the north down to the arid lands of Tassia and Il Ngwesi. It has many diverse habitats from pristine forest, fertile grasslands, extensive springs and acacia woodland. With over 70 recorded mammal species within the conservancy, for guests, the wildlife experience is unrivalled.
Located within the conservancy is Elewana’s Kifaru house, your home for the next 3 days. A haven of luxury in the bush, you will immediately feel at home on arrival, warmly welcomed by the friendly and attentive staff. The comfortable sitting room with well-stocked bar and elegant dining area extend out to a large, comfortably furnished terrace. Here, you can enjoy a sunny breakfast al fresco and watch the busy goings-on at the waterhole below, or you can choose to relax by the picturesque infinity pool and enjoy the magnificent views over the distant plains.
Spend the next two days exploring the gems of the conservancy on game drives, guided walking safari and bush meal. The conservancy is famous for its successful rhino and Grevy zebra breeding, two endangered species; Lewa is home to 10% of Kenya’s rhino, and 20% of the worlds population of Grevy zebra. The whole conservancy is fenced, and the conservancy employs over 150 rangers. The conservancy does extensive outreach work into the surrounding communities with its Community Development Program, including healthcare, education, micro-finance, and water projects – in order to share with the community the benefits of wildlife.
The Masai Mara is one of the world’s unrivalled wildernesses. Scene of the Wildebeest Migration and home to a panoply of bird and mammal species, it is the quintessence of untrammeled Africa and the pinnacle of classic safari country.
Located in the uncrowded Mara North Conservancy, Mara Bush House offers a private safari home retreat overlooking a game rich waterhole for travelers who enjoy private, comfort and luxury.
Ideal for families or groups of friends, this 3-bedroom home comes fully staffed with a wildlife guide, a personal chef and a household manager to ensure your stay is as seamless as it is tranquil. Here you can enjoy day and night game drives with your Maasai guide, as well as safari walks in the wilderness before returning to the warm embrace of your secluded sanctuary.
Mara Bush House allows you to experience and enjoy the wilds of Mara North at entirely your own pace: as you like it, when you like it. Managing your own schedule means that while at mara bush House you will not be rushed to dinner or woken up for an early-morning game drive if you would rather sleep in. Once you decide it is time to venture a little further from home, hop into your specially-adapted 4×4 for an exciting Mara game-viewing experience. With exclusive-use to a local Maasai wildlife guide, game drives are a personalized, educational and soul-enriching experience.
Spend the next three days spoilt for choice exploring the Maasai Mara with your exclusive-use Maasai wildlife guide with game drives on the Mara North Conservancy and Lemek Conservancy or to the Mara Game Reserve.
Game drives are flexible, with the option of going out with picnic lunch boxes to spend entire day in the park, or you can choose to have early morning, late afternoon and night game drives. You will also have the option of visiting a local Maasai village, guided walks, participating in local community projects. Roll down the windows or stand up through the customized pop up roof hatch and enjoy this unhindered 360 views, and the possibilities for what lies ahead.
After so much action, tracking wildlife, taking photos and exploring Kenya’s rugged wilderness, this tour has the added benefit of a long beach holiday extension on Kenya’s coast – the ideal way to reward your family after all those early mornings on safari. After a sumptuous family breakfast in the bush you will be transferred to the airstrip for your onward flight to Kenya’s pristine and white sandy beaches of Diani. Your accommodation will be at Swahili Beach resort and Spa.
At Swahili beach resort & Spa you will immerse yourself in a world of rich culture. Enjoy the different cultural influences in the ambience. From the art to the architecture, take in this beautiful fusion of African, Indian, Arabian and Zanzibari influences. Swahili Beach is much more than meets the eye. Culture and history provides its very soul. From the architecture and the aromas to the music, it teases the senses. Drawing you in offering an air of sophistication unseen on the Kenyan coast, Swahili Beach was designed with state-of-the-art technologies to ensure minimum ecological impact, while delivering unparalleled comfort to its guests. It was built as the confluence of raw culture and modern style. Swahili Beach is the signature stopover for the modern traveler seeking roots in the days of old and a foothold on contemporary luxury
On this day you will be going on a full day excursion to Wasini Island. This is an exciting beach experience coupled with a dolphin dhow experience to wasini island.
Pick up at your hotel/resort will be at 7.00 am and the drive to Shimoni is about 1.5 hrs to the Jetty. As you drive to the historical small fishing village of Shimoni at the South Coast, you will have the opportunity to see rural villages, sugar cane plantations, tall palm trees and lush greenery.
On arrival, a local guide will lead you through the Shimoni caves where slaves were “stored” during the old slave trading days before shipment to the Zanzibar slave market.
After the visit to the caves, you’ll head to the Shimoni piers and board a traditional Swahili Dhow for a cruise to the Marine Park. Soft drinks, water, wine, beer and snacks on board as you sail.
As you cruise through the Indian Ocean, there is an approximately 90% chance to spot Dolphins. You then snorkel and marvel at the rich marine life where corals, exotic fish and sea plants are protected. You are provided with masks and snorkels and are accompanied by a certified and experienced guide. Assistance is also provided to first timers. Back on board, you can refresh yourself with fruits and soft drinks.
This Dolphin dhow experience to wasini island is exactly what you and your family need.
On this day spend this day relaxing and sun bathing. You also have access to the hotels beach club and spa, this is an exclusive area for 18’s only. Here you will get to enjoy massages, unlimited snacks and many more.
Later in the evening you will enjoy a romantic turndown. An arrangement of freshly prepared delicacies to entice the evening for you and your loved one including cold cuts, selection of cheese, dips and pates, fruit preserve, olives, toasted sour dough, finished off with a decadent chocolate dessert.
Your evening will also be accompanied with a bottle of Cuvee Brut, Flower Petal Turndown and Foam Bath.
After breakfast, check out of your beach resort and make your way to the lobby for your transfer to Ukunda Airstrip. You will then catch your flight to Nairobi where you’ll be transferred to the airport or a Nairobi hotel bringing to an end what we believe will be a magical family safari experience.
