Current as of: April 26, 2024 - 08:30

Kenya Cheetah

Classic Kenya 4WD Safari Trip Notes

  • Ways to Travel: Guided Group, Private Group Adventures
  • Destination: Kenya
  • Programmes: Wildlife
  • Activity Level:

    1 out of 7 - Leisurely

  • 7 Days: Land Only
  • Ages: 16+
  • Trip Code: WYMA2
  • Carbon Footprint: 38kg CO2e

Trip Overview

Enjoy a quintessential safari adventure in two beloved wildlife-watching lands: Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara

Kenya is synonymous with the classic African safari. With endless grasslands sprinkled with acacia trees, this is Out of Africa and Born Free country. Whether it’s exploring Lake Nakuru National Park, an excellent small park in the Great Rift Valley, or the emblematic Masai Mara, wildlife is abundant year-round. During the migration season, the Mara (as it is affectionately known) is also home to one of the greatest natural spectacles on the planet: millions of wildebeest and zebra crossing a crocodile-filled river on their journey through the savannah.

At a Glance

  • Three nights in a tented camp, two nights in a lodge and one night in a hotel
  • Travel by 4×4 safari vehicle with window seats
  • Some long drives

Highlights

  • Stay at four-star accommodation throughout
  • See the prolific wildlife of the Masai Mara, including lions, elephants, hippos and giraffes
  • Discover Lake Nakuru, home to black and white rhinos
  • Enjoy game drives, short nature walks, and optional cultural village and walking excursions

Is This Trip for You?

This trip is rated Activity Level 1 (Leisurely) with a Wildlife Rating of Five. Visit our Activity Level Guidelines page for more on our trip gradings or our Wildlife Holidays page for more on our Wildlife Ratings.

It is a small-group safari in 4×4 Toyota Landcruisers with two long drives. Most of the roads are reasonably good, other than the access road from Narok to the Masai Mara (two hours) and some roads within the national parks. Driving in the reserves can be quite rough and is often on dirt roads. In wet weather, driving conditions become more difficult and a little patience may be required at times.

As well as some very exciting game drives, there is the opportunity for a short nature walk in the Masai Mara. There are many chances of seeing countless animals and birds, including rare and endangered creatures.

January to March brings warmer weather and fewer tourists to the area. From March to April, the rainy season offers the opportunity for unique sightings, such as wildebeest and other animals calving in anticipation of the rains.

Adult min age: 16

Min group size: 4

Max group size: 12

Itinerary

WYM Map

Land Only

  • Start City: Nairobi
  • End City: Nairobi

Land Only Itinerary

Day 1
Start Nairobi; to Lake Naivasha; optional afternoon nature walk

The adventure begins at our partner hotel in Nairobi (see the Joining Instructions for more information). With the group gathered together, we drive north to the edge of the escarpment over the Rift Valley before descending into the valley and to Lake Naivasha, where we enjoy a morning boat ride. We continue for a further 1hr 30min to Lake Elementaita, where we check into our lodge and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, there is an optional (additional cost) guided nature walk available.

Accommodation: Sentrim Elementaita Lodge (or similar)

Meals included: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2
Morning and afternoon game drives in Lake Nakuru National Park

It’s an early start today for a 30-minute drive to Lake Nakuru National Park. We enjoy a full day of game drives, with a packed lunch from our lodge to maximise game-viewing time. We hope to see many animals including gazelles, impalas and giraffes. We are also on the lookout for predators as well as unique bird life.

This national park is world-renowned for its (dwindling) flamingo population, made famous by Denys Finch Hatton’s flight over it in the film Out of Africa (1985). Nakuru is also the best place in East Africa for white rhino, and it is not unusual to see at least a dozen in a day. Coupled with this, there is a healthy buffalo population, many other plain animals and frequent leopard sightings.

Accommodation: Sentrim Elementaita Lodge (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 3 - 5
Masai Mara

We have a beautiful, bumpy drive (approximately five hours including comfort stops) to the Mara.  We arrive in the early afternoon in time for lunch (this is included on day 3 only) and check in afterwards. Departing at 4pm, we enjoy the first of several game drives in this remarkable area. Returning to the lodge for dinner, we enjoy a relaxed evening in beautiful surroundings.

During time off, you can rest in your private tents, the lounge tent or watch the animals from the deck of your tent. If you fancy a lie-in one day or an optional nature walk, this can easily be arranged.

The Masai Mara is one of the most famous ecosystems in the world. This vast grassland is teeming with life: wildebeest, gazelles, topis, zebras and buffalo abound in the rolling savannah, and never far away are the predators: cheetahs, lions and hyenas. Between mid-August and late October, one of the greatest spectacles on Earth takes place in the Masai Mara – the annual migration of thousands of wildebeest, gazelles and zebras trampling across the long grass. Nothing is guaranteed on safari, but with the help of our brilliant guides you should see and learn a huge amount about the Masai Mara wildlife during our game drives. As a climax, there is also the option of taking a sunrise balloon ride over the African plains (subject to weather conditions and availability).

Accommodation: Mara Kimana Camp (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6
Transfer to Nairobi

We leave after breakfast and return to Nairobi. We spend our last night in Nairobi. Nairobi is commonly known as ‘The Green city in the sun’.

Accommodation: Sarova Panafric Nairobi (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7
End Nairobi

The trip ends today in Nairobi and we begin our return journeys home. If you’d like more time to explore the capital of Kenya, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

Meals included: Breakfast

Post-trip Extensions

Zanzibar

If you are keen to end your trip on a (very) relaxed note, Zanzibar is a place to walk on the beach, explore the colourful offshore reef, or simply soak up the sun. You can choose to add as many extra nights to your trip as you wish; your time on the island will be at leisure. We transfer to Nairobi Airport and fly to Zanzibar; on arrival we transfer to the southwest coast of the island. The accommodation used, Fumba Beach Lodge, is far from other developments, the peace is all encompassing and there is a long strip of private beach, pool, spa, diving centre and spacious rooms. Please note, on Zanzibar you will be met and transferred between the airport and hotel but you are not escorted or guided. If you choose to take advantage of this opportunity then we can arrange flights for you to Zanzibar and book the hotel on half board and include all the transfers needed. We can provide you with a price once we know your requirements.

We can also book other hotels for you on the island including Kichanga Lodge and Tembo Hotel.

Please contact your sales representative for details.

Accommodation

Lodge, tented camp and hotel

Classic Kenya 4WD Safari

On this classic safari adventure in Kenya, we stay in a trio of four-star properties. Below are the places we typically use on this trip.

Lake Elementaita: Sentrim Elementaita Lodge (nights 1-2)

Classic Kenya 4WD Safari

Our first two nights are spent by the vast Lake Elementaita with a stay at Sentrim Elementaita Lodge. It’s well placed for our exploration of Lake Nakuru National Park, which is just a 30-minute drive away; when we’re not on safari, enjoy views over Lake Elementaita from the year-round pool (or one of the loungers next to it) and discuss your day’s adventure at the bar.

Masai Mara: Mara Kimana Camp (nights 3-5)

Classic Kenya 4WD Safari

Our Masai Mara camp is on the banks of the Sekenani River, where wildlife regularly comes to drink. We stay in permanent tents with private bathrooms, each linked by walkways among ancient jackalberry trees. We sleep on proper beds and there is electricity in the tents plus hot water for showers.

Nairobi: Sarova Panafric (night 6)

Classic Kenya 4WD Safari

Our last night is spent at the Sarova Panafric in Nairobi, just a five-minute drive from the CBD. Though it’s close to the action there’s plenty to keep you entertained here, including a temperature-controlled pool, next to which you’ll find The Deck bar and lounge. There’s also the Flame Tree Restaurant and Bar, which serves Pan-African, Continental and Pan-Asian dishes and has a hidden garden.

Single supplement from USD 540

Food & Drink

All breakfasts, five lunches and five dinners are included.

Meals are generally taken at the lodge or camp but we may take pack lunches with us depending on the planned activities and game drives on a particular day.

Breakfasts are generally a selection of fruit, cereal, yogurt and bread, and, potentially, some cooked elements.

Lunches and dinners are normally a variety of European and local dishes.

There is also tea served before the late afternoon game drive in the Masai Mara.

Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests.

Water

Purified water is provided by the guide throughout your trip from large drums carried on top of the vehicles, so you need only bring a reusable water bottle. In the lodges, generally, one bottle of water is provided free of charge so we suggest you fill your water bottle before you leave the vehicles for the evening. Otherwise, you can purchase water at the lodge bar.

Transport

We use 4×4 Toyota Landcruisers with roof hatches for enhanced game viewing. Every passenger has a window seat and the vehicles take six passengers plus the driver/guide.

Weather & Seasonality

Kenya straddles the equator, so showers can occur at any time of year; however, the wettest period is April and May (we have no departures then). Due to the altitude of both Elementaita/Nakuru (5,250ft/1,600m) and the Masai Mara (5,085ft/1,550m) the night-time temperature is beautiful, cool yet not cold. Daytime temperatures can get as high as 30C (86F) but with low humidity. There can be light rains at the end of the year, which cuts down the dust and brings out the colours. In the wet, the roads can become difficult and a little patience (and pushing!) may be required. Please be aware, in recent years weather patterns have changed and are now somewhat unpredictable.

Joining Instructions

Normal meeting point for transfer to our lodge near Lake Nakuru: Sarova Panafric Nairobi, Kenyatta Ave, Nairobi
Airport: Nairobi Airport (NBO)

Joining the trip
Our first lodge near Lake Nakuru is approximately a 3hr 30min drive from Nairobi Airport. It is difficult to reach on your own and a private transfer is expensive. Therefore, please make sure you meet the group at our partner hotel in Nairobi (normally Sarova Panafric Nairobi) to be collected by the group transfer. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the partner hotel before the transfer leaves. The pick-up time will be advised on the Final Joining Instructions sent to you approximately two to three weeks before departure.

If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight
There’s a group departure transfer to Nairobi Airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Location start: Nairobi
Location end: Nairobi

What To Take

Essential Equipment

  • Torch (flashlight)
  • Sunhat
  • Sunscreen
  • Soft holdall
  • Sunglasses
  • Hat
  • Backpack for the daytimes
  • Camera with a telephoto lens (preferable)
  • Binoculars (highly recommended)
  • Lightweight walking shoes
  • Fleece and windbreak for early mornings
  • Very light wet-weather top
  • Reusable water bottles
  • Buff/scarf for dust

Please note: Kenya has taken the lead in banning the use of plastic carrier bags and certain other plastic bags. Included in the ban are the following items that travellers might carry:

▪ Duty-free carrier bags
▪ General shopping bags
▪ Bin liners (sometimes used to protect luggage during rain)
▪ Dry-cleaning bags (commonly wrapped around clothing)
▪ Ziplock bags

Travellers arriving into Kenya via airports, sea ports or land borders are required to leave any bags deemed to be on the banned list at the point of entry. Travellers will not be fined so long as they surrender any prohibited bags.

Please note if you are doing the Zanzibar extension the same bans apply.

Water included

Plastic bottles are a big issue in many countries where recycling isn’t yet widely available; they often end up in landfill or get burned. Both processes are harmful to the environment and we would like to reduce our impact here. For your trip, we provide an alternative to single-use plastic bottles to reduce the plastic used. This means that safe drinking water will be available throughout; all you need to do is bring a bottle to refill along the way. Please add this to your packing list.

Practical Information

Visa

Kenya

Travellers from the UK, US and EU need an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) to enter Kenya. Please note, requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required eTAs/visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on entry requirements for their citizens. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

You can apply for your eTA, which costs US$30, on the official website for the Kenyan government. You will need the following before you make your application:

  • Valid passport
  • Recent passport picture OR a selfie picture taken during application process
  • Contact details (home address, telephone, email)
  • Travel information and flight itinerary (arrival flight number, date of departure of initial flight in case of connecting flights)
  • Proof of booking for the hotel you will be staying at (if staying with friends, a letter of invitation is accepted)
  • Yellow fever vaccination certificate if coming from endemic countries (please check the World Health Organization website for the updated list of countries)
  • Credit/debit card information for payment, if applicable

Vaccinations and Health

Kenya

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include hepatitis A, polio, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, meningococcal disease, rabies, tuberculosis and yellow fever. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Malaria prophylaxis is essential and we suggest you seek advice from your doctor or travel clinic about which to take. Additionally, dengue fever, a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, is a known risk in places visited. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Bilharzia is known to occur in some of the lakes or rivers visited on this itinerary, we therefore advise all to take advice from your guide or leader locally before venturing for a swim.

Local Time

Kenya's time zone: Africa/Nairobi (UTC +03:00)

Electricity

Kenya's electricity: Plug types G (three rectangular pins) – 240V, 50Hz

Classic Kenya 4WD Safari

Money

Kenya's currency: Kenyan shilling (KES)

ATM Availability

ATMs are available in Nairobi. Credit cards are accepted at the lodges we use.

Extra Expenses & Spending Money

Drinks are at your own expense. For food not included, budget approximately 7,015 shillings (US$50) in total.

We recommend you take most of your money in either British pounds or US dollars. It is best to change money at the airport in Nairobi on arrival. We recommend you change money into local currency in Nairobi, as US dollars and British pounds are not accepted everywhere and outside Nairobi the exchange rate might be poor.

Optional excursions (prices are approximate and subject to change):

Masai village visit: 4,210 shillings (US$30)
Hot-air balloon ride: 64,000 shillings (US$455). Please note, landings can sometimes be a bit rough.

Tipping

We recommend about 7,020 shillings (US$50) in total for your driver(s)/guide(s) and about 2,800 shillings (US$20) in total for the lodge/camp staff to share.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that improve life for the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. To read more about sustainable travel ethos and practice, click here, and to find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation click here.

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

  • The use of local guides means our customers will be well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
  • This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned accommodation and restaurants, the emphasis on eating locally produced food, and by supporting other local enterprises.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

  • Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels.
  • By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
  • We have game drives in the Masai Mara National Reserve and Lake Nakuru National Park where park fees go towards community and environmental initiatives in the area.
  • Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regard to working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
  • We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste, for example eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles and instead providing refills for reusable bottles.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

  • Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.
  • By favouring smaller, locally run campsites, we have a much smaller impact on the surrounding environments.
  • Most meals use local ingredients which have not had to have been transported long distances.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Extra steps you could take to minimise your impact when travelling.

  • Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
  • Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own reusable water bottle on this trip; filtered water will be provided where tap water is not drinkable.

Important Information

Water safety

This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution. Information on how to keep yourself safe while swimming is shown here.

Cancellation charges

Please note, this trip has cancellation charges that differ from our standard booking conditions. If you need to cancel then the following charges will apply:

Peak Season Departures (July-October):
90-31 days prior to your trip starting in country = £200
30-21 days prior to your trip starting in country = 25% cancellation charge
20-15 days prior to your trip starting in country = 75% cancellation charge
14 days or less days prior to your trip starting in country = 100% cancellation charge

Off-Peak Departures (November-June):
60-31 days prior to your trip starting in country = £200
30-21 days prior to your trip starting in country = 25% cancellation charge
20-15 days prior to your trip starting in country = 75% cancellation charge
14 days or less days prior to your trip starting in country = 100% cancellation charge

Important Information

Your safe participation 

When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call the Exodus office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary. 

Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity. 

By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred. 

How to Book

  1. Check availability: Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or email.
  2. Secure your place: You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days.
  3. Complete your booking and payment

When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.

After booking

You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.

Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.

Trip Note validity

These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.

The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.

Licensing

Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.

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