Kenyan Safari Anniversary
Go really wild and celebrate your special anniversary in the African bush. Imagine dining by candle light under a massive sky of twinkling stars and listening to the roar of lions far away on the plains? Mark your special anniversary and share some quality time with your family, friends and colleagues on a luxury ‘Out of Africa’ safari in Kenya.
Fly First Class to Nairobi and arrive refreshed and relaxed, before boarding your private plane to fly directly to the Masai Mara National Reserve (approx. 1 hour) and your exclusive tented camp.
Rekero Camp is one of the few camps that is located within the Masai Mara Reserve and offers a perfect balance between luxury and a genuine bush experience. It has a secluded location and nestles in riverine forests on the banks of the Talek River and it will be exclusively for your party. The seven spacious tents provide a high level of privacy and comfort. Each tent has a veranda overlooking the Talek River, two large beds with deep mattresses and fine linens and an attached and enclosed bathroom with a separate flush WC, large safari shower and washbasin. Hot water for showers is available anytime upon request. Solar powered lighting is provided inside the tents. Mosquito screens on three sides of the tents provide you with a 270º panorama of the bush. Most animals are nocturnal so there’s always some activity to be enjoyed during the night.
Meet your camp hosts for pre-lunch drinks in the open-sided reception area, with its soft comfy sofas. Lunch is al fresco – from the shade of trees you may see herds of gazelles or buffalo or families of elephants or warthogs wandering across the plains, and you are almost certain to hear the playful grunts of the hippos in the river and see a wide range of birds and butterflies. There will be time this afternoon to relax in your tent or even catch up on the world outside (Rekero camp has a very discreet internet tent in the bush!).
Re-assemble for afternoon tea before heading out for your first game drive. The Masai Mara is undoubtedly the best reserve in Kenya because of the phenomenal diversity of species that can be seen in volume, providing an unrivalled wildlife spectacle and truly rewarding experience. It is also stunningly beautiful with great panoramic vistas. Lion and cheetah sightings are almost guaranteed and even the elusive leopard can be found. The plains abound with rhino, elephant, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, gazelles, hyenas, hippo and, to a lesser extent, jackal. Enjoy a sundowner or two out on the plains before returning to the camp. There will be time for hot showers before drinks around the campfire and a four-course candle-lit dinner with fine wines.
Africa is a magical place and you will quickly forget your routines and life back home and fall in to the rhythm of bush life. Each morning tea and biscuits are served on your verandah, before setting out for the morning’s game drive or a hot air balloon safari above the plains. Watching the sunrise over The Mara is a magical moment in itself and the plains are teaming with wildlife after a night of activity and there’s a good chance of finding a successful kill. The morning’s wildlife viewing culminates with a bush breakfast, before heading back to spend the day relaxing in camp and enjoying a leisurely lunch on the banks of the river. There is another game drive later in the afternoon finishing with sundowners on the plains. A gourmet dinner and stargazing around the campfire await you in camp.
A private plane will take you to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (approx. 2½ hours) for your Out of Africa anniversary celebration at Sirikoi Tented Camp. This is a very special camp and will be exclusive to your party! As you enter the property you are immediately transported into the exclusive world of exotic luxury but one that is subtly immersed into the natural environment. The beautiful reception lounge opens out on to the most stunning tree-shaded terrace that overlooks a waterhole where elephant sometimes come to drink. The six large tents are spaciously located across lush lawns where zebra, rhino, buffalo, warthogs and guinea fowl graze. Each tent is built on a raised wooden platform and has its own fireplace, sitting area and veranda overlooking the waterhole. Thick-piled rugs, luxurious drapes, massive beds and fine linens along with Victorian bathtubs and showers, and electricity 24 hours a day is anything but camping! Meals are of the highest quality and are served outside under the trees and around the campfire. Sirikoi grows most of its food in an organic vegetable garden. There is also an inviting swimming pool and sun terrace.
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy offers a different safari experience from the Masai Mara Reserve, with a range of activities for getting really close to nature – walking safaris, horse-riding and night drives. Lewa was originally a cattle ranch settled by the Craig family in the 1920s. Then in 1983 the Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary was established to protect the black rhino and by 1995 the ranch had become a non-profit making wildlife trust focusing on wildlife conservation. Lewa is one of the most successful private wildlife reserves in Kenya in terms of sustainable wildlife management as well as the wide variety of plains game and volume of species.
After settling into your tent, join your hosts for drinks on the terrace followed by lunch. There will be time to relax before this afternoon’s game drive. The game viewing opportunities are excellent in Lewa, which is home to Grevy and common zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, white and black rhino, elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard and a variety of antelope including kudu, Oryx, gerenuk and sitatunga water antelope and many other species. Lewa is located in the central highlands west of Mt Kenya and is much dryer and hillier than The Mara, offering a varied terrain and rugged beauty. Before returning to camp enjoy sundowners out in the bush. Return to Sirikoi with time to freshen up before drinks around the campfire and dinner under the stars. Later head out for a night game drive when you might see bushbabies, Spring hare, aardvark, genet cat and leopard.
Next morning there’s a pre-dawn game drive and then its back to camp to spend a relaxing day in your tent or around the swimming pool. This afternoon choose to go on a horseback safari or guided walking safari. This evening is when dreams happen and memories are made – there will be a special Out of Africa style anniversary party – commencing with a short candlelit walk through the bush to a campfire where champagne and canapés are served to the music of Mozart. Discreetly hidden from view is a beautifully dining table laden with white linens, candelabras, silver cutlery and cut glasses where a gourmet dinner and fine wines will be served by Maasai waiters. Adjourn to the main campfire for dancing on the terrace under the great African sky.
It’s a leisurely start this morning with breakfast in bed. Then sadly it’s back to Nairobi by private plane (approx. 1½ hours) to connect with your flight to London.