Kenya Holidays

Take to the skies on the Governors' hot air balloon safari, where you’ll watch the sunrise over the Maasai Mara and get an aerial view of African wildlife. You’ll lift off around 6am in time to see the sunrise from the balloon, painting the sky in buttery shades of orange.

At that time of day, the grazing animals are just waking up. Elephants are munching in the forest, hippos are heading back to the river and the trees are filled with birds. It’s particularly busy during the Annual Great Migration when massive herds of wildebeest roam the plains. Governors’ has the best flight path in the region, drifting along the Mara River above beautiful riverine forest where rhinos graze, before ending in the open savannah where you might see giraffe, zebra and lion. Guests love the serenity of the balloon ride and the fantastic opportunities for photography. You’ll also have the chance to drop seedballs from the balloon, as part of a conservation scheme to replant indigenous African olive trees. At the end of the hour-long flight, the balloon will land near a bush breakfast site where tables are set up under trees in the middle of the savannah. Here you’ll enjoy a lavish breakfast spread including eggs, sausages, pancakes, fruit, muesli, and of course Champagne. It’s a laid-back, picnic-style feast where your pilot will share bush stories and explain the history of ballooning in the Mara.

On this tour you’ll meet orphaned elephants at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, visit the Karen Blixen Museum to learn about the Out of Africa author’s extraordinary life in Kenya and get up close to endangered Rothschild's giraffes.

First, you’ll transfer to the Giraffe Centre in the Lang’ata suburb of Nairobi, where the mission is to breed the animals in a safe environment. Created by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, the non-profit centre was founded in 1979 when there were just 130 of these beautiful animals left in the wild. The Rothschild's is a subspecies of the giraffe that lives in East Africa’s grasslands. It’s amazing to see the giraffes up close. Afterwards, you can go to the information centre to listen to an educational talk about giraffe conservation and the centre’s work. The staff are highly trained experts, so they can answer any questions you have about the animals.

Next, drive for 20 mins to Nairobi National Park, arriving at the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage to watch the elephants be fed. The elephants know when it’s time to have their milk and come running down into the feeding area. As the keepers feed them, a guide from the trust will introduce you to the individual elephants and tell you their rescue stories. You’ll get to ask questions while the animals play. The trust was set up over 40 years ago by Daphne Sheldrick in memory of her husband David, who was a famous warden and naturalist in Tsavo East National Park. It has developed into the most successful rescue and rehabilitation programme for elephants in the world, with many of the babies released back into the wild in Tsavo after about three years of rehabilitation. Visiting will give you a chance to get up close to the elephants, learn about the wildlife trust’s work and contribute to the conservation of these incredible animals.

From here you’ll transfer for 30-minutes to the Karen Blixen Museum. It is set in the Karen area of Nairobi, which is named after Blixen, on the coffee farm where she once lived. A lot of guests want to visit the museum because they’ve read Out of Africa or seen the movie. Karen put Nairobi and Kenya on the map and was passionate about helping the local community. The museum is a piece of Kenyan history and an amazing tale of how one person survived so many bad things and still had the heart to be kind to those around her. Following the visit, transfer back to your accommodation by private vehicle.

Enjoy aerial views of Mount Kilimanjaro and Amboseli National Park on this sunrise hot-air balloon adventure. You will be collected from your lodge early morning. It will still be dark when you leave so, as you travel to the launch site, you may see some of Amboseli’s nocturnal creatures such as porcupines.

After a safety briefing from your pilot, the balloon is inflated just as the early colours of dawn start to break. As the balloon lifts off, you will get a 360-degree view of Amboseli’s diverse landscape of desert, bush and swamplands. Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro dominates the skyline. It conveniently blocks bad weather creating ideal wind conditions for flying.

Gently gliding just a few hundred feet above the ground is a magical experience. Aside from the occasional burst of gas from the burner into the balloon, it’s peaceful and tranquil and provides a different perspective to view wildlife. Amboseli is famous for its vast herds of elephants, but you may also see giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and the gerenuk antelope that stands on its hind legs to reach leaves from the trees. You will also get to view some Maasai villages from the air. Upon landing, the chase team will take you back to their base for a traditional Champagne celebration. As you look out over Mount Kilimanjaro, indulge in a spread of baked goods, fruit and plenty of Kenyan coffee. The whole experience takes about 5 hours.

Take to the skies on a hot-air balloon safari, where you’ll watch the sunrise over the Maasai Mara and get an aerial view of African wildlife. The views over the Mara are just magical, with the chance of seeing large herds of elephants, buffalo, and gazelles from above, as well as giraffes and zebras wandering the plains. When you land the first thing you’ll get is a glass of Champagne before enjoying a hot and cold breakfast spread.

A private balloon safari is available at many of our recommended properties in the Maasai Mara. Starting just before dawn, you’ll enjoy a hot drink while watching the balloon slowly inflate at the launch site. Take off is around 6.00am as the sun rises over the plains, bringing the landscape into colourful life. The aerial views over the Maasai Mara are just magical, with the chance of seeing large herds of elephants, buffalo, and gazelles from above, as well as giraffes and zebras wandering the plains. Guests are amazed by how vast the savannah looks from this elevated angle, it’s a totally different perspective from a game drive in the Maasai Mara.

When you land there will be a table all set up with camp chairs and a tablecloth for the bush breakfast. The first thing you’ll get is a glass of Champagne – who doesn’t want some bubbly in the middle of the Maasai Mara? Then you’ll enjoy a hot and cold breakfast spread. Your pilot will join you to answer questions, share bush stories, and explain the history of ballooning in the Mara.

Take to the skies on a hot air balloon safari, where you’ll watch the sunrise over the Maasai Mara and get an aerial view of African wildlife.

Starting just before dawn from Mara Bushtops, you’ll watch the balloon slowly inflate at the launch site. Take off is as the sun rises over the plains, bringing the landscape into colourful life. The aerial views over the Maasai Mara are just magical, with the chance of seeing large herds of elephants, buffalo, and gazelles from above, as well as giraffes and zebras wandering the plains. Guests are amazed by how vast the savannah looks from this elevated angle, it’s a totally different perspective from a game drive in the Maasai Mara.

Upon landing you can enjoy a wonderful Champagne breakfast in the bush before either returning back to camp or heading off on a game drive.

Walking safaris offer guests a close encounter with animals in their natural habitat, as well as a chance to learn about the local flora and Maasai culture. You’ll be guided by one of the expert camp naturalists and a Maasai warrior, who’ll provide fascinating insights into Kenya’s wildlife and landscape. The safaris are accompanied by an armed Kenya Wildlife Service Ranger and followed closely by a vehicle. The walk starts directly from Mara Bushtops and takes you through the private conservancy on the edge of the Maasai Mara National Park. There are six different walking routes to choose between, from short leisure walks to more intense trails if you love the thrill of getting up close to animals. You’ll likely see giraffes, as well as herds of zebra, impala and elephants. There have even been occasional sightings of lions. Along the way, your guides will point out animal markings and droppings, you’ll also get to learn about the various medicinal trees and shrubs that the Maasai community has used for generations. One of the routes takes you to the historic Kakiya Cave, which is part of everyday Maasai tribal life and used for rituals, worship, preparing medicines and initiation ceremonies.

The walking safari with a Maasai warrior from Mara Bushtops

There’s plenty of adrenaline-pumping activities to try near Lake Naivasha, from climbing volcanoes to cycling through geothermal landscapes. If you like to hike, then climbing Mount Longonot, a dormant volcano in the Great Rift Valley is a must.

You’ll leave Loldia House at about 7am with a guide for the two-hour climb, which is slightly shorter on the way down. While it isn’t a difficult trek, you need to be aware of the altitude, which reaches 2,776 metres at the peak, and go slowly. At the summit of Mount Longonot, you can see right into the huge crater rim, which is filled with thick forest. 

Then, sit back with a picnic and take in views of Lake Naivasha and the Great Rift Valley, which is home to herds of buffalo and game, predators and lakes known for their huge flocks of flamingos. It’s a beautiful view and when guests return, they’re always excited to tell me about it. Loldia House also offers a popular day trip to Hell’s Gate National Park, which is special for its geothermal activity, including geysers and bubbling sulphur pools formed by volcanic activity. You’ll get the chance to cycle through this unusual landscape with a naturalist guide, who’ll teach you about the geological features, including the obsidian caves which were formed when molten lava and water collided. Along the way, you’ll spot wildlife such as baboons, vervet monkeys and sometimes even rare colobus monkeys.

Join a Samburu guide for a walking safari in Loisaba Conservancy, where you’ll encounter the local culture, plants and wildlife. The experience usually starts in the morning when it’s cooler and can last between one and four hours, depending on how much guests want to see. You’ll always be accompanied by an armed ranger for safety, as well as a guide from the local Samburu community who knows the area, animals and plants extremely well.

The Loisaba Conservancy is a fantastic landscape, it’s like a bowl with the camp set on an escarpment looking down over the valley. So, on this safari you get to transition through different vegetation zones. It’s a real contrast to a game drive, as you notice smaller things in the bush, from insects to animal dens and habitats. Walking safaris aren’t allowed in many parts of Kenya, so this is an incredible opportunity to get out, stretch your legs and explore with a member of the local community.

Along the way, you might see giraffes, zebras and elephants – even hippos if you pass by the dam. Your guide will investigate insects, animal footprints and explain the different plant species that are used locally. You feel really close to nature and can ask all kinds of questions about the Samburu way of life.

Join a guided bush walk to get up close to Tsavo’s nature and wildlife with a Maasai naturalist. Along the way you will be given a unique insight into the native flora and fauna and taught about the local  culture. The bush walk is completely different from a game drive because you’re on your feet and really immersed in the landscape.

The bush walks take place in the late afternoon and the length is tailored to suit each group’s preference. Guests usually enjoy sundowners afterwards with beautiful views over the plains. During the walk, you’ll stop to learn about the indigenous trees and plants the Maasai people use, often for medicine or to dye their clothes. You'll be helped to identify animal footprints. If it’s rainy season, you’ll also see colourful flowers in bloom.

There’s plenty of wildlife to spot, including crocodiles and hippos by the Sante River. You'll also be accompanied by a security guard. There are often elephants around camp and diverse bird species, including rare water thick-knees.

Don’t miss the chance to see the world’s last two northern white rhinos, as well as black rhinos and rescued chimps at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Located in Laikipia, the 90,000-acre conservancy was once a working cattle ranch in colonial times and is now a sanctuary for wildlife, including the Big Five. In fact, it has one of the highest densities of predators in Kenya and offers some of the country’s most exciting game drives.

The main draw at Ol Pejeta is definitely the rhinos. As the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, it offers sightings of these critically endangered animals. When the programme started in 1993, there were just 20 black rhinos in the park and now there are over 140. Ol Pejeta is also home to around 30 southern white rhinos, who, as a species have been brought back from the brink of extinction. In addition, there’s a unique opportunity to see the world’s two remaining northern white rhinos, who live in a 700-acre enclosure that’s guarded around the clock.

Next visit the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary. When the Burundi Rescue Centre had to close in 1993 because of civil war, Ol Pejeta stepped in to save the animals. Chimps aren’t native to Kenya and this is the only place in the country where you’ll see them. Partly established by the Jane Goodall Institute, Sweetwaters is home to 35 rescue chimps who roam around a 300-acre area by the river, returning to enclosures to feed and sleep.