YRL12N: Meru + Samburu + Mount Kenya + Maasai Mara + Lamu

Day 1

You will be met at Nairobi Airport and transferred to your hotel in this bustling city.

Check in after midday and relax by the hotel swimming pool in your warm and friendly African surroundings.

Day 2

This morning transfer to Nairobi Airport for your light aircraft flight to Meru National Park.

Check into your lodge and enjoying an afternoon game drive in this great forest reserve with views of Mount Kenya.

Day 3

Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives today in Meru National Reserve.

Covering an area of over 87,000 hectares, this is one of Kenya's lesser known national parks and was one of two areas in which conservationists George Adamson and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the lioness, made famous in the book and award winning movie Born Free. Elsa is buried in this park and part of Joy's ashes were scattered on her gravesite.

Pippa the cheetah was also released in this park.

Day 4
After some final game viewing in Meru National Park, today transfer overland to Samburu National Reserve.

Relax amongst the dramatic arid landscapes of the Great Rift Valley, before setting out for a wonderful game drive in Samburu in the late afternoon.

Day 5

Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives today in Samburu National Reserve, one of the two reserves in which conservationists Joy and George Adamson raised Elsa the lioness, made famous in the book and award winning movie Born Free.

Situated in the hot and arid northern region of Kenya, this reserve is located within the tribal lands of the colourful and semi-nomadic Samburu people, who are close relatives of the Maasai. The reserve is home to a variety of wildlife found only north of the equator - including Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx and gerenuk.

Large populations of crocodiles and hippo can be seen in the broad Ewaso Ngiro River that runs through the park and you can also hope to see elephant, lion, cheetah, gerenuk, buffalo, grants gazelle, dikdik and waterbuck as well as over 350 bird species.

Day 6

Enjoy another early morning game drive in Samburu National Reserve today, before your overland transfer to the Mount Kenya area.

On arrival relax at your lodge within sight of magnificent Mount Kenya. Mount Kenya National Park has been declared a World Heritage site because of its sensitive flora and fauna.

Day 7

Today visit the Sweetwaters Wildlife Sanctuary, a 23,000 acre private game reserve that was originally established to protect and breed endangered black rhinos.

Subsequently the Jane Goodall Institute established the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary within this game reserve to care for a large group of chimpanzees moved here from unstable conditions in their native West Africa. Enjoy a game drive on the reserve, which is home to several rare species including the besia oryx and the reticulated giraffe.

Day 8

Today transfer to Nanyuki Airport for your light aircraft flight to the Maasai Mara National Park, named after the Maasai people and the Mara River, which divides the park.

Maasai Mara National Park is famous for its exceptional population of game and the annual migration of zebra and wildebeest from the adjoining Serengeti National Park, which occurs every year from July to October, when these ungainly animals migrate along a circular route from the plains of the Serengeti to the pastures of the Maasai Mara and back again in search of fresh pasture followed by hungry predators - most notably lions and hyena.

After checking in to your lodge, enjoy a late afternoon game drive into this magnificent wildlife sanctuary.

Day 9

Today is dedicated to game viewing in the world famous Maasai Mara National Park.

Nestled within the enormous Great Rift Valley, Maasai Mara National Park is famous for its lions and abundant wildebeest, which number over one million. All the Big Five can be seen as well as numerous other species including gazelle, impala, topi, hartebeest, roan antelope, hippo and huge herds of zebra and giraffe. The nocturnal bat-eared fox, rarely found elsewhere in Kenya, and the spotted hyena also inhabit this park, as well as the endangered cheetah and black rhino. Bird watching is also outstanding with over 450 different species including the vulture, marabou stork, secretary bird, hornbill, crowned crane, ostrich, long-crested eagle and African pygmy-falcon. The terrain is primarily open grassland and seasonal riverlets, with most game concentrated around the swampy ground on its western border.

Set off early each morning, when game viewing conditions are at their best, to view the abundant wildlife of the Maasai Mara region. Return to the lodge to rest in the heat of the day, before setting off again in the late afternoon for another game drive.

Day 10

After a final early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara, transfer to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Nairobi Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Nairobi Airport and transferred to your light aircraft flight to Lamu Island.

Check in to your hotel and relax in your spectacular East African island surroundings.

Days 11-12

At leisure to relax and enjoy a wonderful East African beach holiday, within easy reach of the historic town of Lamu.

Enjoy sunbathing on the long palm fringed sandy beaches, or snorkelling in the warm Indian Ocean where dolphins and turtles are often seen. Dhow sunset cruises can be booked at your hotel, as well as spa treatments and walking or cycling excursions. Dik dik, bushbuck, porcupines, bushbabies and genets also roam free.

A wide variety of Water Sports are available, which vary by resort but usually include windsurfing, water skiing, canoes, sailing and kayaking. Deep Sea Fishing is also popular from September to April, with February and March usually the best months for Marlin.

Each evening enjoy a deliciously prepared meal under sparkling African skies!

Day 13

Today you will be transferred to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Nairobi Airport and flight home.