East Africa Hemingway Safari

16 Days 15 Nights

Your journey begins with a warm welcome at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where a representative greets you and transfers you to Ngong House, a uniquely styled, serene sanctuary tucked away in the leafy suburbs of Karen. Here, you ease into the rhythm of East Africa over a delicious dinner and spend a peaceful night nestled among the treetops.

The next morning, after a fresh breakfast, you are transferred to Wilson Airport to board a scheduled flight to Ol Donyo Lodge, nestled in the pristine Amboseli-Tsavo ecosystem beneath the Chyulu Hills. Upon landing, you are whisked away to the lodge for a welcoming lunch, followed by an afternoon game drive across private concessions where elephants roam against the breathtaking, distant silhouette of Mount Kilimanjaro before returning for dinner under the stars.

The third and fourth days unfold in the striking volcanic landscapes of the Chyulu Hills. Morning and afternoon shared game drives allow you to explore this ancient wilderness, tracking unique wildlife and enjoying guided activities. Each day is punctuated by gourmet meals and luxurious relaxation at Ol Donyo, where the timeless beauty of the plains takes center stage.

On day five, you fly back through Wilson Airport and head north to the rugged Laikipia Plateau, checking into Loisaba Lodge. Perched high on the edge of a golden boma, the lodge offers expansive views of Kenya’s northern frontier. After lunch, an afternoon game drive introduces you to Laikipia’s thriving wildlife, including rare species like the wild dog and Grevy’s zebra. Days six and seven are spent deeply immersed in this private conservancy, balancing classic game drives with bespoke lodge activities before settling in each evening for exceptional dinners and stargazing.

After breakfast on day eight, your safari takes you south as you fly via Nanyuki to the legendary Maasai Mara National Reserve. You arrive at Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp, a property that beautifully channels the golden era of exploration with authentic canvas tents and vintage luxury. After lunch, you set out on an afternoon game drive into a wildlife-rich private concession, returning to camp for a refined dinner by lantern light.

Days nine and ten are dedicated to the unmatched wildlife spectacles of the Maasai Mara. Shared morning and afternoon game drives take you across rolling savannahs teeming with massive prides of lions, elegant cheetahs, and vast herds of herbivores. Between drives, you enjoy the elegant hospitality of Cottar’s, stepping back in time while enjoying modern luxury in the heart of the wild.

On the eleventh morning, you enjoy a final game drive and breakfast before embarking on a multi-leg flight via Wilson and Kilimanjaro airports to cross into Tanzania. By late afternoon, you arrive at the edge of the world’s largest intact caldera, checking into the dramatic Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. Day twelve allows you to fully experience this spectacular region, pairing breathtaking views from the crater rim with exceptional estate-style hospitality and fine dining.

On day thirteen, you drive to the Lake Manyara airstrip for a light aircraft flight into the Serengeti ecosystem, landing in the exclusive Grumeti Reserve or Klein’s Camp area. Settling into the luxurious safari style of Sabora Tented Camp or Klein’s Camp, you enjoy a fresh lunch and head out for an afternoon game drive across wide-open plains that host some of the most dramatic predator-prey interactions on earth.

Days fourteen and fifteen offer an unstructured immersion into the heart of the Serengeti. Morning and afternoon game drives track the vast horizons, seeking out sweeping herds of wildebeest, leopards draped in acacia trees, and cheetahs scanning the plains from rocky kopjes. Each evening, you return to your luxury camp to share stories over dinner as the nocturnal sounds of the Serengeti come alive.

Your grand African journey concludes on day sixteen. After a final breakfast on the plains, you fly from the Serengeti via Arusha and Kilimanjaro back to Nairobi. You are transferred to the Ole Sereni Hotel for a relaxing dayroom experience, allowing you to freshen up, pack your bags, and watch wildlife one last time over Nairobi National Park before your evening transfer to the airport for your onward international flight home.