CLASSIC KENYA
8-Day Private Conservation Safari: Ol Pejeta & Masai Mara
We’ve personally (and very critically) vetted every lodge on this route for their quality, conservation credentials, and ethical standards. This is Kenya at its most honest — and its most extraordinary.
A private, conservation focused safari to Kenya and an animal-lovers immersion into wilderness areas that are abundant in wildlife. As well as visiting the last two Northern White Rhinos in the world, be prepared to surround yourself with lions, elephants, giraffe, leopard, rhino and so much more.
YOUR ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
1 NIGHT AT 254 OLE SERENI HOTEL, NAIROBI
3 NIGHTS THE SAFARI COTTAGES, OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY
3 NIGHTS SERIAN THE ORIGINAL, MASAI MARA
YOUR SAFARI. THEIR FUTURE.
MEASURING YOUR IMPACT
These two locations and lodges have been hand selected by Kat & Laura after years of working closely with them and witnessing the fantastic conservation work they are doing first hand. Here’s how you are making a difference…
SUPPORTING CONSERVATION
15-18% of this trip is conservation fees which go directly toward sustaining wilderness areas and funding vital conservation work in Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the Mara North Conservancy, including the Northern White Rhinos, cared for in Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy
SUPPORTING PEOPLE
These small, independent properties pay fair wages and only employ local people; your tourism dollars support their families so your visit is literally putting food on people’s tables.
OUR PLEDGE
We donate 10% of the profit from every trip to the conservation projects you visit during your safari. In this case we’re providing additional funding to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy and The Pangolin Project.
ITINERARY IN DETAIL
Day 1
Arrival day
Karibu Kenya!!! You will arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and be met by a driver who will drive you just 15 minutes to the 254 Ole Sereni Hotel. Your stay here is on a bed and breakfast basis and, though the Ole Sereni is a humble hotel, you won’t find a better breakfast spread in the whole country!!
Day 2
After breakfast this morning you will meet your driver in the hotel lobby at 8AM and begin your drive up to Laikipia for your Ol Pejeta Conservancy safari.
**Top tip: ask for a takeaway and pack some extra chapatis and mahumri for the journey
The drive is around 4-5hrs and takes you out of the city, through farmland and forest before emerging onto the expansive Laikipia Plateau. There is a curio shop with a cafe and clean toilets around half way on your journey.
You will meet your private guide from The Safari Cottages at the entrance gate to Ol Pejeta Conservancy and enjoy your first game drive enroute to your bush home for next few days. After settling in and a delicious lunch you can rest in the camp and enjoy a drink around the campfire when the sun dips below the horizon, or head out for your first afternoon game drive!
Travel to Laikipia
Days 3 & 4
Private safari on Ol Pejeta Conservancy
You have a private vehicle and dedicated guide so you can enjoy activities at your own pace here. But here’s a daily schedule we’d recommend:
6AM: your private Kenya safari begins! You’ll wake up and enjoy a cup of freshly brewed Kenyan coffee on your verandah, watching the sun rise and perhaps practising yoga whilst you do (yoga mats are provided in the rooms).
7AM: depart for your morning game drive to see what animals and excitement await you on the plains today. You’ll have a picnic breakfast packed so your guide will find a safe place to stop when you feel peckish and you can enjoy your breakfast in the African bush.
*A visit to see the last two Northern White Rhinos in Kenya is included in this trip and we feel it’s an important part of understanding Ol Pejeta’s work, mission and spirit. You can choose which morning you’d like for this activity.
1PM: Return “home” and enjoy a relaxing lunch and some down time; have a nap, read your book, journal or practice yoga.
4.30PM: Head out for an afternoon game drive and a sundowner; a much loved safari tradition of stopping somewhere on the plains to watch the sunset whilst you enjoy a favourite drink and a snack. You’ll return home in the dark with a spotlight - keep your eyes peeled for leopards prowling through the shadows!
8PM: Dinner and stargazing by the fire before bed.
Day 5
Journey to The Masai Mara
After breakfast this morning the Ol Pejeta Conservancy safari portion of your trip comes to an end; you’ll get packed up and driven to the local airstrip to meet your late-morning flight to the Masai Mara, Mara North Conservancy. Local flights run on loose timings and often change the day you travel but not to worry, your camp manager is in touch with your airline and will make sure you are where you need to be when your plane touches down. Most flights from Nanyuki will go directly to the Masai Mara, but sometimes they will go via Nairobi too in low season. In any case you should hopefully be settled in at the stunning Serian Camp in Mara North Conservancy in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive on the famous plains of the Masai Mara.
Just like Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages, you will have private game drives in the Masai Mara, so whilst you will dine with other guests in camp your safari activities are run on your own terms.
After a game drive and a sundowner you’ll head back from a drink around the fire and social dinner on the deck.
Days 6 & 7
Get your fill of wildlife game driving in the Masai Mara
We really couldn’t think of a better combination for people want to see a LOT of wildlife and an incredible diversity too. This area is famed for its big cats and, on your Masai Mara private game drives, hopefully you’ll spots a leopard or two and maybe even a cheetah. If you travel between July and October you’ll also likely witness the great migration: one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, when millions of wildebeest and zebra travel from Tanzania’s Northern Serengeti to Kenya’s Masai Mara.
You’ll spend your mornings out and about on safari, stopping for a picnic breakfast in the bush and returning to camp in the midday heat to rest, just like our animal friends, before embarking on an afternoon game drive and sundowner. There’s so much to see - make sure you bring lots of spare memory cards for your camera!
The Pangolin Project is based very near to Serian and is one of the projects we are supporting with this trip. Visits are permitted on request and at an extra cost, but please let us know if you’d like us to arrange this very special experience for you. **Pangolin sightings are not guaranteed.
Day 8
Your 8-day Kenya safari comes to its end today. You’ll bid farewell to the wild open plains of Africa and be assisted onto your local flight to Nairobi Wilson Airport. You’ll land around lunchtime then be met by your driver who will transfer you to Jomo Kenyatta Airport to meet your international flight home. If you land a little early don’t worry, we can book a lovely restaurant for you for lunch before you head to the airport.
We hope you leave Kenya as transformed and inspired by this magical land and it’s deep connection to the earth as we are every time we return.
Home. With a full heart.
COSTS (PER ADULT SHARING)
LOW SEASON - APPROX $7,250 per person · High season - APPROX $8,300 · Includes accommodation, all meals, private vehicle & guide, local flightsThese are estimate prices based on travel in 2026 and the final price may vary. Contact us to check availability for you and send you an accurate price for you travels dates. Children U12 are approx. half price.
INCLUSIONS
Accommodation in a Cosy Room + breakfast at Ole Sereni Hotel (we always request park view rooms for our guests but these can never be guaranteed)
Accommodation, meals and drinks (tea, coffee and a selection of wines, beers and liquor) at The Safari Cottages and Serian, The Original
Private vehicle and guide at The Safari Cottages (activities included: game drives (night and day), picnics, sundowners, optional visit to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary + a visit to The Northern White Rhinos, Kenya
Private vehicle and guide at Serian (activities include: game drives (night and day) and bush walks
All local flights and road transfers as mentioned on this itinerary
EXCLUSIONS
Activities, transfers or local flights not mentioned in this itinerary
International flights or visas
Any additional accommodation required beyond what is outlined
Travel insurance (required)
You’ll need a 30% deposit to secure your booking, and the final payment will be due 3 months prior to the start of your trip.
How It Works
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Browse our Kenya safari itineraries until you find one you like. (All these itineraries and lodges have been personally vetted by us so you know your time and money is being spent not only on the best experiences but also on ethical, conservation-focused providers.)
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Drop us a line when you find a trip that resonates, and let us know your available travel dates, the number of people in your group and any other info you’d like to share. We’ll do our best to get back to you within 24hrs and then we’ll get to work on making your trip happen! We email the camps for availability over your dates and their up-to-date pricing.
Top tip: you can always add or remove nights if you want to stay longer - turn your 8 day Kenya safari into a 10-day trip! Just let us know.
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We’ll send you dates and an accurate price for trip based on seasonal price fluctuations, the number of people in your party and any minor logistical changes that need to be made. You have a week to review it and come back to us with questions or changes you’d like to make whilst we hold your booking free of charge.
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You’ll send us a 30% deposit which we’ll use to secure all your bookings as per your itinerary. Then you can get to work on booking your international flights and sorting out your travel documents (visas, health certificates etc).
Your final payment is due 3 months prior to the start of your trip. We will send you a reminder and schedule a pre-travel call with you.
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Now all that's left to do is pack your bags and you adventure begins!!!
We’ll provide you with a list of on-the-ground emergency contact numbers so you feel supported and have a pre-travel call with you to make sure you have all you need before you fly.
