The Great Kenya Migration Safari

Our Kenya safari begins in Nairobi, with a transfer from the airport to our boutique hotel in the quiet residential suburb of Karen on the outskirts of the city. This area at the foot of the Ngong Hills is named for Danish author Karen Blixen, also known by her pen name Isak Dinesen, who wrote the famous memoir Out of Africa chronicling her life on a Kenyan coffee plantation in the early 20th century. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with our Expedition Leader and a preview of our safari adventures ahead.

Transfer to the airport for our flight to the famed Maasai Mara. Our first safari destination is a vast private conservancy offering unparalleled access to wildlife viewing. Nat Hab's own mobile camp features bush luxury in classic canvas tents, surrounded by all the natural wonders of the Maasai Mara ecosystem without the crowds. The conservancy model has been a boon to the region's legendary wildlife, creating buffer zones and protecting migration corridors while providing economic benefits to local landowners through responsible safari tourism.

On this private reserve, we experience the Mara’s spectacular wildlife in peaceful solitude, and our camp is one of just a handful located within its bounds. Strict limits on guest numbers mean unprecedented wildlife viewing without crowds, especially of the wildebeest migration that occurs in close proximity. The conservancy serves as a migration corridor for several hundred thousand animals between the Maasai Mara National Reserve and the Loita Plains to the east. A multitude of species flourishes here: great herds of antelope dot the grassy, rolling plains while stands of acacia woodland shelter prolific birdlife. Rich volcanic soils nurture a verdant landscape where we find more lions per square mile than anywhere else in Kenya. Impressive herds of elephant, giraffe and zebra also reside here. Our activities make the most of our unrivaled access to this vast, wild region. In addition to daily game drives, enjoy guided walks, bush picnics, off-road safaris and night drives in search of nocturnal wildlife—pursuits not permitted in the national reserve.

Scouting for prolific wildlife en route, transfer to the Maasai Mara National Reserve for another exhilarating vantage point on the wildebeest migration. The Mara is the northern portion of the Serengeti Plains, and we find excellent wildlife viewing in these endless grasslands. The reserve is named for the Maasai tribespeople, the traditional inhabitants of the area who still graze cattle here, and the Mara River that runs through it.

We stay at Nat Hab's Migration Camp, our private luxury mobile camp in an exclusive setting near the Mara River where wildebeest cross during the migration. Deluxe canvas tents are situated in a secluded spot, with ample trees providing shade from the midday sun. Located in a wildlife hotspot, our campsite also provides easy access to the rest of the reserve, including the main river systems. Wildlife drives take us among myriad plains game—not only the thundering herds of thousands of wildebeest and their zebra companions, but also gazelle, impala, hartebeest, topi and giraffe. Predators follow in close pursuit, and the Mara is especially famed for its lions—we may see them hunting in the early morning or evening, or resting beneath acacia trees in the heat of the day. Hyenas also patrol the plains in some of the largest numbers in Africa. Optional hot air balloon safaris with a champagne breakfast upon landing are also available (additional cost) during our stay at Nat Hab's Migration Camp.

Fly back to Nairobi today, where day rooms await for refreshment and relaxation. Later, we'll share a farewell meal to close our Kenya safari tour before evening departures for international destinations.