Oct 4 Today we head out for a short afternoon tour of Nairobi. Situated in the Central Highlands at an altitude of 6,130 feet (1,870 metres), Nairobi enjoys a mild climate. On our driving tour of the city and its surroundings we will see Uhuru Park, Kenya's Parliament House, the Kenyatta Conference Centre, City Square and some of Nairobi's nicest suburbs. We visit the Kenya National Museum with our guide to learn about Kenya's wildlife, geology and human history. First of 2 nights in Nairobi. Nairobi Safari Park Hotel or similar. Dinner

Today we travel into the foothills of the Ngong Hills outside the city. We shall vist the 'Sheldrake National Trust'- a sanctuary for orphaned elephants and the the Karen Blixen Museum, the farmhouse where the author of Out of Africa lived. Later we visit the Langata Giraffe Centre to learn about these extraordinary animals. We have an opportunity to hand feed giraffes from a tall wooden platform. Second of 2 nights in Nairobi. Nairobi Safari Park or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

This morning we drive down into the Great Rift Valley. Crossing the valley we make our way to Kenya's premier wildlife park - the Masai Mara. This is the northern section of the Serengeti Plain, which is home to the greatest concentration of game animals in the world. First of 3 nights in the Masai Mara. Sarova Mara Game Camp or similar. Breakfast Lunch & Dinner

The vast, open grasslands of the Serengeti-Mara are home to over 3 million large mammals. These include over 1.4 million wildebeest which migrate in an enormous, straggling herd each year between the southern part of the Serengeti to the northern part and back again.. On our morning and afternoon game drives in the Masai Mara we have a very good chance of seeing all the major Plains animals including lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, rhino, hyena, cheetah, jackal, warthog and many species of antelope. Second of 3 nights in the Masai Mara. Sarova Mara Game Camp or similar. B, L & D.

We continue to explore this miraculous area on our morning and afternoon game drives. This is one of the most spectacular sights in the world. Today we also encounter and learn about the Masai, a proud tribal people struggling to preserve their traditions in the face of modernisation. At sunset we will visit a section of the Mara River where we hope to see many hippos. Third of 3 nights in the Masai Mara. Sarova Mara Game Camp or similar. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

This morning we leave the open grasslands of the Masai Mara and descend into the Great Rift Valley again. Driving north along the Great Rift Valley we come to Lake Naivasha. This afternoon we take a boat trip on Lake Naivasha out to Crescent Island, where we take a short walking safari. Overnight at Lake Navaisha Lodge Breakfast & Dinner.

This morning and afternoon we take game drives in Lake Nakuru National Park.- famous for its flocks of over one million Flamingoes. As well as seeing many large game animals such as zebras, elephants and gazelles, this is one of our best chances of seeing rhinos. Lake Nakuru National Park was the first place in Kenya selected as a rhino reserve. Here is one of the few places where we can see Rothschild=s giraffes. Overnight at the Lake Nakuru Lodge or similar. B L & D

This morning we ascend the Nyandarua Escarpment from the Great Rift Valley and visit Thomson Falls. The lush hills of Aberdare National Park are covered by Kenya=s densest forest and form the eastern flank of the Great Rift Valley. We leave our main luggage at the base hotel and continue with just our overnight bags to one of the famous "tree hotels", deep in the Aberdares Forest. A special feature of the lodge where we stay is the floodlit watering hole where we can watch from the lodge itself throughout the night as the animals come down to drink. In the morning we hope to have spectacular views towards jagged outline of Mount Kenya. Overnight at the Ark Hotel or similar. B & D.

Driving north we pass Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest mountain at 17,000 feet (5,199 metres). This is also the traditional homeland of the Kikuyu people, the largest of Kenya's 70 recognised tribes. The Kikuyu believe that their god, Ngai, lives on Mount Kenya and so they build their homes with the doors facing towards the mountain, to welcome their god in. We cross the Equator again into the northern hemisphere on our way to Samburu Game Reserve in a semi-desert area of Kenya. Samburu is located on the Ewaso Nyiro River.. This afternoon we take a game drive in the park. First of 2 nights in Samburu. Samburu Game Lodge or similar. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Early morning and afternoon game drives in Samburu Game Reserve, Ololokwe Table Mountain forms a dramatic backdrop to our game viewing today. Samburu is also home to the third of Kenya=s giraffe species - the Reticulated Giraffe. This is also our best chance to see the blue-legged Somali Ostrich, the long-necked Gerenuk gazelle and the straight-horned Beisa Oryx antelope. Second of 2 nights in Samburu. Samburu Game Lodge or similar. B L & D

We drive south from Samburu to the Equator and the slopes of Mount Kenya.. Here we stay at the Sweetwaters Game Reserve. This very special 23,000 acre wildlife sanctuary was originally established to protect and breed highly-endangered Black Rhinos. In 1994 the Jane Goodall Institute established the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary within the game reserve and moved a large group of chimps here from the unstable situation in their native West Africa. This afternoon we have a game drive in the reserve and tour the Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Overnight at Sweetwaters Camp. B, L & D

This morning we drive back to Nairobi. This afternoon is free. Overnight in Nairobi. Nairobi Safari Park Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Dinner

This morning we drive from Nairobi south to Amboseli National Park, right on the border with Tanzania. Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest mountain at 19,340 feet (5,895 metres). Although it is situated inside Tanzania, the best views of the mountain are from Amboseli on the Kenyan side of the border. This afternoon we enjoy a game drive in majestic Amboseli. Overnight in Amboseli. Ol Tukai Lodge or similar. Breakfast and Dinner.

This morning we enjoy a game drive in Amboseli National Park. The park is particularly famous for its huge herds of elephants which take on a red colour from the dust they coat themselves in. This afternoon we travel east from the flat plains and swamps of Amboseli to Tsavo West National Park. Outside the park gates are the Shetani Lava Flow, "frozen" rivers of molten black rock twisted in bizarre shapes. The Mzima Springs are the source of the freshwater pools much favoured by hippos and crocodiles. There is even a glass wall for viewing the pools from under the water line. Our lodge overlooks a watering hole where we can observe many animals coming down to drink at dusk and in the early morning. Overnight in Tsavo West. Kilaguni Serena Lodge or similar. B L & D

From Tsavo we drive south to the Taita Hills Game Sanctuary, a private game reserve of 42,000. This afternoon we shall have a game drive in the fertile hills of the Tatia Hills reserve. Overnight in the Taita Hills area. Salt Lick Lodge or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

This morning we drive further east from the interior of Africa to the Indian Ocean Coast, we pass through a spectacular panorama on our way to Mombassa. After settling into our beachfront hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to relax and enjoy the soft sands and warm waters of the turquoise Indian Ocean. First of 2 nights in Mombassa. Whitesands Beach Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

After a relaxed morning at the beach, we begin our exploration of Mombassa and Kenya's Indian Ocean Coast. The town of Mombassa is situated on an island on the southern coast of Kenya. It is the oldest town in Kenya and is the largest port on the coast of East Africa with a history going back 2,000 years. With such a long and rich history it is not surprising that there is much to see in the old section of town. Most of the buildings here were constructed during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries when Mombassa was a major trading centre at the height of its power. Many of the streets in the Old Town are too narrow for cars and the buildings here are known for their elaborately carved wooden doors decorated with brass studs. We will also see the Old Law Court, several mosques and The Leven House which was once the headquarters of the British East Africa Company. The highlight of a visit to old Mombassa is the enormous Fort Jesus. Built in 1593 by the Portuguese, it dominates the entrance to the Old Harbour and is positioned so that, even under siege, it was still possible to bring supplies in from the sea.. Inside, we see the so-called Omani House and visit the Museum, Second of 2 nights in Mombassa. Whitesands Beach Hotel or similar.B & D