A 9 day safari combining wildlife, local culture and the beach. 

All stays are purposefully in small exclusive camps and lodges so that you can be in touch with the environment and the people. You’ll visit 2 of the most famous wildlife reserves in Africa, Amboseli famous for its elephants and views of Kilimanjaro and the Maasai Mara famous for its big cats and wildebeest migration. Throughout your safari you’ll have opportunities to enjoy meeting the Maasai people and learning about their culture. Then on to the historic Swahili island of Lamu and the small lodge of Kipungani Explorer, overlooking a deserted 14 km beach on the south-western tip of the island. The initial transfer to/from Porini Camp Selenkay will be by road, a 3 hour journey from Nairobi, and after that all other transfers will be by plane to give you a birds eye view of the stunning landscape.

You’re safari begins in Nairobi, from where you’ll be transferred by road to Porini Camp Selenkay. The Selenkay Conservancy, 1500 feet lower than Nairobi, is located in a vast wilderness area in the heart of Maasailand near Amboseli National Park and is owned by a Maasai community. Here you will be really off the beaten track in an area which has not been visited by tourists until recently and where visitor numbers are restricted to a maximum of 18, so you will not see any other safari vehicles. Game drives at Porini Camp Selenkay (and later at Porini Mara Camp) are in custom-built open-sided 4x4 safari vehicles (not vans), and driven by expert safari guides for the best game viewing. Selenkay actually has a greater diversity of game than Amboseli itself - look out for gerenuk, oryx and lesser kudu - and on our night game drives you can see the nocturnal wildlife. 

Within the Conservation Area the following animals have been seen in recent months: elephant, lion, cheetah, Thomson's and Grant's gazelles, gerenuk, impala, oryx, lesser kudu, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, warthog, striped hyena, jackals, bat-eared fox, African wild cat, serval cat, civet cat, genet cat, mongoose, ostrich, honey badger and porcupine. Birdlife is prolific especially birds of prey. You also spend a day in nearby Amboseli to get close to elephants, driving beside the permanent swamps that attract the wildlife, and with spectacular views of Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest mountain. 

And then on to the fabled Mara. The new Porini Mara Camp is situated along the lush banks of the Laetoli River, lined with majestic Yellow-barked Acacia trees. The camp lies within the newly founded Ol Kinyei Conservancy - a tract of pristine wilderness just outside the Maasai Mara reserve, which is considered to be one of the most scenic parts of the Mara / Serengeti ecosystem, and where you can do walks and night drives. As it is a private conservancy like Selenkay, you won't see any other safari vehicles. 

The Conservancy is full of wildlife on every scale; elephant, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, eland, topi, kongoni, impala, hyena, jackal, cheetah, leopard - a pride of 24 lions is just one family of these magnificent cats that roam the area near the camp. You will also have a full day in the Maasai Mara reserve. Then on to Kipungani Explorer to enjoy the magnificent Indian Ocean coast and the local Swahili culture. Fourteen spacious and secluded chalets sit above the soft white sands of Kipungani Bay, which is Swahili for ‘the place of fresh air’. Shaded by the palm trees that line the 600 m beachfront, the chalets are constructed entirely from local materials, with mkeka matting floors and makuti thatch roofs woven by the residents of neighbouring Kipungani Village. The large interiors are a picture of rustic simplicity, with giant king-size beds and all furniture handmade from local mangrove and palm woods. 

Each chalet has an ocean-facing verandah with local funzi sofas and chairs piled high with colourful cushions. Just relax and enjoy the surroundings or take advantage of the many activities such as, snorkeling and diving on the reefs, windsurfing, creek or deep sea fishing, sailing aboard our own dhow, bird walks, visiting Lamu’s historic mosques, markets and museums, visiting the ancient ruined forts of Manda Island, or visiting the neighbours in Kipungani Village. Kipungani is a dream destination for those seeking a true desert island holiday with a spice of culture.

Day-by-day itinerary

 

Day 1:	Transfer by road from Nairobi to Porini Camp Selenkay-Amboseli, arriving for lunch. Afternoon escorted walk with Maasai warriors to visit a Maasai village, gaining an insight into their way of life. Sundowners and night drive in the Conservancy. Dinner and overnight, Porini Camp Selenkay.
Day 2:	Early breakfast, drive through Selenkay Conservation Area and into Amboseli National Park for close viewing of elephant in particular and a full morning of game drives with picnic lunch. We return to Porini Camp in the afternoon. Evening game drive in Selenkay, sundowner and night drive. Overnight Porini Camp Selenkay.
Day 3:	Brief early morning game drive, breakfast and then transfer by road to Nairobi for lunch at the Carnivore restaurant. Transfer to Wilson airport and fly to the Maasai Mara for 2 nights at the recently opened Porini Mara Camp in Ol Kinyei Conservancy, a private wilderness area on Maasai community land. Afternoon game drive and walk, sundowners and night drive. Dinner and overnight Porini Mara.
Day 4:	A full day in the Maasai Mara, with a picnic lunch, on the look out for the big cats which Maasai Mara is famous. Overnight Porini Mara camp.
Day 5:	Early morning game drive, breakfast and fly back to Nairobi, arriving 12.15 at Wilson Airport in time to connect to the 13.15 flight to Manda Island. You will be met by staff and transported by boat to the lodge. Overnight Kipungani Explorer.
Day 6:	Full day in and around Lamu and Manda Islands. Overnight Kipungani.
Day 7:	Full day to spend as you choose. Take advantage of the many activities and local visits available or just relax and enjoy the surroundings. Overnight Kipungani.
Day 8:	Full day to spend as you choose and overnight Kipungani.
Day 9:	Transfer to Manda Island for the 16.00 flight back to Nairobi, arriving Wilson Airport at 17.45.

 

This trip can be tailormade to create a unique holiday for your individual requirements by travel experts with intimate knowledge of the destination. It is a more luxurious trip that will suit those who enjoy immersing themselves in new cultures and environments before relaxing in comfort in some of the best and most characterful local accommodation! Quality and value are the hallmark of these trips.