Kenya's bush to beach adventure

Stroll through the dusty streets of downtown Nairobi with ex-street kids Kissmart, Donga and Cheddaz. These three ‘street kids’ grew up in Mathare, one of Nairobi's biggest slums. They used to hang around Central Business District (CBD) begging, stealing, smuggling and dealing. Now they share their street skills with you on a tour of CBD! Thanks to this tour, the boys can create a better life for themselves, their families and the new generation of street children from their slum. The boys show you where they slept as children, what the escape routes from the police were, and they tell you all about the time they spent in jail. Be prepared for a lot of hot stories, bizarre encounters, lots of high fives, fat dances and, above all, a lot of fun. And don't worry, with these guys around you are safe anyway!

Mount Kenya - the roof of Kenya -, is Africa's second-highest mountain at almost 5,200 metres. A beautiful green jungle can be found around the country's highest peak. The area is home to waterfalls, colourful birds, colobus monkeys and sometimes even forest elephants. Anyway, with the spectacular views of the green hills, vast valleys and the snow-capped peak of Mount Kenya, this is not a wrong place to spend some time!

Vandaag hebben jullie nog een hele dag in de groene omgeving van Mount Kenya dus maak lekker een korte of lange wandeling met een gids. Hij kent alle geheimen van het woud en leidt jullie langs kleurrijke vogels, colobusapen en misschien zelfs een bosolifant. Tijdens jullie hike door de bush gaan jullie daarnaast op zoek naar watervallen. 

Descend into the Rift Valley and drive between the yellow-gold acacia trees as if you were in an eternal sunset. In the afternoon, a sunset boat safari is scheduled on nearby Lake Naivasha. The shores are home to all sorts of wildlife: giraffes, waterbucks, zebras, buffaloes, wildebeest,.... Don't forget to bring coolers and purchased snacks on board and then: spot away!

Have a hearty breakfast as an active day is scheduled: Cycling through Hell's Gate National Park! Does the unique landscape look familiar to you? Remember when Mufasa was overrun by wildebeests being chased by hyenas in the Lion King? Hell's Gate was the inspiration for this scene! Fortunately, Simba and his friends are not actually running around here and you can cycle and walk around in peace. You'll spot giraffes, gazelles, buffalo and warthogs, among others, from the bike, while zebras will run with you. And all with spectacular steep cliffs and rock formations as a backdrop. In between, you take an adventurous hike through the gorge created by lava rivers from two volcanoes.

Time for plenty of Masai culture. Milking cows, counting goats and fetching water are daily activities you might be able to help with. Food is included but it's good to know that the Masai are not the best chefs.... So don't have too high expectations of the food, although it will be prepared for you with love. At and around Mt Suswa, you can't get bored. For instance, you can cruise around on the back of a motorbike between the inner and outer crater and bring out the caving enthusiast in yourself in one of the rocks. The highlight, however, is the hike to the top! This hike takes about 5-6 hours. Masai will walk with you, so along the way you can ask all kinds of questions about the area and daily life here.

After part 1 of the trip, return to Nairobi to catch your breath. Explore the city further via one of the city tours, or explore on your own and choose one of the many great places to have lunch and enjoy the surroundings.

Are you ready for what might just be one of the coolest activities organised by Charlie's Travels in Kenya?! A motor safari across the vast savannah of Amboseli National Park. This is an adventure that will forever be etched in your memory—one of the most thrilling experiences you might ever have. Riding pillion with the Kilimanjaro as your backdrop, you’ll zoom past wildlife freely roaming between Amboseli National Park (no fences) and the surrounding areas. Expect to spot zebras, giraffes, buffalos, wildebeests, and elephants as you conquer the dusty plains of the savannah. Kicking up dust and spotting wildlife—let the adventure begin!

In Lumo Conservancy, it’s not just about breathtaking views—it’s also about supporting the local community! Infrastructure, education, and healthcare are all improved thanks to the revenue generated by the conservancy funds. Nice! That’s what we call responsible safari travel! The rules here are a bit more relaxed, as you’re in a conservancy. This means you’re not tied to specific opening and closing times, and you’ll experience far less of the ‘mass safari tourism’ compared to the national parks.

Welcome to the Taita Hills, the land of the Taita-Taveta tribe! Over one hundred million years ago, these hills were formed and covered with vast rainforests. Over time, the surrounding landscape transformed into arid savannah, leaving small islands of tropical rainforest. This area is home to an incredible variety of flora and fauna, making it perfect for spotting unique plants and animals! In the afternoon, Habel will pick you up for a pleasant walk through the village. He knows the area like the back of his hand and will take you to a lovely spot to enjoy the setting sun and the stunning views of the green landscape interspersed with the orange savannahs of Tsavo.

Watamu: an idyllic fishing village also known as Kenya's Little Italy! The Watamu Marine Park is considered one of the best snorkelling and diving areas in East Africa. Besides being the perfect place for snorkelling, this village is the place to be for scrumptious Italian food. "Watamu" literally means “Sweet People” and most of the locals certainly are. The name stems from the time of slavery, where Arab slave traders would hand out sweets to locals before putting them on boats... that's bittersweet. Sit back, relax, and enjoy all that Watamu has to offer: relax by the lovely blue ocean, visit the Gedi Ruins, Mida Creek or spot sea turtles and dolphins from a boat.

Everything comes to an end, including this wonderful adventure. Fully rested, you pack your bags to get on the plane home. With a nice healthy colour on your cheeks, you board the plane. With your eyes closed and your seat reclined, you relive the cool adventures of the past few days. Full of inspiration and with an overdose of wonderful memories, you return home. Unspoilt nature, lush wildlife, inspiring people & vibrant cities. You now have plenty of stories to tell family and friends later by the fire. Welcome home! An adventure over, but another set of experiences richer.