14 days – 7 locations
€2700 per person, excluding flight tickets
Kenya
Departure dates:
March 1, 2024
June 13, 2024
Karibu Kenia! Your long-awaited African adventure is finally underway. Today, you’re flying, probably with a healthy dose of excitement in your stomach, towards the African continent. Get ready for a lot of wildlife, pristine nature, stunning beaches, and unforgettable encounters! The journey begins in the thriving and bustling Nairobi. You just need to discover the right spots, but Nairobi is booming! Trendy eateries, cool bars, a party somewhere every night, shopping malls, and more. A great city to acclimate before the real journey begins.
Nairobi has many faces: from tree-lined avenues with gigantic villas to the slums, the colourful chaos, noise, and a bit of history. Wander through the dusty streets of downtown Nairobi with former street kids Kissmart, Donga, and Cheddaz. These three ‘street kids’ grew up in Mathare, one of Nairobi’s largest slums. In the past, they hung around in the Central Business District (CBD) to beg, steal, smuggle, and deal. Now they share their street skills with you during a tour of the CBD! Thanks to this tour, the boys can create a better life for themselves, their families, and the new generation of street children in their slum. After the Nai Nami Tour, you’ll return to the accommodation for a refresh before enjoying a communal dinner in the city.
Your adventure is about to begin. Once you’ve arrived in Magadi, you’ll start with a picnic lunch overlooking Lake Magadi. Afterward, you’ll be picked up by motorcycles for a ride to Nguruman and Kalema. In the late afternoon, you’ll arrive at the campsite where you’ll set up camp, and the guides will brief you on the upcoming days. It’s important to pay attention during the training as you’ll be staying in a wildlife reserve. After the practical part is done, it’s time for some sunset drinks, and you’ll conclude the evening with dinner by the campfire. Enjoy your first night at this adventurous campsite.
This morning, you have to rise early as it’s time for kayaking! The alarm will ring at six, and a delicious breakfast will be waiting for you. Afterward, pack up and get ready for the activity. After about 3 hours of kayaking, you’ll make a stop for lunch on the riverbank. At any moment, you may come into contact with wild animals. Don’t worry, you’ll be guided by experienced guides. After this break, you’ll continue so that you reach the next campsite before dark. During the sunset, you’ll help bring in the cattle. The evening can begin…
Feeling sore from yesterday? Today, you only have a very short kayak journey. You start the day with a walk in the nature reserve, guided by experienced guides. Afterward, you’ll have breakfast and then get back into the kayak. In the afternoon, you’ll reach the final campsite, concluding your adventure in Magadi! In the evening, you’ll have a guided game drive in a 4×4, including sunset drinks, ending your time in Magadi in style. After dinner, you’ll retreat to your tents for a night in one of the most desolate areas of Kenya.
The last day in Magadi has arrived. But today, in the morning, you’ll start with another walk to loosen up your legs. After that, you’ll join one of Kenya’s leading experts to count and observe the baboons in the area. Surprisingly, baboons can also learn to recognize other friendly individuals, as long as they are accompanied by the person they are used to (the guide) and wear a “passport,” a clearly identifiable piece of clothing, in our case, a baseball cap! This way, visitors to the centre can get a close look as the baboons continue their daily activities.
In the morning, you’ll drive to Mount Kilimanjaro and Amboseli National Park, located near the border of Tanzania. It’s a reasonably long drive of about 5 hours. It’s nice to make a stop along the way for a local lunch, perhaps in Salama or Sultan Hamud. A fun challenge while driving could be to find a charming roadside eatery! You’ll arrive in the second half of the afternoon.
At the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro and close to the border of Tanzania lies Amboseli National Park. This park is quite different from the other parks in Kenya. Relatively small and centralized, it hosts a much larger mix of animals living side by side! Elephants may be taking a dust bath behind a hippopotamus, and zebras can be seen hopping among the wildebeests. On clear days, the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro looms in the background, creating a picturesque setting and an enchanting sight.
From Amboseli, you will head towards the beautiful Taita Hills. Taita Hills, aside from being lush and fertile, is a completely different area from what you’ve seen during this trip. You are about to explore the unknown Taita Hills—off-the-beaten-track, devoid of tourists, with a super-friendly local population, and a unique landscape. More than a hundred million years ago (!), these hills were formed and were covered with vast rainforests. You will embark on a hiking adventure up the mountain where you will camp.
Now, after all those off-the-beaten-track adventures, you’ve earned yourselves a ‘vacation’! The Kenyan coast is a tropical paradise with beautiful weather year-round. Just a few hours’ journey from Taita Hills lies the warm city of Mombasa. Get ready to explore Mombasa! This city is full of history, culture, colours, and aromas. Mombasa is described in many ways, but believe us when we say this city has an irresistible charm. It’s a melting pot of cultural influences, funky streets, and laid-back coastal vibes, complete with tropical sun.
During a beautiful drive along the Kenyan coastline, heading inland, you’ll be surrounded by thousands of palm trees and baobabs on your left, while the blue horizon of the ocean stretches out on your right. What more could one ask for! The grand adventure has come to an end. Now you can relax for a few days, lying on the beach and by the pool of your private villa. This villa includes a chef who can prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner for you (groceries not included). Of course, you also have the freedom to explore the culinary delights of Watamu. For those seeking more adventure, there are plenty of activities to enjoy, such as kitesurfing, snorkeling, hiking, and paddleboarding. Enjoy!
Watamu: an idyllic fishing village that is often referred to as the Little Italy of Kenya! The Watamu Marine Park is considered one of the best snorkeling and diving areas in East Africa. Besides being a perfect spot for snorkeling, this village is also the place to indulge in delicious Italian cuisine. So, get ready to relax and treat yourselves to Italian delights! The name “Watamu” literally means “Sweet People,” and most of its residents certainly live up to that. Sit back, relax, and enjoy everything Watamu has to offer. Go snorkeling, kitesurfing, explore the deep blue ocean by boat, visit the Gedi Ruins, Mida Creek, or spot sea turtles and dolphins.
Today, at the end of the day, you’ll head to the Crab Shack. This is a restaurant in Mida Creek – one of the few places in Watamu where you can see the orange sun sink into the water. This literally hidden gem is managed by the Dabasco Creek Conservation Group and is nestled deep in the Mida Forest, above the creek on a series of raised boardwalks and platforms. The restaurant is situated above the tidal creek, behind the mangroves. But before indulging in a delightful dinner here, it’s time for a boat ride. After about an hour of sailing, you’ll relish in fresh crab, lobster, and shrimp. Order a cold beer and toast to the setting sun.
Everything comes to an end, including this beautiful adventure through Kenya. Fully rested, you pack your bags to catch the flight back home. With a healthy glow on your cheeks, you board the plane, and with closed eyes and your seat reclined, you daydream about the incredible adventures you’ve had. Filled with inspiration and an abundance of beautiful memories, you open the front door. Untouched nature, abundant wildlife, an inspiring population, and vibrant cities. You now have enough stories to share by the fireplace with your family and friends. Welcome home! An adventure is over, but you’re richer in experiences. Thanks for booking with Charlie’s Travels! See you next time?! Cheers!
A local guide is present who can tell you everything about the surroundings and the culture. He will accompany you throughout the entire journey and can help wherever needed. We have deliberately chosen a local guide so that you can experience the real African experience and engage in authentic encounters.
Throughout the entire journey (except in Nairobi & at the coast), a chef will accompany you to prepare your meals. So, the meals are included except on the last evenings at the coast (breakfast is always included). The food is a mix of local and Western dishes, allowing you to discover new things and enjoy familiar dishes as well.
The costs for the activities you absolutely must not miss are all included in the price. Only at the coast, you have a choice of various activities; these are not included, but we’ll assist you if you wish to participate. Perhaps you just want to relax on the beach 🙂
We are on the ground and know the country like the back of our hand. If there’s anything, we’ll be there to help right away. Think of contacts with a Dutch doctor, good hospitals, or a tip for a top restaurant to end the evening.
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