Premium Kenya & Southern Africa Highlights

Jambo! Welcome to Kenya. When you arrive, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Nairobi, where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers for a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe browse the artistic and cultural displays at the Nairobi Gallery or lounge by the pool at your home for the night – a central hotel complete with bold pan-African art and a sauna and steam room. After your welcome meeting, you’ll head out for dinner with your group. Sharing food is a big part of the culture here and a great way to get to know your new travel companions – maybe try samosas, fried plantains and tilapia.

Today, you’ll travel to the Great Rift Valley of East Africa. Along the way, you’ll stop in Elsamere – the former home of writer Joy Adamson, whose 1960 book helped bring wildlife conservation into the mainstream. The house is a veritable museum dedicated to the works of Joy and George Adamson, with many photos of Elsa (the lioness that started it all). Then, embark on a boat trip on Lake Naivasha, the highest lake in the Great Rift Valley and home to many hippos. Later, sit down to a high tea lunch on the very grounds Joy cherished for so many years, with the lake as a serene backdrop. After lunch, continue to your Lake Nakuru lodge, arriving in the early evening. From your lodge, take in the magnificent views of Lake Nakuru and the surrounding national park, alive with the call of birds and rich in wildlife.

This morning you’ll visit Lake Nakuru National Park – situated in the heart of the Great Rift Valley. As you explore, look for some of the many birds and wildlife who call this national park home – including waterbuck, Rothschild’s giraffes, gazelles and leopards. After a morning spent learning about this diverse landscape with your knowledgeable local leader, you’ll return to your lodge for lunch, before heading out for a game drive this afternoon. Keep your eyes peeled for one of Africa's most endangered creatures, the elusive black rhinoceros.

Travel to the Maasai Mara this morning – one of the most active and beautiful game reserves in Africa. Today is a bit of a long travel day, so it’s a good idea to get stuck into a book or favourite podcast. Along the way you’ll cross the Great Rift Valley and pass by the remote region of Loita Hills, home of the Maasai people. This is one of the few places where they still practice their traditional way of life with little influence from the western world. Stop at Tepesua Village where you’ll be welcomed by Maasai warriors through traditional song and dance. When you arrive, you’ll meet your Maasai hosts and take a walk to the community village. The village offers support, safety and economic growth through the Tepesua Widows Income Project, where widowed women sew eco-friendly handicrafts to sell to visitors and locals. Learn about village life and be shown around a traditional Maasai home and cattle enclosure. Later, move on to Zebra River Camp – your Feature Stay accommodation for the next three nights. Here, you can watch the sunset and share stories over the bonfire (maybe with a cocktail) before retiring to your room.

Explore more of the park by 4WD today with game drives from morning to afternoon. You’ll drive to the further part of the Maasai Mara National Reserve to look for wildlife including wildebeest, zebra and gazelles. Elephants, giraffes and elands are also commonly sighted, along with plenty of bird life. The area is known for its green plains and riverine woodlands. As the sun starts to set, stop and take a moment to soak it all in with a drink in hand – which is just what you’ll do during your Premium Experience. Set against the backdrop of the open wilderness, indulge in canapes, light bites and a sundowner as the atmosphere comes alive with traditional Maasai dance performances and a cosy bonfire. As dusk falls, a variety of animals might be visible in the vicinity of your camp.

This morning, maybe take an optional hot balloon ride over Maasai Mara at sunrise. If you’ve pre-booked this activity, you’ll be picked up before dawn and driven to the launch site for a safety briefing from your pilot. You’ll then glide through the skies, sometimes at tree height, for some amazing photo opportunities. After landing, you’ll sit down to a bush breakfast before meeting up with the rest of your group. Today you’ll venture into the Maasai Mara National Reserve with expert local driver guides for a day-long 4WD safari. Explore this diverse environment and look for roaming wildlife like lions and cheetahs along the way.

Say goodbye to the Maasai Mara and drive back to Nairobi, arriving in the late afternoon. You’ll have a free evening to spend at your leisure before you depart for South Africa tomorrow morning.

This morning, you’ll take an included transfer to the airport, where you’ll board your flight to Johannesburg. When you arrive, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. You’ll have a second welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight where you'll meet your new leader and group for the next leg of your trip. After the meeting, join your leader and fellow travellers for dinner at your hotel. South Africa has a diverse food scene flavoured by its multicultural influences. This evening, you may like to try some boerewors (a spiced South African sausage) or perhaps some springbok carpaccio (thinly sliced raw meat).

Set off early for a drive to Kruger National Park, arriving just in time for lunch at Mdluli Safari Lodge – your Feature Stay accommodation for the next two nights. Created in partnership with the local Mdluli community, the lodge is in perfect harmony with its wild surroundings. In the afternoon, you'll set off on your first open 4WD safari. See some of your favourite wild animals in their own habitat, including lions, elephants, rhinos and leopards!

This morning, make the journey into the heart of Kruger National Park, where you'll find yourself in the perfect position to catch a glimpse of one, or hopefully all, of Africa's iconic animals. Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa, home to 500 bird species, 100 reptile species and 150 mammal species. As you journey through the park’s diverse habitats, including savanna, mixed acacia woodlands and rocky hills, you’ll stop at waterholes and other various points to see animals such as zebras, giraffes and African wild dogs, going about their day. Today's game drive will finish in time for sunset and drinks, served on a kopje at your Feature Stay. Pronounced 'kopee', these large ancient rock formations provide scenic contrasts across Africa's vast landscapes. Take a moment to sit back and take in the sounds and sights of the bush as the day turns to night.

Say goodbye to South Africa as you board a flight to Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe. When you arrive, continue to your lodge accommodation, which serves up beautiful views of uninterrupted wilderness and a waterhole frequented by elephant, buffalo, kudu and more! Maybe spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool or spotting wildlife from the multiple viewing decks around the lodge, before embarking on a small and intimate dinner cruise on the Zambezi River tonight. Sit down to a four-course meal of fresh, locally sourced ingredients as you navigate around the islands above the thundering Victoria Falls. Be sure to look for crocodiles lazing on the banks or elephants and hippos submerging themselves in the river as the sun sets.

Victoria Falls is one of the most magnificent natural wonders in the world, and today you’ll witness its might. Plunging over 100 m into a deep gorge, take in its raw power and beauty as you explore the rich flora, fauna, birdlife and fascinating history of this UNESCO World Heritage site with your local leader by your side. The rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace. Maybe continue to wander around Victoria Falls or relax with a swim at Devil’s Pool – a natural rock pool at the edge of the waterfall (season dependent).

Depart Victoria Falls this morning, headed for Hwange. When you arrive, settle into your lodge. This afternoon, you’ll go on a wildlife safari in Hwange National Park. This is the largest national park in Zimbabwe’s north-west, spanning more than 14,500 sq km. Keep an eye out for buffalo, leopards, lions, elephants (Zimbabwe’s largest population of elephants resides here!) and endangered wild dogs. Nearly 400 species of birds can be found here, as well as rare mammals like sables and roan antelope. End the day by soaking up your surroundings with a sundowner in hand.

Embark on a full-day drive in Hwange National Park today to see more of the incredible wildlife that roams these vast savannas and teak forests. Return to your lodge in the mid-afternoon, where you’ll have some free time to relax.

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred back to Victoria Falls, where your adventure comes to an end. You’ll arrive around midday, so please book flights accordingly, and not before late afternoon at the earliest. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).