Pride of kenya
Nairobi | Maasai Mara | ol Pejeta | Meru
Experience lions in their most majestic kingdoms. Witness the renowned prides of the Mara, track lions at Ol Pejeta, and visit Meru National Park - the setting of the famous Born Free story. Experience close encounters with these powerful, beautiful, and incredibly social felines, and enjoy a truly thrilling safari.
NAIROBI
Arrive in Nairobi, where you will begin and end your safari.
Depending on your international flight times, you will likely spend one full day here, either at the start or end of your trip.
Named the world’s best city to visit in 2024 by Lonely Planet, Nairobi is Kenya’s bustling, dynamic, cosmopolitan capital.
Wildlife - “The World’s Only Wildlife Capital”. Visit Nairobi National Park or one of Nairobi’s world-famous animal sanctuaries such as the Giraffe Centre, Elephant Orphanage, Nairobi Safari Walk, Snake Park, and Karura Forest.
Culture - Experience the city’s cultural and arts scene with a visit to an art gallery or collective, artisanal market, the National Museum or Karen Blixen Museum, or sample its world-class restaurants.
MAASAI MARA
NAIROBI - MAASAI MARA 5H (ROAD)
Depart from Nairobi early in the morning for your scenic journey to the Maasai Mara.
Predators - Of all the Big Cats, the lion, as “king of the jungle” (or more accurately, the savanna), garners the most admiration. Both awe-inspiring and fearsome due to their large, striking appearance, strength, speed, and reputation for being Africa’s apex predators.
King of the Mara - The Maasai Mara is the lion’s kingdom. There are an estimated 900 lions in the Mara region, one of the highest lion densities in Africa. Including many individuals and lion prides that have been made famous in wildlife documentaries such as the BBC’s Big Cat Diary.
Social Cats - Unlike their elusive cousin, the leopard, lions are highly sociable and live in large prides. The terrain in the Mara is mostly grassland, which makes it easier to see these carnivores in this magnificent natural setting.
Big Five - Experience unparalleled wildlife viewing as you search for lions and the rest of the Big Five (lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants, and rhinos) along with countless other species.
Activities Include
Morning and evening game drives; walking safaris; Maasai cultural experience; night game drive; bush breakfast/dinner.
ADD-ONS: Hot air balloon ride.
OL PEJETA
MAASAI MARA - OL PEJETA 1.5H (AIR)
Depart from the Maasai Mara to Ol Pejeta Conservancy in northern Kenya. This short flight offers spectacular views of the Great Rift Valley and Mount Kenya, the second-highest mountain in Africa.
Conservation Leaders - Ol Pejeta is a vast conservancy and a trailblazer in conservation. It has one of the highest predator densities in Kenya, with lions being the dominant species in this category, with 6-7 resident prides.
Lion Tracking - You will get to see these large carnivores up close during a lion tracking activity – tracking collared lions using a receiver. The data you collect goes straight to Ol Pejeta’s ecological monitoring unit and will help find solutions to the challenges facing the region’s lions. In addition to contributing to lion conservation, you will get to participate in one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on earth.
Wildlife Encounters - Ol Pejeta is home to an incredible variety of wildlife. Along with large prides of lions, the conservancy is also one of the best places in Kenya to see both black and white rhino, including the last remaining northern white rhino. Healthy populations of elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and antelope, as well as cheetah, leopard, and hyena, make every game drive full of surprises.
Chimpanzee Sanctuary - Visit the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, home to rescued chimpanzees and the only place in Kenya where they can be seen.
Activities Include
Lion tracking; morning and evening game drives; optional visits to the rhino sanctuary and chimpanzee sanctuary.
MERU
OL PEJETA - MERU 4.5H (ROAD)
Located east of Mount Kenya, Meru National Park provides an undiluted safari experience.
Wild and Off the Beaten Track - Wild, off the beaten track, with unhabituated wildlife, it’s a marvelous contrast from the busier southern parks. Thirteen rivers bisect the park, creating lush riparian ecosystems and swampland, mixed with woodland, open plains, and a landscape dotted with kopjes.
Wildlife Pioneers - Made famous by conservationist Joy Adamson and her story about Elsa the lioness in the book “Born Free”, the park boasts a wide range of diverse habitats.
Conservation Legacy - Meru is a conservation success story and is now home to a healthy population of lions, having almost disappeared a decade or two ago. Due to the park’s seclusion and thicker vegetation the big cats are more elusive here, and spotting them, often seen basking on one of the park’s large rock formations, makes for an extra special experience.
Activities Include
Morning and evening game drives; visit to Elsa’s grave.
CUSTOM PRICING INCLUDES:
Airport transfers
Accommodation
Activities
Domestic Transportation
Entrance fees to National Parks, National Reserves, and Community/Private Conservancies
Expert Sacred Savanna private driver guide for your entire trip
Fully equipped 4x4 Safari Land Cruiser
Supplemental medical emergency insurance (evacuation cover)
Accommodation comes in a wide range of options depending on location. We source the best and have options to suit most budgets.
Add-ons are optional activities offered at an extra cost.