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Planning notes, destination ideas and safari inspiration from the Rift & Tide Africa team.
Get safari planning ideas, destination notes and occasional offers.
Nairobi-based East Africa safari specialists for tailor-made journeys, beach escapes, and trade-ready planning.
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Planning notes, destination ideas and safari inspiration from the Rift & Tide Africa team.
Get safari planning ideas, destination notes and occasional offers.
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Private Tailor Made Tour
The Essence of Kenya Safari is a premium 9-day luxury fly-in safari crafted for travellers who want East Africa to feel beautifully paced, personal and deeply connected to the landscape.
The journey moves through Kenya with a route shaped around Kenya, Nairobi, Laikipia, Samburu National Reserve, Masai Mara, Loisaba Conservancy. It balances signature wildlife areas, scenic transitions, carefully selected stays and enough breathing room for the experience to feel refined rather than rushed.
Accommodation is an important part of the journey, with stays such as Larsens Camp, Emara Ole-Sereni Nairobi, Fairmont The Norfolk, Elephant Bedroom Camp used as route anchors where available and suitable for the traveller's dates, budget and preferred style.
Rift & Tide Africa can tailor the final routing, pace, rooming, guiding style and optional experiences before a confirmed proposal is prepared.
Travel and accommodation
9 Days / 8 Nights, 1 country, Arrival in Nairobi to Nairobi
8 nights accommodation
Meals
Meals as per day-by-day itinerary
Safari style
Luxury Fly-In Safari
Private Tailor Made
Itinerary
5 stops across the route
Trip code: RTT-SC002
Starting from
Price on request
Public retail pricing. Final quote confirms availability and inclusions.
Request quoteWhy this trip
Route notes
FAQs
Answers are general public guidance. Your final itinerary, inclusions, pricing, and supplier conditions are confirmed during quotation.
Yes, it can work well for first-time safari travellers because the route is structured around recognised safari areas, clear logistics and guided experiences. Rift & Tide Africa can adjust the pace and accommodation level before quotation.
Yes. The itinerary can be arranged as a private journey, subject to routing, accommodation availability, flight schedules and the traveller's preferred budget level.
Routing, number of nights, accommodation level, domestic flights, beach extensions, special interests, private guiding and optional activities can be adjusted before the final proposal is confirmed.
Peak safari seasons and migration periods should be booked early, especially for luxury camps, fly-in routes and small high-demand properties.
Yes. Rift & Tide Africa can adjust the number of nights, accommodation level, private guiding, flight sectors, beach extensions and pacing before the final quote is prepared.
Named accommodations may be used as the preferred style or route reference, but final confirmation depends on availability, budget, dates and supplier conditions at the time of quotation.
FAQs
Answers are general public guidance. Your final itinerary, inclusions, pricing, and supplier conditions are confirmed during quotation.
Public prices are indicative retail guidance. Availability, seasonal adjustments, rooming, and final inclusions are confirmed when the team prepares your quote.
Many scheduled routes can be adapted with lodge, timing, or extension changes depending on availability and supplier rules.
Share travel dates, traveller count, rooming preferences, gateway city, and any must-see destinations or experiences so the team can respond efficiently.
Approved travel agents can log in for trade rates and partner resources. New agencies can apply through the Become an agent page.
Keep exploring
Compare similar routes before sending your enquiry.
Entebbe
private tailor made
Virunga Highlands Expedition is a 8-day Uganda and Rwanda journey designed around refined pacing, meaningful wildlife encounters and carefully selected lodges, with a route shaped around Entebbe, Lake Victoria, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Bwindi.
8 Days / 7 Nights
Price on request
Plan this journey
Ask Rift & Tide Africa to tailor The Essence of Kenya Safari around your travel dates, preferred pace, accommodation style and safari goals.
Kenya, Nairobi, Laikipia, Samburu National Reserve, Masai Mara, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Wilson Airport, Loisaba Conservancy, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Buffalo Springs National Reserve
Trip route
Follow the day-by-day flow of this itinerary across East Africa.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
Arrival in Nairobi
Nairobi
Laikipia
Mapped stop
Nairobi
Exploring Laikipia
Mapped stop
Samburu National Reserve
Laikipia to Samburu
Mapped stop
Buffalo Springs National Reserve
Samburu
Mapped stop
Mara River
Samburu to Masai Mara
Nairobi
Masai Mara - First Full Day
Mapped stop
Nairobi
Masai Mara - Final Full Day
Mapped stop
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
Masai Mara to Nairobi
Itinerary
Your adventure begins as you arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where our friendly representative will greet you and transfer you to The Fairmont Norfolk Hotel, a historic five-star retreat exuding colonial charm. Unwind and soak in the warm hospitality of Nairobi as you prepare for the journey ahead.
The day is paced around the wider route through Kenya, Nairobi, Laikipia, giving travellers enough time to enjoy the setting without losing the comfort expected from a premium Rift & Tide Africa journey.
Accommodation and activity timing are aligned with selected stays such as Larsens Camp, Emara Ole-Sereni Nairobi, Fairmont The Norfolk, subject to availability and the final confirmed routing.
After a delicious breakfast, transfer to Wilson Airport for your scenic flight to Loisaba, a private conservancy in Laikipia known for its stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife. Upon arrival, you'll be met by expert safari guides and transferred to the luxurious Elewana Loisaba Lodge, where adventure meets elegance. After a delightful lunch, embark on an afternoon game drive, tracking elephants, big cats, and the unique wildlife of Northern Kenya. Enjoy a starlit dinner at the lodge, listening to the sounds of the wild.
Stay details available on request.
Stay details available on request.
Stay details available on request.
Stay details available on request.
Stay details available on request.
Stay details available on request.
Featured stays
Named stays are subject to availability or comparable alternatives.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Departures
Contact us for current departure dates and quotation-stage availability.
Planning notes
Kenya safaris can be rewarding throughout the year. Dry-season months are popular for wildlife viewing and Mara migration travel, while greener months can offer beautiful scenery, softer light and a quieter safari feel.
Good to know
Yes. The itinerary can be positioned for premium clients through upgraded lodges, private transfers, fly-in sectors, carefully chosen guides and a more unhurried route.
It should link to its country pages, destination pages, accommodation pages, relevant ways-to-go categories, travel guide articles and quote form.
private tailor made
Rwenzori Summit Challenge is a 9-day Uganda journey designed around refined pacing, meaningful wildlife encounters and carefully selected lodges, with a route shaped around Entebbe, Rwenzori Mountains.
9 Days / 8 Nights
Price on request
Entebbe
private tailor made
Rwenzori Foothills Trek is a 5-day Uganda journey designed around refined pacing, meaningful wildlife encounters and carefully selected lodges, with a route shaped around Entebbe, Rwenzori Mountains.
5 Days / 4 Nights
Price on request
The day is paced around the wider route through Kenya, Nairobi, Laikipia, giving travellers enough time to enjoy the setting without losing the comfort expected from a premium Rift & Tide Africa journey.
Accommodation and activity timing are aligned with selected stays such as Larsens Camp, Emara Ole-Sereni Nairobi, Fairmont The Norfolk, subject to availability and the final confirmed routing.
Spend a full day exploring the wonders of Laikipia with exhilarating morning and afternoon game drives. Encounter the rare Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, and African wild dogs in their natural habitat. For an added thrill, enjoy optional activities such as guided bush walks, horseback safaris, or even camel treks through the stunning wilderness. Relax in the lodge's infinity pool or indulge in a spa treatment before another gourmet dinner under the African sky.
The day is paced around the wider route through Kenya, Nairobi, Laikipia, giving travellers enough time to enjoy the setting without losing the comfort expected from a premium Rift & Tide Africa journey.
Accommodation and activity timing are aligned with selected stays such as Larsens Camp, Emara Ole-Sereni Nairobi, Fairmont The Norfolk, subject to availability and the final confirmed routing.
Start the day with an early morning game drive, followed by breakfast at the lodge. Transfer to the airstrip for a short flight to Samburu National Reserve, a land of rugged beauty and unique wildlife. Upon arrival, you'll be met and transferred to Larsen's Camp, set along the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River. After a delicious lunch, head out for an afternoon game drive, where you may spot the famous "Samburu Special Five" - Grevy's zebra, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, and the gerenuk. Enjoy a scenic sundowner before dinner at the camp.
The day is paced around the wider route through Kenya, Nairobi, Laikipia, giving travellers enough time to enjoy the setting without losing the comfort expected from a premium Rift & Tide Africa journey.
Accommodation and activity timing are aligned with selected stays such as Larsens Camp, Emara Ole-Sereni Nairobi, Fairmont The Norfolk, subject to availability and the final confirmed routing.
Spend the day exploring Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves on thrilling morning and afternoon game drives. Keep your eyes peeled for leopards lounging in acacia trees, large elephant herds crossing the river, and lions basking in the golden savannah. Between game drives, relax in the comfort of your tented camp, taking in spectacular river views where wildlife frequently gathers.
The day is paced around the wider route through Kenya, Nairobi, Laikipia, giving travellers enough time to enjoy the setting without losing the comfort expected from a premium Rift & Tide Africa journey.
Accommodation and activity timing are aligned with selected stays such as Larsens Camp, Emara Ole-Sereni Nairobi, Fairmont The Norfolk, subject to availability and the final confirmed routing.
After breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your flight to the Masai Mara, Kenya's most famous safari destination. Upon arrival, meet your guide and enjoy an en-route game drive as you head to the award-winning Olonana Camp, set along the Mara River. After lunch, embark on an afternoon game drive, witnessing the Mara's abundant wildlife, including the Big Five and, if you're lucky, a predator on the hunt. Return to the camp for a sumptuous dinner and a night of pure luxury.
The day is paced around the wider route through Kenya, Nairobi, Laikipia, giving travellers enough time to enjoy the setting without losing the comfort expected from a premium Rift & Tide Africa journey.
Accommodation and activity timing are aligned with selected stays such as Larsens Camp, Emara Ole-Sereni Nairobi, Fairmont The Norfolk, subject to availability and the final confirmed routing.
Immerse yourself in the wonders of the Masai Mara with two full days of game drives, capturing stunning moments of Kenya's wildlife at its best. Witness the breathtaking landscapes of rolling plains and acacia-dotted savannah teeming with herds of wildebeest, elephants, and giraffes. Optional activities include a hot air balloon safari at sunrise for a bird's-eye view of the Mara, followed by a bush breakfast in the bush. Visit a traditional Maasai village to learn about their fascinating culture and traditions. Every moment in the Mara is a photographer's dream.
The day is paced around the wider route through Kenya, Nairobi, Laikipia, giving travellers enough time to enjoy the setting without losing the comfort expected from a premium Rift & Tide Africa journey.
Accommodation and activity timing are aligned with selected stays such as Larsens Camp, Emara Ole-Sereni Nairobi, Fairmont The Norfolk, subject to availability and the final confirmed routing.
Immerse yourself in the wonders of the Masai Mara with two full days of game drives, capturing stunning moments of Kenya's wildlife at its best. Witness the breathtaking landscapes of rolling plains and acacia-dotted savannah teeming with herds of wildebeest, elephants, and giraffes. Optional activities include a hot air balloon safari at sunrise for a bird's-eye view of the Mara, followed by a bush breakfast in the bush. Visit a traditional Maasai village to learn about their fascinating culture and traditions. Every moment in the Mara is a photographer's dream.
The day is paced around the wider route through Kenya, Nairobi, Laikipia, giving travellers enough time to enjoy the setting without losing the comfort expected from a premium Rift & Tide Africa journey.
Accommodation and activity timing are aligned with selected stays such as Larsens Camp, Emara Ole-Sereni Nairobi, Fairmont The Norfolk, subject to availability and the final confirmed routing.
Enjoy a final early morning game drive before breakfast. Bid farewell to the wilderness as you transfer to the airstrip for your flight back to Nairobi. On arrival, indulge in a farewell lunch at the renowned Carnivore Restaurant, famous for its mouthwatering selection of grilled meats. Relax with a day room at Emara Ole Sereni, allowing you to freshen up before your evening transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your outbound flight.
The day is paced around the wider route through Kenya, Nairobi, Laikipia, giving travellers enough time to enjoy the setting without losing the comfort expected from a premium Rift & Tide Africa journey.
Accommodation and activity timing are aligned with selected stays such as Larsens Camp, Emara Ole-Sereni Nairobi, Fairmont The Norfolk, subject to availability and the final confirmed routing.
