Maasai Mara National Reserve
The Maasai Mara National Reserve is renowned for its wildlife-rich savannahs (home to the iconic ‘Big Five’) that are often featured on acclaimed nature documentaries around the world. The Mara has an incredible ecosystem and life thrives here; with reliable rains and plentiful vegetation, it is no surprise that this national reserve supports millions of herbivores - including elephants, Masai giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, impalas and several species of gazelle. With such a mass concentration of game here, this accounts for high predator numbers, including cheetahs, leopards and the highest density of lions in the world!
Olare Motorogi Conservancy
Bordering the Maasai Mara is the expansive Olare Motorogi Conservancy, home to an abundance of wildlife, including all the big cats for which the Mara is famous for. This wealth of wildlife provides a more exclusive view of game in this pristine environment. Also unique to the Olare Motorogi Conservancy is its healthy population of endangered species (such as elephants, rhino and wild dogs) due to its protection through sensitive tourism development. Therefore, it is no surprise that the Mara Plains Camp and Mahali Mzuri are situated on this exceptional conservancy.
Meru National Park
Experience one of Kenya’s most underrated gems, Meru National Park. Marred with mass poaching in the 1980s (which was brought to light in the film Born Free), the area is now well protected; the Born Free Foundation is devoted to preserving animal species across the globe and preventing extinction through conservation and education. Meru is also where you will fine Elsa’s Kopje, a boutique safari lodge accredited to saving this beautiful National Park, which has suffered with little or no income from visitors. The Park boasts enormous diversity of ecosystems and wildlife - including elephants, lions, buffalo, giraffe and much more!
Culture
Your trip to Kenya isn’t just about its amazing animals; the people that live there make it equally as unforgettable, and their fascinating cultures will provide a truly enlightening experience. Whether you choose Mahali Mazuri or the Mara Plains Camp, meet the wonderful Maasai warriors as they tell you stories about their villages and their welcoming culture. Learn about traditions or visit a school - you will certainly enjoy every minute of this remarkable experience.
The Great Wildebeest Migration
Tick the Great Wildebeest Migration off your bucket list. Considered one of the ‘Seven New Wonders of the World’, the Masai Mara provides the perfect location to see this briliant phenomenon. Nowhere else in the world is there such a vast migration of animals; over two million mammals migrate from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the greener and pastoral plains of the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, from July through to October. The migration sees the animals travelling on a 1,200-mile odyssey, including a treacherous crossing over the Mara River where crocodiles lie waiting.
Travel Planning
Our Travel Consultants can advise on, arrange and pre-book many things to enhance your holiday. This includes everything from spa reservations and dinner reservations, to a range of special experiences available in our featured resorts that you may not know about.
Sleep Beneath The Stars
Spend a night in one of Loisaba’s ‘Star Beds’ which are located in remote locations and allow you to spend the night outdoors beneath the twinkling stars.
Bush Breakfast
Enjoy an al fresco bush breakfast in the middle of the plains, surrounded by wildlife, at Elsa’s Kopje.
Flight Information
British Airways direct from London Heathrow to Nairobi.
Via Dubai with Emirates from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Glasgow.
Flight Time
From London Heathrow to Nairobi: 8 hours, 25 minutes.
Travelling With Children or Without an Adult
Children travelling without both parents should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. Please contact the relevant Embassy for the county you are travelling to for further information.
Visa and Advance Passenger Information
All passengers must ensure they have a valid, acceptable passport, any required visa and any other documentation for both the final destination and any stop-off points en route. Please make sure that Advance Passenger Information is submitted in advance to travel for all destinations. Failure to hold correct documentation or submitting incorrect details with Advance Passenger Information or Visa applications may result in refusal of carriage or entry into a country. Please check with the relevant Embassy regarding visa requirements well in advance of your travel date. Charges may apply for some visas.
Visas are required for Kenya (adults and children) and can be obtained online, prior to travel.
NB: From 1 September 2015, the electronic system will be the only method to apply for a visa. All visitors will need to apply online, via www.evisa.go.ke or ecitizen, before travelling.
Passengers not travelling on a British Passport are advised to contact their relevant Foreign & Commonwealth office for individual Visa requirements.
For up-to-date resort information, visit www.fco.gov.uk
Health facilities, hygiene and disease risks vary worldwide and you should take health advice about your specific needs from your general practitioner or a specialist clinic as early as possible before travel. Those planning to become pregnant should discuss their travel plans with their healthcare provider to assess their risk of infection with Zika. For information about Zika, other mosquito-borne diseases (such as Dengue fever and Chikungunya), Lyme Disease (caused by tick bites), and to receive advice on mosquito bite avoidance measures, please visit Insect and tick bite avoidance.
In addition, we highly recommend that you seek specialist advice from your doctor and, where recommended, obtain vaccinations or tablets for protection against, for example: Malaria, Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid. In some cases, treatments for Malaria should begin well in advance of travel. Travellers may also be required to show Yellow Fever Certificates on arrival in certain destinations ie, some African countries. Please note that you are strongly advised against scuba-diving for 24 hours before travelling by air. We would also like to draw your attention to the risk of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) and recommend that you consult with your doctor before travelling.
Visit the FCDO website and select your destination country for the very latest travel advice: Foreign Travel Advice. Additional sources of information include: Public Health England, The National Travel Health And Network Centre, Foreign And Commonwealth Office and your General Practitioner or a specialised clinic.
Please be advised that a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate will be required for travel (in any direction) between South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia.
Health facilities, hygiene and disease risks vary worldwide. You should take health advice about your specific needs as early as possible. Sources of information include: www.gov.uk/fco