This safari for families with teenagers starts with a night on the outskirts of Nairobi National Park. It avoids long road trips by using charter planes and luxury en suite lodges. Each resort offers game drives, guided walks, cultural tours, and horseback riding, as well as necessary amenities like swimming pools and free Wi-Fi.
After a lengthy travel, Ololo Lodge in Nairobi offers a relaxing first night to settle into Africa. Next, you’ll visit one of Kenya’s best private game reserves, where you’ll get unparalleled access to animals. Ol Donyo, known for its conservation and community work, is your home base for exploring the Chyulu Hills between Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks. It has views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest peak and the world’s highest free-standing mountain, and a suite with a bed for stargazing.
Next, fly to the Masai Mara, home of the annual Wildebeest Migration. A cook, guide, and house management make this 3-bedroom safari house a luxurious grand finale. You relax on day and night game drives, visit Maasai villages, and eat home-cooked meals, starting with freshly baked bread and ground coffee for morning and concluding with old-fashioned board games after candle-lit supper. At the end of this tour, you fly from Nairobi to Diani Beach, a vibrant seaside location.
Details
Day 1: Nairobi Safari | 1 Night
Ololo Lodge, located in verdant gardens on the edge of Nairobi National Park, sets the tone for the rest of your vacation. Guests are picked up from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and driven the short distance to the lodge. The park is home to buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and even lion and rhino, as well as an incredible bird count of approximately 500 species; the journey to Ololo takes less than an hour, and you can already check off some of Africa’s famed creatures on the way there. Enjoy the comfort of a queen-sized bed, complimentary WiFi, and your own bathroom in the spacious Stable Room.
Days 2-4: Views of Kilimanjaro | 3 Nights
You’ll catch a domestic flight to the Chyulu Hills, where you’ll be met at an airport and brought to Ol Donyo after a quick stop at the cafeteria. This lodge is a leader in local conservation and invests equally in community projects, as it is located on land leased from the Maasai people. You will have two full days of game drives to look forward to, with your guide keeping an eye out for the area’s famous ‘great tuskers’ — giant bull elephants — as well as big cats and some more odd species you won’t see in the Masai Mara, like the endearingly long-necked gerenuk antelope. Featuring a lounge, veranda, en suite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers, and a one-of-a-kind star-bed, each suite at Ol Donyo is furnished with works of art and designed to make guests feel like they’re sleeping under the stars while taking in the vast East African sky.
Days 5-8: A Private Masai Mara Home | 4 Nights
To go to the Mara North airstrip from Chyulu Hills, you’ll have to stop at Wilson Airport in Nairobi, but you’ll still make it to the Mara Bush House in time for lunch and an afternoon wildlife drive. It’s a private safari house with all the amenities of home, including a cook, housekeepers, and a manager to make sure everything goes smoothly. With a personal guide and car at your disposal, you may watch the wildlife whenever you please. You can also enjoy delicious meals at your leisure, regardless of where you happen to be. Pool and internet access are excellent touches. Each year, thousands upon thousands of wildebeest make their way through the Mara North Conservancy, a unique game-viewing reserve. Morning and afternoon drives with knowledgeable guides, as well as spot-lit night drives and guided walks, will allow you to see the abundant wildlife that inhabits this area of the Masai Mara throughout the year.
Day 9: The Journey Ends
After breakfast at Mara Bush House, you will be transferred back to the airport for your late morning flight back to Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, and from there you will be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where your tour will conclude and you will continue on to your next destination, whether that be back home in the United States or to an African beach resort. On this, the last day, the lodge thoughtfully provides guests with a packed lunch.