Safari & the Sea (13 Days)

• Elephant Orphanage
• Play with Elephants (**Luxury Tour only)
• Nairobi National Park Safari

Your first morning in Kenya will begin with a heartwarming visit to the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage.  Here we will watch the babies eat, frolic, and roll in the mud.  There is a small rope that separates us but the babies love affection so they’ll walk alongside the rope munching on branches and letting you give them some love. 

**If you bought the Luxury Tour, we are given a specific time – and a special access pass – to go inside their area and play with the baby elephants. You’ll be able to interact with them, hug them, and shower them with love and attention.

The orphanage is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned elephants, and you’ll learn about the incredible work being done to protect these magnificent creatures. If a particular elephant touches your heart, you’ll have the opportunity to “adopt” it for a year. If you choose to do so, you will receive monthly updates about your elephant. This makes for a wonderful souvenir or a thoughtful gift for a fellow elephant enthusiast.

The elephant orphanage is located within Nairobi National Park, so after our time with the elephants, we will hop into the Land Cruiser and embark on our first safari adventure! Inside the park, you’ll get your first glimpse of animals roaming freely in the wild. Despite its proximity to the city, the park is home to elephants, rhinos, hippos, and even lions. In some areas, you can see the contrasting cityscape in the background, which makes for thought-provoking photos and discussions. All of these animals, including the elephants, are listed as endangered species. To combat poaching, Kenya became a non-hunting country in 1977. In 2016, a poignant site within the park witnessed approximately 16,000 ivory tusks and 343 rhino horns burned—a powerful statement affirming that these animals are worth more alive than dead.

Naivasha is also home to Hell’s Gate National Park, renowned for its dramatic landscapes and rich biodiversity. The park features an array of wildlife, including zebras, giraffes, baboons, and various other savannah animals roaming the plains. The towering cliffs and gorges provide a perfect backdrop for wildlife photography.

Inside the park, we’ll make several stops. Our first stop will be an obsidian wall formed from cooled volcanic lava, which highlights the park’s volcanic history. This black, glass-like rock wall is a geological wonder and a fascinating addition to our day’s journey.

Kenya inspired The Lion King movies; in Swahili, “Simba” even means “lion.” So, today there is the option to hike to the vantage point that inspired “Pride Rock.” Since not everyone loves to hike, it is optional. While standing on the rock, we’ll pose for a picture and enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views of the gorge and forest below. The trail takes under an hour each way and is mildly to moderately challenging, but highly rewarding.

After our hike, we’ll drive to the largest geothermal spa in Africa, located within the park, where you’ll have the opportunity to soak in the naturally heated waters. This is an optional experience. The spa is modern and well-equipped, with plenty of lounge chairs available if you prefer to relax outside of the water.

This natural hot spring is the perfect place to unwind. The warm, mineral-rich waters are soothing and therapeutic, helping to relieve sore muscles while you enjoy the serene surroundings. It’s a great way to connect with nature in a rejuvenating and relaxing way. As a public spa, it may be busy or it may be quite empty during our visit. There are three pools, with the main one large enough to comfortably accommodate up to 100 guests.

This morning, we’ll be traveling into Maasai lands. We’ll make a stop in the Maasai town of Narok, where you’ll get a glimpse of a small yet bustling town in action.

Narok county is where we will deliver our humanitarian gift. Kenya is still a developing country, and there are many ways we can help the local people. One of the ways is to buy some food and/or animals and pay school fees for several families in need. Another way is through the school system itself. The conditions in the schools are very basic: their toilet facilities are simple holes in the ground, and the children’s soccer balls are crafted from saran wrap and rubber bands. Many families struggle to pay the school fees needed for their children to stay in school. Despite these hardships, the spirit and resilience of the young students are truly inspiring.

It is very rare for tour companies to provide any type of humanitarian support.  We feel it is important, if not necessary, to contribute to the people and the communities that have welcomed us into their world.   Since we vary our schools to spread out our support, this may easily be the first time some of these children will have interacted with a foreigner.  While we’re there, you’ll have the opportunity to meet them and experience their joy and excitement at meeting you—their smiles and curiosity are truly heartwarming.

Funds for some basic supplies are already included in your tour price, ensuring that we can make a meaningful contribution to their education. However, if you feel moved to contribute more, your generosity is always welcome and greatly appreciated. 100% of any additional donations will go directly to the school and the children’s education.

If we are giving to a school, our company will contact a local school beforehand to find out what they are most in need of. We will have some supplies already gathered and will stop to collect a few more items before we deliver them, including soccer balls.

(Since O.D. is a Maasai, we have the unique opportunity to let you delve deeper into the Maasai culture with authentic immersion experiences. Consider adding an extra day for activities such as enjoying a traditional meal in a Maasai home, visiting a great-grandmother in her mud hut, hiking into the bush to learn how the Maasai use plants for survival, and practicing Maasai spear throwing and bow and arrow shooting. Check out our “Maasai Culture Day” add-on.)

Today is a water day. When the conditions are right, we’ll hop in a boat with a glass-bottomed middle section and head over to the coral areas.  It’s such a fun experience because you can see all the fish swimming around without getting wet! For those who love to get in the water (like me), there will be an opportunity for some snorkeling. Flippers, snorkels, and goggles will be provided. Our boat will keep to the areas close to the shore since that’s where the reefs are.

After an incredible adventure through Kenya, we’ve reached your very last day, but there are still a few more adventures to be had. 

After breakfast, we’ll go feed the Giraffes.  The Giraffe Center is a sanctuary dedicated to the conservation and breeding of the endangered Rothschild giraffe. You’ll have the chance to feed them from the palm of your hand or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can get a giraffe “kiss of luck,” where the giraffe gently takes a treat from your lips! Their heads will be at eye level, providing fantastic opportunities for selfies and close-up interactions. 

Next we will visit Kazuri Beads. This is a Kenyan company founded in 1975 by Lady Susan Wood. It was established to provide employment opportunities for local women, most often single mothers, to help them support their families. The term “Kazuri” means “small and beautiful” in Swahili – which fits their description accurately.  They are a type of handcrafted ceramic bead made from clay, which are then fired in a kiln, and hand-painted. We’ll get a walkthrough of the process. Each bead is unique due to the artisanal nature of the production. The company has been a major source of employment for women in Kenya, contributing to their economic empowerment and improving their quality of life. The make a variety of jewelry items as well as ceramic dishes and tea sets.  These items are also shipped to the U.S. and sold on Rodeo Drive in California.

Lastly, we’ll visit The National Museum of Kenya. This museum features many fascinating exhibits such as the Cradle of Humankind, where you’ll find some of history’s oldest humanoid skulls; a comprehensive history of Kenya from pre-colonial times through colonialism to independence; and the Hall of Mammals, which showcases some of the rarest Kenyan animals in the world, including the pangolin. For bird enthusiasts, there’s a section dedicated to the hundreds of bird species found in East Africa, allowing you to appreciate their vibrant colors and diverse sizes up close. Also on display here is the body of Sudan, the last male Northern White Rhino.  (The last two females are here in Kenya located at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.  You can go see them in our 13 day Mystical tour or with the Ol Pejeta add-on).

If time allows, we will explore some more of Nairobi’s sights before we head to the airport.  

Our final stop of the day, and our trip, will be the airport. As we drive, we’ll review and share stories from the incredible journey we’ve experienced and the new friendships we’ve made. Asante Sana (Thank you very much)! We sincerely hope you had an amazing adventure with us. We look forward to welcoming you back for more adventures, laughter, memories, and fun in the future!