Beyond the Savannah

With a warm welcome upon your arrival at Olkiombo Airstrip, you will be transferred to the camp by our friendly and knowledgeable Maasai Guides – the true nature experts. Your transfer will include your first safari adventure within Kenya’s most popular park. Board one of our tailor-made safari vehicles for your first game drive en-route to the camp. The Masai Mara is home to an abundance of wildlife from lions, leopards, cheetahs, to large numbers of elephant other plains game and countless species of birds. Photograph away as you spot the Big Five and other wildlife, found in the reserve. You will arrive at Basecamp Maasai Mara – our very own cradle of mankind – for lunch, freshly prepared by our team of Maasai chefs. Spend the rest of your afternoon at leisure, perhaps take a stroll around the lush camp grounds. In the afternoon, use the footbridge to cross over into the National Reserve, your Maasai guide will be waiting for you ready to take you on your afternoon game drive. Continue with your search for the Big Five. Listen as the elephant’s trumpet echoes across the savannah.  On your drive back to camp, keep a look out for the black-manned lion as they prepare for their evening hunt. Arrive back to camp in time for dinner as you sit around the campfire, you will have an interactive session with our Maasai guides learning about their culture and way of life.

The rosy dawn is the perfect time to observe as Mara’s cycle of life slowly unfolds. Together with your guide, you will embark on a morning game drive to explore the rare sights and wonders of the bush. After all the excitement of watching the wildlife in their natural habitat, you are sure to have an appetite. Return to the camp for a hearty breakfast. Dine al fresco and observe the animals padding down the nearby Talek River for some water. Spend the rest of the morning exploring the local town. You will head out to Talek Centre for a cultural tour accompanied by your guide. During the tour, meet local Masai people and witness how they interact on a day to day basis. Your guide will also have interesting information about the Masai community. While on tour, visit some of the community projects like the local school and health center that Basecamp has been supporting over the years contributing towards improving the livelihoods of the community. At mid-day head back to the camp for lunch. Late in the afternoon join your Maasai Guide for an evening game drive over the rolling grassland dotted with a mixture of acacia trees and plain game. As the sun sets you will stop over at a scenic spot to enjoy Basecamp Sundowner drinks and snacks. Head back to camp for dinner followed by relaxation at the campfire as you let the lull of the savannah soothe you.

Wake up to the chattering of birds. After breakfast meet your Naturalist Maasai Guide for a walk around the camp’s compound. During your camp walk, your guide will show you how we reuse, recycle and regenerate waste every step of the way making us pioneers of responsible travel. Your walk also includes a visit to the Basecamp Maasai Brand workshop. This is one of our capacity-building projects employing over 158 women with the goal of using traditional beading practices to help local Maasai women achieve their financial independence. You will also visit the plantation area that has different types of trees a habitat for the incredible birdlife. For a minimal cost, you can plant a tree and be part of our conservation efforts to ensure a greener and better Masai Mara, just like the Obama family. After your walk a freshly prepared lunch awaits you.  After lunch gather your things and prepare to continue your journey through the Basecamp Circuit. Your next destination is Wilderness Camp in Mara Naboisho Conservancy. You will enjoy a game drive en-route in Mara Naboisho a 50,000 acre conservancy land leased directly from more than 500 Maasai families. Marvel at the exceptional wildlife of Naboisho Conservancy, which includes thriving populations of lions, elephants, cheetah, leopards and other wildlife. Arrive at Wilderness Camp for dinner. This camp is our nostalgic tribute to the safari of the early explorers, with ultimate privacy and clear views into the vast Savannah, zero light pollution, and close to nature. Dinner will be followed by story sharing and stargazing around the fireplace.

Rise with the animals for your morning game drive. You will be treated to the ultimate safari experience within the conservancy since Mara Naboisho boasts of plenty of game viewing and birding opportunities all year round. You may catch up with the big cats, full after their night hunt. Be alert to capture panoramic shots of the abundance of wildlife from wildebeests, zebras, impalas, and warthogs and see how many of the 300 species of birds you can spot. Return to camp for breakfast. After breakfast, you will have time to refresh and relax as you await your next adventure. Later in the afternoon, you will meet up with your guide for an afternoon game drive. Stop over for a short while at a scenic point to enjoy the traditional Basecamp Sundowner as you watch the sun dipping below the horizon. The game watching activity extends into a thrilling night game drive in search of the nocturnal wildlife that are out on their night prowls. Your guide will equip the car with infrared light for you to spot the nocturnal wildlife of the savannah. Reach camp in time for dinner followed by relaxation and storytelling at the campfire.

After your breakfast, you will join your Masai guide for a whole day walking safari across the Savannah. Guided walks are another way to explore the rare sights and wonders of the bush, often missed when in a vehicle. The walking safari is an activity that is only permitted in the conservancies such as Naboisho. You will move at a relaxed pace observing wildlife behavior and interactions. As you walk along, you will also learn about the plants used to make traditional medicine. The birdlife is equally diverse, ranging from the scavenging vulture and bustard to the magnificent eagle and crested crane. At mid-day, rest under a cool overhang of the acacia tree for lunch. After lunch, continue walking towards your next destination Eagle View to arrive in time for dinner. Eagle View is patched on top of a natural hilltop, allowing guests to have exceptional views of Naboisho Conservancy. Enjoy dinner served at our alfresco restaurant as you take in the night sights and sound of the savanna. After dinner gather around the campfire to share your favorite adventures with your safari companions.

As dawn breaks and the animals begin to stir, join your Masai guide to begin exploring the vast plains of Mara Naboisho. Listen to the lion’s roar as it guides its pride or to the trumpeting of the elephants passing through. Experience an exclusive safari in an area that brims with wildlife. Head back to camp for breakfast with exclusive views of the waterhole where most of the Big Five assemble for water and salt lick.  After breakfast, relax in your well-appointed tented camp for some time before having lunch. Later, join your Maasai guide and discover more about Basecamp Explorer do good projects. Visit the students at Koiyaki Guiding School, a capacity-building institution supported by Basecamp Explorer. Round off your afternoon with an evening game drive. Watch for wildebeest, zebras, impalas and warthogs. Thanks to the abundant prey within Mara Naboisho your chances of spotting lions area are very high. Return to camp in time for dinner. Unwind and be mesmerized by the twinkling stars.

Set out on your final game drive in search of those hard-to-spot leopards. Your guide will also help you to spot other kinds of wildlife from bush pigs to giraffes and honey badgers. After your morning game drive, head back to camp for a hearty breakfast. Enjoy some downtime before you gather your things and say your goodbyes. Enjoy your last game drive en-route to Naboisho Airstrip. Arrive at the airstrip in time to catch your flight to Diani. The flight to Diani is approximately 2 hours. Diani is a popular beach destination located on the southern coast of Kenya’s Indian Ocean. Upon arrival, you will be met at Ukunda Airstrip in Diani and transferred to Waterlovers Beach Resort. Arrive at this quaint resort on the shores of the Indian Ocean, freshen up and relax perhaps go swimming in the turtle-shaped infinity pool before dinner. After dinner, settle into your coastal room set facing the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.

You have 2 full days of relaxation with an option of a variety of activities offered by the resort. Start the day with a tropical breakfast, followed by a morning massage to help you relax and rejuvenate or enjoy some yoga and meditation. Later head out to take a dip in the warm Indian Ocean or sip champagne on the white sandy beaches while gentle waves cool your feet. After lunch, take a discovery stroll in the coastal town of Diani. Diani opens onto a vast expanse of white sand and it is probably the most picturesque of Kenya’s beaches. Don’t miss a ride on the local taxis known as ‘tuktuk’ during your tour to get a glimpse of life of local villages. Diani coastline comprises of bays, rocky coves, inlets which are harbors for boats of various types, and a beach covered with white sand, fringed by the aquamarine waters of the Indian Ocean. In the evening head back to the resort to unwind in your beautiful suite or in the pool before dinner is served. Enjoy a private dinner served by the pool, a perfect ending to an eventful day.

After breakfast, you will be accompanied by your guide to Wasini Island for a day trip where adventure awaits you. There are no cars or roads on the island. The island excursion is done aboard an Arabian-style dhow (a traditional style of sailboat). The traditional dhow’s most notable feature is its triangular lateen sails, which allows the boat to sail closer to the wind when traveling against the breezes. With this traditional Kenyan sailing boat, you will sail the Indian Ocean and enjoy the fascinating nature. Surrounded by several diving sites, Wasini Island is a gateway to an underwater wonderland. Water activities like reef snorkeling, scuba diving, and possibly swimming with dolphins are just some of the optional activities to engage in while on the island. Have lunch on Wasini Island, enjoying fresh fish and crab brought daily to the beach by local fishermen. Spend the afternoon at leisure on the island; you can relax around the natural lagoon or at the beach. Return to the resort in the evening to end your Wasini Island day trip.

On the final morning of your 10 Days Mara and Coast safari, after a delicious tropical-inspired breakfast, head down to the beach for a swim or stroll along it one last time. Return to the resort for lunch before you gather your bags and be transferred to the Ukunda Airport. Arrive on time to board a scheduled flight bound for Nairobi. Bid farewell to Africa taking with you a lifetime of memories.