Kenya
Perry has been traveling to Kenya since 1987 and has excellent relations with our local guides and partners. Kenya offers a wide variety of landscapes and cultures in a relatively compact area connected by reliable air service. We recommend combining 3 or more parks or private reserves over a 10-14 day trip. We often include camps or lodges where activities like walking safaris, camel trekking, mountain biking, and more are offered which allows our guests to get out of the vehicles and experience Kenya on the ground. These activities are guided by local Samburi and Masai guides who provide a cultural layer of understanding that enriches the experience. One option we love for first time safari guests is the amazing Sky Safari program which whisks you on a private executive plane between camps – no waiting at airstrips, no long rough drives, just a business class seat and endless views. Consider extending your trip to the beaches in Zanzibar or go big with a gorilla tracking safari in nearby Rwanda.
While the Masai Mara is renowned for its lions we never expected this: We had a "National Geographic" once in a lifetime moment when we came upon this strange sight. Three female lions where sitting with a mother giraffe all looking out to the horizon. Not normal at all. We soon found out why – the mother giraffe was protecting her new born baby just hidden away by her feet. What ensued was absolute mayhem. The lions turned to attack, the mother giraffe fiercely snorted and charged the lions kicking and biting at them. Then things got really crazy when a competing lion pride showed up and tried to get into the action. The lions attacked each other, the giraffe attacked anyone nearby, there were lions running right by our vehicle in every direction. It was total helter skelter! Our guide said he had never seen anything like this in over 20 years in the bush. Lucky us, we had this whole scene to ourselves thanks to the more remote location of Sand River. See video above!
NAIROBI
Our Kenya trips start in Nairobi where we lodge in small boutique properties like the charming Karen Blixen Cottages. Guests enjoy a tour of her homestead (make sure to watch Out of Africa which takes place here), feeding giraffes by hand at the Giraffe Center, and browsing several cutting edge art galleries.
TRAVEL IN STYLE
We design our safaris so that guests travel in comfort whether it is in the business class seat of an executive Sky Safari private charter or in a perfectly designed Land Rover. Each guests is guaranteed a window seat and we never allow more than 4-6 guests per vehicle. Most of our vehicles are open sided for fully immersive wildife viewing.
GUIDES
Our local Masai Mara and Samburu guides are amazing. They will make "reading the bush" your new favorite pastime instead of "reading the NY Times". They add a deep layover of cultural understanding that enriches your safari. As you can imagine, their ability to track and find animals is off the charts. We often include an authentic village or school visit on our safaris.
AMBOSELI
Known as the "Home of the African Elephant." Experience the breathtaking sight of Africa's highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, while getting up close and personal with large herds of elephants in their natural habitat.
MERU
We love Meru National Park and our favorite lodge is Elsa's Kopje which is perched on a magnificent rock outcrop looming the Meru plains below. Elsa was the lioness star of the movie Born Free and this was the original camp where Joy and George Adamson raised their orphan and released her to the wild. The scenery is magical with lush mountain ranges framing the park and several huge “Kopjes” or rock outcrops dominating the landscape. Highlights including visiting the endangered white and black rhino at the sanctuary, discovering Elsa’s Pride at sunset, and enjoying the lodge itself which is an architectural gem – large suites built directly into the boulders.
AMAZING LODGES
Escape to these stylish lodges nestled in the heart of nature, where sustainability meets luxury. Indulge in delicious food while immersing yourself in the beauty of wildlife. Our comfortable accommodations are staffed by friendly locals who are eager to make your stay unforgettable.
LAIKIPIA
We prefer to use boutique lodges in private reserves like the fabulous Loisaba Tented camp which is set on a bluff over a steep escarpment in the Laikipia range. This is the perfect base for activities which include camel trekking with the Samburu natives, an authentic village visit, horseback riding, and more. Perry loves his mountain e-bike experiences where he rides to a bush breakfast in the wild passing giraffe and zebra along the way. Great fun. We like to mix in activities like these on a safari to give guests a break from the game drives and connect them to authentic cultural experiences.
MASAI MARA
The Mara is often the highlight of our Kenya safaris. Lush green rolling hills provide excellent grazing for the wildebeest, zebra, gazelles and elephants. Lion and cheetah sightings are excellent. We love the Sand River area included on the Sky Safari which is a hidden gem away from the crowds. There are several private conservation areas that we use for our private safaris as well.
CUISINE
Chefs from local communities are cooking local and international dishes that take into consideration any dietary issues our guests may have.
