FloYo Travels: Kenya Retreat
When you picture your dream Africa safari experience, you likely imagine vast savannahs dotted with immense herds of wildlife. Maybe you picture snow-capped equatorial mountains or traditional people who bring soul and colour to the earth. This is Kenya. Begin your love affair with East Africa with some of the best wild life viewing in the world on this value-packed safari and cultural tour through Nairobi, Maasai Mara and Lamu.
Africa is a place that will change you and Kenya is the country that will show you where the spirit of Africa lies.
From watching hippos bask in clear lake waters to tracking a pride of lions through the savannah, our private safari guide will help us discover the Africa you only dreamed of. Each day will include a yoga class in our private tented safari camp and two daily wild life drives, then the evenings will include unlimited food and drinks as we gather around a traditional “boma” fire-pit as the stars above Africa shimmer overhead.
In addition to the magical Mara, we will also explore the bustling city center of Nairobi and then have time at the end of the retreat to relax on the lush, palm-fringed coastline of the Indian Ocean on Lamu Island.
Learn more about this incredible journey below. I hope you will join FloYo for an unforgettable travel experience.
Nairobi:
In Nairobi, you will find a city that is lively, cosmopolitan and full of contrasts. It’s a place of smart office workers, mansions and expensive suburban shopping centers as well as slums crowded with people struggling on as best they can. Displaying enormous vitality and buzz, Nairobi is one of Africa’s major cities and is East Africa’s hub for commerce, aid and increasingly, technology. It is hard to imagine that this city of almost 5 million people celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1999 and that where it now stands, only Maasai manyattas stood barely a century ago!
Masai Mara:
The Masai Mara together with Tanzania’s Serengeti form Africa’s most famous wildlife park. The image of acacia trees on an endless grass plain epitomises Africa for many, and then add a Maasai warrior and some cattle to the picture and the conversation need go no further. The annual wildebeest migration through the Serengeti and the Masai Mara is the largest mass movement of land mammals on the planet – with more than a million animals following the rains. But that is not where the wild life viewing ends; large prides of lions, elephants and giraffes in grasslands, gazelles and eland to mention but a few.
Lamu:
Forming part of the Lamu Archipelago along Kenya’s spectacular coastline, Lamu Island is a peaceful tropical island where life moves slowly. This charming island is mostly blanketed in sand dunes, mango trees and palm groves. Lamu Old Town is one of the best-preserved and oldest Swahili settlements in East Africa featuring many influences from Omani Arabs, Turkish and Portuguese traders, who all left their mark. To this day there are only a few vehicles on the island and in many respects, the narrow streets, footpaths and alleyways and markets have barely changed in hundreds of years. All of this adds a level of ancient mystique to your tropical island holiday.
Trip Details:
Location: Kenya (we will stay 2 nights in Nairobi, 4 nights in the Masai Mara and 3 nights on Lamu Island)
How to get there: Fly into Nairobi International Airport
When:
November 2-11, 2024
Cost:
Shared Classic Tent (SOLD OUT):
Starting at: $6400 per person
Shared Superior Tent (SOLD OUT):
Starting at: $7600 per person
*If you prefer to pay via credit card there will be a 2.9% processing fee added to the total. We are sold out at the moment, but if you would like to be added to the wait list- email us for the details!
What the trip includes:
- 9 nights of accommodation
- All meals (excluding 1 lunch and 2 dinners in Nairobi)
- One group transfer to our Nairobi hotel (if your flight arrives at a different time then the group, you will need to pay for a private transfer)
- Private driver
- Conservation fees
- Wild life park entrance fees
- Flights within Kenya (this includes 4 individual flights)
- Transports to airport and airstrips for all internal flights
- Visits to local market
- Visit to local community in Nairobi
- Daily wellness practices (yoga, bootcamp, meditation)
- Laundry (when on safari)
- Drinks (when on safari)
Does Not Include:
- International flights to Nairobi
- Meals in Nairobi (other than breakfast)
- Entrance fees in Nairobi (if you want to visit the Giraffe Center or Elephant Orphanage, etc.)
- Premium brand drinks, champagne, cognacs and cellar wines
- Sightseeing and excursions not specified in the itinerary
- Spa services
- US and foreign airport taxes
- Passport and visa fees and service charges for obtaining visas
- Excess baggage charges levied by airlines
- Emergency medical evacuation policy (AKA travel insurance)
- Gratuities to drivers/guides (we will provide guidance on how much to budget for this!)
Our Accommodation
Nairobi:
Surrounded by flourishing tropical gardens, Fairmont The Norfolk is Nairobi’ s oldest and most famous hotel. 27 magnificent suites and 143 rooms include ensuite bathrooms, comfortable beds, air- conditioning, personal bars and satellite television. Both classic and elegant, many rooms boast stunning views of a beautifully manicured courtyard.
Masai Mara:
Steeped in the aura of classical safari, andBeyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp boasts 12 classic tents and 28 superior tents. Set into the dense vegetation that surrounds the Sabaringo River, the classic tents reflect the spirit of explorers of old. Comfortable interiors offer a traditional tented safari experience while secluded private verandas offer a shady spot to while the afternoon away. The generously sized swimming pool is set among the trees and surrounded by lush lawns and spectacular views.
Recently rebuilt, the superior tents feature beautiful Maasai-inspired interiors that showcase a simple and contemporary use of local materials. Oversized beds are perfectly positioned to make the most of the views, while stained cypress wood furniture combine with tribal decorative elements. The superior tents offer glimpses of the Masai Mara through the shade of the forest (excellent for bird lovers)!
Lamu Island:
We will stay in a private villa on Kizingoni Beach which stretches across 24 acres of golden beachfront. Our villa is on the southernmost tip of Lamu Island. There are not many stretches of beach like this left in the world. It offers seclusion, cooling winds, fresh water and clean seas, yet the delights and supplies of Lamu and Shela are a twenty-minute boat ride away.
The property is covered with established coconuts and doum palms with some indigenous woodland. The beach is virtually empty, apart from myriad crabs, migrant and local sea birds, shells and the occasional donkey troop.
The local village of Kipungani is a friendly and unspoilt fishing hamlet. Our villa is fully staffed to ensure you will not have to think about a thing! Our private chef will cook all of our meals at the villa. There is plenty to do at Kizingoni Beach, including water sports (SUP’s included!), swimming, snorkeling and beach walking. Sailing and deep sea fishing can be arranged as well.
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Welcome to Kenya! Upon arrival at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met by a FloYo representative who will transfer you to Fairmont The Norfolk for your first two nights in Kenya.
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Today, a driver and vehicle will be at our disposal for exploring Nairobi! Possible sites to visit are the AFEW Giraffe Center, the Maasai Market, and an evening visit to the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage for the special foster parents play session.
You can also visit the Karen Blixen Mueseum, or even spend some time shopping for souvenirs at Matbronze, Kazuri Beads or Utamaduni (entrance fees and meals paid directly) before being dropped off at the Radisson Blu for a the night.
And of course, a visit to Nairobi would not be complete without a yoga class with the Africa Yoga Project!
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After breakfast, a member from the andBeyond team will collect us from our hotel in Nairobi and drive us to Wilson Domestic Airport.
Our SafariLink Aviation flight from Wilson Domestic Airport to Kichwa Tembo Airstrip departs at 10:00am and arrives at 11:00am.
Today begins our safari adventure! The quintessential Masai Mara safari delivers many attractions and is home to an excellent year-round concentration of wild life as well as the two million animals that make up the Great Migration.
We will have our own private 4×4 safari vehicle and guide and each day we will set out in search of the incredible wildlife in the Masai Mara. &Beyond’s professionally trained guides will ask you about your favorite wildlife and will do their best to ensure that your preferences are met, whether it is tracking a particular species or spending more time enjoying each sighting, getting to know the habits of the animals. They will also tell you about the vegetation of the region and will explain the behavior of the animals that you come across. Each day will also include a yoga class and free time to enjoy the beautiful camp, pool and spa services!
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This morning you will be transferred to the local airstrip in time for your flight to Wilson airport, where you will connect with your afternoon flight to Lamu (flight included). On arrival, you will be met and greeted and transferred to Pepo Villas and Cabana for your final 3 nights.
Lamu is Kenya’s oldest inhabited town dating back to the 14th century. The old town is inscribed on the World Heritage List as “the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa”.
The fresh seafood, organic foods and the warm welcome of the Swahili people make Lamu the perfect wellness getaway to end our time in Kenya.
Our days in Lamu will be filled with swimming off the gorgeous coast, paddling (and FloYo!), beach yoga and exploring. We will have a local guide show us around Lamu Town to visit its fort, mosques and the villages. Lamu’s tropical climate, miles of empty beaches and car free sandy roads, is the ideal destination to relax and rejuvenate before flying back to the US!