Family Kenya Safari
Family Kenya Safari
Nairobi, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Masai Mara National Reserve.
This family-friendly Kenya adventure blends wildlife, culture, and unforgettable shared experiences across some of East Africa’s most inspiring destinations. Begin in Nairobi, the vibrant gateway city where children and adults alike can enjoy meaningful, hands-on encounters — from feeding giraffes at the Giraffe Centre to learning about conservation at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. It’s an ideal introduction to Kenya’s wildlife heritage before heading into the wilderness.
Journey north to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a pioneering conservation area renowned for its innovative wildlife protection work and home to the last remaining northern white rhinos. Families can enjoy gentle game drives, behind-the-scenes conservation talks, and unique sightings of the Big Five, including Kenya’s largest population of black rhino. The conservancy’s compact size makes wildlife viewing easy and exciting for younger travellers, while its range of activities keeps every day varied and engaging.
Finish your adventure in the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve, a wildlife paradise that delivers the quintessential safari experience. Here, sweeping savannahs teem with lions, elephants, cheetahs, giraffes, and—season permitting—the spectacular herds of the Great Migration. Family-friendly camps and guides ensure children stay captivated, whether spotting predators on the plains, learning Maasai traditions, or watching a sunset paint the sky over the Mara.
Perfect for families seeking meaningful connection, gentle adventure, and spectacular wildlife encounters, this itinerary balances comfort, learning, and fun—creating lifelong memories in Kenya’s most iconic wilderness areas.
9 nights / 10 days Family Kenya Safari
Nairobi – Ol Pejeta Conservancy – Masai Mara National Park
DAY 01 – ARRIVE IN NAIROBI
Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, clear immigration procedures, meet your guardian angel who transfers you to your Nairobi hotel.
Nairobi is the largest city between Cairo and Johannesburg. Though just south of the equator, it enjoys a spring-like climate. It is a modern city, yet its main avenues blaze with colour from tropical bushes and vines. Shopping in Nairobi varies from African clothing and craft shops to bazaar stalls and open-air markets where souvenir hunters find bargains ranging from woodcarvings to Persian carpets.
Bronze: Emara Ole Sereni
Silver: House of Waine
Gold: Hemingways Nairobi
DAY 02 – NAIROBI
Today, explore Nairobi. Feed the giraffes at the Giraffe Centre, thereafter enjoy a visit with the elephants at the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage followed by a trip into the forest to experience our exclusive Insider Access Activity: Forest Folk Stories with lunch.
Take a short walk beneath the canopy of the Oloolua Forest – a dry tropical forest that once would have covered most of this part of Nairobi. As you near the clearing you will hear drums in the distance and a traditional song of welcome calls you in. From the shadows your storyteller appears, their stories seem to weave a spell around you which intermingles with the sounds of the forest. They will pull you into the magic of the tales that have been handed down from generation to generation; stories of great warriors and tricky tortoises that will leave you captivated. Your lunch is a miniature picnic feast and each bite size delicacy is not only delicious but easy to eat in this beautiful forest setting.
Bronze: Emara Ole Sereni – Breakfast included
Silver: House of Waine – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Gold: Hemingways Nairobi – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
DAY 03 – AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
After an early breakfast drive to Ol Pejeta Conservancy in the shadow of Mount Kenya. The conservancy is famous for its rhino conservation program and boasts the largest Black rhino sanctuary in East Africa.
Ol Pejeta has magnificent views across its plains to the peaks of Mount Kenya; a variety of herbivores are found within the reserve and the big cats may also be seen. Orphaned rhino and warthog (one of which was the model for Pumba, from the movie Lion King), which have been reared by hand, provide a wonderful treat for children, as does the chimpanzee sanctuary.
Bronze: Sweetwaters Serena – Breakfast included
Silver: Akorn Exclusive Tented Camp – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Gold: Sanctuary Tambarare – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
DAY 04 – OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY
Today is special as you get to meet Najin and Suni, the last two remaining Northern White rhinos in the planet.
In 2009 Ol Pejeta Conservancy welcomed Najin and Suni, the world’s last remaining Northern White rhinos, from the Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic. They now live in the 700-acre Endangered Species Enclosure and you have an opportunity to meet them up close and hear their amazing stories. Their keeper will also tell you about the incredible efforts being made to save the species from extinction which includes the first rhino artificial insemination using their frozen eggs.
Bronze: Sweetwaters Serena – Breakfast included
Silver: Akorn Exclusive Tented Camp – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Gold: Sanctuary Tambarare – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
DAY 05 – OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY
The Conservancy is protected by a large team of rangers who patrol the sprawling land with the help of well trained and loved dogs.
Ol Pejeta’s canine unit plays an important role in the conservancy’s anti-poaching efforts and often proves to be one of the best lines of defense. Learn all about the dogs from their keepers, tour their kennels and then play an exciting game of hide and seek with the canines – you hide, they seek! Not only are the games great fun but they also help train the dogs.
Bronze: Sweetwaters Serena – Breakfast included
Silver: Akorn Exclusive Tented Camp – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Gold: Sanctuary Tambarare – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
DAY 06 – OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY
After breakfast get your walking shoes on and head out on a community walk of the area. Ol Pejeta Conservancy
works closely with surrounding communities in a variety of enterprises from health, education, agriculture and
business, among others. Visit Ol Pejeta’s neighbors and learn about the conservancy’s initiatives first hand from the
farmers, businesswomen and even the children during the school holidays.
Bronze: Sweetwaters Serena – Breakfast included
Silver: Akorn Exclusive Tented Camp – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Gold: Sanctuary Tambarare – Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
DAY 07 – MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
This morning, transfer to the airstrip for your morning flight to the Masai Mara . Arrive in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive.
The jewel in Africa’s crown, Masai Mara is host to the most spectacular array of wildlife. Its 1,510 square kilometres (583 square miles) of open savannah, woodlands and tree-lined rivers create an ecosystem that supports huge numbers of bird and mammal species. Lion are found in abundance throughout the park as are elephant, giraffe, a variety of gazelle species and zebra. Cheetah and leopard are also regularly seen and, if lucky, you may also find rhino.
Bronze: Ashnil Mara – Breakfast included
Silver: Karen Blixen Camp- Breakfast, lunch, dinner & limited beverages included
Gold: Santuary Olonana – Breakfast, lunch, dinner & limited beverages included
DAY 08 & 09 – MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
Spend the next two days exploring the beauty of the Masai Mara with game drives, nature walks plus fun kid activities including how to shoot a bow and arrow, track animals, bake and make necklaces. Child minders, trackers and cooks are available to ensure the children have new and exciting daily adventures.
Bronze: Ashnil Mara – Breakfast included
Silver: Karen Blixen Camp- Breakfast included
Gold: Santuary Olonana – Breakfast included
DAY 10 – DEPART
Today, fly back to Wilson Airport, Nairobi. You are met on arrival by a guardian angel and transferred to your day room to freshen up before the flight home.
Bronze: Ashnil Mara – Breakfast included
Silver: Karen Blixen Camp- Breakfast included
Gold: Santuary Olonana – Breakfast included
- The Masai Mara plays host to the most spectacular array of wildlife. 1,500 square kilometers of broad, biscuit coloured savannah sprawls as home to huge numbers of birds (almost 600 species including many raptors) and animals and is contiguous with the enormous expanse of the Serengeti; the two combine as the most diverse ecosystem on the continent.
- The word ‘mara’ comes from the local dialect, Maa, as spoken by the Masai and means mottled.
- Every year the Mara witnesses the most incredible animal phenomenon on the planet – the wildebeest migration. This mammalian train moves north from the Serengeti in search of fresh pasture, and returns south around October, a heaving line of grunting, snorting life that stretches for miles.
- At the Mara River they mass together nervously on the banks before plunging frantically onwards; their quest for food overwhelming their fear of the crocodiles that lie in wait for their annual feast. This incredible spectacle involves the movement of over a million wildebeest and their groupies, half a million Thomson’s gazelle, half a million zebra as well as smaller herds of topi and eland. These herds are closely followed by the predators, primarily lions.
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL
- January to March are hot dry months with low water levels and short grass. The wildlife have to fight over resources and can easily be seen gathered around water sources.
- The rains arrive between April and May and are characterized by short, intense thunderstorms and beautiful rainbows. The landscape turns lush and wildflowers abound. This is also when there are the lowest visitor numbers ensuring an exclusive experience.
- Between June and October the migration arrives in the Masai Mara and there are numerous river crossings.
- The last two months of the year have less intrusive rain. Temperatures are still high, although the mornings can be rather chilly.
KENYA
MONEY MATTERS
The Kenyan shilling is divided into 100 cents. Notes are issued in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 shillings. Coins are issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 shillings. 50 cent coins are available, but not commonly used.
The local currency you will need during your stay in Kenya should be obtained at authorised facilities such as banks and foreign exchange bureaus. Currency can also be exchanged at the Nairobi Airport on arrival. It is very difficult to exchange the shilling outside of Kenya so we recommend that you change only as much as you will need. Major credit cards are accepted at most outlets in Kenya. At Sanctuary Olonana we accept Visa, MasterCard or Amex, as well as cash and travellers cheques, and cash at our camp sites.
TIPPING
Tipping is not obligatory general suggestions are as follows: $15 per guest per day for the guide and $15 per guest per day for the rest of the staff.
WEATHER
The climate in Kenya is mainly characterised by warm days and cool evenings. December to March are usually the warmest months of the year, while June to August are the coolest. April and May often see intermittent rains, and from September to November the days are warm with short scattered rains falling in November.
TIME ZONE
GMT + 3 hours.
LANGUAGE
Kenya’s official languages are Swahili and English.
TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN
The South African immigration department has expressed concern about the growing issue of global child trafficking and announced new requirements for adults travelling with children under the age of 18, which will take effect from 1 June 2015.
Parents travelling with children would now be requested to provide an unabridged birth certificate (including the details of the child’s father as well as the mother) of all travelling children. This applies even when both parents are travelling with their children. When children are travelling with guardians, these adults are required to produce affidavits from parents proving permission for the children to travel. The above applies to foreigners and South Africans travelling to or from South Africa as well as travellers in transit.
For more information on Kenya travel please visit http://ktb.go.ke/
PASSPORT & VISA INFORMATION
Travellers should check for visa requirements pertaining to their citizenship, as entry requirements vary between countries. All travellers, however, must be in possession of a passport with at least six months of validity left beyond the intended departure date from Kenya.
• Foreign visitors may be required to obtain a visa to enter Kenya.
• Please visit http://www.kenya.visahq.com for a full list of nationalities which require visas for entry into Kenya.
• Passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the completion of this trip.
• Please Note that immigration requires you to have two blank pages in your passport per entry; without this you will be denied entry.
• International Departure Tax is required by all passengers departing from Kenya. In most cases the tax is included in your international air ticket. If tax has not been included then it must be paid at the airport prior to departure.
RATES
Different package levels are Bronze, Silver & Gold.
From $5,519 – $18,948 USD – Please enquire for detailed rates.
Rates are per person twin or double share.
Single Supplements on request.