Snowbird Private Kenya Safari! Ooh, Who doesn’t Love a Safari?

Last minute offerings… We have prepared a ‘Snowbird Kenya Safari’ itinerary, to tempt you into taking a short safari. It is a short and quite affordable safari, but if you would like to see something longer that encompasses a variety of experiences, do please get in touch, nothing is TOO Much!

Please do consider this time of year for a safari, as it is a very special time to visit. The highlights of this period are: Fewer tourists around so more privacy and an enhanced experience in the Parks and Reserves. A great time to enjoy the incredible East African Coast and the Indian Ocean. Warm weather. Calving season for the wildebeests in the Southern Serengeti where 300,000 calves are born in a three-week period! This is an amazing spectacle. (February). It is a drier time of year, so the wildlife tends to concentrate around waterholes and are thus much more visible and impressive.

And…It’s generally a great time of year to get away from Winter at home!

Our revered Kenyan Team draw upon four generations of African Safari heritage to give our clients the best access to the very best that Africa has to offer in safety and comfort. We carefully plan, outfit and operate private African safari adventures throughout sub-Saharan Africa and Indian Ocean Islands, taking our guests to some of the most breath-taking locations on the continent. Each and every one of our safaris is customized to suit the guest’s tastes and budget, based on years of hands-on field experience combined with relationships built-up over decades of personally guiding our safaris. This is the Ultimate Private Safari!

Background on my VIP Team. The family journeyed from England to Africa in the 1820’s. Arriving first into South Africa they spent a short time in Port Elizabeth, before making their way north to Kenya. Upon arrival at the port of Mombasa, they laden up their ox cart and so began their journey and consequently, first ever safari through Africa.

The family is one of the oldest settler families in Kenya arriving in the late 1800’s, have a unique and special part in the history of the country. They trekked through the rolling grasslands and huge herds of animals, along the way meeting the many diverse and different people of Kenya, who would later become their people too.

The Family journeyed some 700kms on their very first safari, without any roads to follow yet arriving to their destination in Nanyuki, Laikipia in Northern Kenya.

This maiden journey for the family sparked the beginning of a lifelong generational love for Africa. They are respected and revered in the African community. They were home.

Snowbird  4 guests, 8 guests or 12 guests. Safari Overview January- March, 2025 Dates TBC

Day 1 – 4 On arrival at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met by your private guide and transferred onto your private air charter to the magical Meru National Park

My VIP team Private Mobile Camp – Meru – Exclusive Use 3 Nights

Day 4 – 7 Fly by private air charter to the beautiful Laikipia Plateau and enjoy your very own game conservancy, staying at Enasoit – Exclusive Use 3 Nights

Day 7 – 10 Fly by private air charter to the VIP Team private tented camp, situated on the shady banks of the Sand River, Maasai Mara National Reserve. My VIP Team Private Mobile Camp-Exclusive use. 3 Nights

Day 10 Fly by private air charter to Nairobi. You will have a chance to enjoy sightseeing and any last-minute shopping as you will have a vehicle at your disposal today. You will have day rooms where you can freshen up before your international flight home

Key Dates

1) Day 1 – 4: My Kenyan VIP Private Mobile Camp – Meru ,Meru National Park

2) Day 4 – 7: Enasoit, Laikipia

3) Day 7 – 10: My Kenyan VIP Private Mobile Camp, Maasai Mara

Meru National Park Area Overview It has diverse scenery from woodlands at 3,000 feet on the slopes of the Nyambene hills, northeast of Mount Kenya, to wide-open plains with wandering riverbanks dotted with doum palms. The rivers are teaming with hippo and crocodile. If you want to you can fish for barbus and catfish at camp and along the Tana River. The area abounds with breathtaking views of swamps, meandering rivers inventively lined with palms, thick woodlands and a spectacular view of Mt. Kenya.

This is where the conservationists George and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the Lioness made famous in the best-selling book and award-winning movie Born Free. Elsa the Lioness is buried in this park and part of Joy’s ashes were scattered on her gravesite. Joy Adamson also released Pippa the cheetah in this park.

Enjoy the days exploring the Meru National Park looking for a wide range of animals including elephants, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Rhino, Grévy’s zebra, and hippopotamus. The wildlife here is vast and you will have no trouble finding game. Meru also offers a diverse number of birdlife there have been over400 species of birds recorded in this park and you will be able to see an array of them from camp.

VIP Team Private Mobile Camp – Meru Property Overview

The advantage of a Mobile Tented Camp over a lodge or a permanent tented camp is its flexibility and ability to be where the action is at any time of the year, since they are completely mobile. For, in Africa, no two seasons are exactly alike: no two years exactly the same. Since the movement of the vast array of herbivores and their attendant predators is triggered by rainfall, lush new growth and surface water, flexibility is a luxury that a mobile camp can offer a traveler.

Couple that with not having to share your home away from home with other humans, and you have a safari win-win! Mobile camping is all and more than the words imply.

The tents are huge and comfortable, insect proofed, each with its own veranda in front, with en-suite shower, toilet and separate changing area. Your tent will be furnished with either two single or one king size beds, firm yet comfortable mattresses, the finest bed linen, duvets and your bed will be warmed for comfort by hot water bottles in chilly conditions.

You will have a canvas wardrobe for your clothing, bedside tables, solar powered electric lights, and, in fact, everything anyone would expect in a luxury fixed lodge, including scented candles and fresh flowers.

The Dining Area – aka The Mess –incorporates a lounge and Bar area is spacious and insect proofed when necessary. In here, delicious multi-course gourmet meals are served, all cooked by skilled chefs on the camp stove and oven.

Menus include a variety of dishes to suit every taste and diet – vegan, vegetarian, meats, fish and fowl, pastas, pizzas and fresh salads, plus plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables brought in whenever needed, with bread baked daily. A refrigerator and deep freeze ensure that food is kept fresh, and that ice is ever plentiful.

The Safari crew play a vital role in making each safari memorable. Besides the wildlife ‘spotters’ and ‘trackers’, and the polished kitchen and dining staff, your unobtrusive tent butler will clean your tent during your absence & return your freshly laundered clothes.

Accommodations

Luxury Tent Our tents are luxurious with every effort made to ensure that our guests are comfortable. Each tent is equipped with electric lights, ensuite bathrooms with hot showers and flush toilets. We do not compromise on comfort!

Laikipia Area Overview The Laikipia plateau is fast becoming a region to rival the Maasai Mara. Rolling savannahs interspersed with riverine woodlands and granite inselbergs dot the landscape, with multiple rivers and streams eventually running off into the Ewaso Nyiro, northern Kenya’s largest river.

Home to all the Big Five, this idyllic region affords a huge variety of experiences and activities without the larger numbers of visitors that are sometimes found in national parks. Guests have the possibility of seeing northern species of giraffe, ostrich, and zebra amongst others. Horseback, camel, and walking safaris are very popular.

Laikipia encompasses an area the size of Wales and is located east of the Great Rift Valley and north of the snow-capped peaks of Mt Kenya, on the edge of Kenya’s fabled Northern Frontier District.

A patchwork of huge ranches, many of which are still working cattle ranches, have assumed the role of custodians of Kenya’s free roaming wildlife and are now geared towards adventurous and often luxurious safari tourism. Groundbreaking conservation projects work in tandem with the local ecotourism industry, generating sustainable income for the local Samburu and Laikipiak and Mokogodo Maasai communities, amongst many others.

Enasoit Property Overview Enasoit is a luxury tented camp in the wildlife rich Laikipia highlands of Kenya. The camp is an enchanting exclusive property, catering for only one group of guests at a time, and offering a uniquely private safari experience. Enasoit guests have the camp and surrounding wildlife reserve all to themselves – an ideal retreat for families and groups of friends.

As a small and intimate camp, Enasoit has unique charm. It is relaxed and welcoming, yet luxurious and beautifully appointed.

An Enasoit safari offers remarkable wildlife encounters and an array of exciting ways to experience the wilderness. One of the most distinctive features of Enasoit Camp is the extraordinary wildlife activity at the waterhole, located just in front of the main Mess Tent – the perfect viewpoint for wildlife-viewing from the comfort of an armchair.

Experience & Activities Enasoit days are as action packed or as relaxed as you like. There is an array of activities on offer including day and night guided game drives, guided bush walks, tracking resident lions, bush picnics, sundowner drinks and dinner under the stars, horse-riding, bird watching, exploring ancient rock art sites, relaxing by the swimming pool, massage and spa treatments. There is also a games area with croquet, table tennis, volleyball, and boules.

Other activities that can be arranged prior to arrival at an additional cost include helicopter excursions, guest speakers (experts in their fields such as anthropology, conservation, astronomy), quad bike excursions, and a visit to the nearby rhino sanctuary.

Accommodations Exclusive Use of Camp Enasoit Camp has 8 rooms: 6 tented cottages and 1 family tent with 2 interconnecting rooms. The rooms are situated around the waterhole, which attracts a busy array of wildlife, easily visible from the tent verandahs. The tents are carefully constructed using canvas and local materials, combining the romance of living ‘under canvas’ with the comfort of a permanent structure. Each tent has an en-suite bathroom, wooden floors, a sitting area with a fireplace and private verandah.

Fast Facts Highlights

Ideal for private groups and families Exclusive use of Enasoit Camp and the 4,500-acre wildlife reserve; and access to adjoining 50,000 acre wildlife reserve. An amazing array of exciting activities on offer. Excellent wildlife viewing. Owner managed

Quick facts Can accommodate 16 guests in eight tented cottages. Plus an additional two thatched cottage rooms at the Pool House (5 min drive from Enasoit Camp), which can be used for larger groups. 24-hour power available. 45 minutes flight or 4-hour drive from Nairobi. Located on the equator at 6,000ft altitude. Days are warm (mid 20’s Celsius) and mornings and evenings are cooler

Maasai Mara Area Overview The Mara (as it is affectionately known) covers 583 mi and is widely considered to be Africa’s greatest reserve. The backdrop of the Siria escarpment in the west overlooks sweeping savannas, riverine woodlands, and forests on a deceptively flat landscape that extends eastwards towards the Sekenani Hills and northwards towards the Aitong Hills.

The Mara is in essence the northern extension of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem and plays host to one of nature’s greatest phenomenon’s, the Great Wildebeest Migration.

Because of the quality of wildlife viewing, the Mara has for generations been the setting for hundreds of wildlife documentaries, including Disney’s African Cats, and the BBC’s Big Cat Diaries and Planet Earth. It is a wildlife photographer’s paradise and every year visitors come to capture the spectacular wildlife. The reserve and its conservancies contain some of the highest densities of predators in Africa and this only increases as nomads and vagrants follow the huge herds back and forth through this ecosystem during the seasonal wildebeest migration.

I’ve sent dozens of clients on Safari wit this team and have explored the Mara and these same areas with the team- they are beyond fun, the food is excellent, it is Quite Perfect!

SAFARI IS THE SWAHILI WORD FOR JOURNEY.

Yours starts here.

The World Is Opening Up! Inspiration and Facts

Spark Inspiration. Choose A Journey. Highly Recommend. Notes On Travel

Guest Post by our Creative Director, Susanne Smith, who creates the stunning front end of our weekly Malchimp posts and client magazines. Everyone can use a refresher on How to Travel Again!

  • Choosing A Destination
  • Getting Inspired 
  • Where It Is Safe To Travel 
  • Assembling Your Journey

The World Is Opening Up And It Is A Celebration! 

Four Seasons Maldives Kuda Huraa

This is the perfect time to create lists of must-see, can’t die without visiting…the proverbial Wish List of travel destinations and experiences. 

Now. How on Earth do you make up your mind where to travel next? It’s part art (flair, instinct, desire, dreams) and part science (budgets, visas, distance, time…). 

The world is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences. The horizon for travel feels closer, every day a little bounce toward normalcy. 

After nearly 15 months of being grounded, some may feel they have taken travel for granted. Pre-Pandemic, I had composed a globe-trotting list of experiences and a month before we were so quickly shut down, I had just returned from Jordan and Egypt. My Journey began with a starlight walk under a carpet of stars to being dazzled by the Treasury in Petra, illuminated by thousands of candles; my Journey concluded at the great pyramids of Giza. 

Quarantine time provided hours of dreaming and plotting experiences. What do I want to see and what is safe? I’ve flown to Cabo, mainly because it was a three hour flight, which felt safe for my first outing. Double masked, in first class, with wipes and clear glasses, I felt surprisingly comfortable. I’m plotting a long-haul flight, but will take one more short hop to feel 100% confident of airport procedures and other tourists acting responsibly.

I have such faith in our World and can’t wait to get going! 

Buddha Dordenma Statue, Thimphu Bhutan

Choosing A Destination 

Why Exactly Do You Want To Travel It’s not always obvious. Usually, it’s because you have a destination in mind but understanding your motivations and your desires will help you decide. Begin asking questions and consider new ways to be inspired. 

It can be a fun research project; and if you’re planning an international Journey, ask yourself and your travel companions what’s most important. Safety and comfort? Adventure and lots of activities? Or both?

There are so many ways to decide where to go and what to do. Shape your experiences. Dig deep inside. Pester friends for advice. Peruse your bucket list. Inspiration for your next big Journey can be in the form of a single photo to 23andMe results inspiring a visit to your homeland!

Decide Who’s Going Maybe you want to travel alone so you can do whatever you want, or you and your best friend have finally carved out time to take a Journey together. Who you’re traveling with will affect the remainder of your Journey planning. 

Pick A Time To Travel How many days can you go? Remember that the weather and season could be drastically different from where you live. Northern or Southern Hemisphere? Follow the sun or the snow? 

Estimate A Budget It helps to be honest with yourself and whoever is going with you on what you want to spend—and what your priorities are. Budgeting before you decide where to go can provide some structure when narrowing down locations and accommodations. 

Accommodations & Activities  Accommodations can range from aplenty to scarce to extremely rare. Do you feel like kicking back and letting an all-inclusive resort take care of the details or book a private villa and be more integrated with the local community? 

Share Your Travel Plans Communication. Share your travel plans with colleagues, friends and family. Keep in touch through social media and consider registering online with the U.S .Government so the U.S. Embassy has you on a locate list. 

Jumpstart Any Travel Mental Blocks Corral your friends if your own ideas are feeling a little stale, tap into the collective hive mind of your friends. Throw a cocktail party with admittance: one travel story! Social Media Influencers are a great wealth of information too. 

Dream Up An Experience Instead of country-hopping or city-dipping, concentrate on a 360-degree view of what you’ll actually do when there? Have an experience in mind as opposed to just a country. Eg. – ‘I want to go to Sydney and see free range Kangaroos at the Reptile Park,’ rather than, ‘I want to go to Australia.’ 

Sunrise Four Seasons Los Cabos Resort at Costa Palmas

Relaxation Float through vacations. Unplug. Swing in a hammock. Live in the Spa. Consider a private yacht in remote tropical locations. Move into a villa on Lake Como for the summer. 

Culture Countries like Italy, Turkey, Greece, Peru, and China are replete with history. Customize your trip with vetted guides. 

Sacred Places Bhutan’s monks in maroon robes, prayer flags and Tiger’s Nest. Sardinia’s mysteries of Mamoiada with ancient fairy houses and giants’ tombs. Santa Fe’s red earth and strange vortexes – the world is full of sacred places. 

Bhutan

Inveterate Shoppers There are fabulous markets across the globe — from Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar to the flea markets of France. Plan your Journey around classic fashion cities like London, Paris, Milan, or Tokyo.

Unforgettable Architectural Sites The Colosseum in Rome, pyramids of Egypt, Barcelona for the Gaudi buildings. The best chateaux of the Loire Valley. Tour America visiting choice Frank Lloyd Wright homes or reserve one for an immersive experience.

Solo Journeys Some countries lend themselves to independent travel because they are so organized and simple to navigate like Switzerland, South Korea or Singapore. 

Off The Beaten Path Vacations Spend a week in Sri Lanka, explore Saharan sand dunes in Morocco, or see Cuba that seems to be frozen in time yet modern, utterly unforgettable. 

Explore A Specific Region Pick a region and organize an itinerary that takes you there in depth — the cities of southern France, for example. Or, use a single city as your hub and then get out to explore the region: Annecy, France can be your jumping off point to the French Alps. 

Elements of the decorations of the Temple of Emerald Buddha in Bangkok, Thailand

Film & Book Inspirations Let a favorite film, television show, or book shape your Journey. Follow Lawrence of Arabia’s steps through Jordan, Amman, and Morocco. A River Runs Through It – can be relived at a luxury Montana Dude Ranch. Meet Diane Fossey’s Gorillas in the misty jungles of Rwanda. 

Food & Wine Sojourns It’s truly the way to a city’s heart. In deciding where to go next knowing what I want to eat and going to the birthplace of that dish is a big factor. Organize street food tours — Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok are great places to start. A wine lover? That will get you to France, California, Chile, Australia, Italy… this list grows and grows.  

Follow Festivals & Celebrations Choose an event, not a destination. Consider festivals, celebrations or holidays. Food bashes, film and music festivals, or TED-style conferences can inspire Journeys to far-flung places. You won’t have to decide what to do when you get there — that part’s all planned. 

Sporty Vacations Hike the Atlas Mountains in North Africa. Ride horses through the vineyards of Argentina. Do something sporty – marathons, cycling tours, races, and Championships – X sports, golf, surfing and Olympics. 

Throw A Wild Card When in doubt, throw a dart at a map. Either you will go, or, it will help you realize where you don’t want to go! Throw it as many times as you like. Or, pack a bag and show up at the airport. Hop the first plane to a city you’ve always wanted to visit.

Where Is It Safe To Go?  More than 75 countries currently allow U.S. citizens to visit, but some restrictions apply. See resources below and view Country-by-Country Guides to Reopened Europe and Asia. 

Research the state of the virus and learn your location’s entry requirements, medical facilities and daily life.

Check your destination country’s official government websites—as well as the CDC website and U.S. Embassy website for the country—before and during any Journey. 

What To Pack Even as mask guidelines relax stateside, we’re still packing face masks and hand sanitizer wherever we go. Some travelers feel more comfortable with a face shield. I personally have not had a cold in over a year so may never give them up. 

Where To Get A Digital Vaccine Records

• myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov

You will receive a personal QR code. Take a screen shot of this and save on your phone.

Resources

• cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices 

• usembassy.gov 

• nytimes.com/article/travel-to-europe 

• travel.usnews.com/features/where-can-americans-travel-right-now

• nytimes.com/2021/05/26/travel/travel-to-europe-restrictions-covid

Things To Know About Traveling Overseas And At Home 

Megeve France Breakfast in a Balloon Basket!

International Travel  Shifting flight schedules, varying hotel flexibility and new tech: A lot has changed since the last time you packed that passport. Flight schedules will be in flux for months to come. 

Hotel flexibility will vary, so read the fine print. Prepare to schedule and commit, rather than wing it. There are now laws in place in some countries allowing hotels and other travel companies to issue credits, rather than cash refunds, for canceled bookings. 

Places you may be returning to may not be the same – realize that Paris won’t look exactly like the Paris you remember. 

Update your tech and tap into App tech updates. If it’s been a while since you’ve taken your phone overseas, research your wireless provider’s options to avoid roaming charges. Companies, including Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile, have per diem travel passes that include unlimited data and texting and certain calling benefits. 

Many tickets and entry passes are digital. There are several new travel-friendly bells and whistles from Google Maps introduced more tailored maps that “know” when a user is at home or traveling: A London vacationer who fires up the app at noon, for instance, will see nearby lunch options as well as local tourist attractions. 

Passport renewal services have resumed, but prepare for potential delays, we have services to expedite passports and visas. Here’s what to know if your passport expires any time within the next year. Plus, why a growing number of Americans are looking for second passports. As of late July, travelers can enroll in Global Entry again. And the deadline to apply for Real ID, a new federally approved identification all Americans will soon need for domestic travel, has been extended.

Countries in Asia like China, Japan and South Korea were impacted early on, they’ve also been earlier to peak, earlier to flatten their curves, and, generally, earlier to reopen. Some places, including Singapore and Taiwan took enough preventative measures to avoid a full lockdown altogether.

Resources

Havanna Cuba

• cntraveler.com/story/asia-reopening-guide-coronavirus 

• nytimes.com/article/travel-to-europe 

• https://www.cntraveler.com/story/asia-reopening-guide-coronavirus 

• https://www.nytimes.com/article/travel-to-europe 

• nytimes.com/2021/05/26/travel/travel-to-europe-restrictions-covid 

Domestic Travel  Keep in mind, you don’t need to leave the country to have a memorable vacation. While international destinations are tempting, there are plenty of enjoyable places to safely vacation around the U.S. Trade the Maldives for Maui, Hawaii, the Swiss Alps for Vail, Colorado, or an African safari for an adrenaline-filled Jeep ride through the desert of Sedona, Arizona.

There are many lesser-known destinations around the country – such as St. Augustine, Florida; Leavenworth, Washington; Holland, Michigan – that feel more like Europe than America. 

Choosing a domestic vacation has its perks, especially during a pandemic. You won’t have to worry about visa restrictions, issues with entry or last minute country closures ruining your Journey (though note some states are imposing their own travel restrictions and quarantine rules). Not to mention, you might find a little slice of paradise close to home that you can continue to visit. Highly Recommend touring our National Parks and their early 1900’s lodges, or domestic UNESCO sites. 

Brown Bear in the Wilderness

Perks of a Travel Consultant  Emergencies. Expertise. Extras. Air Travel. Better Journeys. Planning your Journey is a juggling act of timing, travel goals, budget management and coordinating real-time logistics. Every detail needs attention for the big show! It can be likened to choreographing a ballet or planning a wedding. Travel advisors offer unique services – they vet your Journey, save you time and reduce stress, understand ambience, staff, hotel suite size, best dining options, and can create customized experiences. 

Travel advisors are your advocate. Whatever hurdles rise before the most solid itinerary, your travel agent solves the problem and coordinates any domino effect changes. 

Travel advisors add a human element — and an element of trust.

They are invested in their clients’ happiness and want to make sure each and every Journey is packed full of positive lifelong memories. They listen, suggest, adjust, understand and become a friend. They are with you before, during and after your Journey. 

Like any professional advisors, they really do know more than you do. 

Travel Consultant Wandering the World, in Wadi Rum Jordan

Resource

• https://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2020/01/26/5-reasons-why-you-need- a-travel-agentmore-than-ever/?sh=43bea6c45343

Planning My Personal Journeys My visit to Bhutan reinforced my goal of seeing countries with well-preserved cultures with customs that haven’t been touched by outside influences. As much as I love Paris and Italy, at this point in my life, I’m drawn to lands that feel raw and less explored. Tribal traditions all around the world, understanding the culture of people who live so differently, the remoteness and physical natural beauty of foreign lands are always beckoning. 

Morocco I am planning to return this November wanting to immerse further into the culture and landscape, beyond Marrakesh and the medina.

Ethiopia Talk about my ideal Journey; the origin of mankind, their own calendar that says it’s still 2010 instead of 2021, the ancient architecture, sweeping gorgeous landscapes, people, cuisine…I cannot wait to begin planning!

Papua New Guinea Here tourism is a fairly unexplored area of the world which is very appealing to me. The culture of Papua New Guinea is complex. There are more than 7,000 different cultural groups mostly with their own language. I definitely plan to experience a celebration with the Mudmen of the Asaro tribe.

Botswana Although I’ve visited Africa eight times and trekked for several days with the magnificent gorillas in Rwanda, Botswana will be my next safari. From the Okavango Delta to the large elephant herds in the Chobe National Park and the unpredictable Savute Channel, which runs dry and floods seemingly at random – Botswana has some of Africa’s most beautiful reserves and exceptional wildlife.

Potato Farmer Bhutan Amankora