Hidden Africa: 10-Day Exclusive Safari
Discover the natural world’s greatest treasures in Uganda & Kenya on this 10-day luxury excursion. Enjoy instant upgrades as Robin’s client, in some of the most exclusive and private properties on the continent of Africa.
Days 1-3: Gorilla Safari Lodge
Stay: Gorilla Safari Lodge sits comfortably at the edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, a primeval forest and lush jungle region in south west Uganda. This national park is home to wild gorillas, forest elephants and 23 species of native birds.
Connect: Experience an afternoon visit to the Batwa Tribes who will give you an intimate look into their ancient hunter-gather lifestyle. Inhabiting a small but beautiful pocket of the Buniga Forest, your Batwa guide will take your through the beauty of their natural surroundings, introduce you to their neighbors—red-tailed monkeys, a variety of birds, and on occasion, wild chimpanzees—and will share their homes and sustainable farming practices with you, their welcomed guests.
Trek: What do you do when you come face to face with a female gorilla and her family? You’ll be well versed in gorilla etiquette after meeting your local guides and trackers who will share the ins and outs of trekking. Then, find yourself deep in the forest where gorillas were seen the night prior, and track from there. While the terrain can be rough, the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery make the experience worth the effort. Once the gorillas are located all fatigue is forgotten — the experience is often described as being the most profound natural history experience in the world.
Days 4-6: Saruni Rhino Camp
Stay: After a day of travel, spend one evening at Ole-Sereni Hotel overlooking the Nairobi National Park. The following day, transfer to your accommodations at Saruni Rhino Camp located within the massive and remote Sera conservancy in the Samburu National Park. From the comforts of your luxury banda (cottage) watch elephants drink and play in the watering hole at the camp’s doorstep.
Explore: Going off the beaten track to look for 16 critically endangered black rhino is not just an experience limited to National Geographic photographers. Once you locate the black rhino with your Sera rangers and Saruni guides, leave your vehicle for a more intimate experience on foot. Standing before these powerful creature among the rhythms of the East African bush is an opportunity few will ever have, and none will ever forget!
Also enjoy crossing paths with the ‘Samburu Five’: gazelle, giraffe, ostrich, zebra, oryx and an abundance of other rare species such as the leopard, the striped hyena, the Civet cat and the wonderful African wild dog — not forgetting a plethora of birdlife.
Eat: After a day tracking rhinos, enjoy a candlelit bush dinner under the stars with conscientiously prepared fare. While dinning among wildlife, witness the sounds of nocturnal creatures stirring in the distance. And while on safari, take a break with a riverside picnic, watching a family of elephants play.
Days 7-9: Masai Mara
Stay: Depart by flight to the Masai Mara. On arrival you are met and transferred to your luxury camp Ol Seki Mara — your enclave of luxury in the wildest terrain of Kenya. If ever there was a definition of ‘glamping’ Ol Seki captures it in every sense. Every tent sits on a private vantage point up on the rocky escarpment offering a 270° view of the bush from your bed which takes in the slope of the acacia scrub where animals graze in the shade of the sparse trees. At night, you will find yourself in the warm glow of the paraffin lanterns and candlelight, the hazy bush noises singing in the background as you survey the Koyaki plains.
Explore: Explore Naboisho, your secluded wilderness, away from the flash and chatter of tourists. There’s so much to discover here – myriad wildlife indigenous to East Africa, as well as the wild birds and plants. Meet the local Maasai herdsmen and their families and learn about their pastoral way of life. Take a hike, visit a N’dorobo cave, watch birds, photograph the sunset, dine under the stars, soar above the plains in a hot air balloon or have an exciting horseback safari. You’ll love the personally tailored experience in the hands of attentive, observant guides.
Eat: Breakfast can be before you head out for a morning game drive or after you come back. Lunch can be a perfect picnic out in the Reserve or a light lunch back in camp. After a long day on safari, afternoon tea is delivered to your room as you take a few hours to relax and re-energize. And if all that’s not enough, enjoy a 4 course dinner in camp or out in the bush under the stars.
