Compare Intergenerational Kenya: Big Cats, Baby Elephants & Maasai Warriors by Road Scholar vs Kenya Safari Experience by G Adventures

Day 1: Depart the U.S. on Overnight Flights.

Depart From: Overnight flights from the U.S. to Nairobi, Kenya.

Day 2: Arrivals to Nairobi, Kenya.      

Accommodation: Sarova Panafric

Evening: Arrival at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Proceed through Immigrations, Baggage Claim and Customs before exiting the secured area of the airport. If getting your visa upon arrival, please submit your completed visa application form, fee and valid passport at the visa booth before proceeding nearby to the Immigration counter.

The Road Scholar representative will be waiting outside the Customs exit door, in the arrivals hall, with a Road Scholar sign (only applies to Road Scholar group flights).

Transfer to the hotel and check-in.

Note: This is an international travel day. No meals are included, other than those provided on the international flights. Hotel rooms available for check-in starting at 3 p.m.

Day 3: Nairobi - Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage/Kenya Wil...            

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Sarova Panafric

Note: Please be aware that program activities and scheduled times could change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Breakfast: In the hotel restaurant.

Morning: After breakfast, enjoy a short program orientation with your group leader.

Get to know your group leader and fellow Road Scholar participants during a welcome and introduction session at the hotel. We will review the up-to-date daily schedule and any changes, discuss responsibilities, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have.

An introductory talk ('Saving Orphaned Elephants, Why Bother?') will prepare us for our morning field trip to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust- Orphan Project.

The David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, located near Nairobi National Park, raises elephant calves and rhinos orphaned by poaching. The center was established by Daphne Sheldrick, widow of famed Tsavo game warden David Sheldrick. The orphanage is regularly open to the public in the mornings. At that time, visitors get to watch the playful calves being fed, exercised, and bathed. Once the animals are ready to be returned to the wild, they are transported to Tsavo National Park and reintroduced to resident herds.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Transfer to the Kenya Wildlife Headquarters and the animal orphanage.

While at the Kenya Wildlife Headquarters' animal orphanage watch the animals being fed, especially the big cats--lions and cheetahs. Learn how animals' teeth provide clues to the type of food they eat and where they live.

Return to the hotel. Before dinner, join in a group discussion about the wildlife seen during the day's activities. Children will be invited to select a specific animal to study throughout the program.

Following the wildlife discussion, enjoy a lesson on the basics of Swahili.

Dinner: At the hotel restaurant.

Evening: Free time.

Day 4: Lake Elementaita - National Museum/Excursion to ...               

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Lake Elementaita Lodge

Lake Elementaita - National Museum/Excursion to Giraffe Center/Meeting a Maasai.

Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant.

Morning: Depart for the National Museum for a follow-up on animal studies and an introduction to the early inhabitants of Kenya--some of the oldest on Earth.

Excursion to the Giraffe Center where you will have the chance to feed these gracious animals and learn about their extraordinary physiology.

The Giraffe Center is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1979 with the purpose of saving Kenya's endangered Rothschild Giraffe, indigenous to the Lake Nakuru area. In the late 1970s, only 130 Rothschild Giraffes existed in the wild, displaced by encroaching agriculture. Since its founding, the Giraffe Center has been able to increase the giraffe population by raising and relocating the giraffes to protected wildlife parks and reserves. The center welcomes visitors of all ages to enjoy a close encounter with these gentle giants for a unique hands-on learning experience.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Depart for Lake Elementaita with an introduction to the Great African Rift Valley from a lookout point en route.

Arrive at your lodge and enjoy some free time to explore the lodge grounds or simply relax before your evening activities.

Before dinner, meet your first Maasai for a talk about the significance of Lake Elementaita in the history of the Maasai people.

Dinner: At the lodge.

Evening: Free time.

Day 5: Lake Nakuru - Nature Walk with a Maasai/Mwariki ...               

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Lake Nakuru Lodge

Lake Nakuru - Nature Walk with a Maasai/Mwariki Village Visit/Game Drive in Lake Nakuru National Park.

Breakfast: At the lodge restaurant.

Morning: After breakfast, join a Maasai naturalist on a nature walk from the lodge to the shore of the lake. Enjoy an introduction to the bush lore of the Masai, observe flamingoes and discuss their migratory patterns in the Rift Valley.

Return to the lodge and free time until lunch.

Lunch: At the lodge restaurant.

Afternoon: Depart for the Mwariki Village, located at the entrance to the Lake Nakuru National Park. Learn about life in a rural village and participate in a bead making session organized by the ladies of this community.

Continue into the Lake Nakuru National Park for our first game drive and an introduction to the animals of the park.

Return to the lodge late in the afternoon. Review the day's activities with your group leader, followed by a discussion on Lake Nakuru's successful rhino breeding project--the most effective project of its kind in Kenya.

Dinner: At the lodge.

Evening: Local entertainment provided by the lodge.

Day 6: Lake Nakuru - Rhino Base/Game Drives.             

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Lake Nakuru Lodge

Breakfast: At the lodge restaurant.

Morning: Early morning game drive to the Rhino Base for further discussion on the rhino followed by an intense search for these tank-like animals. Return to the lake shore for a discussion of the different eating habits of the Greater and Lesser Flamingo and find out how the food they eat affects their color. Search for the elusive leopard and study a large troop of baboons to learn about their social habits. Continue to the lookout point for a "spot the animal" competition.

Return to the lodge.

Lunch: At the lodge.

Afternoon: After lunch, take advantage of your free time to enjoy the pool, catch-up on your reading, or get some rest before resuming activities later in the day.

Get together for tea and cookies, then embark on an afternoon game drive to observe how animals prepare for the night.

Return to the lodge for a review of the day's activities and an orientation session in preparation for your up and coming visit to the Kariandusi archaeological site.

Karibu! Gather around for another Swahili lesson.

Dinner: At the lodge.

Evening: Free time.

Day 7: Crater Lake - Kariandusi Pre-historic Site/Lake

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Crater Lake Tented Camp

Breakfast: At the lodge.

Morning: Depart for the Kariandusi pre-historic site for a presentation on the Stone Age community that inhabited that location. Learn how they made their hand axes and watch one being made.

Dr. Louis Leakey, famed archaeologist and naturalist, discovered Kariandusi (an Acheulean site) near Lake Elementaita in 1928. Excavations (1929-1947) conducted at this location uncovered many Stone-Age implements including knives and hand axes. Interesting on-site exhibits showcase the archaeological finds.

Depart for Lake Naivasha with a short presentation on the different activities associated with the lake such as fishing and flower growing.

Lunch: At a local restaurant on the shores of Lake Naivasha.

Afternoon: Embark on a scenic boat ride on Lake Naivasha, skirting the shores of Crescent Island in search of animals that have the been the "stars" of many nature movies. Also, be on the look-out for African Fish Eagles as you cross the lake. These endangered raptors can sometimes be spotted snatching up unsuspecting fish out of the lake waters and carrying them away in their strong tallons.

Upon entering the Crater Lake Sanctuary, enjoy a short game drive looking for zebras, giraffes, warthogs, elands, and monkeys.

Arrive at the camp overlooking the crater lake. Free time to settle-in and relax.

As the last rays of sun slip below the horizon, we will gather around the camp fire for a story telling session.

Dinner: At the camp.

Evening: Free time.

Day 8: Crater Lake - Nature Walks at Crater Lake and Ga...   

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Crater Lake Tented Camp

Breakfast: Enjoy some early morning coffee and cookies at the camp while the local guide provides an enlightening introduction to the sounds of the morning.

Breakfast to follow.

Morning: On a guided nature walk around Crater Lake, search for monkeys and learn to identify the prints left behind by animals that visit the lake during the night. A short hike to the rim of the crater provides the opportunity to discuss the formation of the crater from a geological perspective.

Continue to the wildlife sanctuary with the naturalist guide for a rare opportunity to walk amongst the animals. To quietly stalk a browsing giraffe or a grazing eland gives a realistic perspective of the size and the beauty of these large animals.

Lunch: BBQ at the camp.

Afternoon: After lunch, meet in the conference room to watch a video presentation. An afternoon walk in the vicinity of the lake will focus on animal tracks and how to identify them.

Dinner: At the camp.

Evening: A night game drive in the sanctuary will introduce us to the eyes and sounds of the night.

Day 9: Masai Mara - Nature Walk with a Maasai Warrior/C...             

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Nyumbu Camp

Breakfast: At the camp.

Morning: Depart for the Masai Mara.

Lunch: Box lunch en route.

Afternoon: Orientation to the camp and presentation on the Masai Mara, Kenya's most famous reserve, by the resident Maasai naturalist.

A nature walk with a Maasai warrior will address the dos and don'ts when encountering wild animals.

Camp fire stories with a Maasai warrior.

Dinner: At the camp.

Evening: After dinner, learn about the Great Migration during a video presentation.

Day 10: Masai Mara - Game Drives in the Mara.            

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Nyumbu Camp

Breakfast: Early breakfast at the camp.

Morning: Depart for a game drive in the Masai Mara. The focus will be on bit cats--lion, leopard, and cheetah--with discussions and observation of their different hunting strategies and social structure. Also, expect to see your first elephants in the wild and learn how members of a family of elephants help each other.

As we approach the Mara River, the focus turns to the Great Migration. Marvel at the long lines of wildebeest and zebra moving through the rolling savannah grasslands on their annual 800 mile journey in search of food.

Lunch: Picnic lunch in the Mara.

Afternoon: After lunch, continue with your game drive in the Masai Mara.

Return to the camp. Before dinner, enjoy a camp fire orientation with a Maasai warrior in preparation for your up and coming visit to a Maasai village.

Swahili lessons before dinner.

Dinner: At the camp.

Evening: Free time.

Day 11: Masai Mara - Learning the Ways of the Maasai/Vis...           

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Nyumbu Camp

Breakfast: At the camp.

Morning: Walk with a Maasai warrior to understand the movements of the wild animals by studying their hoof prints and droppings. Learn how the Maasai protect themselves from a wild animal attack by using their fighting sticks, spears, and bows and arrows. Practice the same drills that warriors do to become proficient with their weapons. Learn how to make fire by creating friction with a stick and piece of wood and make a toothbrush from a tree branch--the Maasai way.

Meet local teachers and school children during a visit to a rural school (if in session). ***Although not required, previous participants have enjoyed taking basic school supplies to donate to the school.***

Lunch: At the camp.

Afternoon: Take part in a Maasai ritual in preparation for the farewell dinner.

During a visit to a local Maasai village, mingle with the young children as they herd the calves and goats back to the village for the night. Count the cows as they return to the village and participate in their milking. Help to settle the calves into the huts and spend time in the hut learning about the Maasai way of life.

Return to the camp.

Dinner: Farewell dinner at the camp with a Maasai celebration.

Evening: Continue dancing with the Masai, learning about the meaning of their different dances.

Day 12: Return to Nairobi and International Departures.   

Meals: Lunch

Accommodation: Panari Hotel

Arrive To: At the camp.

Morning: Begin transfer to Nairobi.

Lunch: In Nairobi at a local hotel.

Afternoon: Participants will be accommodated at the Panari Hotel until it is time to depart for the airport (check-out at 6 p.m.). Enjoy time at leisure to finish packing, make use of hotel amenities, or simply relax before your international flights.

Enjoy some snacks at the hotel before leaving for the airport.

Transfer to the airport and check-in for international overnight flights.

This concludes the program. We hope you enjoyed your Road Scholar adventure! When you get home, remember to stay in touch via the Road Scholar Social Network; share memories, pictures, and comments about your recent travels.

Day 13: Arrive in the U.S.               

Arrive To: International flight arrivals to the U.S.

Day 1 Nairobi

Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.

Our trips throughout Kenya and Tanzania have a maximum group size of six travellers in addition to a CEO and a driver who are both trained safari guides. That means everyone gets a window seat and twice the insight about the astounding wildlife all around you.

Day 2 Nairobi/Lake Nakuru National Park

Depart early for Lake Nakuru, known for harbouring flocks of pink flamingos and a rich variety of bird species. Arrive at our safari lodge inside Lake Nakuru National Park in time for lunch, and seek out the resident rhinos on a late afternoon wildlife drive.

Day 3 Lake Nakuru National Park

Set out on morning and afternoon safaris through the picturesque park, searching for buffalo, impalas, lions, and more; and drive along the salty shores of Lake Nakuru to discover a mind-boggling variety of birds.

Day 4 Lake Nakuru National Park/Lake Naivasha

This morning attend a talk given by a representative of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)—a government institution dedicated to managing the country’s wildlife—about the issues surrounding poaching and wildlife conservation. Later head south through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha, a large freshwater lake surrounded by grassy banks and olive trees. Cruise the lake on a boat, watching for hippos and buffalo; and peer through your binoculars to spot lovebirds, ibis, and the African fish eagle. Step ashore at Crescent Island—a peaceful wildlife sanctuary located in the middle of the lake— and enjoy a guided stroll in search of wildebeest, zebras, and giraffes.

The name Naivasha comes from the Maasai “Nai’posha”, which means “rough water”, though Lake Naivasha is generally calm as we watch for hippos and birdlife. Bring your binoculars and scan for lovebirds, ibis, and fish eagles, watch buffaloes wallow in the swamps and listen to colobus monkeys call from the treetops.

Day 5 Lake Naivasha/Masai Mara

Travel to the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve and settle into our comfortable tented camp, located in the heart of the reserve. Head out for an afternoon safari through vast, acacia-dotted plains, driving past throngs of wildebeest, zebra, and giraffes; and keep an eye out for lions, elephants, and the rest of the African “big five.” In the evening, relax at the camp and enjoy scenic views of the rolling plains.

After breakfast, we depart for the world famous Masai Mara National Reserve. No trip to Kenya would be complete without a visit here. In the afternoon, we will arrive in the area, and get settled at our safari camp, our base for our time here. Then we’ll make our way into the reserve for an afternoon wildlife safari drive, with excellent chances of seeing the "big five": buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion, and rhino.

The road in and back out of the park is very rough and very bumpy, but once you catch a glimpse of the stunning wildlife, it is worth a bit of discomfort.

Day 6 Masai Mara

Venture out on an early morning safari to track the animals that traversed the savanna during the night. View ungulates like Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, topi and eland antelopes—as well as their stealthy predators—at one of their most active times of the day. Continue your exploration on a late afternoon safari, discovering the timeless landscapes of Masai Mara.

Day 7 Masai Mara/Nairobi

Witness a breathtaking sunrise over the savanna during your final safari in Masai Mara, and head back to Nairobi. Stop en route at Café Ubuntu, a G Adventures–supported Planeterra project that trains and employs local women and mothers of children with disabilities. Café Ubuntu is an oasis with delicious organic food, hospitable staff, and a relaxing atmosphere based in Maai Mahiu. It is a beacon for tourists who drive through the area each year on their way to the famous Maasai Mara conservancy. Learn about how the initiative empowers the community, visit the craft centre to meet some of the women who create the wares sold there, and then sit down for a delicious farm-to-table lunch. Options range from breakfast tacos, soups, and salads, to freshly made pizzas, curry dishes, and burritos.

Rise early for a final morning wildlife safari drive, enjoying the African sun as it rises over the savannah of the Mara plains. Return to Nairobi in the late afternoon and opt to join the CEO in a farewell dinner.

Day 8 Nairobi

Depart at any time.