Classic Kenya Safari - Maasai Mara to Mombasa

Our east African adventure begins at London Heathrow this morning, where we meet our Tour Manager and small group of fellow travellers before our daytime flight to Nairobi. Arriving into Nairobi late this evening, we are met at the airport and transferred to our modern 4-Star hotel in the south west of the city.

The contemporary Tamarind Tree Hotel features an outdoor heated swimming pool, a bar lounge, terrace and garden.

Kenya's capital, Nairobi, is known as The Green City in the Sun. After breakfast we set out by coach into the Nairobi National Park for our first game drive. Driving into a landscape of grassy plains, shrubland and Acacia trees, we look out for lion, zebra, elephant and giraffe with a local guide. Beyond is the surreal backdrop of Nairobi's urban skyline. We visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, one of Africa's oldest animal charities, known for its heartwarming elephant orphanage. Visiting the elephant nursery at feeding time we see these amazing animals up close as they enjoy a meal and a mud bath.

After our wildlife experience, we transfer to a local hotel for lunch together. Our excursion continues with a visit to the Nairobi Railway Museum. The city was founded in 1899 by colonial authorities in British East Africa, as a rail depot on the Uganda to Kenya Railway. There is time to relax at the hotel and maybe enjoy the pool or spa facilities before dinner at our hotel this evening.

The Maasai Mara is our destination today. One of the world's most popular game reserves, the 'Mara' is renowned for its outstanding wildlife, particularly its annual wildebeest migration across the vast Serengeti plains. After an early breakfast, we set off with our local guide for a scenic drive to the Mara and our next hotel, stopping along the way to view wildlife.

After free time to settle in, enjoy lunch and relax at our hotel, we set out on an afternoon safari until dusk, the ideal time to spot wildlife, as the sun drops towards the horizon. Home to Africa's Big Five, the reserve is a diverse ecosystem of tropical grassland, acacia trees and patches of forest. We might see herds of buffalo, zebra or a lounging family of cheetahs or, if we are lucky, we may witness a lion or leopard, feasting on its prey. We return to our hotel for dinner.

Today is completely dedicated to wildlife viewing in this world-famous reserve. This large, national park is named in honour of the Indigenous Maasai people, the ancestral inhabitants. Travelling in private 4x4 vehicles with everyone guaranteed a window seat, our aim this morning is to seek out the big cats - lions, cheetahs and leopards - and our experienced ranger guide knows the best places to look. We are also likely to see families of zebra, various species of antelope including the graceful gazelle, and giraffe. Part of the attraction of this extraordinary wilderness is its unpredictable nature.

We break for lunch in the reserve before continuing our explorations into the afternoon. As dusk approaches, we experience 'golden hour' when the sinking sun casts a honeyed light across the wild terrain. This is the time of day when animals become more active and we may find our senses are well attuned to the rhythms of nature by now. At the end of an extraordinary day, we return to our hotel for dinner, followed by a talk from an expert on the culture of the Maasai people.

After breakfast at our hotel, we take a scenic coach drive to the beautiful Lake Nakuru National Park. On our five to six hour journey the landscapes become steeper and greener as we pass local villages - catching glimpses of the daily life of Kenyan people - and enter the country's 'breadbasket', a green and fertile region with abundant produce. We stop enroute to enjoy a picnic lunch at a look out point up in the hills overlooking Lake Nakuru, enjoying superlative views and encountering fabulous birdlife.

Lake Nakuru is one of the Rift Valley Lakes, a UNESCO World heritage, famous for its distinctive pink flamingos which flock on the lakeside and feed on the abundant algae. The lake has been protected as a bird sanctuary since the 1950s and attracts an astonishing number of bird species (over 400) including yellow-billed pelicans, storks and fish eagles. Among the wildlife we may encounter are white rhinos, African buffaloes, baboons and vervet monkeys. If we're fortunate, we may see lion, leopards, wild dogs and black rhinos.

Later we check in to the Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge where we enjoy dinner.

This morning, after a delicious breakfast, we leave our lodge we are transferred in 4x4 vehicles for a safari drive enroute to the magnificent freshwater Lake Naivasha. The region is home to a number of tribes, including the Maasai, Kikuyu and Kipsigis, some of whom we may meet during our excursion. Arriving at the Enahipai Resort, we enjoy lunch with our group, and take a delightful boat ride across the serene lake for a one-of-a-kind safari experience, exploring the predator-free environment of Crescent Island on foot with a local ranger. As we travel across the water, look out for kingfishers which fly swiftly, close to the water and their lakeside nests. This small private island creates a protected environment for animals including gentle gazelles, buffaloes, hippos, giraffes and zebras which we hope to meet.

After our special walking safari, we continue our drive back to Nairobi and check into our original hotel, the Tamarind Tree, where we enjoy a relaxing evening, another good dinner and spend the night.

This morning we have an early breakfast before joining the Madaraka Express to multicultural Mombasa, Kenya's oldest city, on the Indian Ocean coast. This medium-gauge railway follows Kenya's original narrow-gauge tracks, from Nairobi to Mombasa, a journey of around 6,5 hours. Our picturesque route cuts between the east and west sections of Kenya's vast Tsavo National Park, with viaducts and an elevated line to preserve wildlife corridors and to protect the movement of animals. We are likely to see herds of elephant, zebra and antelope, from the windows of our comfortable carriages. Don't miss the sight of Africa's highest peak, Kilimanjaro, which we pass enroute.

On arrival in Mombasa, we are met and transferred to our delightful 5-Star beach resort hotel, set in tropical gardens with luxurious facilities including a swimming pool and spa. The rest of your day is free to relax or get to know the enchanting city of Mombasa, bordered by soft white sands and the blue Indian Ocean. Dinner is served at our hotel.

Today is entirely free to spend as you wish, and you may be content to simply soak up the beautiful setting and enjoy the facilities of your spa hotel, where breakfast and lunch are included.

Excursions can be booked from the hotel, for example a trip to the UNESCO-listed Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve, for a walking tour with a local ranger. This ancient forest is the remnants of what was once a vast region which stretched along Kenya's North Coast.

You could also visit the tidal inlet of Mida Creek, Kilifi County, a gorgeous ecosystem of dense mangrove forest with colourful fish and a variety of bird life including the stunning 'malachite' kingfisher.

If you are interested in exploring the sights of Mombasa Old Town independently, the hotel can advise on transport options. Day 9 of this itinerary provides an overview of Mombasa's main sights, and suggestions of places to see.

On the final full day of our Kenya safari holiday, you are free to explore the fascinating island city of Mombasa. Once a hub on the ancient trading route of spices, gold and ivory, Kenya's now thrives on tourism. Local history books place the founding of Mombasa as 900 A.D. Due to its strategic location, the port has been controlled by many countries and its rulers range from the Portuguese to the Omani and British. The city's African, Arab and Indian heritage is reflected in its Swahili, Hindu and Muslim architecture.

Landmarks to visit in Mombasa are the Mandhry Mosque, built in 1570 with its unusual minaret, and the 16th-century Fort Jesus, a World Heritage treasure, built by the Portuguese. The lively Spice Market in the Old Town is another local treasure, where stallholders sell fragrant cardamom, turmeric and curry powders, and - if this stimulates your appetite - you'll find street food stalls nearby, on Langoni Road. With its mixed population and laid-back lifestyle, Mombasa also has a lively musical culture which you may notice as you wander its colourful streets.

This evening we enjoy a final dinner together at our beach hotel.

After a leisurely breakfast this morning, you might like to relax by the pool or on the beach, or maybe enjoy some last minute shopping for Kenyan curios or souvenirs to take home. After finding lunch independently, it's time for our transfer to the Moi International Airport for our flight to Nairobi. From here, we join our direct overnight flight back to London Heathrow.

Our flight touches down in London Heathrow this morning, where we say our goodbyes to fellow travellers, our Tour Manager and new friends. As we head home at the end of our amazing East African adventure, we are sure to take with us many memories. From the incredible wildlife of the Maasai Mara and the tropical wetlands of Lake Naivasha, to the dazzling white beaches of Mombasa and the mangroves of Mida Creek, along the Indian Ocean coast - these colourful images and extraordinary experiences are certain to last a lifetime.