Maasai Mara.

Where we sleep

1. Day 1 · Sun 17 Oct

   Baby elephants and a farmhouse

   A gentle first day. We meet the orphaned elephants in the morning and walk through the old farmhouse in Karen in the afternoon.

   • Sheldrick elephant orphanage1 h 30

     The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust looks after orphaned baby elephants and rhinos until they can return to the wild. Keepers bring the youngest ones out for their milk feeds.

     What to see

     • Baby elephants drinking from big bottles
     • Mud baths
     • The keepers who sleep next to them

     Time

     About an hour and a half.

     Tip

     Visits are by booking through the trust’s website, so reserve before you travel, and explain to the children that the elephants are not to be touched.

     To eat

     A mandazi, Kenya’s lightly sweet fried dough, and a cup of milky chai.

   • Karen Blixen Museum1 h 30

     The farmhouse where the Danish writer Karen Blixen lived from 1914 to 1931, which gave the neighbourhood its name. Her book Out of Africa, and the film made from it, draw on her years here.

     What to see

     • The rooms as they were in her time
     • The garden and lawn
     • The old coffee-farm grounds

     Time

     About an hour and a half.

     Tip

     The garden is the part children like best. Let them run on the lawn after the guided tour, and keep the house visit to the highlights.

     To eat

     Kenyan coffee for the grown-ups and fresh juice for the children, in the Karen area, an old coffee district.

2. Day 2 · Mon 18 Oct

   Into the Mara

   We fly from Nairobi to the Mara in about 45 minutes, settle into camp and set out on our first game drive in the afternoon light.

   • Game drive from Sekenani Gate3 h

     The reserve’s main eastern entrance opens onto the rolling grassland that gave the Mara its name. Elephants, giraffes, zebras and antelope live here all year.

     What to see

     • Elephants and giraffes on the plains
     • Zebras and topi
     • Acacia trees against the sunset

     Time

     Three hours, with the light getting golden.

     Tip

     Give each child a small notebook to tick off the animals. Remind them to stay seated and quiet in the vehicle, because the animals stay calm if the voices do.

     To eat

     A packed lunch from the camp, with chapati and fruit.

     Photos
3. Day 3 · Tue 19 Oct

   A full day of game drives

   We head out at first light to the Mara River for hippos and crocodiles, then spend the afternoon at the Musiara marsh, a good place for big cats. Some herds may still be around, and others will have gone.

   • The Mara RiverMorning

     The river winds through the reserve with hippos in its pools and crocodiles on its banks. It is where the wildebeest cross when the herds are on the move.

     What to see

     • Hippos in the pools
     • Crocodiles on the banks
     • The steep crossing points used by the herds

     Time

     A morning's drive, with plenty of stops.

     Tip

     Don't count on a crossing in late October. The herds that remain move on their own schedule, and no guide can promise one, so treat any you see as a bonus.

     To eat

     A bush breakfast near the river, if your camp offers one, or a packed one from the camp.

   • Musiara Marsh3 h

     A green wetland near Musiara Gate in the north-west of the reserve, where animals come to drink. Lions are often seen here, and it is easy to watch them from the vehicle.

     What to see

     • Lions resting in the long grass
     • Buffalo and elephants at the water
     • Birds on the marsh

     Time

     Three hours, ending at dusk.

     Tip

     Sightings are never guaranteed, so make a game of it: who spots the first animal, and who spots the first bird. Bring binoculars for the children as well.

     To eat

     Ugali with sukuma wiki, maize porridge and braised greens, back at camp.

4. Day 4 · Wed 20 Oct

   Mashujaa Day in Nairobi

   A morning flight back to Nairobi, on the day Kenya remembers its heroes. We feed the giraffes, then visit Uhuru Gardens, where independence was declared in 1963.

   • Giraffe Centre1 h 30

     A conservation centre for the Rothschild’s giraffe, begun in 1979. From a raised platform you can feed the giraffes by hand, at eye level.

     What to see

     • Feeding giraffes from the platform
     • Warthogs wandering the grounds
     • The nature trail

     Time

     About an hour and a half.

     Tip

     Hold the pellets flat on your palm, and expect a long, rough tongue. The giraffes get slobbery, so bring wipes.

     To eat

     Roasted maize on the cob from a street stall on the way.

     Photos
   • Uhuru Gardens1 h 30

     A memorial park marking the midnight of 12 December 1963, when Kenya became independent and the British flag was lowered. It opened in 1965.

     What to see

     • The independence monument, a tall column topped by clasped hands and a dove
     • The mugumo tree
     • The statue of soldiers raising the flag

     Time

     About an hour and a half.

     Tip

     The national ceremony moves between venues every year, but it was held here in 2022. Check the news a few days before, as access may be limited when it is on.

     To eat

     Nyama choma, grilled meat, with kachumbari, a fresh tomato and onion salad.

5. Day 5 · Thu 21 Oct

   Last game drive

   A museum in the morning and one more drive, this time in the park on the edge of the city, with the skyscrapers in the background.

   • Nairobi National Museum2 h

     Kenya’s national museum on Museum Hill, with galleries on nature, prehistory and the country’s many communities. A snake park and a botanic garden share the grounds.

     What to see

     • The natural history galleries
     • The gallery of Kenya’s communities
     • The snake park and the botanic garden trail

     Time

     About two hours.

     Tip

     It reopened in 2008 after a rebuild and is easy to do with children, because the grounds are shady. Check its website for opening times before you go.

     To eat

     A light lunch in the restaurants of the museum’s commercial wing.

     Photos
   • Nairobi National Park3 h

     Kenya’s first national park, opened in 1946, set on the edge of the capital. Giraffes, buffalo, lions and rhinos live here, with the city skyline in the background.

     What to see

     • Giraffes and zebras with skyscrapers behind
     • The savanna on the edge of the city
     • Rhinos, if you are lucky

     Time

     Three hours before heading to the airport.

     Tip

     Book a guide with a safari vehicle through your hotel, because the park roads are hard to follow alone. Leave enough time for the traffic back to the airport.

     To eat

     A last chapati with beans, or a plate of pilau, the spiced rice of the coast.

     Photos

Typical weather for these dates, not a forecast: the average of 2016–2025, with data from Open-Meteo.com (ERA5). The chance of rain is an estimate.