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Kenya's Grand
Classic Safari
The definitive ultra-luxury fly-in safari across Kenya's greatest landscapes.
The definitive ultra-luxury fly-in safari across Kenya's greatest landscapes.
This is the definitive ultra-luxury Kenya safari — crafted for travellers who expect excellence at every turn. Begin with a soft landing at Hemingways Nairobi, then fly to Angama Amboseli, where snowcapped Kilimanjaro frames vast elephant herds and Angama's signature design sets the tone.
Continue to the Masai Mara for three nights at Mara Plains or Mara Nyika — two of the Mara ecosystem's most exclusive conservancy lodges, renowned for big cats, few vehicles, and extraordinary guiding.
Conclude in Laikipia at &Beyond Suyian Lodge, a private conservancy retreat where rewilded landscapes and raw beauty restore the soul. All connections are fly-in, activities are shared with private arrangements on request, and Ongeri's concierge smooths every step.
Why we love this journey — this is not a compromise itinerary. Every lodge on this circuit sits at the very top of its category. We recommend this safari to guests who have done Kenya before and want to do it properly — or to those who want to start at the top and never look back.
Angama Amboseli — design-forward suites, cinematic views of Mount Kilimanjaro, and some of Africa's finest elephant photography.
Mara Plains & Mara Nyika — private-conservancy privileges: few vehicles, walking safaris, night drives, and serious big-cat action.
&Beyond Suyian Lodge — private Laikipia wilderness, rewilding stories, guided walks, and sublime stargazing.
Balloon at dawn — an optional sunrise hot-air balloon over the Mara with a champagne bush breakfast.
Fly-in throughout — flawless light-aircraft connections. No long road hauls. Every moment savoured.
Masterful guiding — gourmet cuisine, curated cellars, and concierge care from first transfer to final farewell.
Private transfer to Hemingways Nairobi. Shake off the flight with terrace drinks and garden views; an early night is recommended to set the rhythm of the days ahead.
Fly to Amboseli. Afternoon drives carry you along fever-tree forests and marshes, where elephants often appear at arm's-length photographic range. Mornings and late afternoons are timed for Kilimanjaro's clearest light; optional cultural encounters, pool, and spa between drives. A private candlelit dinner awaits, should you wish.
Fly to the Mara conservancies. Settle into your suite; an afternoon drive typically yields lions at golden hour. One morning brings an optional sunrise balloon flight and champagne bush breakfast. Mix shared game drives, walking safaris, and — where permitted — night drives. Focus on cheetah on short grass, leopard in riverine woodland, and the seasonal migration scenes that define the Mara.
Fly to Laikipia. Walk with your guide across rewilded valleys, track wildlife on foot, and toast the day from a granite outcrop. Optional horse rides or community visits can be arranged. Evenings bring exceptional stargazing and slow, fireside dinners.
A final morning activity, then flight to Nairobi Wilson and transfer for onward travel. Your journey ends — yet the feeling of Africa has only just begun to settle.
Colonial elegance and tranquil gardens in leafy Karen — a graceful prelude to the wild.
Cinematic Kilimanjaro views, design-forward suites, and some of Africa's finest elephant photography.
Exclusive conservancy lodges with few vehicles, extraordinary guiding, and unforgettable big-cat encounters.
A private conservancy retreat where rewilded landscapes, raw beauty, and night skies restore the soul.
Share a few considered details, and your Safari Advisor will be in touch within 24 hours.
Set between Nairobi National Park and the foot of the Ngong Hills, Hemingways Nairobi is an exclusive boutique hotel far from the bustle of central Nairobi. An all-suite property providing full butler service, a brasserie and a bar, it is perfectly placed for trips to Nairobi National Park and the capital.
Hemingways Nairobi has a sophisticated and tranquil ambiance. Each of the 45 suites is a generous size, all with walk-in dressing rooms and a terrace with magnificent views of the Ngong Hills. Enjoy a light lunch in the Brasserie overlooking the well tended gardens.
Hemingways’ 45 loftily-ceilinged rooms are bright, open, and fresh, decorated with soothing, muted colours and canopied beds, with touches of brass and mahogany that pay tribute to the old and new safari experience. Its large, Italian-marbled bathrooms, personalized bar, full e-connectivity, ingenious pop-up large television, in-room dining, and the attentive service of your butler are testimony to Hemingways’ dedication to meeting and surpassing the very highest expectations.
The Dining Room serves delectable cuisine from the hotel’s Michelin-starred chef. Top-notch culinary creations have placed Hemingways on Africa’s gourmet food map. Contemporary European-styled dishes with a modern flair take diners on a culinary journey with a variety of international flavours to suit every palate. Enjoy a breakfast of waffles and syrup in true New York-style or a hearty Sunday roast complete with Yorkshire pudding and gravy.
The perfect location from which to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, Hemingways Nairobi is well placed to access the capital’s top attractions. The utterly unique Nairobi National Park – offering authentic big game viewing with a city skyline – lies just a few minutes away, while the Karen Blixen Museum, Giraffe Centre and Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage are also nearby.
Set within a Fever Tree forest where some of Africa’s last Super Tuskers roam — elephants with tusks so large they drag along the ground as they walk — Angama Amboseli is a gentle start or finish to any East African safari.With just 10 Guest Suites in a private wildlife conservancy, Angama Amboseli is respite from the world. A haven for the prolific elephant population in this ecosystem, get up close to the relaxed resident herds and their calves as they saunter through the Sanctuary just as you do. The rough texture found on the exterior of the buildings is also a gift from the elephants — their dung, mixed with concrete.
Another contemporary take on African design with nods to the giants of this landscape — including concrete mixed with elephant dung for the unique exterior texture — each of the 10 Suites is a mix of canvas, concrete and stone accented by woven rattan and grass, all in earthy, neutral colours. What’s an Angama suite without a view to wake up to? Each is orientated so that Kili can be seen from nearly every corner — from the bed to the shower — while floor-to-ceiling screened doors are all that lies between you and the mountain.
Dining at Angama Amboseli is a sensory journey that celebrates the rich flavours of Africa. Each meal is thoughtfully crafted using fresh, locally sourced ingredients, offering a perfect fusion of modern cuisine and traditional Kenyan influences.
Embark on thrilling wildlife adventures in a haven teeming with antelope, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, and elusive predators like leopard, cheetah, and serval. Renowned for its massive herds of elephants, including Africa's 'super tuskers' with tusks weighing over 45 kgs, the sanctuary remains one of their last strongholds. Enjoy unrestricted game drives allowing you to immerse yourself fully in the natural wonders of this unique landscape.
An intimate safari retreat hidden beneath the canopy of riverine forest on the banks of the Ntiakitiak River, Mara Plains Camp offers guests a rare sense of seclusion in the heart of the Maasai Mara. With only a handful of luxury tents, the camp blends understated elegance with authentic safari character—canvas walls, deep wooden decks, and interiors adorned with handcrafted furnishings and Swahili antiques. Designed to merge seamlessly with nature, the camp opens to unbroken views across the savannah, alive with wildlife.
Mara Plains has seven spacious and uniquely designed canvas rooms which are built on a raised platform and have their own private veranda with views of the Mara plains or river. The rooms each have a private dressing area and an en suite bathroom with a double vanity, flush toilet, bathtub and shower.
Brunch and dinner at Mara Plains are enjoyed around a grand wooden table in the canvas dining room or on the outdoor deck overlooking the river.
Meal times are flexible, so you won’t find yourself constrained to return to camp, for example, if you are on a game drive and come across a great wildlife sighting.
Here, guests are invited to immerse themselves in cultural experiences, engaging with the Maasai people through storytelling, traditional dances, and community visits that reveal the deep connection between land and heritage. With menus inspired by the freshest seasonal ingredients, every meal becomes a journey; lanterns casting a golden glow beneath canvas canopies, laughter drifting through the night air, and starlit feasts on the open plains turning dining into pure enchantment. This is a camp where days are filled with adventure, from enjoying game drives across the Mara and Olare Motorogi Conservancy, photographic safaris, and guided walks that bring the ecosystem to life, while evenings invite reflection in serene spaces that celebrate both wilderness and culture.
Inspired by the surrounding granite kopjes, the lodge’s curved appearance mirrors the undulating Rock Sanctuary opposite. Inside, interiors reflect the spirit of the land and its people, embracing an Afro Wabi-Sabi philosophy that finds beauty in impermanence. Subtle cultural touches, drawn from local semi-nomadic tribes, meet modest luxury, while mottled textures echo the region’s most cherished wildlife.
The lodge has 14 spacious suites, each constructed to blend seamlessly into the surrounding rock formations. The interiors are effortlessly chic: large beds take centre stage and there's also a separate lounge and fireplace, a sweeping bathroom with both indoor and outdoor showers, a huge bathtub and double vanity. The outdoor terraces offer sensational views of the flowing Ewaso Narok River, which you can enjoy from the private plunge pool or sunken daybed – each suite comes equipped with Swarovski binoculars for your use. There's also a two-bedroom family suite and triple suite available.
Dining at &Beyond Suyian Lodge in Laikipia, Kenya, is defined by a relaxed, farm-to-table approach that emphasizes fresh, locally sourced ingredients in a variety of dramatic, open-air settings. The experience is described as unpretentious, wholesome farm-style food, with meals tailored to reflect the rustic yet luxurious surroundings. Guests can dine in various locations, including the main dining area, an outdoor courtyard, or the private, open-air "boma" under the stars. Menus are crafted around seasonal ingredients from the surrounding highlands, the lodge’s own herb garden, and in-house pickles, preserves, and dried goods. The food is described as "simple yet delicious," featuring international favorites blended with African influences. The focus is on, what some might call, "18 meals a day" of luxurious, high-quality, farm-style sustenance.
At the lodge, enjoy pampering treatments at the wellness centre (there's a steam room and cold plunge pool too), or enjoy in a yoga class on one of the secluded kopjes. When it comes to activities, nothing is off the table. Explore this incredible region on day or night drives, camel, horseback or walking safaris. Keep an eye out for the very rare melanistic leopard, too! You can also spend time with local tribes to gain insight into their lives and even join local herders as they guide over 2,500 cattle. There is also fishing on the river or further afield at the beautiful Lake Turkana, as well as riverside picnics with a cheeky dip if you like.
Curated, tested, and refined over years — our most loved itineraries across East Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.
