Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival & Check-in
You'll meet your Indy Escapes crew at the hotel by 4pm to check into your gaming tents. After getting an introduction to the trip and asking any questions, spend the afternoon by the pool getting to know the other travelers in your group. Dinner is a buffet served onsite, and then you'll have time to relax around the campfire before the adventure kicks off tomorrow.
- Meals
- Dinner (Buffet dinner onsite)
- Day 2
Nairobi Community Visit
Following breakfast, you'll head to the Ruben Centre located in the Mukuru kwa Ruben slum for a guided orientation of this community project. Walk through the Education, Health and Community Development areas, then pick whichever section resonates with you to spend more time there. You'll return to camp as evening arrives, with the choice to eat onsite or head into town to try some local cuisine.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided orientation of Ruben Centre community project in Mukuru kwa Ruben slum
- Exploration of Education, Health and Community Development areas at Ruben Centre
Optional Activities
- Dinner in town sampling local cuisine
Landmarks/POIs Ruben Centre Mukuru kwa Ruben slum - Day 3
Nairobi to Namibian Border Route
The day involves traveling toward the Namibian border, stopping at Trawal to break up the long drive. Before departing, there's an optional morning excursion available to the Giraffe Centre, David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Nairobi National Park. You'll rest at camp during the afternoon, then head to Ole Serini Rooftop pool by evening to watch the sunset over Nairobi National Park while having dinner and drinks.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at Ole Serini Rooftop)
Included Activities
- Sunset viewing at Ole Serini Rooftop pool over Nairobi National Park
- Dinner and drinks at Ole Serini Rooftop
Optional Activities
- Giraffe Centre visit with local guide
- David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust visit
- Nairobi National Park excursion with local guide
Landmarks/POIs Giraffe Centre David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nairobi National Park Ole Serini Rooftop pool Trawal - Day 4
Kibera Community Visit & Project Work
You'll visit Edmund Rice Centre Nairobi (ERCN) in the Kibera slum and spend the afternoon with staff and families, hearing about their lives and work. After safely exploring the slum, you'll spend time inside a local family's home to get a real sense of daily life there. The group will help with fundraiser activities and participate in building a playground for children with intellectual and autism spectrum disorder. Return to camp to freshen up before heading out for dinner in town.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Edmund Rice Centre Nairobi (ERCN) in Kibera slum
- Time spent with staff and families at ERCN
- Safe exploration of Kibera slum
- Visit to local family home
- Playground construction project for children with intellectual and autism spectrum disorder
Optional Activities
- Dinner in town
Landmarks/POIs Edmund Rice Centre Nairobi (ERCN) Kibera slum - Day 5
Rift Valley to Maasai Mara & Maasai Village Visit
Travel through the Rift Valley in 4x4 safari jeeps, stopping at several viewpoints along the way to take in the landscape. You'll visit a local Maasai village where you'll see the Maasai Warriors, watch traditional dances and jumping, explore local homes, and browse the local market for crafts and goods. Arriving at your glamping tents in the afternoon gives you time to relax at the resort pool, and an early night is recommended to prepare for what's ahead.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Rift Valley viewpoint stops
- Maasai village visit
- Traditional Maasai dances and jumping display
- Maasai local homes exploration
- Local market shopping
Landmarks/POIs Rift Valley Maasai Mara Maasai village - Day 6
Big 5 Hunt
Start early with a substantial buffet breakfast before heading into the park as soon as the gates open. From there, you'll search for the Big 5 (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo) while driving through the less-traveled areas of Maasai Mara. If timing works out right, you might even catch a hunt at dawn during your time in the park.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet breakfast), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Early morning safari game drive in Maasai Mara National Park
- Big 5 wildlife viewing (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, African buffalo)
Landmarks/POIs Maasai Mara National Park - Day 7
Hot Air Balloon & Maasai Mara to Lake Nakuru
If you've booked the optional hot air balloon ride, you'll depart at 4am to catch the sunrise and enjoy a champagne breakfast before meeting the main group at 9am. From there, travel to Lake Nakuru National Park and check into Nakuru Lodge where you'll stay for the next two nights. End your day with a sunset game drive followed by cocktails at the bar.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sunset game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park
- Cocktails at Nakuru Lodge bar
Optional Activities
- Hot air balloon ride over Maasai Mara at sunrise with champagne breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Lake Nakuru National Park Nakuru Lodge - Day 8
Menengai Volcano & Lake Nakuru Park
After an early breakfast, you'll head out with a packed picnic lunch to hike Menengai Volcano Crater and explore the caves surrounding the area. The group returns to the lodge for a buffet lunch, then in the afternoon you'll take a game drive through Lake Nakuru National Park to look for endangered rhinos, Rothschild giraffes, thousands of flamingos, waterbucks, lions and leopards. The evening brings a campfire and drinks after dinner back at the lodge.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed picnic lunch; buffet lunch at lodge), Dinner
Included Activities
- Menengai Volcano Crater hike
- Cave exploration near Menengai Volcano
- Game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park
- Endangered rhinoceros viewing
- Rothschild giraffe viewing
- Flamingo viewing on Lake Nakuru
- Campfire and drinks
Landmarks/POIs Menengai Volcano Crater Lake Nakuru National Park Nakuru Lodge - Day 9
Lake Naivasha & Hell's Gate National Park
Start with breakfast early on, then head to Lake Naivasha for a boat ride to see hippos and explore Crescent Island Nature Reserve on foot where you'll see zebras and giraffes. Next you'll continue to Hell's Gate National Park to explore the park by bicycle, which is a unique opportunity that's only possible here because of the absence of large predators. After lunch in the park, you'll head back to Nairobi for your final night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Hell's Gate National Park), Dinner
Included Activities
- Lake Naivasha boat ride with hippo viewing
- Crescent Island Nature Reserve foot exploration
- Hell's Gate National Park bicycle exploration
- Fischer's Tower viewing
Landmarks/POIs Lake Naivasha Crescent Island Nature Reserve Hell's Gate National Park Fischer's Tower - Day 10
Departure
You'll gather for a final breakfast with your new friends, taking time to reflect on your 12-day African adventure together. After breakfast wraps up, the Indy Escapes crew will say farewell as you head off to continue your travels through Africa.
- Meals
- Breakfast
