Kenya: Past and Present
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Highlights:
In the 1950’s and 1960’s, Hollywood discovered Cinemascope and East Africa. Movies were created starring Clarke Gable, Grace Kelly, Stewart Granger, Ava Gardner and a variety of other stars including William Holden. He liked Africa so much he started a private club where he and his cronies could hangout while on location.
This program replicates the golden age of the Hollywood safari movie including a stay at Holden’s Club. Too young to remember those movies? Check out TCM, AMC and join the party.
In the 1950’s and 1960’s, Hollywood discovered Cinemascope and East Africa. Movies were created starring Clarke Gable, Grace Kelly, Stewart Granger, Ava Gardner and a variety of other stars including William Holden. He liked Africa so much he started a private club where he and his cronies could hangout while on location.
This program replicates the golden age of the Hollywood safari movie including a stay at Holden’s Club. Too young to remember those movies? Check out TCM, AMC and join the party.
SKU:
Explore: Kenya
Customizable Itinerary - 13 Days
Day 1: Depart USA
Board your aircraft time machine as it take you to Africa and back to the golden age of Safari movies
Day 2: The Grand Dame of Nairobi
If you are connecting through Europe you will arrive in the evening where we will meet you and take you to your iconic hotel which opened early in the 20th Century. Enjoy a nightcap on the terrace and then a good night’s sleep
Day 3: Flight to Tsavo and an introduction to game viewing
After breakfast you will be transferred to the domestic airport for the 50 minute flight to the airstrip for Tsavo West National Park. You will be met by one of the guides from your camp who will integrate your transfer with a morning game drive to get you into an ”Out of Africa” frame of mind. You arrive at your elegant camp and have lunch before resting in the afternoon before an afternoon game drive including sundowners (cocktails set up in a specific spot to allow a view of the sunset). Return to the camp for cocktails and then a multi-course dinner with wine.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Days 4 & 5: Tsavo, in Sync with nature
Although you will only have been in Africa for a couple of days you will start to fall into the rhythm of the bush. Along with animals you rise with the sun and go hunting (in your case for selfies) you return to your lair to avoid the heat of the day and then re-emerge as the sun loses its strength. In this way you maximize your chance for animal interaction. You will have noticed that your camp is called Finch Hattons’ Camp, in honor of Denys Finch Hatton the lover of Karen Baroness Blixen who was immortalized by Robert Redford in the movie based on her book “Out of Africa”. The only direct relationship is that Finch Hatton did die in a plane crash and it was in Tsavo. It was also the true location of the incident that created the movie “The Ghost and the Darkness” with Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer (Spoiler alert. Do not watch the movie if you are in the process of planning a trip to East Africa) Finish your stay with another alfresco multi-course meal
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Amboseli and the Snows of Kilimanjaro
After an early game drive and breakfast you will be transferred by road to your camp located in Amboseli National Park. Amboseli is famous for its elephants and the views of Mt. Kilimanjaro whose foothills it shares with Tanzania. You arrive in time for lunch and then take an afternoon game drive hoping for no clouds so you can get the ultimate shot of Kilimanjaro
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: A Day in Amboseli
You have a full day to be among the elephants. Your camp is in the southwest of the park so you will see few other travelers since your guides can drive through the park and also in the private Kitirua Conservancy. You might start your day with a morning game walk combined with a breakfast set up for you in the bush. During the heat of the day, take advantage of the pool or visiting the spa. In the late afternoon enjoy an evening game drive and a candlelight meal with wine.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Amboseli to Maasai Mara
After breakfast at the camp you are transferred to the airstrip for a flight to the Maasai Mara where you arrive about an hour later. You are met and taken to your new camp where you are just in time for lunch. This is a safari camp of the present combining luxury accommodations with the safari experience. Enjoy both this afternoon and evening.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Discovering the Maasai Mara
The Mara is part of the Serengeti Plain but the portion in Tanzania is called Serengeti. The animals who cross back and forth don’t know the difference. Twice a year over a million and a half wildebeest join a comparable number of zebras in crossing the Mara River to reach better grassland, making the opposite trip three months later. This amount of game brings the predators from cheetahs to crocodiles and the predators bring the tourists. Even when the migration is not on there is plenty of game on hand, just less tourists
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: From the Mara to Mount Kenya
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airstrip for a flight to the domestic airport. Yu are met and taken to the Carnivore for lunch. The restaurant is known for its exotic game on the menu along with beef and chicken. None endangered however. After lunch you are taken to the foothills of Mount Kenya to the elegant Club founded by William Holden. You will have left the world of luxury camps and returned to the world of luxury hotels. Fine dining goes along with the fine accommodations so prepare for an excellent dinner
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: A Day at the Club
There are a variety of activities available at the club including a game drive but we suggest something different to end your adventure. You can go hiking in the foothills of Mt. Kenya, play Croquet, visit the animal orphanage started by William Holden or go horse riding around the club grounds. You can also relax by the pool or enjoy a treatment at the spa. Before dinner have drinks at Zebar where Ava Gardner drank Gimlets to get over her romance with Frank Sinatra. How else do you end a romantic adventure in style?
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Return to Reality
After breakfast, you have the morning for a swim in the pool, a walk among the grounds or a morning gallop. In the afternoon you will be transferred to the airstrip and fly to the international airport for your flight back to the United States
Breakfast
Day 13: Arrive in the USA
You arrive back home in the afternoon
Board your aircraft time machine as it take you to Africa and back to the golden age of Safari movies
Day 2: The Grand Dame of Nairobi
If you are connecting through Europe you will arrive in the evening where we will meet you and take you to your iconic hotel which opened early in the 20th Century. Enjoy a nightcap on the terrace and then a good night’s sleep
Day 3: Flight to Tsavo and an introduction to game viewing
After breakfast you will be transferred to the domestic airport for the 50 minute flight to the airstrip for Tsavo West National Park. You will be met by one of the guides from your camp who will integrate your transfer with a morning game drive to get you into an ”Out of Africa” frame of mind. You arrive at your elegant camp and have lunch before resting in the afternoon before an afternoon game drive including sundowners (cocktails set up in a specific spot to allow a view of the sunset). Return to the camp for cocktails and then a multi-course dinner with wine.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Days 4 & 5: Tsavo, in Sync with nature
Although you will only have been in Africa for a couple of days you will start to fall into the rhythm of the bush. Along with animals you rise with the sun and go hunting (in your case for selfies) you return to your lair to avoid the heat of the day and then re-emerge as the sun loses its strength. In this way you maximize your chance for animal interaction. You will have noticed that your camp is called Finch Hattons’ Camp, in honor of Denys Finch Hatton the lover of Karen Baroness Blixen who was immortalized by Robert Redford in the movie based on her book “Out of Africa”. The only direct relationship is that Finch Hatton did die in a plane crash and it was in Tsavo. It was also the true location of the incident that created the movie “The Ghost and the Darkness” with Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer (Spoiler alert. Do not watch the movie if you are in the process of planning a trip to East Africa) Finish your stay with another alfresco multi-course meal
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Amboseli and the Snows of Kilimanjaro
After an early game drive and breakfast you will be transferred by road to your camp located in Amboseli National Park. Amboseli is famous for its elephants and the views of Mt. Kilimanjaro whose foothills it shares with Tanzania. You arrive in time for lunch and then take an afternoon game drive hoping for no clouds so you can get the ultimate shot of Kilimanjaro
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: A Day in Amboseli
You have a full day to be among the elephants. Your camp is in the southwest of the park so you will see few other travelers since your guides can drive through the park and also in the private Kitirua Conservancy. You might start your day with a morning game walk combined with a breakfast set up for you in the bush. During the heat of the day, take advantage of the pool or visiting the spa. In the late afternoon enjoy an evening game drive and a candlelight meal with wine.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Amboseli to Maasai Mara
After breakfast at the camp you are transferred to the airstrip for a flight to the Maasai Mara where you arrive about an hour later. You are met and taken to your new camp where you are just in time for lunch. This is a safari camp of the present combining luxury accommodations with the safari experience. Enjoy both this afternoon and evening.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Discovering the Maasai Mara
The Mara is part of the Serengeti Plain but the portion in Tanzania is called Serengeti. The animals who cross back and forth don’t know the difference. Twice a year over a million and a half wildebeest join a comparable number of zebras in crossing the Mara River to reach better grassland, making the opposite trip three months later. This amount of game brings the predators from cheetahs to crocodiles and the predators bring the tourists. Even when the migration is not on there is plenty of game on hand, just less tourists
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: From the Mara to Mount Kenya
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airstrip for a flight to the domestic airport. Yu are met and taken to the Carnivore for lunch. The restaurant is known for its exotic game on the menu along with beef and chicken. None endangered however. After lunch you are taken to the foothills of Mount Kenya to the elegant Club founded by William Holden. You will have left the world of luxury camps and returned to the world of luxury hotels. Fine dining goes along with the fine accommodations so prepare for an excellent dinner
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: A Day at the Club
There are a variety of activities available at the club including a game drive but we suggest something different to end your adventure. You can go hiking in the foothills of Mt. Kenya, play Croquet, visit the animal orphanage started by William Holden or go horse riding around the club grounds. You can also relax by the pool or enjoy a treatment at the spa. Before dinner have drinks at Zebar where Ava Gardner drank Gimlets to get over her romance with Frank Sinatra. How else do you end a romantic adventure in style?
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Return to Reality
After breakfast, you have the morning for a swim in the pool, a walk among the grounds or a morning gallop. In the afternoon you will be transferred to the airstrip and fly to the international airport for your flight back to the United States
Breakfast
Day 13: Arrive in the USA
You arrive back home in the afternoon
