Women of all ages are warmly welcome to join this immersive ten-day escape, incorporating wildlife, culture and adventure. (Travelling solo? Book now to waive the single supplement!)
Join like-minded ladies on this tour of East Africa for some amazing wildlife encounters - and the chance to catch the Big 5!
Start off with a night in the capital city of Nairobi before travelling by train to Tsavo East National Park, home to the big ‘tusker’ elephants. Here you will spend 2 nights before moving on to Amboseli for 2 nights, for majestic views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Spend one night on the shores of Lake Naivasha, followed by a further 2 nights in the Masai Mara, home to the largest concentration of animals in Africa. Your last night will be spent in Nakuru, famous for its birdlife, and an important rhino sanctuary. Experience the fascinating world of Africa’s animals on this scheduled small group ladies departure. Your journey concludes in Nairobi.
Your tour includes:
Not Included:
Sarova Stanley Hotel, Nairobi
Sarova Stanley is amongst the few five star rated hotels in Nairobi and was the first luxury hotel in Nairobi which has hosted celebrities from around the world. Sarova Stanley retains much of its historical charm while at the same time offering all the luxuries and amenities of a five-star hotel. Today, Sarova Stanley's heritage character is preserved whilst offering modern hotel services and amenities to create Nairobi's best hotel experience.
Satao Camp, Tsavo East National Park
Enjoying a unique setting overlooking a watering hole in the heart of Kenya’s Tsavo East National Park, Satao Camp delivers the ultimate safari experience: thrilling adventure and impeccable service. The Camp is a true oasis which attracts thousands of animals for their daily drink and bathing. Satao Camp has 20 tents, all en-suite, thoughtfully positioned to ensure a full view of the camps “own” watering hole. The tents are exquisite; all are attractively furnished with locally made beds and unique African designs. Each spacious tent has a private bathroom with running water and flushing toilet. The shower however is in the true African style, whereby the camp staff bring hot water in the evening.
Tsavo East is Kenya’s largest protected area and the sheer abundance of wildlife is breathtaking. So whether enjoying game viewing from one of our open game viewing vehicles or watching herds of elephant bathe from the privacy of your verandah, your time at Satao will create memories to last a lifetime.
Satao Elerai, Tsavo East National Park
Satao Elerai Camp is located in a quiet, unspoilt, unique setting on a 5000 acre private conservation area 12km south-east of Amboseli National Park, at the foot of Africa’s Largest mountain, Mt Kilimanjaro. The camp looks over Amboseli National Park and Mt Kilimanjaro, giving you what is arguably the best location of any camp in the area.
The rooms at Satao Elerai Camp were built and designed to ensure that your stay will be in complete luxury. Huge beds with top quality mattresses and pillows and a large luxurious duvet ensure that you will sleep through the night in total comfort. Large sliding doors open out onto your own private verandah overlooking the plains below and Amboseli National Park. Each room has its own bathroom with a view, designed using natural rock and acacia wood the bathrooms have a design and feel unique to Elerai.
Dinners at Satao Elerai Camp are served a-la-carte. Using locally grown vegetables and fruit, our chefs prepare a wide variety of dishes to suit all tastes. On a clear night tables are set out on the terrace, where clients can enjoy a meal under the stars. Regularly 'the Mountain' will be clear in the early evening and can be seen lit up by the moon from your dinner table.
Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge
Set in 150 acres of grassland studded with Acacia bushes and trees, the resort is not only home to our resident giraffe, waterbuck and both Vervet and Colobus monkeys, but it is also a night stop for the hippos when they leave the lake every night to come and trim the grass on our expansive lawns.
The cottages have exterior stone walls, giving them character and creepers and bougainvilleas add alot of colour. The same stone work is carried into the rooms and is the exterior bathroom wall. The banister going up the top floor is wrought iron as well and the same creepers and bougainvilleas are entwined around them.
Our double storey guest cottages with their ingeniously designed roofs gently sweep away from one side of the main building to form a crescent which leads towards the lake shore. While the upstairs guest rooms have a single king size bed and the downstairs ones have two queen size beds, both have one thing in common and that is an extraordinary amount of space as well as lavishly appointed bathrooms.
Mara Sarova Game Camp
Sarova Mara Game Camp is located in the heart of the Masai Mara Game Reservice in South West Kenya. By virtue of its location and layout, the Mara Sarova Game Camp offers an unparalleled plethora of activities and experiences from luxury tented living to bird-watching, mini golf, sport fishing and a unique insight into the Maasai culture at the adjoining Maasai village.
Offering breathtaking views of the Mara plains, the tents are luxurious and extremely spacious, decorated in whites and soothing earthy colours with large beds, loungers, wardrobes and a desk.
Sarova Lion Hill Lodge
Sarova Lion Hill Lodge overlooks Lake Nakuru, offering a unique vantage point. Each of the 67 appointed chalets has a separate lounge and secluded veranda with views over the lake and the distant hills. Situated in the heart of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru is one of Kenya’s most famous soda lakes. A major feature of this park is the birdlife. A rhino sanctuary also provides the opportunity to see the greatly endangered black rhino. The lodge restaurant and bar open onto a large viewing deck with panoramic views.
Your small group safari offers a minimum of 4 passengers and maximum of 12.
14 Jun 2023:
Cost is from $6,715 per person twin share or single traveller.
21 Nov 2023:
Cost is from $7,255 per person twin share or single traveller.
Please note prices are subject to availability at time of booking and may change without notice.
Why not extend your stay to see more of what East Africa has to offer? Feel free to ask for ideas. We can also book your flights and any additional travel requirements.
Call our Brisbane based travel team on 1300 414 198 to secure your seat on this amazing safari!
On arrival at Nairobi Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel (approximately 17 KM / 0.5 – 1 hour).
The guide that will be accompanying you on your Kenya tour will meet you at the hotel this evening to introduce herself and provide a rundown of the scheduled and be available for any questions you may have.
Your guide for the tour is Marriette Ngome – van der Velde.
“My name is Marriette van der Velde, originally from Netherlands, but living in Kenya for the last 7 and a half years.
Married to a Kenyan, mother of 2 + 2 bonus-children, as I like to call them, I can say I am a happy, busy, life-enjoying lady.
In my life I always loved working in hospitality, be it in a restaurant or tourism. In Kenya I started organising small tours for friends and family when they were visiting, and everytime I fell more and more in love with this country and its nature. I started connecting with travelers through online travel forums, organising safari-routes and excursions for them. But I was missing something. I love sharing my passion with guests, as well as I love giving them a great experience by myself, that is when I decided to start working for Southern Cross as a tourleader, so that I could go with the guests and make sure their trip would be a trip to never forget again.”
Accommodation - Sarova Stanley Hotel (1 night)
An early start means that you will collect a breakfast pack from the hotel before being met at and transferred to Nairobi Train Station to start your journey to Tsavo East departing at 08h00 to Voi Train Station. At 12h05 you will be collected from Voi Train Station by a Southern Cross Safaris vehicle to begin your game drive in Tsavo East National Park enroute to Satao Camp. After lunch enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Tsavo East National Park ending with a sundowner.
Kenya Railway Journeys – Please be aware that there is limited assistance on the Kenya Railway for boarding, disembarking or help with luggage. At both Nairobi and Mombasa boarding is level, directly from platform to carriage, but at the country stops you are required to navigate narrow stairs down to the platform and can be tricky with baggage. Seating is reserved and a valid passport is required to book the service and you will need to show your identification when entering the main train stations prior to departing. The train is kept clean during the journey and you are welcome to take food and non-alcoholic beverages on board with you but there is a dining car for first class passengers to purchase refreshments.
Day 3 - Tsavo East National Park
Enjoy a day of game drives in the Tsavo East National Park.
Day 4 - Satao Elerai Conservancy
After breakfast you will drive to the Tsavo West National Park with a game drive enroute. You will visit Mzima Springs and continue to Kilaguni Serena Lodge for lunch. After lunch you will drive to the Satao Elerai Conservancy (approximately 350 KM / approx 6 hours).
Day 5 - Satao Elerai Conservancy
Enjoy a full day in Amboseli National Park with a picnic lunch.
Day 6 - Lake Naivasha
Enjoy an early breakfast before driving via Nairobi to Lake Naivasha. After lunch relax by the swimming pool or enjoy a boat ride on the lake (at own expense) (approximately 350 KM / approx 6.5 hours).
Day 7 - Masai Mara Game Reserve
After breakfast you will drive past the extinct Volcano of Mt Longonot and Suswa into the homelands of the Masai. The Masai Mara located on Kenya’s southern border with Tanzania, constitutes the northern stretch of the Serengeti and has the richest concentration of animals in Kenya. After lunch at the Mara Sarova Game Camp you will have the opportunity to observe the unique world of the Masai Mara (approximately 250 KM / approx 5 hours).
Day 8 - Masai Mara Game Reserve
Enjoy a full day game drive which will take you through the vast plains of the Masai Mara searching for the ‘Big Five’ (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo). You will return to your camp for lunch.
Day 9 - Lake Nakuru National Park
Today your journey will take you straight to Lake Nakuru. The park boasts a good number of rhinos as well as a large population of leopards. Enjoy lunch at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge followed by an afternoon game drive in the park (approximately 350 KM / approx 8 hours).
Day 10 - Lake Nakuru to Nairobi
Your day will start with an early morning game drive through the Lake Nakuru National Park. After breakfast at the Lodge, you will drive to Nairobi and end of safari (approximately 184 KM / approx 3 hours). Please note your onward flight must not depart Nairobi until after 6:00pm.
Please note: This itinerary may be subject to change.
Travel Insurance:
We strongly recommend you take out Comprehensive Travel Insurance at the time of booking your trip.
Passport & Visa:
Australian passport holders require a visa to enter Kenya - which is available for single or multiple entries. This can be obtained online and you are required to present your printed e-visa upon entry. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay. You must have at least two blank pages available in your passport upon arrival. Failure to meet this requirement may result in an entry visa being refused.
Vaccinations:
Please check with your GP or Travel Doctor for up-to-date information and advice regarding vaccinations for this trip. Please note a Yellow Fever vaccination is required and all travellers must carry proof that the Yellow Fever vaccine has been administered at least 10 days prior to travel. It is recommended that precautions against malaria be taken for travel to most regions in Kenya. We suggest you contact your doctor for advice on which prophylactic is recommended.
Authentic COVID-19 vaccination certificate (electronic or paper showing date and time of vaccination(s)) with final or booster dose given at least 15 days before departing is required for this trip.
Money:
The Kenyan currency is the Kenyan Shilling (KSH), which is divided up into 100 cents and it is now permitted to take local currency into the country. It is recommended to carry some cash in small denominations.
US Dollar notes printed before the year 2000 will not be accepted. Barclay’s Bank in Kenya has implemented a new policy where they will no longer accept notes printed before 2000. Clients who carry US Dollar notes printed before 2000 will be compelled to accept a rate of exchange lower than normal.
Electricity & Voltage:
In Kenya the general voltage is 240 and the frequency is 50 Hz. The British three rectangular blade plugs are common.
Shopping:
What to Pack?
SAFARI CHECKLIST
Travel at 60 and supplier booking conditions apply.
International Flights not included. Please note prices are subject to availability at time of booking and may change without notice.
A deposit of $300 per person will be required to secure your booking. This fee is fully refundable 60 + days before departure.
Final balance of payment must be received no later than 60 days prior to departure. Travel documentation will be provided only on receipt of full payment and a signed and completed Booking Form. Documents will be dispatched 2 (two) weeks prior to departure.