12 Days Enchanting Africa Safari

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

This elegant boutique hotel is enchanting in its decor and flooded with natural light. Its well-appointed, ensuite rooms each have a private balcony overlooking the iconic silhouette of the Ngong Hills. Guests are treated to the services of a discreet, highly trained butler whose role is to ensure a hassle-free stay. Tuck into delicious European-inspired fare at the Brasserie and enjoy refreshing beverages at the convivial bar. Guests seeking to unwind can make use of the first-class spa facilities or simply enjoy the sense of blissful seclusion, luxury on the edge of wilderness.

Lewa Wilderness is situated on the edge of one of Kenya’s most private game sanctuaries, the wildlife-rich Lewa Conservancy. Guests are accommodated in charming cottages which include spacious bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, fireplaces and verandas.

Guest areas include a cosy sitting room, an open-air dining area and a saltwater pool boasting breathtaking panoramas of the valley below. Healthy and delicious meals are prepared with fresh produce from the lodge’s verdant organic garden. Adventures include game drives into the wildlife-rich Lewa Conservancy, camel riding, nature walks, horseriding, tennis and cultural visits to a nearby Maasai village. Those in need of leisure time can simply relax with a book in the pretty garden or take a refreshing dip in the inviting pool.

The enchanting Mara Plains Camp is situated on a bend of the Ntiakitiak River in a secluded private conservancy on the border of the Masai Mara National Reserve. Access to this elegant and secluded camp is via a wooden footbridge over a river, underlining its sense of seclusion and intimacy. Elegant yet understated, seven guest tents pay homage to the rich heritage of Africa, from chunky wooden doors from the Swahili enclave of Lamu to the deep red and purple shades that honour the spirit of the Maasai, while rich leather, copper and brass harks back to the colonial explorers.

The stylish guest area opens out onto views of the endless savannah, which guests can enjoy while dining in the main mess area or whiling away a quiet hour or two in the library. A yoga mat is provided in each tent for those guests who wish to work out in between game drives. Morning and late afternoon / evening game drives explore the private conservancy, continuing after dark for a chance to spot Africa’s mighty predators in action. Hot air ballooning and cultural visits to a Maasai village are available at an additional cost.

Secluded between the boulders and kopjes of the famous Mara River in Serengeti National Park is a tented safari camp that not only offers splendid Big 5 and Great Migration viewing but is built according to the best practices in global sustainable architecture. Lemala Kuria Hills – named after the ancestral home of the local Kuria tribe – not only has vistas to the Kenyan border and across the golden Lamai grasslands but is also constructed with green building materials with a special concern for maintaining the natural integrity of the area.

Each of the 15 luxury tents (14 of which face the burnt orange sunset; one overlooks the sunrise) and are sited under mature trees, is built from reclaimed steel, glass, sustainable decking and composite canvas, with solar and wind power making it as carbon neutral as possible. They also house emperor (super-king) sized beds and private plunge pools for refreshing post-siesta dips.

Lemala Ngorongoro is intimately set in a delightful ancient acacia forest close to the rim of the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. As it is located next to the quiet Lemala crater access road on the eastern side, a key advantage of staying at Lemala Ngorongoro is the quick and easy drive down on to the crater floor in the morning; Lemala guests usually have an hour’s head start over others descending via the far busier Seneto crater access road on the western rim. And of course can stay later in the afternoon before returning to camp. As Africa’s game is most active in the early morning and late afternoon this means better wildlife experiences for Lemala guests.