The World Away Bush & Beach Retreat

Samburu | Masai Mara | Indian Ocean, Kenya’s stunning south coast

A 2 week journey combining Kenya’s vast wildernesses and secluded coastal class and calm. Retreat to the natural hideaways of Saruni Samburu, Saruni Mara, Saruni Wild and Alfajiri Villas.

All inclusive from US$7,640 per person sharing.
Valid from 3rd January-19th December 2018.

SARUNI LODGES

Including: All-inclusive accommodation (Full board accommodation including soft drinks, beers, house wines and select non-luxury spirits), one complimentary Back & Neck massage (30 min) per room per stay at our Wellbeing Space, airport assistance, temporary Flying Doctors cover, shared day & night game drives in 4×4 vehicles, guided bush walks, bush meals, sundowner & picnic excursions, limited laundry service, cultural visits transfers, all internal flights and return airstrip transfers, conservation fees, VAT & taxes.

ALFAJIRI VILLAS

Including: Exclusive use of the villa and pool, full-board accommodation including soft drinks, beers, house wines and non-luxury spirits, à la carte menu, nannies available 24 hours, personal butler at your disposal, laundry, complimentary Wi-Fi, a guest library and games, use of golf clubs, use of snorkelling equipment, Ngalawa (local African boats) at disposal for excursions to coral reef for snorkelling, massage, chauffeured transport within Diani Beach area, visit to community projects, orphanage and to local villages in Diani beach area, gym and sauna at a nearby property.

An exclusive, soul-filling safari and unforgettable experience of absolute luxury, relaxation and purity – from the remote, arid north and the Kenyan savannah to the sea.

 

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Experience an intimate Kenya bush and beach itinerary, taking you from the rugged Samburu landscape to the teeming plains of the Masai Mara and to the white sands and warm, turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean at Diani Beach on Kenya’s south coast.

Discover two of Africa’s most authentic and fascinating tribes – the Maasai and Samburu – learn first-hand about their ancient customs and local knowledge.

Encounter the ancient shores and teeming, warm waters of Diani flanked by 25km of pristine beachfront. Enjoy this paradise from the beauty of a world-famous secluded retreat, and be as adventurous or as relaxed as you desire.

The Lodges

Saruni Samburu

Saruni Samburu’s six luxury villas are open and spacious, heralding spectacular views over Kenya’s Northern Frontier District and Mount Kenya in the distance. The warm and welcoming hospitality makes for an intimate and exceptional experience. The lodge is revered for its innovative, eco-chic architecture and interesting design and décor, as well as its Italian-inspired cuisine. Guests can enjoy the vast panoramas from the dining and lounge area, the infinity pool and the Samburu Wellbeing Space. Saruni Samburu is the only lodge in Kalama Conservancy, which borders Samburu National Reserve, with 200,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness to explore and enjoy exclusively. You are guided from start to finish by Samburu warriors who are passionate about their land and their culture, learning first-hand about their fascinating customs and traditions and gaining ancient, local knowledge about the land and the animals – a truly authentic experience.

Activities and amenities: day and night game drives, photographic hide, bush meals, guided walks, birdwatching, Samburu Wellbeing Space treatments (payable extra), picnics, two swimming pools, helicopter excursions (payable extra), Samburu cultural visits (payable extra), Saruni Shop.

Saruni Mara

Saruni Mara has one family villa, one private villa and five elegant cottages, and is the only small boutique lodge in the Mara, making it very intimate and exclusive. The beautifully decorated themed rooms have a luxurious and classic safari feel. The lodge is tucked away in a secluded valley in the private Mara North Conservancy, a prime and private game viewing area, which borders the Masai Mara National Reserve – the most renowned wildlife park in Africa. Enjoy the Italian-inspired cuisine and being immersed in nature from your private veranda, the Maasai Wellbeing Space and the open lounge and dining area. Maasai warriors will guide you throughout your stay, sharing their ancient wisdom and local knowledge of the area and the animals, their way of life and their secret corners of the most loved wildlife reserve in Kenya.

Activities and amenities: day and night game drives, bush meals, guided walks, birdwatching, Maasai Wellbeing Space treatments (payable extra), picnics, library, balloon safaris (payable extra), Saruni Shop.

Saruni Wild

Saruni Wild is a tented camp elegantly and comfortably furnished with all the necessary luxuries of a wild yet classic safari. The camp is located in the heart of the Masai Mara plains, on the border between Lemek Conservancy and Mara North Conservancy. Surrounded by tens of thousands acres of pristine, untouched wilderness, the camp has the most classic Masai Mara setting. The wildlife thrive right next to its tents. Enjoy endless views, fire-lit meals under the vast African sky, guided game drives led by Maasai warriors.

Activities and amenities: day and night game drives, bush meals, guided walks, birdwatching, Maasai Wellbeing Space treatments, picnics, library, balloon safaris, Saruni Shop.

Alfajiri Villas

Alfajiri Villas, perched on a coral cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean, is a world-famous stylish retreat tucked away on Diani beach on Kenya’s idyllic south coast. With just 3 beautifully-appointed, lavish villas, the Garden Villa, the Beach Villa and the Cliff Villa, located at the further northern end of the 25km long white-sand beach, Alfajiri offers the ultimate in privacy and sheltered seclusion. Decorated in a tasteful fusion of styles, each villa has its own individual décor, vast veranda providing panoramic views of the ocean, large swimming pools that blend with horizon and spacious bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. The cuisine has a strong Mediterranean influence (and an African twist!) with daily fresh seafood accompanied by an array of elegant Italian and South African premium wines. With private access to Diani beach and its extensive range of watersports, superlative service combined with views to ‘die-for’, Alfajiri Villas is the perfect Kenya coastal hide-away.

Activities and amenities: massage, gym, sauna and swimming pools, payable extra activities: kite surfing, windsurfing, diving, cultural visits, snorkelling the coral reef, deep sea fishing, day safaris, golf.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Saruni Samburu

  • Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where a Saruni vehicle will transfer you to Wilson Airport for your flight to Samburu.
  • Depart Nairobi in the morning*, arriving at Samburu an hour later, where your Saruni Samburu guide will meet you and transfer you to the lodge, or take you on a game drive.
  • Afternoon game drive on Kalama Conservancy exploring over 200,000 acres of pristine wilderness in total privacy and sundowners with a breathtaking view.

Day 2 – Saruni Samburu

  • Early morning game drive into Samburu National Reserve to seek out the ‘Samburu Special Five’: the reticulated giraffe, the Grevy zebra, the beisa oryx, the Somali ostrich and the gerenuk, all rare species that occur only in this part of the country, and look for its well-known larger wildlife including elephants, lion and leopard. Enjoy a picnic lunch before heading back to the lodge to relax for the afternoon.
  • Enjoy a complimentary half hour Back & Neck massage upon arriving back at the lodge at the Samburu Wellbeing Space.

Day 3 – Saruni Samburu

  • Continue to explore the wonders of Samburu with a morning game drive and after lunch possibly head out on a nature walk discovering animals, plants and the caves in the local area with rock paintings, accompanied by an experienced Samburu tracker.
  • Evening game drive in Kalama Conservancy, the 200,000-acre private wildlife conservancy in which Saruni Samburu is located, ending with a bush dinner under the stars in the middle of the wilderness, and a night drive back to the lodge.
  • The Samburu warriors dancing, candles and fire under the vast African skies, make this a truly magical experience, and one of the highlights of your stay.

Day 4 – Saruni Mara / Saruni Wild

  • Depart Samburu on your flight in the morning* and arrive in the Masai Mara an hour and a half later.
  • Game drive with a picnic lunch to enjoy under an acacia tree or by the river next to a pod of hippos. Or, head to Saruni Mara or Saruni Wild for some rest and an exclusive game drive later in the afternoon in Mara North Conservancy – over 30,000 acres of plentiful, protected land bordering the Masai Mara National Reserve. Enjoy a completely different and less-explored corner of the Mara ecosystem in total privacy, brimming with wildlife.

Day 5 – Saruni Mara / Saruni Wild

  • Early morning game drive to look for the big cats and other predators of the Mara, returning to the camp or lodge for lunch and treatments at the Maasai Wellbeing Space.
  • In the afternoon, a game drive will take you to a special area where the largest tower of giraffe can be seen, followed by dinner at the lodge or camp and an optional night game drive.

Day 6 – Saruni Mara / Saruni Wild

  • Walk through the valleys and plains surrounding Saruni Mara, accompanied by a vehicle, or a game drive up to the top of Kilileoni, the highest mountain in the Serengeti-Masai Mara ecosystem – led by your skillful and knowledgeable Maasai guides.
  • In the afternoon you will discover more of Mara North and its surrounding conservancies and experience first-hand what makes the Mara one of the most exciting wildernesses in the world.
  • Weather permitting, experience a bush dinner in the middle of nature under the vast African sky, with Maasai warriors singing and dancing around the fire.

Day 7 – Alfajiri Villas

  • Visit the rhino sanctuary on the way to the airstrip and once again admire the hippos and the crocodiles of the Mara River.
  • The flight to Diani’s Ukunda leaves the Mara at 14:00 PM and arrives in Ukunda at 16:00 PM. An Alfajiri vehicle will be waiting to transfer you to the peace and calm awaiting 5 minutes away at the world-famous Alfajiri Villas.
  • Unwind from your journey by taking a refreshing dip in your private swimming pool, followed by a welcome sundowner on your lavish veranda overlooking from high the white sands of Diani beach and the Indian Ocean, cooled by the early evening tropical breezes. Enjoy an elegant seafood offering paired with exquisite wines before falling asleep to the lulling sounds of the sea.

Day 8 – Day 13 Alfajiri Villas

  • Wake up each day with the sea breeze and spend your morning walking along the beach, kayaking and snorkelling as you discover the colourful aquatic life of the Indian Ocean.
  • Head out on the clear ocean on a traditional dhow to visit Funzi Island for a day of sailing, fishing, swimming with dolphins and discovering rare turtles before casting ashore for a delicious fresh seafood lunch.
  • Spend your afternoons enjoying lazy siestas, lounging by the pool, indulging in massage treatments or a bit of retail therapy and souvenir shopping at the nearby shopping centres.
  • If you are feeling adventurous, you may want to give kite surfing a try, or deep sea fishing, trying your luck with a heavy line to hook a prized marlin or wahoo!
  • Spend the evenings relaxing barefoot on the beach collecting seas shells.
  • Finish off another heavenly day with sundowner dhow rides at sunset, and sumptuous fresh seafood dinners.

Day 14 – Departure

  • Enjoy your final morning waking up in paradise and relax to your fullest with a leisurely stroll on the white-sand beach.
  • After a morning unwinding and rejuvenating, depart in the afternoon for your flight back to Nairobi, which leaves Diani at 16:00 PM and arrives at Wilson Airport at 17:30 PM.
  • Transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with Saruni driver and vehicle. Depending on the time of your international flight, stop at the Talisman or Carnivore restaurant for dinner.

 

Note: The Saruni Tours team can modify and tailor this itinerary to suit your personal preference. Baggage allowance on internal flights is 15kg per person, preferably in small, soft bags without wheels. Seats on the schedule flights are subject to availability at confirmation. Rates with children or single occupancy are available upon request. *Flight times and durations may vary depending on airline and routing, and are subject to change. All guests travelling into Kenya with duty free plastic bags shall be required to leave the bags at the entry points and seek alternative carrier bags. We request that you do not carry plastic bags whilst visiting or working in Kenya as there are strict penalties for those caught with them.