General Information for Parents:

This is a fun, involving, entertaining and educational week for kids and parents alike. For those who have not been on safari before, or for those who may have been on safari many times, this is a week with a difference. Children (and parents) will learn about life in Kenya, and a huge variety of things about the African bush – different ways to identify different animals large and small (tracks, signs and sounds), birds and insects, the bush environment, some ‘bush skills’ like tracking, how to make a toothbrush from a bush, light a fire with firesticks…and at the end of the week: we will have a “Masai Warrior Olympics” testing skills including bow and arrow, spear throwing, and making fire with sticks.

For those parents who want to stand back a little and have a slightly more restful experience, that will certainly be possible…but for the remainder, they may well end up being totally exhausted!

Please email us for rates and availability - the perfect week for half-term breaks.

* 6 Nights Full Board Accommodation, inclusive of all activities and a night in the Elephant Hide overlooking a waterhole *

Itinerary:

Day 1: Met on morning arrival at JKIA; short drive through Nairobi to Wilson Airport for your mid-morning flight to Nanyuki. The flight takes about 45 minutes; met at Nanyuki. Game drive back to camp through the conservancy to Ol Pejeta Bush Camp, arriving for lunch.

After getting settled in camp, we will go for an afternoon walk, to introduce the group to the bush, getting back to camp in time for hot showers, a cold drink round the camp fire and dinner.

Day 2: Early morning game drive, followed by breakfast in camp and an introduction to some bush skills such as making a toothbrush, and lighting a fire with fire sticks, so you can practise over the next few days ready for the Masai Olympics! After lunch time for a siesta in the heat of the day; tea around 4pm and then a short game drive to walk out on the vast open plains to start learning about the environment and the wildlife on Ol Pejeta – different types of tracks, large mammals eg. different types of zebras, birds, turds, trees, etc.

Day 3: After an early breakfast in camp, we join the Ol Pejeta Community Projects officer and or his assistant, to visit a local dispensary and primary school which are supported by our guests and Ol Pejeta Conservancy. A fascinating insight into the school day of Kenyan children, and see how and what they learn at a fairly well (relatively speaking) equipped school with a very inventive teacher! In some cases the kids have to walk up 5 miles each to school every day. Game drive back to camp.

In the afternoon, there will be time for some bush skills practise before we go out slightly later for a walk on the plains, as we will come back after dark to do a night game drive with a spotlight and night vision monoculars on the way back to camp.

Day 4: Today we will have a special behind-the-scenes visit to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary, where we will have an opportunity to learn a lot about these endangered great apes: why they are here, their natural environment, the problems they face, and what work is being done to protect them. The rangers here know every one of the chimps individually, and have some amusing stories about them! We will then visit the Morani visitors centre, where we can see and touch exhibits of animals, skulls, feathers, fur, etc and see the tame black rhino called Baraka. We should also be able to see the worlds’ rarest large mammal, the Northern White Rhino, 4 of which have been moved here in December 09 from the Czech Republic. Game drive back to camp.

This afternoon, pack your small overnight bag of PJ’s and toothbrush, and prepare for your night out in the bush at the Elephant Hide! The hide overlooks a waterhole where animals come down to drink during the night. Sleeping out under the stars, listening to night sounds from noisy buffalos coming down to drink and elephants snapping branches, and maybe we will even hear a lion or leopard grunting in the distance. A guide will overnight with you, a short-drop loo is provided, and you will take dinner to eat under the stars….

Day 5: An early start, some tea/coffee and breakfast will arrive and we walk round the waterhole to try to identify from the tracks what animals have visited during the night, while the camp is packed up. We head back to camp, arriving back for a late and well-earned breakfast.

In the afternoon, some individual tuition on bush skills, and then we head off for a game drive with the Ol Pejeta ranger responsible for predator monitoring, taking telemetry equipment to learn about tracking the radio-collared lions on the conservancy. Who knows what time we will be back? So, we will take a spotlight and some drinks with us just in case we have time to watch the sun go down and night game drive back to camp.

Day 6: Today is the day of the Masai Olympics! After breakfast, the events will start; we will aim to finish before the sun gets too hot. Prize-giving will be at tea in the afternoon, with an optional game drive or walk afterwards.

Barbecue dinner out under the stars, and all eat round the camp fire.

Day 7: Breakfast in camp, pack, and game drive to the Nanyuki airstrip for your flight back to Nairobi, arriving around midday. There will be a vehicle and driver at your disposal for the afternoon, with a possible visit to the Giraffe Sanctuary or Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi (entrance to either will be paid direct), and taking you on to the airport (via a place for dinner if required, paid direct) in the early evening for your return international flight.

Safari ends.

Included:

Internal schedule return flights Nairobi-Nanyuki-Nairobi; all road and airport transfers; full board accommodation staying at Ol Pejeta Bush Camp; water/soda drinks; all game drives, tuition and wildlife activities on Ol Pejeta Conservancy; conservation fees of $80 per adult per night and $55 per child under 12.

Excluded:

Visas for Kenya; personal medical and travel insurance (mandatory); alcoholic drinks; items of personal nature; tips for staff (we recommend $10 per guest per day); meals and activities in Nairobi/outside Ol Pejeta Conservancy on the final day. USD: any cash brought in USD needs to be dated 2004 or newer, as older notes are not accepted in Kenya.

NB: This is a working wildlife conservancy, so this itinerary could change at any time subject to the instructions of the camp or conservancy management. Our primary concern is safety; however, should there be any events occurring (eg. a capture or release of an animal) we will hopefully be able to observe this happening, in as safe a manner as possible.

For more information or to check availability please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it