Family Safari Day 1-4: Private House, Lewa Downs Book now!

We meet you upon your arrival to Jomo Kenyatta airport and immediately transfer you to Wilson, Kenya’s internal airport, where a private charter plane will be waiting to fly us to the “bush”.

It is a short 45-minute flight across beautiful landscape to our final destination, Lewa Downs. These hills are in the heart of the Laikipia region, a broad swathe of lava plateau that reaches the foothills of Mount Kenya on one side and in contrast, the wild deserts of the Northern Frontier District on the other. Outside of the Maasai Mara, Laikipia offers the greatest wildlife experiences in Kenya.

We have rented a large, private house with beautiful views of the conservancy. We will have the property exclusively and stay in the guest cottages. We will have our own private staff, including an excellent cook. Before you arrive to Kenya we will have discussed menus with you and you will be able to enjoy the food of your choice.

The house is an ideal base from which to explore the area on foot, on horseback or from a jeep, by day or night. There is also a fabulous swimming pool.

In addition to game viewing there are plenty of other things to keep you busy as well. As is the nature of an Elevate safari, you can play much by ear when you arrive.

On one of the days a private charter airplane will pick us up and sweep us up the slopes of Mount Kenya. Having been in the shadows of the mountain for the last few days, we will today venture up its impressive heights. At over 17,000 feet, its snow capped peaks and creeping glaciers are in stark contrast to the equatorial bushlands below. We’ll pass up over the moorlands of giant heather and glorious lobelias to Lake Alice and Lake Rutundu.

We will have a delicious picnic in the moor lands and in the evening return to Lewa Downs.

Family Safari Day 5-7: Makenna's Hills, West Laikipia Book now!

This morning we will charter fly up the stunning Mukutan Gorge to Kuki Gallman’s conservancy, Ol Ari Nyiro, on the eastern lip of the Great Rift Valley. Perched 3,500 feet above the Rift’s floor, the Cradle of Mankind, her beautiful lodge, Makenna’s Hills, commands spectacular views. Lake Baringo glistens below whilst the geological drama of the Northern Frontier and the impressive bulk of the Cherungani Hills provide awesome backdrops for incredible skies and sunsets.

The lodge is small, private and intimate with just six very spacious pavilions, decked in antiques and collector’s pieces from Africa and the Orient. All the delicious food is home grown and organic. Kuki is an excellent hostess. We hope she shall be with us for at least some of our safari.

Activity wise, there is much to do. Ol Ari Nyiro, the actual name of the conservancy, offers vital sanctuary to a great deal of flora and fauna. The ecosystem will be sensitively introduced to you, and can be viewed on foot, from the heights of a camel, or from a vehicle, by day or by night. The ranch can particularly pride itself on its large herds of elephant.

It is Kuki’s vision to set the benchmark for African conservation, and to provide a platform of hope for the preservation of our environment for future generations. As such, there are a series of projects, both cultural and ecological; all involving local people, and all are well worth visiting.

On one of the mornings you will take one of the most incredible and memorable helicopter rides of your life up in to the Northern Frontier. Upon take off you will swoop down into the great Rift valley itself and fly north through the Suguta valley. One of the most savagely beautiful regions on the planet and all but inhospitable, one feels as if one is witnessing the beginning of the world.

As you fly out of the north of the valley you skim Lake Logipi, a pink explosion of millions of flamingos, and top Teleki’s Volcano to see before you the vast jade expanse of Lake Turkana. Dipping down and over the lake you will see Turkana and Ol Molo fishermen at work amidst crocodiles as large as can be found anywhere.