Jeff & Amy's Dream Luxury Kenya Honeymoon
Contribute to Jeff and Amy’s dream honeymoon in Kenya!
Itinerary - Luxury Kenya
Saturday, December 1, 2018 | Depart Washington, D.C.
This morning, Jeff and Amy will make their way to Boston’s Logan Airport for their flight to Washington (Dulles) where they will connect to their International Ethiopian Airlines flight to Nairobi via Addis.
From the moment Jeff and Amy board their Ethiopian Airlines flight, they will feel the warm African hospitality that the continent is known for.
Sunday, December 2, 2018 | Addis Ababa/Nairobi
On arrival in Addis Ababa, Jeff and Amy will connect with their flight to Nairobi. At Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport they will be met by a Lion World Travel representative and transferred to the 5-star Nairobi Serena Hotel, a Member of the Leading Hotels of the World and well known for its exceptional standards of efficiency, service and hospitality.
Nairobi Serena Hotel
The elegantly sophisticated Nairobi Serena is a member of the ‘Leading Hotels of the World’ group and is consistently voted ‘Best Hotel in Nairobi'. This hotel offers an oasis of serenity amidst the bustle of one of Africa's most vibrant capital cities.
Accommodation: Nairobi Serena Hotel - Standard Room
Monday, December 3, 2018 | Nairobi/Ol Pejeta Conservancy
After breakfast, Jeff and Amy’s will transfer to Sweetwaters Serena Camp located in a private conservancy with a higher wildlife-to-area ratio than any of Kenya's national parks making this camp one of the most exclusive tented safari camps in Kenya.
A sheltered oasis, clustered around a water hole and set in the pristine calm of the private Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Sweetwaters Serena Camp offers a charming blend of under-canvas ambiance and Kenyan safari luxury.
Jeff and Amy’s accommodation will be in upgraded Morani luxury tents, each with its own private veranda overlooking the water hole. The tents are spacious with exquisite design and furnishings complemented by fantastic views of Mount Kenya. All tents come complete with modern amenities including an ensuite bathroom, WIFI connectivity and safes.
Sweetwaters Morani Tent
Host to all the members of the ‘Big Five' (elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo and leopard), the conservancy is one of only four private game conservancies to have been founded in Kenya.
At the forefront of the Kenyan conservancy program, the conservancy claims to have the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, hosts the only chimpanzee sanctuary in Kenya, and shelters large numbers of rare and endangered species.
Within the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Jeff and Amy may enjoy a variety of activities, from game drives to visits to the Chimpanzee and Rhino Sanctuaries.
This afternoon Jeff and Amy will enjoy a visit to the Jane Goodall Chimpanzee Sanctuary during their game drive.
Accommodation: Sweetwaters Serena Camp - Morani Tent (B, L, D)
Tuesday, December 4, 2018 | Lake Elmenteita
After breakfast, Jeff and Amy will transfer to Serena Lake Elmenteita Luxury Camp.
The exclusive, 5-star Lake Elmenteita Serena Camp is situated on the shoreline of sapphire-blue Lake Elmenteita where hundreds of thousands of birds congregate. Thoughtfully styled to echo the area’s rich history, the camp blends elegance with modern luxury. Each lake-facing tent at Lake Elmenteita Serena Camp has been designed to take visitors back to a bygone era of travel. Furnished with large double beds with draped canopy netting for a sense of seclusion and a private veranda gives Jeff and Amy the chance to sit back and soak up the views.
Lake Elmenteita Luxury Camp
This is an area of breathtaking beauty and is home to many rare species of animals. Bird watchers will enjoy the sight of thousands of flamingos and pelicans feeding in the lake's shallow waters but this spectacular region is home to a wide range of wildlife.
Jeff and Amy will enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Soysambu Conservancy. On the way back to the camp for dinner and overnight there will be a half hour open bar cocktail stop.
Accommodation: Serena Lake Elmenteita Luxury Camp - Standard Tent (B, L, D)
Wednesday, December 5 2018 | Lake Elmenteita
A short drive takes Jeff and Amy to Lake Nakuru National Park for a morning of game viewing with a stop for lunch at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge. Lake Nakuru is world famous for its stunning flocks of lesser flamingo which literally turn its shores pink, and was created as a National Park to protect them. Its bird-life is world renowned, a beacon for leading ornithologists, scientists and film makers.
Flamingos
The park spans an attractive range of wooded and bush grassland around the lake, offering wide ecological diversity, from Lake Water, woodland to the rocky escarpment and ridges. Notable game within the lake includes hippo and clawless otters. Waterbuck, Bohr's Reedbuck and Zebra roam on the shores. The woodlands and forest are now home to both black and white rhino.
After a stop for lunch, Jeff and Amy will be taken on a short game drive back to Lake Elmenteita where they will take part in an interactive cooking class. Jeff and Amy will enjoy dinner and overnight at the camp.
Accommodation: Serena Lake Elmenteita Luxury Camp - Standard Tent (B, L, D)
Thursday, December 6, 2018 | Lake Elmenteita/Maasai Mara National Reserve
After an early morning breakfast, drive to the Maasai Mara National Reserve offering wonderful scenery and plenty of game. It is perhaps the only region left in Kenya where travelers may see animals in the same super-abundance as existed centuries ago. Lunch will be served at the lodge.
Mara Serena Safari Lodge is the ringside seat for the greatest show on earth. Located at the very Center of the famous Maasai Mara National Reserve, the 4-star Mara Serena Safari Lodge is the ultimate safari destination. Set high on a bush-cloaked hill with long views over the savannah and down to the winding hippo-filled Mara River, it stands center-stage to one of Africa's most dramatic wildlife arenas.
Styled to echo the circular motif of a traditional Maasai manyatta, the lodge blends international sophistication with raw African beauty, with each room having its own view of the famous Mara River. Each room is its own stand-alone modular unit, with uninterrupted views, private balcony and spacious seating area. The dining areas offer spectacular views, along with the rock-surround swimming pool.
Safari game drive
Take an afternoon game-drive in this magnificent game reserve.
Accommodation: Mara Serena Safari Lodge - Standard Room (B, L, D)
Friday, December 7, 2018 | Maasai Mara National Reserve
Jeff and Amy will leave the lodge after an early morning cup of tea and enjoy an exhilarating game drive in the crisp morning air to view the abundance of wildlife in the Mara.
All of the "Big Five" - Lion, Rhino, Buffalo, Elephant and Leopard - are here, as well as cheetah, hippo, hartebeest, gazelle, topi, antelope, zebra and many other animals. The Mara is also noted for its abundance of lions - particularly the superb black maned males.
After lunch at the lodge, Jeff and Amy will be taken out on their afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight will be at the Lodge.
Accommodation: Mara Serena Safari Lodge - Standard Room (B, L, D)
Saturday, December 8, 2018 | Maasai Mara National Reserve
For the ultimate Mara experience, a superb breakfast has been arranged for Jeff and Amy, at the local Hippo Pool.
Arriving on the banks of the world-famous Mara River, Jeff and Amy will be met by a traditionally clad Maasai warrior who will lead them along the river where countless hippos wallow.
Reaching a clearing, Jeff and Amy will be offered a glass of chilled sparkling wine or fresh juice before being shown to their table, which is located in a shady grove immediately alongside the hippo pool. Beneath the trees, Jeff and Amy will find a sumptuous breakfast.
Breakfast is a leisurely experience after which, Jeff and Amy will be guided by Maasai warriors along the riverbank to their vehicle. Jeff and Amy can then experience another game drive on their way back to the lodge.
Breakfast by Hippo Pool
The Maasai Mara National Reserve is an extension of the world-renowned Serengeti National Park of Tanzania. Named for the Maasai tribes people (the traditional inhabitants of the area) and the Mara River which divides it, the reserve is famous for its exceptional population of game and the annual migration of the wildebeest. Maasai Mara offers wonderful scenery of breathtaking vistas, panoramas of vast rolling plains, hills and woodland groves all watered by the lovely Mara River.
The waters of the Mara River are home to crocodiles and pools of hippo, while the woodlands and forests are favored by leopard and elephant. The open savannah areas play host to the plains game.
After a relaxing day at the camp, Jeff and Amy will head out on another game drive in the late afternoon.
Accommodation: Mara Serena Safari Lodge - Standard Room (B, L, D)
Sunday, December 9, 2018 | Maasai Mara/Nairobi/Zanzibar
After breakfast, Jeff and Amy will depart the Maasai Mara and head across acres of rolling wheat and barley farms. They will cross the vast plains on the floor of the Rift Valley whilst keeping an eye out for herds of giraffe and gazelle before heading up the rift escarpment.
Jeff and Amy will enjoy lunch at Karen Blixen Coffee Garden in Nairobi before they are dropped off at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for their scheduled flight to Zanzibar. (B, L)
On arrival at Zanzibar Airport, Jeff and Amy will be met by a Lion World Travel representative and transferred to Essque Zalu, where Jeff and Amy will spend 3-nights.
Framed by the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, Essque Zalu Zanzibar is nestled in a natural cove on the north east coast of Zanzibar. This boutique Zanzibar hotel combines contemporary luxury with a real sense of place. It features the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean to one side, lush green forest to the other, and just a hint of spice in the warm and fragrant tropical air.
Essque Zalu Zanzibar
Essque Zalu Zanzibar features 40 suites, all of which offer views of the Indian Ocean, or lush, tropical gardens. The hotel itself has been carefully constructed to make the most of these breath-taking views: an idyllic turquoise lagoon, the tranquil ocean, and the expansive flourishing gardens. In-room facilities include LCD televisions with several premium satellite channels, and complimentary Wi-Fi. All suites have a spacious master bedroom, lounge and outside terrace or balcony.
Across the board, this Zanzibar resort makes use of a neutral colour scheme and traditional artwork – embracing the simplicity and serenity of an island lifestyle.
It is time to make the most of the amenities: Jeff and Amy will select their favourite drink from the personalised mini bar, freshen up under a solar heated shower, or lie back on one of the king sized poster colonial style beds.
Accommodation: Essque Zalu Zanzibar - Garden View Suite (D)
Monday, December 10, 2018 | Essque Zalu
It’s time to for Jeff and Amy to enjoy days of leisure in Zanzibar.
Essque Zalu Pool
Jeff and Amy can set themselves up in luxuriously-styled spaces crafted from local materials, adorned with native artwork and housed under a traditional pitched Makuti roof.
Jeff and Amy can also put their feet up or step out to explore; immersing themselves in colonial heritage or in their private swimming pool.
Jeff and Amy can explore Stone Town on a half day tour, the world's oldest Swahili coastal trading city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, they can browse the curios and artworks in the bazaars and markets or just mosey around the mosques and temples.
If the history of rock music is Jeff and Amy’s passion, they can even check out the birthplace of the legendary Freddie Mercury!
Other excursions available at an additional cost include: visiting prison island by a traditional wooden dhow, formerly a detention centre for the African slaves, nowadays, this is an ideal place to sunbathe or snorkel with giant turtles, dolphin cruises, scuba diving, spice tours or trip into Jozini Forest.
Accommodation: Essque Zalu Zanzibar - Garden View Suite (B, D)
Tuesday, December 11, 2018 | Essque Zalu
Today, Jeff and Amy have another day to enjoy this stunning location. The choices are endless. Relax or step out to explore.
Essque Zalu Jetty
Today is be a good day for Jeff and Amy to visit the spa. The Africology Retreat at Zalu includes various treatment venues - two dual treatment rooms, four single rooms, Hydro shower room and two relaxation areas. The wet-areas offer a sauna and steam room. Africology treatments at Essque Zalu Zanzibar are suitable for both men and women.
As the sun sets, Jeff and Amy can head out onto the jetty to enjoy the beautiful view with a sunset drink before enjoying a delicious dinner.
Accommodation: Essque Zalu Zanzibar - Garden View Suite (B, D)
Wednesday, December 12, 2018 | Depart Zanzibar
After breakfast, Jeff and Amy can spend the rest of their morning at leisure. In the afternoon, they will be transferred to Zanzibar Airport for their scheduled flight. (B)
Thursday, December 13, 2018 | Arrive Boston
Jeff and Amy arrive in Washington, D.C. (Dulles) via Addis Ababa on their Ethiopian Airlines flight before connecting to their flight home to Boston. Surely, they will return home with a lifetime of memories!