Kenya and Tanzania Safari: A 9-Day Family Adventure in Africa

Jambo na Karibu Kenya! Your Kenya family safari begins in Nairobi, where you will be warmly welcomed on arrival and transferred to The Emakoko, a boutique lodge tucked away on the edge of Nairobi National Park. And there is no need to wait until tomorrow for the adventure to begin. Your journey to the lodge takes you through the national park, where giraffes, zebras, antelopes and perhaps even rhinos may provide the family's first wildlife sightings. Settle in, enjoy dinner and let everyone adjust to the rhythm of Africa.

Wake up surrounded by nature and head into Nairobi National Park for a private family game drive. With lions, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras and both black and white rhinos among the wildlife found here, it is an exciting introduction to Kenya's wilderness; made even more unusual by occasional glimpses of Nairobi's skyline in the distance. Between activities, return to The Emakoko and enjoy some downtime together. An optional visit can also be arranged to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where the family can learn about the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned elephants.

After breakfast, fly north to Laikipia, one of Kenya's most important wildlife and conservation regions. Your home for the next three nights is Lewa Wilderness, a family-run safari lodge within the renowned Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. After settling in, head out for your first game drive across Lewa's rolling landscapes. Keep your eyes open for elephants, lions, leopards and the conservancy's famous populations of endangered black and white rhinos. For younger travellers, this is where safari begins to feel like one enormous outdoor classroom; except the lessons have four legs.

Today is yours to experience Lewa at a pace that suits the family. Head out on a game drive in search of the Big Five and Laikipia's rare wildlife, or swap four wheels for a completely different perspective with a guided bush walk. Depending on age, interests and availability, families can also enjoy activities such as horseback riding, birdwatching and conservation experiences. The younger explorers aren't simply passengers here. Activities can introduce children to animal tracks, plants, birds and the smaller details of the bush that are easy to miss from a safari vehicle.

There is more to Lewa than incredible wildlife. Spend part of today discovering the conservation work that has made Lewa Wildlife Conservancy internationally recognised, particularly its efforts to protect rhinos and other threatened species. Depending on arrangements, you can visit conservation initiatives, enjoy another guided walk or head back into the conservancy for more wildlife viewing. And because family holidays shouldn't feel rushed, there is time to simply enjoy Lewa Wilderness too; relax by the swimming pool, wander through the gardens and take in the beautiful views together.

Today you leave Laikipia and fly south to the legendary Maasai Mara ecosystem. On arrival, continue to House in the Wild, an intimate family-owned lodge on the banks of the Mara River. After lunch and some time to settle in, head out into the Enonkishu and neighboring conservancies, where wildlife moves freely through this important part of the Greater Mara ecosystem. Look out for lions, cheetahs, elephants and perhaps African wild dogs before stopping somewhere beautiful to watch the sunset. Then it's back to the lodge for dinner and stories about everyone's favourite sighting of the day.

No two days on safari in the Maasai Mara are quite the same. Set out with your guide and follow whatever the morning brings. Perhaps lions are beginning to stir after a night of hunting, elephants are crossing the plains or giraffes are feeding quietly among the acacias. Wildlife moves freely between Enonkishu, Ol Chorro, Lemek and the surrounding conservancies, making every drive a new adventure. Families looking for something more active can also take a guided walk or, for those ready for the challenge, climb Kileleoni Hill, the highest point in the Greater Mara ecosystem. The reward is an incredible view stretching across the Mara.

Your final full day in the Mara goes beyond wildlife viewing. Spend time around the estate and discover some of the conservation and community projects connected to House in the Wild. Depending on what's happening that day, you may learn about tree planting, beekeeping or the work carried out by local wildlife scouts. Later, visit a Maasai community for a warm introduction to their culture and everyday life. Learn how traditional homes are constructed, discover how fire can be made using simple traditional methods and enjoy songs and stories shared by members of the community. For children especially, it is often these simple human encounters that become some of the most talked-about memories of a family safari. Return to the lodge for your final evening in the Mara.

Wake up to your final morning in the African bush. Enjoy breakfast and take in the surroundings one last time before flying back to Nairobi. A day room will be available for the family to relax and freshen up before your private transfer to the airport for your international flight home. Nine days, three very different corners of Kenya and probably hundreds of photographs later, the safari comes to an end — although the family stories are only just beginning.