Kenya Untamed - Nairobi, Laikipia & Masai Mara

You’ll spend your first night in Nairobi at Giraffe Manor, an exclusive boutique hotel set within a lush expanse of indigenous forest. Dating back to the 1930s, everything from the hotel’s stately manor house to its gardens and sunny terrace tells a romantic story. The resident herd of Rothschild’s giraffes that roam the property may pop in (quite literally) to visit at any time, poking their long necks through the manor house’s windows. This is just one unique element of the Giraffe Manor experience that your kids will absolutely adore!

An elegantly restored Argentinian-style ranch house in the Central Laikipia Highlands, Sosian Lodge comprises seven rooms, one of which is a family cottage. The ranch house features a dining room, bar and grand lounge with a cozy fireplace in case the weather turns chilly. A full-length veranda along the main building affords superb views across the wildlife-rich Laikipia plains to Mount Kenya. Your family time spent at this working cattle ranch can be as fast or slow-paced as you like. One of the main lodge activities is riding, either on horses or camels. Imagine saddling up and riding across the glorious Laikipia plateau among big herds of zebra, elephant and buffalo. Day and night game drives are also on offer with the chance to see lion, leopard and African wild dog in their natural environment. Community visits to a local Samburu village can also be arranged, while fishing and archery are other exciting activities on offer that may interest your family.

Offbeat Mara Camp is a no-frills-no-fuss traditional bush camp of just seven tents in the Mara North Conservancy bordering Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve. Most of the staff here are local Masai people and the strong focus on families is what makes this camp really special. Spend memorable nights with your loved ones enjoying dinner under the stars and sharing bush stories around the campfire. There is a small lounge tent with comfy chairs and a small bar for relaxing at the end of the day or between your safari activities. Wildlife viewing in this protected reserve is phenomenal with experienced trackers and guides taking you out on 4×4 and walking safaris. Exploring the bush on foot allows you to hear and spot small fauna and flora that often go unnoticed while driving. In season, large migrating herds of wildebeest and zebra attract predators such as lion, leopard and cheetah, making for incredible photographic opportunities. Other family activities available include night drives and trips to see a rhino sanctuary and the local Masai market.