Luxury Mara & Diani Beach Break

On your arrival at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport you are transferred by road to House of Waine, a family-owned and -managed boutique hotel that exudes regal sophistication. The charming interior of this country estate hotel features high ceilings and Victorian architecture. Historical art adorns the walls and antique leather furniture graces the multiple sitting areas, while grand chandeliers and cavernous fireplaces add old-world charm. Your extravagant suite overlooks the rolling lawns of the indigenous gardens where a sparkling swimming pool and shaded outside lounging areas make you feel right at home.  

Check out for your transfer to Wilson Airport where you connect with a flight to the Masai Mara National Reserve. You are met at the airstrip and transferred to the Mahali Mzuri Safari Camp set on the ridge of a valley overlooking the sprawling Mara plains within the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy. The innovative suites of this tented camp almost resemble ‘spaceships’ and were constructed with the help of local Maasai. The eco-conscious design strives for minimal environmental impact while the structures are raised off the ground to offer superb armchair game viewing and showcase the reserve’s magnificent terrain.

Begin each day with a thrilling 4x4 game drive in the Big 5 conservancy, which offers premium game viewing within Kenya’s flagship reserve, the pièce de résistance being the chance to witness to the Great Migration between May and October. The highly skilled tracker-and-ranger teams know the reserve intimately and impart their expert knowledge about the reserve’s flora and fauna, happily tailoring the experience to suite any particular interests. Plug points in the sturdy vehicles allow you to charge your camera battery and ensure you do not miss out on the classic shot of animals crossing the river with opportunistic predators lurking in the water. Walking safaris encourage closer interaction with the plants and smaller animals that are often difficult to appreciate from the vehicle.

Between wilderness excursions, there is plenty of repose on offer at the main lodge where guests who long to do nothing but sunbathe on a lounger are well catered for, while those who like to keep a little busier can take a dip in the infinity pool or scan the plains for game through the high-powered telescope. Relax and watch animals from the floor-to-ceiling windows of your tented suite’s lounge or its adjoining viewing deck. Laptops and iPads with Wi-Fi Internet access are available at reception. For a bird’s-eye perspective of this magnificent landscape, lift off on a hot-air balloon and take in all the wildlife action from high above.

After breakfast you are transferred back to the airstrip and board your flight to Wilson Airport where you connect with another flight to Diani Beach. Set on a glorious stretch of golden-silk sand – widely regarded as the best Kenya has to offer – AfroChic is an exclusive and intimate boutique hotel that marries Crusoe-chic romance with warm East African hospitality. The furnished balcony of your contemporary villa-style suite overlooks the landscaped garden that features a crystal-clear swimming pool and Jacuzzi. Closer to the horizon dhows sail across the cerulean Indian Ocean which shimmers like diamonds in the midday sun.

Sunbathe on Diani Beach between refreshing dips in the warm sea or take a walk through the forest adjacent to the shoreline and watch colobus monkeys swinging in the tree canopies. You could dedicate your time to learning the art of kite surfing or discover an underwater world of fascinating marine life on a scuba diving excursion along the pristine coral reef. A horse ride along the beach at sunset is a fairytale experience you will cherish forever and, if you fancy a round, there is an 18-hole golf course just a 3-minute drive from the hotel.

Your individually designed suite – which boasts unique and eclectic interiors – features a balcony with magnificent sea-and-sand views. Soak in your en suite bathroom’s Whirlpool tub set underneath a vast ocean-facing window. Mealtimes are always a special occasion when the talented chef presents a menu influenced by flavours from across the globe with an emphasis on surf-fresh seafood that is brought in daily by local fisherman. Whether you choose to enjoy your meal in the dining room, on the beach or in the candlelit privacy your suite, it is always a culinary celebration of note.

This morning you fly back to Wilson Airport from where you will be transferred by road to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and connect with your onwards flight home.