Once you touch down in Nairobi, your adventure officially begins! We’ll pick you up from the airport and take you to our hotel, where you can unwind after your travels. We’ll meet by the pool for welcome cocktails and lunch to start getting to know each other. After a quick unpack, we’ll stroll to the nearby Nairobi Arboretum for a scenic walk and a fun ‘shake-out’ workout to shake off the travel. Then, it’s eucalyptus steam room and sauna time, followed by our first family dinner. It’s a chill start to the week, but trust us, the excitement is just getting started!
Early the next morning, we’re up for a quick workout and breakfast, ready to hit the ground running. First up: the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, where we’ll meet baby elephants and maybe even adopt one! Then, it’s lunch and after we head to the Giraffe Centre to hand-feed our long-necked friends. Once we’ve soaked in the city, we’re on our way to Lake Naivasha, where you’ll stay in the coolest hotel ever—with hippos right outside!
Our Lake Naivasha day begins with a peaceful yoga session among grazing zebras and waterbucks, followed by breakfast. Then we’re off to Hell’s Gate National Park for a biking safari! Yes, you read that right—we’re pedaling through the landscapes that inspired scenes from The Lion King. After lunch back at the hotel, it’s time for our thrilling Hippo Boat Tour, getting you closer to these gentle giants than ever before. This day is one for the memory books.
After a leisurely morning, we’re packing up and making our way to the Masai Mara. Our comfy 4x4s offer the perfect setting for getting-to-know-you games and deep chats. Once we reach our lodge, we’ll visit a Masai Village to meet locals, learn about the culture, and tour the unique crafts at their market.
Rise and shine—today is our full-day game drive! Our 4x4s take us deep into the Masai Mara, where we’ll track wild animals through one of the world’s most stunning landscapes. With zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, and crocodiles at the Mara River, it’s a day filled with jaw-dropping sights. A picnic lunch on the plains completes this dreamlike day, so make sure those cameras are ready. We’ll return to the lodge for dinner, a few drinks, and a well-deserved night’s sleep.
For those seeking an unforgettable experience, wake up at 4:30am for an optional hot air balloon ride. Imagine floating over the Masai Mara at sunrise, watching elephants and lions below in complete silence—pure magic. Afterward, a bottomless champagne breakfast awaits, followed by a morning safari. Back at camp, we’ll get ready for our final game drive, ending with a themed party to celebrate the trip of a lifetime.
On our last day, pack your day bag because we’ve extended our stay in the Mara for one last early-morning game drive! After lunch, we’re off to the airstrip for a domestic flight back to Nairobi. Depending on your flight time, join us for a meal at Cultiva Farms or catch our shuttle to the airport.
Until next time—or until our next adventure together. SYB friendships last a lifetime!
Yes, travel & medical insurance is mandatory and must be obtained prior to joining our trip. If you choose not to purchase travel insurance, you acknowledge and accept our policy, which requires a minimum of 28 days' notice to transfer your credit to another trip.
Please note that we do not issue refunds under any circumstances.
This is needed to enter Kenya for everyone!
Apply Here: https://evisa.go.ke/
Our Hotel: Raddison Blu
Hotel Phone: +254 (Kenya) 709810000
Email: info.nairobi@radissonblu.com
You will need a proof of address in Kenya, which you will be sent via email or WhatsApp in the weeks leading up to the trip.
GETTING THERE
We recommend arriving anytime before 12pm June 19 so you have time to settle into the trip with your new friends! We will meet at either Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) and bring you to our hotel. It's a 25 minute drive through the city and you might see zebras on your way out of the airport!
COMING HOME
We will be arriving at Nairobi after 5pm, thus recommend getting a later flight. Keep in mind, you have to be at the airport at least 2 hours early, so don't book anything earlier than 8pm.
INCLUDED DOMESTIC FLIGHT
We’ve included a domestic flight from Keekorok air strip to Nairobi Wilson, arriving on the last day, June 25 at 4:45pm. Please make sure your departure flight is at least 4 hour after this because local Kenyan flight don’t always follow strict schedules.
We're staying at these incredible hotels:
- Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, Nairobi Arboretum
- Lake Naivasha SOPA Lodge
- Masa Mara SOPA Lodge
We begin this adventure in Nairobi, so fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO).
Nairobi is Kenya's capital city and is unique because, alongside its urban core, Nairobi is home to a game reserve known for breeding endangered back rhinos and home giraffes. Nearby is a world-renowned elephant orphanage!
Hell's Gate National Park lies near Lake Naivasha. Famous for its game drives, it is common to see an abundance of hippopotamus, bird species and other incredible species!
Masai Mara is a national game reserve hosting a large region of protected land along the Tanzanian border. Its animals include lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras and hippos.
The Kenyan landscapes leave much to be explored!
We'll be riding in 4x4 land cruisers the whole adventure. They are 7-seaters, our drivers also double as our guides, speak English and have plenty of stories and jokes to tell on our long journeys.
On the last day of the trip, we will be taking a domestic flight from the Masai Mara to Nairobi (1 hr). We take care of the booking and this is included in your fees.
Plan that you won't be doing any washing. We're heading to remote regions of Kenya. Of course a few hotels will provide washing services, but you can definitely count on additional costs if they do have this service.
Yellow Fever Vaccine
This is not required, but highly recommended. Yellow fever is a viral infection that occurs in Africa and South America. Most people begin to develop immunity within ten days of vaccination and 99 percent are protected within one month, and this appears to be lifelong.
Anti Malarial Medication
This is not required, but highly recommended. CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of Kenya take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take. If your doctor prescribed antimalarial medicine for your trip, keep taking the rest of your pills after you return home. If you stop taking your medicine too soon, you could still get sick.
REPELLENT
An insect repellent will help protect you from mosquitoes that spread malaria and other diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya, and Yellow fever. You can use an insect repellent on your skin and clothes to keep away (repel) insects. Lemon eucalyptus oil is good one.
Please see and ask your doctor about traveling to Kenya and it's remote regions.
Please do not wait until the last minute, some medicine requires to be taken one week before travel.
Also here are useful government websites:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/kenya
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kenya/health
If you choose this adventure, we're waking up at 4:30am, going deep into the Masai Mara, launching the balloon just before the sun rises and as we rise above the great plains so does the sun... welcome to the most magical moment of your life.
We will be visiting with permission a local Masai Mara tribe, we've paid them to do this and we make sure the proceeds go directly to the community as a whole. There is also a market they set up just for our visit where we can directly buy their handmade products.
You'll want to wear light clothes for the day and warm layers for the evenings, because morning game drives in open vehicles will be cold! Remember you'll be traveling a lot too, so try to minimize to a few really solid outfits.
If you need some inspiration just google 'safari outfits' and pick up something nice so our photographer can capture your best looks for your grandmother.
After a late night, you may not want to wake up and join us for a workout, but we highly suggest it! Included in your trip, the boot camps and yoga sessions keep us energized - there is nothing better than waking up and sweating with your new friends! Our world-class trip leaders know how to start your day the best way, with a good workout to prime us for a day of adventuring.
This experience is included in trip fees.
Usually we say 'no need to whip out your phone or camera at any point throughout this trip because we have got you covered' but if you've ever wanted to try out photography this is the place of photographic dreams! Otherwise, we will have a professional photographer and videographer joining us on this trip to capture every moment. These will be the best travel photos and videos you will ever get - you're friends better be ready for a photo dump out of their wildest dreams!!
This experience is included in trip fees.
The shilling is the currency of Kenya. However, USD is widely accepted. It is common to bring a Mastercard or Visa as they are commonly accepted in Kenya.
We suggest withdrawing money before coming to Kenya, as ATMs are available, but you may be charged a withdrawal fee.
We suggest bringing $300 to $400 to use at bars and a few of our dinners, as well as a credit card, to be safe, but otherwise, we've got you covered!
Tourist areas of Kenya, where SYB travels, is incredibly safe. However, it is important to note that the US has a travel advisory for the country, which is a blanket warning as areas of the country experience higher levels of crime. However, we will not be going to those places, so these concerns should be noted but do not apply to us.
Still, as a precautionary measure, our accommodations will have safes for us to leave our valuables. We suggest leaving all important items in the safe while exploring - but maybe keep your Yeezys and nice jewelry at home!
This is a wild African adventure! Our accommodations are comfortable and perfectly placed in the heart of the Masai Mara, offering stunning views of the plains and all the untamed beauty Africa has to offer. Of course, being surrounded by nature means you’ll experience it fully—so keep an open mind and embrace the wild!
Expect morning safaris through the open fields, fitness challenges in epic locations, and evening stretch sessions under breathtaking African sunsets. Days are packed with adventure, from visiting the Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Centre to exploring Lake Naivasha, Hell’s Gate National Park, and the vast Masai Mara. Evenings are for group dinners, bonding over drinks, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.
You’ll ride through the plains, climb atop open 4x4 cruisers, and soak in every incredible moment—from a lioness playing with her cubs to a parade of elephants grazing just feet away. We’ll mix in boat rides alongside hippos and a few local surprises along the way.
This isn’t your average safari. It’s a chance to explore Africa’s wildest landscapes, connect with an incredible crew, and experience something truly unforgettable. With an open mind and a sense of adventure, you’re set for the trip of a lifetime.
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