CHARLOTTE & WINTER
Kenya November 2025
DESIGNED BY
JOANNA HUSSEY
WELCOME
What do a polar bear, a mountain gorilla, a Bengal tiger and a desert elephant have in common? They are awesome creatures, few in number, living in places that are spectacular, wild and fragile. I marvel that we live in an age when we can even come close to creatures like these, in the world’s remotest places. And that we can stay in exclusive comfort, in the company of expert guides. And that by travelling we can contribute to these animals’ survival.
I have built a team of Journeysmiths with the ability to match your dreams and aspirations to their knowledge and experience of the world’s extraordinary places. The outcome is a holiday of a lifetime every time you travel. Our holidays go beyond “tailormade” — they are uniquely crafted and arranged and we simply adore what we do.
LAURA BURDETT-MUNNS MANAGING DIRECTOR
WHO ARE JOURNEYSMITHS?
Choosing the right company to arrange your holiday to our world’s most complex and remote locations is vitally important. Like mankind, Journeysmiths’ roots are in Africa. 30 years ago John Burdett and Warwick Hoffman, the original Journeysmiths, founded Africa Exclusive. They were, and still are fired by a passion to show clients the wild world they love, in privacy and comfort. Today, driven by that same passion, Journeysmiths arranges the finest possible holidays to amazing places across five continents for our international clientele. Each trip is expertly arranged to exactly meet each client’s requirements and interests. We are proud of our exceptional level of service, which we believe sets us apart from other holiday companies.
HELPING OUT
We are passionate about protecting the world’s most fragile environments. When you travel with us you are contributing to the protection of wildlife and the environment in partnership with local communities. As well as carefully selecting our partners around the world we also give 5% of our net profit each year to supporting charities and conservation efforts in the places we work.
• We have over 30 years experience
• Our holidays are beautifully engineered
• We are passionate about quality
• We are fastidious about those tiny details
• Our prices are fair WHY JOURNEYSMITHS?
• We listen carefully, each client is unique
• We are passionate about positive impacts
• Our clients have a dedicated expert consultant
FINANCIAL SECURITY
You have complete financial security when you book with Journeysmiths. We are fully bonded and licenced under the Civil Aviation Authority’s ATOL scheme, licence number ATOL 2883 (Journeysmiths is a trading name of Africa Exclusive Ltd). This covers all clients who book their international flights from the UK and holiday arrangements through us. If you are arranging your own flights or you are not departing from the UK you are also protected by a separate insurance policy that we voluntarily maintain with Travel and General Insurance Services. This is called a Total Payment Protection Policy (TOPP) and the policy number is AELI/topp/20/14.
Travel to the world’s fragile places should benefit the habitats, wildlife and people who live there. We call this ‘travelling well’ and it is a feature of every safari we arrange.
It may seem counterintuitive that visiting a place could protect it, but staying at the right place can do just that. We actively favour safari lodges which work in partnership with local communities to conserve wildlife. We also support charities and NGOs working in our destinations.
We are fortunate enough to enjoy the incredible biodiversity this planet has to offer. We believe it is our responsibility to preserve it for future generations.
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In the 30 year life of Journeysmiths, Africa's human population has doubled. The future of vulnerable species and iconic landscapes can only be assured by a mutually beneficial partnership between Africa's people and wildlife.
laura burdett - munns managing director
THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF YOUR TRIP
30 years ago we encountered Africa and fell in love with its awesome beauty. Ever since, we’ve been spreading the word, sharing our passion so that you too can experience the best of our world. In the best possible way. This means matching your individuality to a unique blend of places and experiences that fulfil your dreams and extend your horizons. It also means fighting to protect these fragile places.
The way we do this is simple but effective:
– We work with people who share our values
– We make it easy for you to see the positive impacts of your holiday
– We encourage you to get involved
– We donate a minimum of 5% of net profit to charity each year
Our planet’s remote places and wildlife are under constant threat from poaching, encroachment and climate change. We favour lodges which actively conserve the land and its wildlife. This requires dynamic partnerships with local communities which leads to them benefiting significantly from wildlife conservation.
We include details of initiatives run by each property you will visit in your travel itinerary, so that you can see the positive impact of your stay. Our team would also be delighted to discuss ways you can get more involved.
To help protect the amazing places we send our clients to; we donate 5% of our net profits each to charitable conservation projects within Africa.
We also work alongside charities that are dedicated to protecting endangered species, providing environmental education to local children and ensuring human-wildlife coexistence is sustained.
When searching for an African safari we found that Journeysmiths was a cut above the others. We have been on safari several times and were attracted by the more remote luxury accommodations and game viewing. From first contact with the company their professionalism and attention to detail was obvious. Everything was as advertised and we were extremely pleased with all aspects of our safari experience.
godwin party
JOURNEY ACCOMMODATION
ITINERARY
is a five-star
blending European elegance with Kenyan
Located on Chiromo Road in the vibrant Westlands district, it offers easy access to Nairobi’s cultural landmarks and is just 30 minutes from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The hotel features 200 luxurious rooms and suites, each designed with contemporary flair and equipped with modern amenities. Accommodation options range from Superior Rooms to the expansive Presidential Suite,
Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi
hotel
warmth.
Heathrow
Nairobi
Villa Rose Kempinski
Dining at Villa Rosa Kempinski is a global culinary journey. Guests can savour authentic Italian dishes at LUCCA, indulge in Levantine flavours at Tambourin, enjoy Pan-Asian cuisine at 88, or relax with light bites and beverages at the Balcony Bar and K Lounge.
For relaxation and wellness, the hotel offers Kempinski The Spa, featuring nine treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, and an outdoor heated pool. The fully equipped fitness centre ensures guests can maintain their workout routines.
DAYS 2 TO 8
Friday 21st - Thursday 27th November
JOURNEY
Private road transfer to Wilson Airport
Scheduled light aircraft flight to Masai Mara
Game drive transfer to camp
ACCOMMODATION
Saruni Leopard Hill
Double Honeymoon Tent
7 nights
INCLUSIONS
Meals, soft drinks, local beers, wines and spirits, limited laundry service and shared game-viewing activities: day and night game drives, guided bush walks, bush meals, sundowners. Visits to the Masai Mara National Reserve will be subject to national reserve entry fees ($200pp per visit)
Adjoining the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, the Masai Mara is one of the world’s most famous and spectacular game viewing regions.
Covering an area of over 1800 square kilometres, vast expanses of undulating grassy plains roll from horizon to horizon dotted with acacia trees and isolated rocky outcrops.
These rich grasslands and watering places sustain thousands of elephant, graceful-looking giraffe and big herds of buffalo, zebra and wildebeest. A host of smaller creatures such as baboon, warthog, hyena and jackal call the Mara home, while there are also myriad antelope species, from fleet-footed topi to majestic-looking kudu and diminutive dik dik. It is perhaps the only region left in Kenya where visitors may see iconic African wildlife in the same super abundance as existed a century ago.
The Mara is home to the largest population of lions in Kenya and these magnificent beasts spend most the day sleeping in the shade of acacia trees as vast herds of zebra, gazelle and wildebeest roam the plains. The smaller plains game are often targets for cheetah and they can be seen chasing down prey across these expansive grasslands.
The waters of the Mara River are renowned for huge numbers of crocodiles and pods of hippo, whilst the acacia woodlands and riverine forests are favoured by opportunistic leopard who use their stealth and cunning to ambush antelope and other smaller creatures.
The birdlife in the Mara region is equally as abundant and even more varied. Eagles soar high overhead, vultures dance around carcasses, and hundreds of other species of beautiful birds both great and small provide a continual source of interest.
Situated right on the northern edge of the Masai Mara Reserve in the private Naboisho Conservancy, Saruni Leopard Hill Camp is tucked away in a prime wildlife area surrounded by the Mara’s ubiquitous game. There are in fact more lion and cheetah on this conservancy per square kilometre than any other area in Kenya and you will share this wildlife with the fewest number of tourists anywhere in the greater Masai Mara area.
There are four luxurious decagonal standard tents that can be opened up on most sides, allowing guests to enjoy a breath-taking 270-degree view spread out below. The thoughtful modern architecture creates a luxurious living space with each tent boasting blissful king-sized or twin beds, dressed in the highest quality linen. A large bathroom and changing area with flush toilet, double vanities and hot shower allow for total comfort whilst maintaining the safari atmosphere.
There is also a dedicated family tent comprising two en-suite bedrooms linked by a lounge area, each boasting panoramic views over the plains, while the final Honeymoon Tent is situated a good way from the others in a secluded spot. This is slightly larger than the standard double tents, with its own adjoining lounge and perfect for a couple wishing to spend most of their time alone.
All of the tents offer a unique retractable roof, meaning at the click of a button by your bedside, you can unveil the spectacular equatorial starscape and fall asleep with just a mosquito net between you and the heavens. Each deck also has a sunken fire pit and camp staff will light a fire every evening for you, the perfect place to relax and enjoy a sundowner drink.
The tents and main areas offer a subtle blend of traditional colonial décor and modern styling. A lounge and library area, dining tent and expansive main deck all provide wonderful sociable areas in which to relax in between activities. The owners and hosts at the camp are conservationists, who have many years’ experience of the African bush and a wealth of knowledge on all aspects of life in Kenya. They all have an inherent love and enthusiasm for the country from the spectacular wildlife and the local people, to the unique birds and rarest butterfly.
Game drives here are a must and are the best way to get up close and personal with all of the big game in the region. They can be enjoyed during the day and the evenings when you will be accompanied by a local Maasai guide who will use their expertise to ensure that you enjoy the ultimate African safari experience.
One day (at additional cost of $200 per person for the Masai Mara National Reserve fees) you may choose to head out on a full day game drive into the national reserve itself, possibly heading towards the rivers and key crossing points if the migration is passing through the region. You may then stop for a picnic lunch under an acacia tree before making your way back to camp. Another day you may choose to explore the private wilderness area surrounding the camp and so avoiding the crowds and minibuses commonly found in the reserve proper. Leopard Hills Camp allows you to enjoy every aspect of this magical land to the fullest.
The rolling hills, vast open plains, and thick forest of the Naboisho Conservancy offers the opportunity to also experience exhilarating walking safaris, looking more closely at the flora and fauna surrounding you and tracking animals on foot. You may pass through stunning forested areas teeming with birdlife and happening upon stunning waterfalls, perhaps stopping to have a dip and cool off in the heat of the day. For the most adventurous, you may wish to finish a walking safari with a night fly-camping in the wilderness, eating a meal around a camp fire and spending the night in a dome tent and falling asleep to the thrilling hum of the African bush.
There is also a strong cultural focus at the camp with staff and guides keen to pass on the bush craft and knowledge passed down to them through many generations. The camp has strong ties and gives great support to local communities and they will always be keen for you to visit a local village to gain an understanding of the way of life of these seminomadic people in a very authentic way.
The Basecamp waste management project continues to help clean up and sanitize the Talek area collecting several hundred bags of papers, glass and plastic bottles, which are then separated at the collection point ready for recycling. Despite daily collection of waste, the greatest challenge experienced in this project is the slow attitude change amongst the members of the community who do not dispose waste in the proper manner. Basecamp continues to create awareness amongst the community members on the need to collect, separate and properly dispose waste materials. ENVIRONMENT
COMMUNITY
Alongside MANCO, Basecamp Explorer runs a conservation project in the Masai Mara. In the projects 11-year history, the area has seen increased income for landowners up to 3x from earned land-lease fees and additional income from employment within the conservancy. The project provides a stable income to about 600 Maasai landowner households and over 300 jobs, indirectly benefiting more than 10’000 local people. Furthermore, the project has improved quality of life, support access to clean water, access to renewable energy, education programs, and the promotion of women’s economic activities.
CONSERVATION
Hill’s parent company, Basecamp Explorer, alongside MANCO have initiated The Mara Naboisho Conservancy. The conservation project ensures wildlife protection: Naboisho’s model encourages co-existence between local communities and wildlife thus reducing human wildlife conflicts. Since the formation of the conservancy in 2010, there has been a dramatic increase in wildlife, e.g., with Naboisho now believed to have one of the highest lion densities in Africa and is home to over 320 bird species.
Leopard
DAY 9 Friday 28th November
JOURNEY
Game drive transfer to airstrip
Scheduled light aircraft flight to Nairobi
Private road transfer to Nairobi International Airport (via Cultiva Restaurant for dinner)
Meet and greet on departure
International flight to London Heathrow
The price of this itinerary (subject to availability) on the basis that you book directly with us, departing in November 2025 travelling as a party of two adults is: £20,320 in total
Inclusions:
• International flights
• Scheduled light aircraft flights
• Road transfers
• Accommodation as detailed
Exclusions:
• Meals and drinks as listed
• Game viewing activities as listed
• Pre-payable park/concession fees
• Any items not detailed in the travel itinerary • Tips
Notes:
Inclusions are subject to change at the discretion of the property.
Luggage is restricted to 15kg per person on light aircraft flights within Kenya, it is usually possible to store additional luggage if required at a nominal additional cost.
In some circumstances passengers weighing 100kg or more may require an extra seat on light aircraft flights for comfort and safety purposes. Please note that additional charges for those exceeding the above weight restrictions may be made by the aircraft operators at check-in, alternatively we can book additional seats in advance to avoid additional costs once your holiday has commenced.
All the photos contained in this itinerary are illustrative of the lodges, transport and sights you will see on your holiday. Please note however that we cannot guarantee that you will see all the animals and birds shown as these are wild creatures and not under our control. Equally where specific food or drink, or furniture/furnishings are shown, these may not be identical to those you will experience.
If flights have been included within your booking then unless provisionally held for you, these are subject to change and any increases in fares at the time of booking will be passed on. Similarly, if booking a trip inclusive of flights more than 11 months in advance we will try to give as accurate an indicative cost as possible, but exact flight costs will need to be obtained once flight fares become available and as such, any variance will be reflected in your final balance.
The nature of our holidays means that they may not be suitable for people with reduced mobility. If you have reduced mobility or any specific medical requirements, please ensure that you discuss these with your travel designer prior to booking your holiday.
© Journeysmiths
