Join us as we witness the greatest event in nature. More than one million wildebeest and zebra cross the Mara River from Tanzania into the Masai Mara in mid July. Words really can't describe the scene. ​We've chosen to upgrade the hotel in Nairobi and the camp in the Maasai Mara for this group. Hemingways is the nicest property in Nairobi and Paradise Plains Camp is the nicest luxury camp in the Mara.

What can you expect to see during your week long stay? We should see lions, leopard, cheetah, elephants, zebra, antelope, hippos, and giraffe just to name a few. We will most likely witness a heart stopping river crossing with wildebeest and zebra jumping into the river and swimming in croc infested waters.

Located at the Nairobi airport. Just a short ride from baggage claim.

You will be met by our greeting service when you walk off the plane. They will help you through customs and baggage claim. A representative from Crowne Plaza will be there to assist you onto the shuttle.

Check in and have a good night's sleep. 

Sleep in and have a nice breakfast at the hotel. At 11 am, our driver will pick you and your luggage. He will take you to Hemingways which is about a 30 minute drive. After checking in, you will be taken for a tour of Karen Blixen's home from the book Out of Africa. After the tour, you will go to the famous Carnivore Restaurant for lunch. After lunch you will return to Hemingways to relax and enjoy the property.

Boone and Paula will return from the Mara and meet you for dinner at Hemingway.

This intimate luxury camp is located in a private conservancy. The Conservancy was set up through the goodwill of tribal landowners to expand wildlife ranges and migration routes. The whole gambit of African wildlife is here and it now has the largest concentration of giraffe and eland in the local eco-system. Lions and leopards move in and out of the territory but are often sighted since the Olerai plains are perfect hunting grounds. The reserve provides an elephant corridor and with lush marshland grasses the elephant are using it as a feeding ground as well as a dispersal area.

This morning we will have breakfast and check out.  Meet in lobby with bags at 8:30 am. Your larger bags will be loaded in a truck to go over the road to our first camp. Make sure your bag is loaded before you get in the transfer van. Take a back pack or smaller bag with you. You only need items and clothes you will use until your large bag arrives at camp around 6 pm. 

We have a short drive to Wilson Airport. Boone will collect passports and check everyone in for the short flight to the Mara. Our flight departs at 10 am. It may be direct or could have a stop at another airstrip in the Mara. Flight time is 35 minutes. Enjoy flying over the Rift Valley and the scenery below. 

Our Maasai guides will meet us at the airstrip and take us to the camp. We will be on a game drive the minute we leave the airstrip. Expect to see lots of amazing animals like giraffe, elephants, topi, zebra, warthogs, impala as we drive to camp. 

First camp is Lerai. We will receive a brief orientation and be shown to our tents. Around 1 pm we will have a nice family style lunch. Enjoy a cold beverage this afternoon from the main area or by the pool. You will see wildlife like zebras and giraffes coming to the water hole at camp.  Lots of vervet monkeys reside in the camp so don't leave food in your tent. You may be ready for a nice hour long massage at camp. Cost is very reasonable for the spa treatments. Meet at the main area at 4 pm for high tea. Then depart with our guides at 4:30 for the afternoon game drive in our private reserve. We will stop for sundowners around 6:30 before returning to camp. 

Enjoy drinks and appetizers by the camp fire and then dinner around 7:30. 

Staff will escort you back to your tent after dinner.

Delivery of coffee or tea to your tent is your morning wake up call. Most will wake at 5:30 and then meet at the main area at 6:00 am. We will depart at 6:00 am for the morning game drive. Most of the wildlife activity happens in the first hours of the morning. We don't want to miss the action or seeing the sun rise over the Mara.  Note we will be going into the Maasai Mara game reserve.

Around 9 am we will break for coffee and a light breakfast.  If we find the herds are gathering by the river, we will wait to see if they cross. That could test your patience as wildebeests have no clear leader and change their minds about crossing often. 

If there is no crossing, we will be back to camp around 11 or 12.  We will meet for a nice lunch at camp around 1 pm. Then you will have about three hours of free time to enjoy the beautiful camp, take a nap, or get a massage. 

We will meet at 4 pm for high tea and then depart at 4:30 for our afternoon game drive in the private reserve. We will search for the resident leopards. They are elusive but our guides are expert spotters. If we find a leopard, we will have it all to ourselves. 

We will return at sunset and enjoy appetizers and drinks around the fire. Then sit at 7:30 for dinner. 

Those who signed up for the hot air balloon experience will leave camp a little early this morning. You will see the sun come up from above the Mara plains. Float above the herds and enjoy the view from a different perspective. After about an hour, you will land and then enjoy a delicious breakfast of made to order omelettes, fresh pastries, and bloody mary's and mimosas. 

Those not doing the balloon ride will head into the park for a morning game drive. We may see the balloon riders as they float over. 

Both groups will start heading back to camp later in the morning. We may go to the local maasai village to learn about the tribe's unique culture. 

Lunch as normal around 1 pm and then rest at the pool or the lounge area of camp. 

Some may elect to do a walking game drive this afternoon. A maasai guide will share knowledge of local flora and how it is used for medicine and hygiene. 

We will take one last game drive in the Olerai conservancy and do some spot lighting for nocturnal wildlife after dark. 

Experience the beauty of the Maasai Mara National Reserve at Paradise Plains, where stunning wildlife views and adventurous safari opportunities await. Enjoy comfortable accommodations and an open-air dining experience under the stars, all while engaging in guided tours led by knowledgeable experts. Embrace nature and sustainability in this unique retreat.

Wake up the same time. This morning you will leave your luggage just inside your tent. We won't be returning to Lerai camp and your luggage will be transported to our next camp.

Our morning game drive will take us through the heart of the National Reserve. We will search for lion cubs, leopards, and cheetahs. Late in the morning we will arrive at our next camp, Paradise Plains.  Paradise is located in the famed Musiara wetlands area and the paradise plains. The camp sits on the Mara river. Enjoy your new tent compound that has a sleeping tent, a separate bathing tent, and a library tent. See large elephant families right outside your tent. The camp also has a pool, a spa, and a small gym. 

We will meet as usual around 4 pm for hight tea and then embark on a game drive to look for the famed marsh pride of lions. Our drive could also take us to the main crossing point for an epic wildebeest crossing. 

We will return after the sun sets and enjoy a cocktail by the fire. A five star dinner will be served around 7:30 and then it will be time for bed. 

Staff will bring coffee to your tent at the time of your choosing.  We will meet at main camp area at 6:15 sharp for our morning game drive in the reserve. We will look for lions and other game. 

We will have breakfast in the bush around 9 am. Depending on what we see, expect to be back at camp around 11.  

Lunch time is 1 pm. Again, meet at 4 pm for high tea and depart at 4:30 for an afternoon game drive. 

Cocktails by the fire and dinner at 7:30. 

This will be another day of morning game drives, bush breakfast, lunch and afternoon game drive. 

You need to have your larger bags packed and ready for pick up before the afternoon game drive. The larger bags will be taken over the road back to Nairobi.

This is our last night in the Mara and we will have a special sundowner party to celebrate our time in the Mara. 

This morning we can take one last game drive in this spectacular area of the reserve. 

We will return to camp for a nice brunch. After, it will be time to say our goodbye's and head to the local airstrip. 

Our flight should arrive back in Nairobi at noon. Our drivers will take you Crowne Plaza where you have a day room reserved. Relax by the pool or in the spa until time to depart for the airport and your flight home.