Safari and Beyond
private, custom safaris
Masai wedding on the rim of the Crater
At this time of your life what could be more important than your honeymoon trip? We can guarantee that nothing will be more exciting and stimulating than an African Safari! Many of our Honeymooners are on a specific budget and we work very closely with them to insure a great safari within their budget range. Your input and our experience are the perfect combination for a trip of a lifetime!
Other newlyweds are fortunate enough to receive gifts that enable them to enjoy a more expensive, luxurious safari that we offer below:
Below are two great safari examples. Contact us to create your very own.
OPTION 1: A Thirteen Day Very Special Honeymoon Safari
Day 1-2 Depart from the USA Arrive Nairobi Norfolk Hotel
Welcome to Africa! We will meet and take you to your hotel for overnight and breakfast.
Older than the London Ritz, younger than the Savoy, no other hotel in Kenya has as rich a history as the Norfolk, one of the world’s most romantic hotels. When it was first opened in 1904, it was to spearhead traditions of hospitality in East Africa, which are still unmatched today. Set within Nairobi, the cosmopolitan capital of Kenya, the Norfolk has impressed generation after generation of visitors with its unfailing high standards of service, luxurious style, hospitality and comfort. The Norfolk also occupies a unique place in the history of Kenya and specifically Nairobi.
What are you doing the rest of your life?
North and South and East and West of your life?
I have only one request of your life,
That you spend it all with me.
Norfolk Guest Suite
Day 03 Aberdares Mountain Lodge
After meeting your guide, it’s off to the Aberdare Mountains and the famous Mountain Lodge, the perfect introduction to the animals of Africa. The Aberdares is the established name of a mountain range, which thrusts directly north from Nairobi for more than 100 miles. The range is protected as the Aberdares National Park and encompasses all land over 10,000 feet together with a projection due east known as The Salient, which reaches down to 6800 feet near Nyeri town. The park is a fairyland, awesome in its majesty and beauty.
The Salient, which thrusts a dense forest through rich farmland, is where both Treetops and the Ark are situated. Its origin lies in an elephant migration route between the two mountains. The forest is rich in wildlife; elephant and rhino, warthog, bush pig and giant forest hog, waterbuck, duiker, suni, dikdik, bongo and reedbuck are all to be seen.
Birds are not only dazzling but also plentiful. The crowned eagle (which eats monkeys) is everywhere and the forest echoes to the shrill cries of the Silvery-cheeked hornbill. The resplendent sunbirds are well represented, among them the brilliant metallic violet Tacazze, the Emerald Green Malachite Sunbird and on the moorlands the Scarlet Tufted Malachite Sunbird, with its very long slender tail.
The only ‘tree hotel’ ever to be built on the slopes of Kenya’s legendary Mount Kenya, Mountain Lodge offers a matchless game viewing opportunity whilst combining a glorious panorama of mountain vistas with the primordial splendors of an ancient rainforest. Floating 7200 feet high on the flanks of Kenya’s highest mountain and secreted deep within her largest forest reserve, the lodge offers not only the champagne-clarity of mountain air, the tranquility of the forest and a colourful cavalcade of wildlife but also the chance of scaling the icy peaks of Africa’s second-highest mountain.
Guests can also awaken to the trumpeting of elephant, fall asleep to the symphony of the African night or sit in stillness and observe the fascinating interplay of the animals as they arrive to drink, bathe, spar and forage around the water hole. Finally, they can venture down to the secret viewing blind by the water’s edge and experience the awesome thrill of being only yards away from some of the most massive beasts on earth.
This stunning area is towered over by the rocky peaks of Mount Kenya and prides itself in having one of the most consistently high records of big game ‘visits’ and sightings. Elephant, buffalo, rhino and waterbuck are regular sights on the evening and day game drives.
At any other time of the day you can spot game in the specially constructed viewing bunker that is connected to the lodge by a short tunnel. Here you will get spectacularly close to the animals that feed at the waterhole.
The lodge has 42 attractive bedrooms furnished with indigenous wood and African art, each with private bathroom. A spacious verandah also overlooks the waterhole where there is never a dull moment. Arrangements can be made for forest walks that are a unique experience with their on-foot sightings of game and bird life. These walks can even be prolonged to the top of Mount Kenya for the very daring and sporty.
Day 04 Samburu Samburu Intrepids
After breakfast you will be taken to a wonderful game reserve, Samburu, where nature still enthralls her visitors with magic and mystery. This is the place where a Lioness actually adopted a baby Oryx. Once the Oryx was old enough to leave, the Lioness promptly adopted another and later, another!
This gem of a reserve would have delighted Charles Darwin for it is here that you will see unique animals such as the Reticulated Giraffe, Grevy’s Zebra, Beisa Oryx, the blue necked Somali Ostrich and the Gerenuk…the Little 5 of Samburu.
Samburu is in hot dry country but the Uaso Nyiro River provides a permanent water supply that creates an oasis and an abundance of wildlife. I have spotted Leopards and Cheetahs frequently plus Elephant, Waterbuck and many species of Antelope.
Bird watching is fabulous here. Whether you are an ornithologist or a first timer, you will find identifying some or all of the 400 species that reside in the area fascinating.
Samburu Intrepids Guest Tent Dining Room
Samburu Intrepids invites guests to discover this dramatic wilderness first hand from a world of fascinating perspectives: through stirring early morning game drives, walking safaris with skilled Samburu guides, sedate camel rides, and raft trips when the river is high. Optional bush breakfasts, sundowners, starlit dinners and tours of local Samburu villages allow guests to experience the local culture and enjoy the true spirit of the wild.
Accommodation consists of 27 luxurious tents overlooking the scenic riverbanks with large four-poster beds and classic safari furniture. The tents have modern en-suite bathrooms with steaming showers and secluded verandahs with all-day, personalized bar service. The main area of the lodge features breezy, thatched dining areas overlooking the river as well as a lounge and bar with interesting nightly talks and slide shows. A freeform 'oasis' swimming pool, sunbathing garden and professional flex-body therapy sessions invite guests to unwind and relax into the comfort and beauty of the African way of life.
Today you will experience some unique game drives. This is probably the best park to see leopards and cheetahs. Keep a sharp lookout for the leopards in the trees! They will kill an impala and carry it up a tree, sling it over a sturdy limb and dine in comfort.
Day 05 Samburu Samburu Intrepids
Today will be a full day of game drives. You should see Samburu’s Little Five. Pay particular attention to the markings on the Reticulated Giraffe and the Grevy Zebra. You will see quite different Giraffes and Zebras tomorrow.
Day 06 Masai Mara Governor’s Camp
After breakfast, we shall transfer you to the airstrip for your direct flight to Masai Mara National Reserve. You will fly over the Great Rift Valley and Central Highlands before landing on the rolling grasslands and plains of the Mara.
Governer's Camp Accommodations
The Masai Mara is widely considered to be Africa’s greatest wildlife reserve. The Mara comprises 200 sq miles of open plains, woodlands and riverine forest. Contiguous with the plains of the Serengeti, the Mara is home to a breathtaking array of life. The vast grassland plains are scattered with herds of Zebra, Giraffe, Gazelle, and Topi. The Acacia forests abound with Birdlife and Monkeys. Elephants and Buffalo wallow in the wide Musiara Swamp. The Mara and Talek rivers are brimming with Hippos and Crocodiles.
Great Wildebeest Migration
The setting is magical. So much so that almost a century ago it was reserved, exclusively, for Kenya’s colonial Governors and their royal visitors. Now Governors’ Camp nestles in the forest along the winding banks of the Mara River, it’s waters teeming with hippo and crocodile.
Some of the 36 tents line the riverbank, with uninterrupted views over the Mara River; others have views across the sweeping plains. Created in 1972 Governors’ Camp set new standards in luxury for a tented camp. Today it’s still Africa’s best. Everything is under canvas; all tents have en-suite bathrooms with hot and cold running water and flush toilets.
Here’s how Travel and Leisure Magazine described them. "Governors’ Camp is a site popular with both animals (who come to the river to drink) and people. As in the past the camp emphasizes enjoying the wild splendors of Africa in the highest possible style. Guests stay in well-appointed canvas tents, each with its own bathroom. Evenings are devoted to cocktails around a bonfire and dinner by candlelight."
Each morning a breakfast feast is prepared over blazing coals: mountains of bacon, eggs the way you like them, fresh milk flown-in daily, hot-baked croissants, exotic fruits, and freshly-brewed Kenya coffee. Lunch, like breakfast is a buffet, this time roast meats hot and cold, fresh salads and delicious desserts. Both meals are served on the shady riverbank with views across the Mara’s plains.
The thrill of a brush with Africa’s big game is what brings people to the Masai Mara. Get up close to the big cats on a game drive in our custom-built four-wheel-drive vehicles. You can take as many drives as you like, all included in the room rate. Come face to face with nature in the raw on a walking safari. Or see life in a traditional Masai village.
Day 07-08 Masai Mara Governor’s Camp
You will have two full days on safari to see the great number of species residing in the Mara as well as hundreds of species of birds. There will be a visit to a Masai Manyatta (village) where you will meet the Morans (warriors) and learn how this famous tribe lives and interacts with nature. There will be lots to talk about at dinner tonight!
Days 09-11 Zanzibar Ras Nungwi
Your chalet at Ras Nungwi
It is off to the exotic island of Zanzibar! Our representative will meet and take you to your prestigious, exclusive Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel. You will be staying in a superior chalet with an ocean view on half board (breakfast and dinner.) Spend these days at your leisure partaking of all the water sports in the beautiful Indian Ocean or just relax on the white sandy beaches.
Ristorante. Sorry no valet parking. Stroll through the narrow winding streets of Stone Town,
shop and haggle wih the people who invented haggling!
Day 12 Stone Town and Nairobi
Today you will tour the ancient Arabic city of Stone town. Wind your way through the crooked alleys and haggle with the vendors who invented haggling. Later visit a spice plantation before flying to Nairobi and enjoy a romantic dinner before boarding your plane for the flight home.
Day 13 Arrive home,
It is our fond hope that you will always remember Africa, our friendly people, the Circle of Life and our animals…our magnificent animals!
And now you return to start your Circle of Life. We know that someday you will return to Africa with your children whose eyes will open in wonder and joy as they watch the most unforgettable sight on Planet Earth.
Asante Sana!
OPTION 2:The Fourteen Day Grande Safari to the Sea
If you are looking for the finest accommodations, excellence in service and comfortable travel, look no further. Grande Safari to the Sea is for you and especially everyone looking for a luxurious trip of a lifetime!
Karen Blixen Coffee Garden
Day 1-2: Depart USA Arrive Nairobi Karen Blixen Cottages
Welcome! You will be met by the Safari and Beyond representative from African Quest Safaris outside customs and taken to your hotel for check-in and overnight. The Karen Blixen Cottages, a delightful place to begin your Honeymoon Safari, is located in Karen, a beautiful, peaceful suburb approximately 20 miles from downtown Nairobi. The cottages are located in the midst of one of the oldest formal gardens in Kenya, which have huge jacaranda, candelabra, cactus, bottlebrush, and other trees. Over 200 types of flowers bloom through the year and numerous bird feeders attract hundreds of varieties of birds.
Relaxing in the sun on their rock
Days 3-4: Masai Mara Il Moran
After breakfast, we shall transfer you to the airstrip for your direct flight to Masai Mara National Reserve. You will fly over the Great Rift Valley before landing on the plains of the Mara.
The Mara is an awesome natural wonder, a place where Masai warriors share the plains with hunting lions, a place of mighty herds and timeless cycles of life, death and regeneration. This is truly big country with massive animals and cruel predators. There is an ominous, overpowering quality of this place that evokes a primitive feeling of fear and wonder. You will never forget the Mara.
Il Moran Tent
The camp for those who want that extra bit of luxury, Il Moran, has been kept as small as possible, with added touches that make this the top of the range safari location, perfect for a Honeymoon Safari.
The atmosphere of the original hunting camps has been recreated. Hidden under ancient trees, deep in the forest, are just 10 tents. They line the winding banks of the Mara River.
You’ll be the personal guest of our manager, who’ll look after all your needs. Game drives and game walks are featured and complimentary wine is served with dinner.
Each spacious tent has a very private location and is furnished to a superior standard. Stunning beds are handmade from specially selected wood taken from ancient olive trees. Large en-suite bathrooms have flush toilets, a lovely big shower with piping-hot water, and a Victorian bath where you can soap the day’s dust away.
Every tent has an extended veranda. They’re designed so you can take dinner in private at your tent if you wish. Or just relax and enjoy the sights and sounds. Birds and butterflies abound, elephant wander through the camp, at night leopard call nearby.
During the day, meals are served under the giant trees. There are fresh fruits, cereal and hot-baked breads together with cooked breakfast barbecued before your very eyes and for lunch a buffet that will satisfy the hungriest appetites.
Deep in the bush, our cordon-bleu dinners by candlelight are a truly unforgettable experience. Nowhere else can you get so far from civilization, yet stay in such style.
Enjoy two full days of game viewing in this animal-rich park.
Day 5: Tanzania Tarangire National Park Tarangire Treetops Lodge
You will fly to Arusha this morning via Nairobi. After lunch you will drive to the exclusive Tarangire Treetops Lodge where you will enjoy all camp activities including the exotic night drive where the nocturnal period brings out animals and birds rarely seen during the day. This park has a particularly dense wildlife population. It is home to thousands of elephants, and in the dry season game congregates along the river having migrated from the Masai Mara. The Baobab tree, growing in open acacia woodland, symbolizes this park. Tarangire is also an ornithologist’s paradise rich in birds of prey and an incredible diversity of avifauna.
Tarangire Treetops is a luxury safari lodge located on the eastern border of Tarangire National Park in Tanzania. It is famous for its renowned tree house architecture.
Tarangire Treetops Lodge
Day 6: Tarangire National Park Treetops Lodge
This will be a full day of activities including game drives with a visit to a Masai village where you will see first-hand how the Masai live and interact with nature.
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater Crater Lodge
This morning will feature a drive to the Crater and later Olduvai Gorge where the Leakeys discovered early man. The famous volcanic Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken caldera in the world. The crater (2000 feet deep and 100 square miles) is a miniature of the Big Country around us. The views are stunning in this wonder of the world. All the lodges are built on the crater rim and afford fantastic views over and into the crater
Of the 25,000 animals within the crater itself, this is undoubtedly the best place to see black rhino in Tanzania as well as the magnificent black-maned males. There are lots of colorful flamingos and more than a 100 species of bird not found in the Serengeti. Other game: leopard, cheetah, hyena, elephants, warthog, impala, buffalo, hartebeest, eland and lots of other members of the antelope family and smaller mammals.
You will arrive at your lodge that is perched on the rim of the Crater. If there ever was a lodge created solely for a special trip or Honeymoon Safari, the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is definitely the one!
Private Balcony
The Lodge consists of three adjacent, glamorous camps with 30 Masai-inspired suites perched on stilts on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. From the outside, this unobtrusive lodge resembles a magical Masai village, and was described by travel magazine, Discover Africa, as "Versailles meets Masai in the game lodge at the edge of the world". Set in classic crescents, each stone and thatch suite has spectacular views of the crater from large glass windows in the bathroom, lounge and bedroom, yet is almost invisible from the crater.
Bedroom Parlor
North and South Camp have 12 suites each, while intimate Tree Camp has six suites. All have an en suite bathroom and chandelier-lit bathtub and shower. Inspired decor and eclectic design make these romantic camps ideal for celebrating a special occasion.
Each sumptuous suite is discreetly tended by a personal butler, who will bring you tea in bed, stoke your fireplace and draw your bath, scattering the water with rose petals, ready for your enjoyment.
Day 8: The Crater Crater Lodge
The maximum time allowed, 6 hours, will be spent on the floor of this amazing crater viewing an incredible number of species of animals and birds. Picnic lunches will be provided. Enjoy your last evening in the bush for tomorrow you will head to the Indian Ocean and the exotic island of Zanzibar.
Days 9-12: Zanzibar The Palms
The Spice island of Zanzibar lies off the coast of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean. It is famous for once being the commercial center of East Africa and the last place to abolish the slave trade. Today it combines ancient Islamic ruins, noble Arabic houses with miles of white sandy palm fringed beaches and coves. The ocean offers warm clear blue waters, idyllic islands, excellent reefs for snorkeling and diving, fantastic deep-sea fishing, water sports and of course delicious fresh fish. And if you thought that wasn't enough, visiting the Spice plantations (cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, cardamom and others) or haggling for carvings in the Central Market is great fun too.
Our representative will meet and take you to The Palms.
The Palms has six villas, each over 140 square meters with a bedroom, living room, full en suite bathroom, dressing room, extra room with it's own en suite bathroom & large furnished terrace with views of the Indian Ocean.
Luxury Dining Sultan's Bath
Each villa features a sophisticated interior composition in all colours of coffee and cream where filmy caramel coloured curtains billow, dark grained polished floors extend and the décor is a unique marriage of colonial grandeur and traditional design. On the veranda, a silk-draped four-poster Zanzibar Bed accents a sunken, midnight blue plunge pool with long views of the Indian Ocean.
A fusion of cultures in Zanzibar has resulted in a unique cuisine, which blends exotic spices, fruits and flavours of the island. Talented chefs have an exotic menu fusing just caught with fresh picked for a wonderful dining experience.
The elegant colonnaded terrace of The Plantation House leads into the Spice inspired bar, onto the antique-elegant dining room where fabrics change daily from rust coloured silks to crisp white linens.
INCLUDED:
~ Breakfast, lunch & dinner ~ Afternoon tea ~ Mineral water, soft drinks & juices ~ Coffee & tea ~ Selection of House Wines & Beer ~ Selection of in-house spirits
Nestled between tropical gardens and a white sandy beach,
The Palms provides a range of beautifully appointed facilities reflecting the warmth and character of the local architecture in an elegant yet relaxed setting. Overlooking the beach, private palm thatched "bandas" shelter private day beds and carved sun loungers to provide intimate beachfront privacy.
The Palms also features a spa in a beautiful setting. Guests at The Palms can also use the neighboring frangipani Spa, which offers world-class treatments and facilities.
Other neighboring facilities include a fitness centre, floodlit tennis court, marine activities centre with windsurfing and snorkeling. A fully equipped and licensed scuba diving centre is available at a charge which is payable locally.
Day 13: Nairobi Airport
There will be a tour of Stone Town prior to your late afternoon flight to Nairobi. Enjoy shopping in the mysterious bazaars in the nooks and crannies of the ancient crooked streets and marvel at the timeless Arabic architecture.
In Nairobi, dinner will be at a most romantic restaurant before departing to the airport and saying our final farewells. A perfect ending for a Honeymoon Safari or any safari!
Day 14: Arrive United States
Arrive United States, husband and wife, with a whole new insight of the magic of Africa!
It is our fond hope that you will always remember Africa, the gentle people, the Circle of Life and our animals…our magnificent animals.
And now you return home to start your Circle of Life. We know that someday you will return to Africa with your children whose eyes will open in Wonder and Joy as they watch the most unforgettable sight on Planet Earth.
Asante Sana!
Contact us: 516.200.5016