CHRISTMAS SAFARI IN KENYA
Westerman Family - December 2025
Day 1-2: Tsavo East National Park
Fly by charter flight from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Ithumba Hill located approximately 1 hour flight time south east of Nairobi, where you will be met by a vehicle as you arrive to the airstrip and transfer the short distance to the lodge.
Spend the next two days exploring the park by vehicle, visiting the orphaned elephants at feeding times and during their mid day mud baths. Learn abou tthe great work that the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is doing for elephant and across wider Kenya.
Ithumba Hill, 2 night.
Day 3-6: Masai Mara
After breakfast depart by charter flight for the Masai Mara crossing the Great Rift Valley as you fly.
Arrive into Little Enkewa Camp in time for lunch.
Spend the next four nights exploring the Masai Mara by vehicle and on foot, taking bush meals and sundowners out.
Celebrate Christmas Day on safari with the Masai.
Little Enkewa Camp, 4 nights
Day 7-8:
After breakfast depart by charter flight flying north over the Aberdares range and onto the Laikipia Plateau landing at Sosian Airstrip.
Arrive into Soisan Lodge for lunch.
Here we have the next 2 nights here to explore the conservancy on foot, by vehicle, on horseback or camel.
Jump from waterfalls and picnic along the banks of the Ewaso River while hippos laze in the water below.
Sosian Lodge, 2 nights
Day 9-10
Set off early with a picnic breakfast on board and fly north through the stunning Suguta Valley and over the Rift Valley lakes.
This is some of the most exceptional scenic flying you can do in East Africa.
Arrive into Desert Rose, surrounded by forest and perched on the top of Mt Nyiro in the Ndoto mountains, for lunch.
You have the next two nights here to explore the mountain forests by helicopter and on foot.
Desert Rose, 2 nights
Set off after breakfast continuing north through the Ndotos mountain range. Arrive at Koros camp for lunch. Spend the afternoon out on the quadbikes.
The following morning set off into the Chalbi desert to land by the Karole springs and watch Sand Grouse. Next we fly over Mount Kulal to South Island in the middle of Lake Turkana. Here we meet the fishing boat and have lunch out on the boat. Return to camp for dinner.
The following day explore, Lothagum, an exposed ancient lake bed with fascinating fossils and ancient burial mounds. Fly to the eastern side fo the lake with a stop at Central Island before we continue on to Sibiloi National Park where you will find a petrified forest. If the history of mankind is of interest we can arrange a visit to the Turkana Basin Institute. Return to Koros each night.
Koros Camp, 4 nights.
Day 7 : End of Safari
Depart Koros after breakfast flying south through the Ndoto and Mathews mountains back to Nanyuki where we connect to a charter flight and fly on to JKIA where a Tradewinds representative will help you through customs and on to your international flight home.
TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK
Tsavo East National Park is a gem among the world’s wild spaces. Spanning 13,747 square kilometers of pristine wilderness, it is the most extensive protected area in Kenya. It is also host to greater biodiversity than any other park in the world, as it is here that the northern and southern forms of fauna meet. David Sheldrick was the founding Warden of Tsavo East from 1949 to 1976. Under his leadership, the park was transformed from an inhospitable land into what is today Kenya’s largest and most famous National Park.
David regarded Ithumba, in the northern area of Tsavo East, as “the jewel in the crown.” The 3,000 square kilometer expanse is completely devoid of the human footprint, giving way to a vast array of wildlife. Ithumba is home to some of Kenya’s most spectacular species, both large — elephant herds wallowing in the mud, giraffe striding across the plains — and small — hyrax peeking through the rocks, dik-dik scampering through the bush.
ITHUMBA HILL - 20-21st December
Ithumba Hill sits perched above Tsavo National Park, giving guests a unique vantage point into one of Kenya’s most remarkable wild spaces. All rooms are interconnected by impressive elevated walkways and the mess area includes a dining room and lounge offering fabulous views over Tsavo’s northern area. The beautifully designed private swimming pool and terrace is curved into the rocks where in blissful seclusion and gazing upon miles and miles of Africa one can relax and unwind. The lodge is set under giant baobabs, providing shade in the heat of the day.
Whilst at the lodge you will have special access to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Ithumba Elephant Reintegration Unit.
MAASAI MARA
The Maasai Mara is one of Kenya’s most acclaimed wildlife reserves, renowned for its open savannahs, wildebeest migration, prides of lion and vast herds of plains game. Game viewing in the Mara is unrivaled. Your day can be as active or relaxing as you please. Game drives - day and night, bush walks, cultural visits, and picnic lunches are just some of the activities.
No where in the world is there a movement of animals as immense or impressive as the wildebeest migration. Over two million animals migrate from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the greener pastures of the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya between July and October.
The Mara is home to one of the world’s highest densities of lion, with 15 lions per 100 kilometers squared– and some impressive black manned male specimens!
LITTLE ENKEWA - 22-25th December
Little Enkewea Camp is a luxurious safari camp located in the heart of the Masai Mara, known for its superb wildlife experiences and stunning landscapes. The camp features five spacious, elegantly furnished tented rooms that blend comfort with a natural aesthetic, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the surrounding environment.
Enkewea offers personalized service and an exclusive atmosphere, making it ideal for those seeking to explore the rich biodiversity of the Masai Mara. With expert guides, guests can enjoy game drives, guided nature walks, and opportunities for cultural interactions with local Maasai communities. The camp's commitment to sustainability ensures that visitors can experience the beauty of the Mara while supporting conservation efforts in the region.
LAIKIPIA
Laikipia is a stunning and diverse region in central Kenya, known for its captivating landscapes, ranging from rolling plains to rugged hills and impressive escarpments. It is situated north of the equator and is bounded by the Great Rift Valley and Mount Kenya, offering breathtaking views and a rich array of flora and fauna.
The region is home to several private wildlife conservancies and ranches, which play a crucial role in conservation and sustainable tourism. Laikipia is renowned for its high density of wildlife, including elephants, leopards, lions, and rare species such as the Grevy's zebra and the northern white rhino. It also boasts numerous opportunities for outdoor activities, including game drives, horseback riding, and guided walking safaris.
MOUNT KENYA
Iconic in shape and size, Mount Kenya is situated in the heart of Kenya, on the equator - its highest point ‘Batian’ reaches 5,199 meters. The snowy peaks can be seen on clear days from as far as Mt Kilimanjaro some 300 kilometers away. As you spend time at Sosian, Mount Kenya will become a daily view, which makes it even more exciting to explore.
You will have the option to fly around the peaks of the mountain and land at Lake Alice or Lake Michaelson for a picnic breakfast. Almost inaccessible and well off the beaten track, this offers an exciting morning of fly fishing.
SOSIAN LODGE - 26-27th December
Sosian Lodge is an exclusive safari retreat located on a historic ranch in the Laikipia region of Kenya, offering guests a unique blend of adventure and luxury amid stunning natural surroundings. Nestled along the Ewaso Nyiro River, the lodge features beautifully designed accommodations, including spacious ensuite cottages, a large swimming pool and a floodlit tennis court. The décor reflects the lodge's rich heritage, seamlessly blending traditional African aesthetics with modern comforts. Guests can enjoy a diverse array of activities, from guided game drives and walks to horseback riding and ranching activities.
SUGUTA VALLEY AND LAKE TURKANA
Geologists have long been fascinated with this part of the Great Rift Valley. They have studied ancient sediments and fossil remains and pieced together the history of a lake that rose and fell multiple times over the past 18,000 years.
Within the Suguta Valley - adding to the incredible diversity of landscapes, are the extensive and empty Suguta sand dunes. Spectacular and constantly changing with strong winds, they lend themselves to a perfect helicopter landing pad.
Lake Logipi is a seasonal saline lake, which is often full of flamingo. It lies at the southern end of Lake Turkana, and arguably the most beautiful Rift Valley Lake.
Lake Turkana, the largest desert lake in the world lies in Northern Kenya. One of the most remote and hostile places on Earth, with black volcanic rocks and soaring daytime temperatures, yet so scenically spectacular. The collapsed volcano of Nabuyatom lies at the southern end of the lake. Surrounded by jade waters, this is the most iconic feature on the lake’s shore.
CHALBI DESERT
Chalbi means bare and salty, believed to be a dried up lake. The hottest and most arid place in Kenya. This desert stretches 100,000 kilometers squared to the Ethiopian boarder. On the northern edge of the desert lies an area of oases with groves of palm trees that attract sand grouse and other birds looking for food and water.
The Karoli Springs are a lifeline for the Rendille people who roam the Kaisut Desert. The water is slightly sailine, and only livestock can drink here. The Rendille are semi-nomadic camel herders that traditionally live in the deserts of northern Kenya. Strikingly colourful with traditional fabrics, beaded jewellery and immaculate head-dresses, the lives of the Rendille revolve around the natural cycle of the seasons, traveling en-masse with their enormous herds of livestock, following the rain in search of new pasture and water.
TURKANA BASIN INSTITUTE
The Turkana Basin Institute (TBI) is a prominent research facility located near Lake Turkana in northern Kenya. This institute focuses on archaeological, anthropological, and geological studies, particularly in the rich fossil fields of the Turkana Basin, which has yielded some of the most significant discoveries related to human evolution. TBI aims to advance the understanding of the origins and development of early hominins and their environments, providing invaluable insights into human history.
A flight up the eastern shoreline to reach the TBI base at Illaret proves to be a fascinating morning with the opportunity to spend time observing a live digging site and have a local expert talk through the day to day work of the facility.
DESERT ROSE - 28-29th Decembeer
Located south of Lake Turkana, and overlooking the plains of northern Kenya, Desert Rose is situated on the slopes of Mt Nyiru. The lodge is made entirely from local materials and is well known for its environmentally conscious approach to everything from water and power to the use of indigenous plants in its gardens, and makes fantastic use of its location.
Considered by the Samburu to be holy, and possessing a micro-climate all of its own, Mt Nyiru is home to an ancient podocarpus forest, and it is this – its springs, its source of dead wood, its cooler temperatures that make Desert Rose such a uniquie location.
KOROS CAMP - 30th December - 2nd January
What started as a simple family base, has evolved into a unique 6 bed camp for the ultimate private retreat. In a remote and unspoilt spot, Koros Camp is nestled away amongst acacia trees and semi arid scrubland at the northern end of the South Horr valley. Koros is the perfect location to base in order to explore the arid north.
Take the quad bikes out for an afternoon, exploring the area as you drive through dried up river beds. You might even be lucky enough to spot an elephant on your journey. Spend the day out on Lake Turkana on the fishing boat, have a go at catching Nile Perch. Spend an evening with the Samburu
END OF YOUR SAFARI
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- CLAIRE JONES -
PROFESSIONAL SAFARI OPERATOR & GUIDE
Born in Kenya, Claire and Rod live in Laikipia in the beautiful Mogwooni Homestead located on a traditional working cattle ranch.
With her love of Africa, Claire has an unique insight and intimate knowledge of all the best locations and experiences available, and is able to plan, manage and guide personalised safaris, to the last detail, ensuring that guests experience the best that East Africa has to offer.
In 2004 Claire qualified in the United States with a pilot’s commercial rating (CPL) and operates her own Flying Safaris within Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Tropic Air is based in Kenya, and offers a broad range of professional air services using helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Areas of operation: 16 African countries, covering more than 10 million square kilometers: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Congo, Chad, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia.