As the birthplace of the modern Safari, uncover authentic Kenya on a journey across rolling grasslands and expansive savannah plains, on the quest to spot majestic wildlife in their natural habitat. Embark on game drives and marvel at captivating landscapes on this incredible tour. Then, treat yourself to a serene escape to the picturesque sandy beaches of Mombasa. Take this opportunity to unwind and recharge, embracing relaxation after your compact yet enchanting journey.
Depart on your overnight flight to Mombasa.
Dinner
Upon arrival in Mombasa, meet your tour guides and transfer to your beach hotel. Overlooking one of the longest stretches of white sandy beaches in Kenya and boasting incredible views of the Indian Ocean, spend the rest of the day relaxing in this tranquil paradise, before a delicious meal and overnight stay.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After an early breakfast, pick up from your beach hotel and depart. Drive north, along the main highway towards Nairobi, following the route of the railway line built by the British late in the nineteenth century. The road passes through the warehouses and workshops on the outskirts of Mombasa, climbing steadily and soon the vast plains of Tsavo become visible in the distance, with the rolling Taita Hills on the horizon. Reaching Buchuma Gate at the entrance of Tsavo East National Park, the largest National Park in Kenya, feel the wind in your hair as you stand up in the open-topped bus to marvel at panoramic views across this expansive and stunning landscape. Soon you will be cruising across the park's savannah plains, searching for roaming Lions, Black rhino, and Cape buffalo in their natural habitat. You will arrive at your lodge in time for lunch and later enjoy time for relaxation before setting off back into the park for your afternoon game drive. Return to the lodge as the sun sets.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning after an early breakfast, depart for one of Africa's most popular parks - Amboseli National Park, a stunning region, set amongst the striking backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. Passing Hunters Lodge, a historic sight of the infamous 'Man eaters of Tsavo' incident, reach the fast-growing Emali township and continue onwards to Amboseli National Park. If the weather is clear, you'll catch sight of the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro directly ahead. You will be arriving in time for lunch and an afternoon dip in the tempting swimming pool. This afternoon, set out for an adventure to explore, taking you across this vast lakebed often dry, but still very swampy in areas. Best known for its large herds of elephants, look out for these majestic creatures spraying themselves to keep cool as they freely wander the wetlands, but remember to look out for the park's other inhabitants, Giraffes, Gazelles and Cheetahs. At sunset, head back to camp for this evening's meal and overnight stay.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
As the sun begins to rise, witness the blissful chanting of enthusiastic birds soaring overhead and the soft murmur of the wilderness rising from their sleep on an early morning game drive, returning to camp for a replenishing breakfast. Afterwards, head towards Taita Hills and enjoy a tasty lunch before zigzagging over uneven terrain and vast plains on an afternoon game drive in Taita Hills Sanctuary, a haven for Leopards, Zebra and Lion. After returning to your lodge for tonight's meal, set out on an additional evening game drive for the chance to spot nocturnal wildlife under the warm glow of moonlight. Then return to the lodge for your overnight stay.
Breakfast & Lunch
After breakfast, savour the astonishing scenery this morning on a final game drive, taking you into the depths of the sanctuary for another opportunity to soak in the captivating views and enchanting wildlife, returning for lunch. Continue onward towards Mombasa, journeying through the heart of this coastal city, catching a glimpse of its swarming port and crystal-clear Indian Ocean waters en-route to your hotel.
Relax and rejuvenate in Mombasa for a few nights alongside its golden beaches. Mombasa is a vibrant coastal city known for its beautiful beaches, warm climate, and rich cultural heritage. The city's coastline features long stretches of white sandy beaches and clear blue waters, perfect for unwinding and enjoying the natural beauty. Whether you prefer lounging on the beach, taking leisurely walks along the shore, or simply soaking up the sun, Mombasa's beaches offer a serene and picturesque setting for relaxation.
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
Set amidst verdant tropical gardens and overlooking an extensive stretch of luxurious beach, this vibrant hotel is a good choice for a relaxing beach stay. Featuring 2 swimmings pools, the hotel gives guests the chance to relax with a drink from one of the 4 bars on offer. If you are feeling peckish then you are not short of options as the hotel provides its guests with 3 separate restaurant options, each specialising in mouth-watering cuisine. There is a bit of something for everyone at Bamburi Beach Hotel.
Spacious and air-conditioned rooms have a balcony or terrace with views over the beautiful Indian Ocean. In room amenities include mini-fridge, TV, telephone, hairdryer, tea and coffee making facilities, FREE Wi-Fi and a safe (at a fee). Room upgrades are available at a supplement.
Set amidst verdant tropical gardens and overlooking an extensive stretch of luxurious beach, this vibrant hotel is a good choice for a relaxing beach stay.
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If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
To enter Kenya, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and at least two blank pages. You will require a tourist visa to enter Kenya, apply for an “eTA” online before you travel. The only legitimate website to apply for the eTA is www.etakenya.go.ke/en. The cost for the eTA is approximately £40 per person. The visa takes approximately 5 working days to issue and it is only valid for a 90 day single entry stay from the date of arrival. We work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa on your behalf. Please call them on 01270 250 590 and quote 'Mercury Holidays'. When calling the Travel Visa Company they will advise you of any changes to the fees or the procedure, they will also advise you of all information they will require in order to apply for the visa. We recommend you check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy prior to departure for the most up to date guidelines regarding these.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
This tour is accessible to most people with a good level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves climbing of steep stairs and getting on and off coaches, boats and 4x4 vehicles. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.
The local currency in Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling but USD ($) is also widely accepted. You can exchange money before you leave the UK and there will be access to ATMs in most major cities (not available in the reserves) where you will be able to withdraw money in the local currency. It is a good idea to try and maintain a supply of small notes and change in the local currency for tipping or small purchases.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.
You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as tips, souvenirs, laundry, any meals not included in the itinerary as well as drinks and any additional snacks. We recommend you bring along a minimum of GBP £200 - £300 per person for these extras.
Tipping
It is at your discretion to tip your driver/guide, waiters, porters, and housekeepers. We recommend to tip approximately $2 per person per day for waiters, porters and housekeepers and $6 per person per day for your driver/guide. This is a total of $56 per person to budget for tips on your trip for the driver/guide plus extra for the other staff. Tips are accepted U.S dollars ($).
There is no minimum number of passengers required to run this trip, as the safari portion is shared with other travellers, not exclusive to Mercury Holidays customers. If we are not able to operate your departure date for any other reason, then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
For your safari portion, guests will be met by drivers who are fully trained as driver guides with a wide knowledge of each destination.
For the beach portion of your holiday, you will not be escorted by a tour guide. Your time here will be free to do as you wish. Details of your departure transfer will be confirmed by your guide at the end of your safari or by a representative in the hotel.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.
Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Lunch and dinner during your tour will be taken in local Kenyan restaurants or at the lodge/ hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.
Vegetarian and vegan meals can be catered for. Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way. Bottled water will be available at shops and hotels/lodges.
On arrival in Kenya, after collecting any hold luggage and passing through Customs, please make your way to the arrivals hall where you will be met by one of our local representatives from Pollman's Tours, holding a Mercury Holidays sign.
Kenya: If there is a long wait at immigration or baggage collection, or if you are unable to find our local agent, please call our airport rep on 00254 753999009 they will advise accordingly.
For any assistance, general enquiries or emergencies during your stay, please contact 00254 753999009.
