Kenya Safari of Discovery

On safari, the rhythm of nature takes us far away from the current and into how life used to be.

Kenya is Africa’s original safari destination, a land of vast plains teeming with wildebeest, zebra, and the accompanying predators all in the shadows of snow-peaked mountains. Our special adventure takes us far into the wildest areas of East Africa, staying at deluxe camps in private reserves, where nature is at our side. Game drives, safari walks, village visits, and a backstage exploration of a rare chimpanzee sanctuary, make our expedition special. But our connection with nature is not the only thing that runs deep, as our facilitated recovery meetings held within the wilds of Africa provide an all-important connection with our own community, one we never leave behind even in our most ambitious journeys.

2024:

Jun 15-24

Private departures for families, friends & recovery groups available. Call for details.

Activities: Game drives, night game drives, safari walks, behind-the-scenes visit to chimpanzee sanctuary, daily meditation and recovery meetings, yoga, and mindfulness workshops
Group Size: 12-16 travelers
Price: $6,595 per person double occupancy (single room charge: $975 – roommate matches available at no additional fee)

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Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Nairobi, Kenya

After an overnight flight, arrive in Kenya’s bustling capital of Nairobi. Our staff will meet you at the airport and transfer you to our quaint guesthouse for the evening. Enjoy fresh local fruits and rest by the gardens and the pool before our orientation dinner and our first group meeting this evening.

Day 2: Ol Pejata Wildlife Conservancy

After breakfast and a morning meditation, we head out overland in our four-by-four safari trucks northward to Ol Pejeta Reserve, one of Kenya’s famed wildlife hotspots. Located on the Equator, Ol Pejeta is a conservation story of great note, boasting the largest population of black rhino in all of East Africa and the only two northern white rhinoceros remaining in the world – Najin and Fatu (both female) – living under constant protection from poachers. An afternoon game drive en route to our camp will surely provide close encounters with myriad African wildlife, including predators and plains game. Our deluxe tented camp, Sweetwaters, has been selected to allow our group an opportunity to experience the wilds of Africa in a comfortable manner, each private walk-in tent providing full beds and bedding, private flush toilets, and hot and cold running showers.

Day 3: Ol Pejata Game Drives

After early morning coffee, tea and snacks and a mindfulness exercise, we head out in our specialized safari trucks into the bush in search of game. We traverse the savannas and riverine forests where can find Africa’s “Big Five” – lion, leopard, black rhino, elephant, and African buffalo. Ol Pejata is one of East Africa’s best spots for wildlife viewing and with the use of our four-wheel-drive truck we will access some of the remote corners of the reserve. We return to camp midday to enjoy brunch and then some time to rest on the grounds before gathering for a meeting. In the afternoon, when temperatures cool and the game once again begins to get active, we head out on an afternoon/early evening game drive in search of wildlife, returning in time for dinner in Africa’s wild. Alternative to an afternoon drive, we may have the option for an African bush walk, giving us an eye-level look at the African ecosystem.

Day 4: Ol Pejeta / Chimp Sanctuary / Game Drive

Along with typical African game, Ol Pejeta is home to one of Africa’s few chimpanzee sanctuaries and we will have the rare opportunity to enter the sanctuary and gain a behind the scenes look at the day-to-day care of the chimpanzees. Created through an agreement between the sanctuary, the government and the Jane Goodall Institute, the chimpanzee reserve is home to 35 chimps divided into two groups. We may observe them exploring the forest or feeding as we walk the trails or view from the specially built platforms. The experience of encountering our closest animal relatives in the wild becomes a deeply meaningful takeaway from our African adventure. In the afternoon we once again head out on a game drive, returning to camp for our evening meal and a meeting under the African stars.

Day 5: Ol Pejeta / Nairobi

After an early morning meditation and some breakfast, we head out of Ol Pejeta, searching for wildlife as we depart the reserve. Our drive to Nairobi takes us through small African villages and gives us a chance for cultural experiences that most travelers miss. Arriving in Nairobi in the afternoon, we rest at the hotel grounds before dinner and a meeting.

Day 6: Masai Mara Private Conservancy

We depart from Nairobi for a private conservancy in the Masai Mara, giving us an exclusive away-from-the-crowds safari experience in one of the most impressive ecosystems in all of Africa! The Lemek Conservancy is home to all the wildlife of the Masai Mara National Reserve, which is Kenya’s wildlife jewel, but with very few other visitors around. We arrive mid-afternoon and enjoy an afternoon/evening game drive, staying out well after dark – a privilege unavailable in the neighboring national reserve. While here, we will also have the chance to meet with the Maasai people and gain an understanding of their culture and historic way of life. Our private camp provides a special treat, with luxury tented suites scattered throughout the private setting.

Day 7: Masai Mara / Full-Day Game Drive

Today we journey into the plains on a full-day safari, enjoying a picnic lunch in the bush. With a full day in the field, we gain an understanding of natural life in the African wild, the rhythms of nature dictating the movement and activity of the wildlife. Our efforts may reveal lion hunting prey, leopard protecting their meal in a tree, and herds of gazelle prancing through the savanna. If we are lucky, we may get a chance to witness Africa’s great migration – thousands of wildebeest and zebra crossing the plain in search of ever-moving water and lush grasses. Regardless, the wildlife viewing in this region is prolific and our experience will send us home with close encounters with remarkable animals that will last a lifetime in our memory.

Day 8: Masai Mara / Morning and Afternoon Game Drives

Once again, we awaken to the sounds of Africa and head out into the bush seeking close-up wildlife encounters. Mid-morning, we return to our private camp for a yoga-stretching session and a meeting, enjoying the peace and privacy provided by this special locale. After a midday rest, we journey back to the savanna for final game drive, enjoying the view of the sun setting along the rolling hills of the Masai Mara.

Day 9: Nairobi / Home

A final morning in the African bush provides the sounds of nature that have become a part of our daily existence. After breakfast, we journey through the reserve, bidding farewell to the wildlife that have accompanied us on our journey. We arrive in Nairobi in the late afternoon in time to board evening flights homeward.

Accommodations

Our deluxe and luxury permanent tented accommodations add greatly to the experience of our safari, as it is the remote and authentic Africa that we seek. In Ol Pejata we stay at Sweetwaters Camp, a deluxe tented camp with private bathrooms and hot showers that allow us to experience the wilds of Africa without sacrificing all-important comforts. In the Masai Mara, Losokwan Camp offers luxury safari suites, or tented rooms raised on platforms, each with private facilities and individual verandahs that provide a personal experience that cannot be attained at the larger camps and lodges.

Hidden in the wild safari, our lodgings enhance the experience, providing peace, authenticity and a sense of place.

Travel Details

Recovery Activities

Our trips are specifically designed for sober travelers, and they include the services of a sober travel facilitator who runs meetings as well as meditation and yoga activities. All activities are optional, but they are designed to create community amongst like-minded people.

Activities on our adventures are all optional, and often include time for participants to spend down time on their own or hanging out with others. After all, we are all about community. On this safari we spend a good amount of time on game drives in the reserves, giving us close-up encounters with wildlife. We also will enjoy short safari walks and a behind-the-scenes visit to a chimpanzee sanctuary. Of course we also participate in recovery activities designed to build community and maintain our sobriety. Those include meditation, mindfulness, yoga, and reflection meetings.

Getting to Nairobi, Kenya

To participate in this adventure, you must arrive in Nairobi on Day 1 of your trip. However, we highly recommend arriving a day early to ensure you avoid airline delays. For those arriving a day early, we can book you an extra night in Nairobi. You are free to depart at noon or later on the final day.

Pre-Trip Extra Day Hotel in Nairobi

Most travelers arrive a day before the trip begins so they can rest from their travel and explore the city of Nairobi. We have arranged an inclusive Pre-Trip Extra Day program that includes a night at our hotel, airport transfers, a tour of the city including a stop at the Karen Blixen Museum and a visit to the Giraffe Center, all entry fees and some meals. The cost of this extra day program is $395 per person in double occupancy. There is a $100 surcharge if you would like a single room. Click here to book your extension.

4-Day Post-Trip Kenya Amboseli Safari Extension

Many travelers journeying to Kenya wish to extend their trips so that they can do and see more during their international adventure. We have arranged an independent 4-Day Post-Trip Safari Extension to Amboseli National Park, famous for its enormous elephant herds viewed in the shadows of Kilimanjaro’s snowy peaks. The extension begins on the final day of the regularly scheduled Choose Life safari and includes flights from the Masai Mara (where the regularly scheduled trip ends before the group drives back to Nairobi) to Amboseli through Nairobi, 3 nights at the Amboseli Serena Lodge, group safari game drives, all meals, all park and entry fees and a day room at the Nairobi Airport as you await your evening flight home. Please note that this extension is not operated by Choose Life Sober Adventures – it does not include a CLSA host/facilitator and is not vetted to remove alcohol from all activities and meals. The cost of this extension is $2,695 per person for double occupancy. The single room supplement is $300. To book this extension click here.

Included

Accommodations, services of local guides and lodge staff, services of the group facilitator, all meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on the final day (except free day), airport transfers on Day 1 and final day, all activities and entrance fees, all taxes, permits, and service fees.

Not Included

Travel to the starting point of your trip, gratuities, passport and visa fees (if any), items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry, and internet, etc.), airline baggage fees, airport and departure taxes (if any), optional travel protection insurance.

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