Governors' Family Safari

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Nairobi

On this tour you’ll have the chance to meet orphaned elephants at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The trust was set up over 40 years ago by Daphne Sheldrick in memory of her husband David, who was a famous warden and naturalist in Tsavo East National Park. It has developed into the most successful rescue and rehabilitation programme for elephants in the world, with many of the babies released back into the wild in Tsavo after about three years of rehabilitation.

At around 10.00am you’ll transfer by private vehicle to Nairobi National Park, arriving at the centre for the 11.00am feeding. The elephants know when it’s time to have their milk and come running down into the feeding area. As the keepers feed them, a guide from the trust will introduce you to the individual elephants and tell you their rescue stories. You’ll get to ask questions while the animals play.

Visiting will give you a chance to get up close to the elephants, learn about the wildlife trust’s work and contribute to the conservation of these incredible animals. As well as helping orphaned elephants and rhinos, the trust works on anti-poaching initiatives, habitat protection and runs mobile vet clinics. Following the visit, return to your hotel.

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Giraffe Centre, Nairobi

Nairobi

Visit the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi to get up close to endangered Rothschild's giraffes. The centre’s mission is to breed the animals in a safe environment, releasing many into the wild at around three years old, when they can survive on their own. You’ll spend up to an hour at the 60-acre sanctuary in the Lang’ata suburb of Nairobi.

Created by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, the non-profit centre was founded in 1979 when there were just 130 of these beautiful animals left in the wild. The Rothschild's is a subspecies of the giraffe that lives in East Africa’s grasslands. The centre’s breeding programme started with just two young calves and now they’ve released over 40 giraffes into national parks and conservancies across Kenya. It’s amazing to see the giraffes up close. Afterwards, you can go to the information centre to listen to an educational talk about giraffe conservation and the centre’s work.

Although you’re likely to see giraffes on safari, you can only get this close and personal with them at the Giraffe Centre – it’s quite an experience. It’s great to know that your visit is helping to protect this endangered species. The centre is open throughout the day, so we can arrange your visit at a time to suit you, with private transfers to and from your accommodation.

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Boat Safari on Lake Naivasha

Great Rift Valley Lakes

Take a boat safari on Lake Naivasha, the highest lake in the Great Rift Valley. Governors' Loldia House has its own boat and launch jetty giving easy access to this picturesque lake.

Set against the backdrop of the extinct Mount Longonot, the lake is a haven for birdlife. Look out for cormorants, pelicans and eagles. As you cruise the waters, you will probably be under the watchful eye of pods of hippo, their heads bobbing in the water with the occasional wide yawn making the perfect photo opportunity.

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Lake Naivasha at night from Loldia House

Join one of the night-time game drives and discover the nocturnal wildlife around Lake Naivasha, from leopards to aardvarks. After dinner at Loldia House, one of the expert safari guides will take you out in a safari Jeep for around an hour. You’ll drive all over the 6,500-acre ranch, set on the shores of Lake Naivasha, searching for wildlife like bat-eared foxes, long-tailed mongoose and birds such as the nightjar and eagle owl.

Along the way, you’re very likely to see the Lake’s resident hippos emerging from the water to graze on the lawns, joined by other plains game. If you’re lucky, you might also spot leopards, who are very shy but can be seen out hunting at night around the property. Your guide will look out for difficult-to-spot species like the aardvark, locals believe that spotting one means you’ll have a long, happy life.

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Adrenaline-Pumping Great Rift Valley

Great Rift Valley Lakes

There’s plenty of adrenaline-pumping activities to try near Lake Naivasha, from climbing volcanoes to cycling through geothermal landscapes. If you like to hike, then climbing Mount Longonot, a dormant volcano in the Great Rift Valley is a must.

You’ll leave Loldia House at about 7am with a guide for the two-hour climb, which is slightly shorter on the way down. While it isn’t a difficult trek, you need to be aware of the altitude, which reaches 2,776 metres at the peak, and go slowly. At the summit of Mount Longonot, you can see right into the huge crater rim, which is filled with thick forest.

Then, sit back with a picnic and take in views of Lake Naivasha and the Great Rift Valley, which is home to herds of buffalo and game, predators and lakes known for their huge flocks of flamingos. 

You can also take guided morning and afternoon walks of Crater Lake. This 14-hectare lake is home to colobus monkeys and 400 bird species. Loldia House also offers a popular day trip to Hell’s Gate National Park, which is special for its geothermal activity, including geysers and bubbling sulphur pools formed by volcanic activity. You’ll get the chance to cycle through this unusual landscape with a naturalist guide, who’ll teach you about the geological features, including the obsidian caves which were formed when molten lava and water collided. Along the way, you’ll spot wildlife such as baboons, vervet monkeys and sometimes even rare colobus monkeys.

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Lake Nakuru National Park with Picnic Lunch

Great Rift Valley Lakes

Take a full day tour to Lake Nakuru National Park, one of Kenya's smallest but also extremely beautiful parks. The park is famous for its population of rhinos and the seasonal arrival of flamingos.

You will leave after an early breakfast and drive through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park. The park is home to a range of animals including both black and white rhinos, endangered Rothschild giraffes, zebras and hippos. You'll explore the park in 4x4 Landcruisers before enjoying a picnic lunch. You'll return to Loldia House in time for afternoon tea on the lawn. The journey from Governors' Loldia House to Lake Nakuru National Park takes about two hours. Park fees are payable.

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Governors’ Balloon Flight

Maasai Mara

Take to the skies on the Governors' optional hot-air balloon safari, where you’ll watch the sunrise over the Maasai Mara and get an aerial view of African wildlife. You’ll lift off around 6am in time to see the sunrise from the balloon, painting the sky in buttery shades of orange.

At that time of day, the grazing animals are just waking up. Elephants are munching in the forest, hippos are heading back to the river and the trees are filled with birds. It’s particularly busy during the Annual Great Migration when massive herds of wildebeest roam the plains. Governors’ has the best flight path in the region, drifting along the Mara River above beautiful riverine forest where rhinos graze, before ending in the open savannah where you might see giraffe, zebra and lion. Guests love the serenity of the balloon ride and the fantastic opportunities for photography. You’ll also have the chance to drop seedballs from the balloon, as part of a conservation scheme to replant indigenous African olive trees. At the end of the hour-long flight, the balloon will land near a bush breakfast site where tables are set up under trees in the middle of the savannah. Here you’ll enjoy a lavish breakfast spread including eggs, sausages, pancakes, fruit, muesli, and of course Champagne. It’s a laid-back, picnic-style feast where your pilot will share bush stories and explain the history of ballooning in the Mara.

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