Travel Kuoni

Governors' Family Safari

Make a lifetime of family memories on a safari adventure through Kenya.

One of our most popular Kenya safaris now has a family-friendly version.  Watch in awe as your children see animals in their natural environment, wild and free. As a family, you may get to see the pink-feathered flamingos in their famous one-legged pose, hear the grunting of hippos on a boat trip on Lake Naivasha before looking for herds of elephants and big cat predators on the prowl in the Maasai Mara. It's not all about the animals, we've built in plenty of cultural activities too. We can keep the most inquisitive of minds busy with organised child-friendly activities. Don't be surprised when your child throws in a few words of Swahili that they've picked up at the kids' club, or tell you how to properly use a bow and arrow. The accommodation we have picked keeps the family close together and cots, high chairs and children's meals can be arranged. Baby sitters are also available if parents want to sneak off for a spa treatment or have a private dinner. After the thrills and excitement of your family safari, a few days on the beach may be needed.

Safari, Suggested itinerary
6 nights
Nairobi, Lake Naivasha and Maasai Mara
Family, Safari, Adventure

£3,150 - £5,395pp for a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children under 12) including international flights

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Governors' Family Safari

From £11,395 per person

  • tick6 nights
  • tickBoard Basis - Full Board (on safari)
  • tick1 night Fairmont The Norfolk Hotel - Nairobi (Room & Breakfast)
  • tick3 nights Loldia House - Lake Naivasha
  • tick2 nights Governors' Camp - Maasai Mara (Family Tent)
  • tickIncludes full day excursions with picnic lunch to Lake Nakuru
  • tickBoat safari on Lake Naivasha
  • tickTwice daily game drives and/or family activities in Maasai Mara
  • tickFly with Kenya Airways from London Gatwick
  • tickFlights available from other UK airports - contact us for details
  • tickBased on 23rd May 2026 departure

Itinerary overview

Day 1

Arrival in Nairobi

Welcome to Kenya. When you arrive in Nairobi, a local representative will be waiting at the airpo...

Day 2

Nairobi & Lake Naivasha

After breakfast, your family adventure starts with a scenic two-hour drive to Lake Naivasha. Your...

Day 3

Lake Naivasha

You are spoilt for choice with a range of activities to suit all ages. You can visit the local co...

Day 4

Lake Naivasha

Today you may want to head further afield to explore Lake Nakuru National Park. It's one of Kenya...

Day 5

Lake Naivasha & Maasai Mara

After breakfast, take a small aircraft flight from Lake Naivasha to Governors' Camp. This is an e...

Day 6

Maasai Mara

If your children are over the age of 8 , why not treat the family to a magical hot-air balloon sa...

Day 7

Maasai Mara & Departure

After breakfast, it's time to say goodbye to the staff and animals at Governors' Camp and fly bac...

Extend your holiday

Option 1: Malindi

After the exhilaration of your safari adventures, you may wish to extend your holiday with some d...

Extend your holiday

Option 2: Zanzibar

You can extend your holiday with time spent on the spice island of Zanzibar.

Day 1

Arrival in Nairobi

Welcome to Kenya. When you arrive in Nairobi, a local representative will be waiting at the airport to transfer you to your hotel. Depending on your flight arrival time, there may be time for the family to visit an elephant orphanage or meet the long-legged residents at the Giraffe Centre. This will be a great introduction to the animals you may see on the safari days ahead. Alternatively, you may wish to spend time at the hotel's pool. Overnight at Fairmont The Norfolk.

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.

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.

Day 2

Nairobi & Lake Naivasha

After breakfast, your family adventure starts with a scenic two-hour drive to Lake Naivasha. Your base for the next three nights is Governors' Loldia House, an historic and beautifully converted farmhouse set on a private 6,500-acre ranch. The Family Room here consists of an interconnecting double and twin room enabling you to keep your little ones close by at night. Both rooms have their own bathrooms and have been set up so you can share space but still have an element of privacy.Governors' Loldia House is perfectly placed to explore lakes and mountains, as well as to meet the varied wildlife that reside here. The surrounding national park is home to lion, leopard, buffalo, zebra and the endangered black rhino. Somtimes you don't have to venture far to see the animals with impala and monkeys frequent garden visitors.Time spent here is really flexible and can be taken at your own pace as a family. Perhaps start with a safari from the water on a boat trip on Lake Naivasha. Set against a backdrop of Mount Longonot, Lake Naivasha is the highest lake in the Great Rift Valley. How many different birds will you see? Keep a look out for the big-beaked pelicans and listen for the piercing call of the African fish eagle. Later, you may want to recharge at the infinity pool. Overnight at Governors' Loldia House.

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.

Day 3

Lake Naivasha

You are spoilt for choice with a range of activities to suit all ages. You can visit the local community, take a guided walk in Eburu Forest looking for primates or let the kids run off some steam whilst taking a geology lesson with a visit to Hell’s Gate National Park, part of the Great Rift Valley. A night safari adds a thrilling dimension to wildlife spotting and, if you are lucky, you may spot the elusive leopard. Returning to the house there are often hippos grazing on the lawn. Overnight at Governors' Loldia House.

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.

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.

Day 4

Lake Naivasha

Today you may want to head further afield to explore Lake Nakuru National Park. It's one of Kenya's smallest parks, but home to a good range of wildlife including black and white rhino, zebra and the Rothschild giraffe. There are over 450 bird species here too and, on occasion, you may get to see flocks of pink flamingos. Overnight at Governors' Loldia House.

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.

Day 5

Lake Naivasha & Maasai Mara

After breakfast, take a small aircraft flight from Lake Naivasha to Governors' Camp. This is an epic flight over the Great Rift Valley. Your home for the next two nights is set on the banks of the Mara River in a wildlife-rich corner of the Maasai Mara Reserve. You will be staying in a two-bedroom Family Tent which is connected by a lounge area. There is also an outdoor deck and, as the camp is unfenced, it's not uncommon for warthogs and elephants to be seen grazing. After settling in, you'll take your first thrilling game drive. The Maasai Mara is known for its big cats but is also a fantastic place to experience other wildlife including elephants, giraffe, zebra, antelope, impala and hyenas. Visit during the dry season between June and October and you’ll witness The Great Migration, when over two million wildebeest thunders across the plains in search of lush grasslands. Overnight at Governors’ Camp.

Day 6

Maasai Mara

If your children are over the age of 8 , why not treat the family to a magical hot-air balloon safari? The early start is rewarded with an aerial perspective of the Mara before touching down for a bush breakfast.There's time to relax during the day and kids can join in with the fun and educational curated activities at the Mongoose Club. There's time for another game drive before returning to the camp for dinner. After dinner, spend your evening sitting by the crackling camp fire as the stars light the dark night sky. Your guide will tell you all about the constellations while you take a look through the telescope. Memories that will be with you and your family forever. Overnight at Governors’ Camp.

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.

Day 7

Maasai Mara & Departure

After breakfast, it's time to say goodbye to the staff and animals at Governors' Camp and fly back to the UK via Nairobi or onwards to the coast.

Extend your holiday

Option 1: Malindi

After the exhilaration of your safari adventures, you may wish to extend your holiday with some days spent on the white sand beaches of Malindi.

Extend your holiday

Option 2: Zanzibar

You can extend your holiday with time spent on the spice island of Zanzibar.

Personalise your trip

Get in touch with one of our travel experts and we'll help plan your perfect holiday.

Call our Africa experts on

0800 294 9706

Available until 5pm

Guide price information

Low Season

01 Apr - 31 May

£3,150pp

Mid Season

01 Jan - 31 Mar, 01 jun - 30 Jun

£3,595pp

High Season

01 Nov - 15 Dec

£3,750pp

Peak Season

01 Jul - 31 Oct, 16 Dec - 31 Dec

£5,395pp

Guide price information is based on family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children under 12) with included flights from London, accommodation, transport and experiences detailed in the itinerary above. Guide prices do not include optional things to do. Call us for up to date prices – the cost of your holiday depends upon the time of year you travel, how long you go for, preferred departure airport, airlines, hotels and things to do.

Other Itineraries

Call our Africa experts on

0800 294 9706

Available until 5pm

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