We begin our Africa Expedition with an overnight flight from NEW YORK to NAIROBI.

Wednesday, October 14th
Today we are continuing our journey to Nairobi in KENYA. Upon your arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will obtain your Kenyan Visa, collect your luggage and meet your tour escort and special guest, Pam Holland, who will bring you to your awaiting transportation for your drive to your deluxe hotel, one of the Leading Hotels of the World. We will check in and retire for the evening.

Thursday, October 15th
This morning, following a restful sleep and hearty breakfast, we will participate on a Panoramic City Tour of NAIROBI. We will travel first to a well-known street where the shops sell many African textiles, including locally produced fabric. From here we will travel through the city center, past the colorful city market, Parliament buildings, the Railway Museum and the National Museum. Following this, we will drive to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. Here we will have an opportunity to photograph and learn more about these adorable baby elephants. From here we will visit the Karen Blixen Museum, home of famous novelist Karen von Blixen. The house contains many of her original pieces along with some items donated by the makers of the film “Out of Africa”. Following our tour we will have lunch at the nearby Coffee Garden Restaurant before visiting the Kazuri Bead Factory. We will have an opportunity to walk through the factory and photograph the artists as they create each bead by hand. There will be time to shop in their wonderful little gift shop before we head off to our final destination, the Nairobi Giraffe Center, where we will enjoy a briefing about these semi-habited giraffes and actually have the opportunity to pet and feed these extraordinary animals. Following this tour we will drive back to our hotel for dinner. This is a full day of fun that is sure to capture the Kenyan culture.

Friday, October 16th
This morning, following breakfast, we will have a very special get together with the Quilters Guild of Kenya. We will share stories, ideas, and tea with these fellow quilters. Following lunch, you will have the remainder of the day to enjoy and explore Nairobi on your own. We will meet up again this evening for dinner at the hotel.

Saturday, October 17th This morning we will check out of our hotel and drive to the nearby airstrip for a flight to the incredible MASAI MARA! We will arrive in the Mara and be met by our safari guides who will take us our first class lodge. Here we will check in and unpack for the next five days. This afternoon we will enjoy a late afternoon Game Drive and dinner back at the lodge.

Sunday, October 18th
Early this morning, we will venture out into the Mara and participate in a morning Game Drive. We will return to our lodge for breakfast and an opportunity to relax. We will enjoy an early afternoon workshop with Pam Holland. In the later part of the afternoon we will board our safari vehicles for an afternoon Game Drive. Dinner will be served back at the lodge, as we bring another full day of sights and game drives to an end.

 

Monday, October 19th
Early this morning we will drive back out into the Mara and participate in a morning Game Drive. We will return to our lodge for breakfast and an opportunity to relax. Lunch will be served midday and this afternoon we will meet with Pam Holland for another quilting workshop. In the later part of the afternoon we will board our safari vehicles for an afternoon Game Drive.

Dinner will be served back at the camp, as we bring another day of amazing sights and game drives to an end.Tuesday, October 20th
Very early morning, for those of you who are interested, we will drive to the location of our HOT AIR BALLOON as we prepare for a morning flight and safari. Our professional pilot will glide this 16-passenger balloon just above the tree tops as the sun begins to rise and we enjoy the sights from above. It will be one of the most memorable moments of the safari, if not your entire life! Our balloon will peacefully glide over river banks and across the Masai plains until we land and our greeted by our guides. From here we will enjoy a specially prepared breakfast, complete with linen table cloth and champagne. We will drive back to our lodge to relax and enjoy the rest of the morning. This afternoon we have arranged for another workshop with Pam. Later we will board our safari vehicles for another exciting Game Drive. Tonight following dinner, we will relax and reminisce about our extraordinary day.

 Inspiration from the Mara.

Wednesday, October 21st
Early this morning, we will drive back out into the Mara and participate in a morning Game Drive. We will return to our lodge for breakfast before visiting a nearby village where we will meet some of the local men and women artisans. We’ll return to our lodge for lunch a final afternoon workshop with Pam Holland. In the later part of the afternoon we will board our safari vehicles for an afternoon Game Drive. Tonight we will have a special dinner out in the bush, as we relax from our busy day.

Thursday, October 22nd
This morning we will drive out into the Mara for an early morning Game Drive. It is our last morning in Kenya, and our final opportunity to photograph this extraordinary place. We will have lunch and then pack our belongings for a departure flight back to Nairobi. After a one hour flight, we will arrive back into Nairobi and transfer to our hotel where we will freshen up and repack our luggage for our flight back home. Tonight, we will enjoy a special “farewell dinner” at the world famous Carnivore Restaurant, renowned for its variety of delicious exotic meats, as well as other dishes. Following dinner, we will transfer to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for our flight back to NEW YORK.