Quilt Explorations: Kenya Textile Safari

Tue 7/15
Jambo! Welcome to Kenya. Your adventure begins with a welcome reception at the airport. Upon arrival, you will be met by a professional representative. After clearing with the immigration processes, you will then be escorted to your waiting vehicle and be transferred to the hotel for check in with rest of the afternoon at leisure. There will be a welcome dinner at the hotel with the rest of the group today. Sharing food is a big part of the culture here and a great way to get to know your new travel companions.
(Dinner Included)
Hotel: Sarova Panafric Hotel, Nairobi

Wed 7/16
Today visit the fabric market with an Insider Expert. Have an opportunity to purchase fabric (Kikoi, Maasai Shuka) at wholesale prices and then visit a tailor to have made into an Ankara design of your choice.
(Breakfast Included)
Hotel: Sarova Panafric Hotel, Nairobi

Thur 7/17
After breakfast at the hotel, head to the local Maasai handicraft market. The market is usually a mobile activity and rotates in various towns within the city vicinity. Today the market is at The High Court parking lot in the city center. Have a chance to sample some of the locally made cultural jewelries. This is a perfect opportunity to purchase some souvenirs to carry back with you. Proceed on to Biashara Street. The street is the home of Nairobi textiles – a hodge podge of fabric stores, located in the center of town. There are several items that you can buy at bargain price here, among them Maasai shuka/kikoi. Once through, proceed back to the hotel with rest of the evening at leisure.
(Breakfast Included)
Hotel: Sarova Panafric Hotel, Nairobi

Fri 7/18
Depart Nairobi after breakfast and head north, driving along the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley. First stop will be at the Eden Project. Eden Reforestation Projects is a nonprofit NGO that works in developing countries to rebuild natural landscapes destroyed by deforestation. Eden works directly with communities experiencing extreme poverty resulting from the deforestation and destruction of the land that sustains them. After, depart for Elsamere, the former home of the writer Joy Adamson, whose 1960 book ‘Born Free’ helped bring wildlife conservation into the mainstream. The house is a veritable museum dedicated to the works of Joy and George Adamson, with many photos of Elsa, the lioness that started it all. Proceed on to a boat trip on Lake Naivasha, the highest of all lakes in the Great Rift Valley and home to many a hippopotamus. Later, enjoy a high tea lunch on the very grounds Joy cherished for so many years, with the lake as a serene backdrop. Continue to your Lake Nakuru lodge, arriving in the early evening. From your lodge you’ll enjoy remarkable views of Lake Nakuru and the surrounding national park, alive with the call of birds and rich in wildlife. What better way to take it all in than from your lodge’s infinity pool.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)
Hotel: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge

Sat 7/19
This morning you will visit Lake Nakuru National Park by four-wheel drive vehicle (4×4) – the park’s lake is its stunning centerpiece. Mornings can be cold here so it’s important to bring warm clothes. You might see why this great soda lake has been described as the world’s greatest ornithological spectacle; great seas of flamingos often turn the landscape a sweeping shade of pink. Flooding in recent years has unfortunately caused a decline in birdlife, however the park boasts substantial numbers of other species, including waterbuck, reedbuck, and gazelle. Leopards are also to be found here, and the chances of sighting one is significant. Return to the lodge and take some time out for lunch, then head back out for another afternoon game drive. Keep your eyes peeled for one of Africa’s most endangered creatures, the elusive black rhinoceros. While white rhino sightings are fairly common, spotting a black rhinoceros is a real treat.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)
Hotel: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge

Sun 7/20
After breakfast, head southwest to the Maasai Mara, one of the finest game reserves in Africa. Stop over by the remote region of Loita Hills, home of the Maasai people. This is one of few places where they still practice their traditional way of life with little influence from the western world. Stop at Tepesua Village where you’ll be welcomed by Maasai Warriors through traditional song and dance. Meet your Maasai hosts, take a walk to the community village and enjoy a fascinating talk full of insights into this ancient culture. The village offers support, safety, and economic growth through the ‘Tepesua Widows Income Project’, where widowed women sew eco-friendly handicrafts to sell to visitors and locals. Learn about village life and be shown around a traditional Maasai home and cattle enclosure. Move on to Mara Maisha Camp, your feature Stay accommodation for the next two nights. Blending seamlessly with its surroundings, the camp connects the wilderness with modern comforts, and staying here is really something special. Depending on the time of arrival, you can choose to head out for a late afternoon game drive, or relax in the camp, freshen up and relax as you prepare for a whole day of adventure tomorrow in the Mara.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)
Hotel: Mara Maisha Camp, Maasai Mara

Mon 7/21
Rise a little before dawn to begin your morning game drive. As the sun rises, you shouldn’t have any trouble spotting wildlife, as this is often one of the most active times of the day for animals. Witness the wonderful procession of wildlife that inhabits the area. Wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle are plentiful, and you might even spot predators keeping a casual eye on their movements. Elephants, giraffes, and elands are also commonly sighted, along with plenty of bird life. The area is known for its rolling green plains and riverine woodlands, and amongst the many species of game, a black-maned lion, leopard, or cheetah might appear, with some luck. After what is hopefully an exciting morning’s drive, you will return to the camp for lunch and to relax during the heat of the day. Set off again in the afternoon – this time you can expect to return to the camp at dusk. As the sun starts to set, stop, and take a moment to soak it all in with a drink in hand – there’s few better ways to wrap up a day of wildlife spotting in one of the world’s most magical places. As dusk falls, a variety of animals might be visible in the vicinity of your camp.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)
Hotel: Mara Maisha Camp, Maasai Mara

Tue 7/22
The morning is yours to do as you wish. You may like to sit back with a cup of coffee on your private deck, keeping an eye out for animals in the reserve, or forgo a sleep-in in favor of an early morning game drive or walking safari. In the afternoon, regroup for another exciting 4×4 game drive in the park.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)

Optional Activity: Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride
If you’d like to see the Masai Mara from a different perspective, a sunrise hot air balloon ride is a truly memorable experience. You will be collected before dawn and glide through the sunrise, sometimes at tree height, making the most of the amazing photo opportunities. Sometimes you’ll ascend to get an overview of the enormity of the Masai Mara plains and the early-morning movements of the teeming herds. Upon landing, you’ll be treated to a bush breakfast before returning to your vehicle. This is a popular activity with limited places, so it’s offered as a pre-booked activity which guarantees you a place. If you choose to wait and book this activity locally on the ground, you may risk missing out on a place. The suppliers are committed conservationists, with a portion of the profits from every flight going straight to worthy conservation projects within the park.
Price per person: $600

Hotel: Mara Maisha Camp, Maasai Mara

Wed 7/23
Breakfast at the camp. Thereafter, check out and head to Nairobi. You can expect to arrive in the late afternoon at your hotel for the next two nights.
(Breakfast Included)
Hotel: Sarova Panafric Hotel, Nairobi

Thur 7/24
After breakfast, head out to Kenya Quilt Guild – Patchwork Quilters in Nairobi. The Kenya Quilt Guild is a vibrant cosmopolitan group of people who love the art of quilting. Once through with the visit in the afternoon, proceed back to the hotel with rest of the afternoon at leisure. There will be a farewell dinner at the hotel this evening.
(Breakfast and Dinner Included)
Hotel: Sarova Panafric Hotel, Nairobi

Fri 7/25
Your adventure comes to an end today, with an included group transfer at the airport for your homebound flight.
(Breakfast Included)