SAFARI HIGHTLIGHTS:
Day 1 - The Nairobi Serena Hotel - Nairobi
Day 2 - Imperial Hotel - Kisumu
Day 3 - Imperial Hotel - Kisumu (Visit Kogelo village)
Day 4 - Mara Serena Safari Lodge - Masai Mara Nat. Reserve
Day 5 - Mara Serena Safari Lodge - Masai Mara Nat. Reserve.
Day 6 - Mara Serena Safari Lodge - Masai Mara Nat. Reserve.
Day 7 - Nairobi and departure.

DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN NAIROBI, THE NAIROBI SERENA HOTEL.
Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport - Nairobi on board flight, go through the passport control then down to the luggage collection hall. Collect your luggage from the conveyor belt and walk out to the arrival concourse. Someone shall be waiting for you holding a folder written 'TRAVEL CONNECTIONS'. Drive from the airport to Nairobi Serena Hotel and check in. Rest of the day at leisure. The Nairobi Serena is a beautiful garden hotel. The hotel's clean white silhouette rises at the edge of Nairobi's extensive Central Park. Surrounded by its own tropical garden, the hotel's rather stark lines are softened by cascades of plants and flowers growing on terrace areas and individual balconies. From the gardens, terraces, swimming pool, and many of the rooms, there is a striking view of modern Nairobi's distinctive skyline, especially beautiful at night. The Mandhari is one of Nairobi's finest a la carte restaurants. The elegance of the food, fine linens and silver is perfectly complemented by the inspired use of Kisii stone from western Kenya. The popular and more informal Café Maghreb is North African in style with arched recesses displaying pieces of brass and copper, and colourful tapestry screens separating tables. The Kisima Bar is decorated to reflect the importance of water themes in Swahili coastal life. 'Kisima' means watering hole in Swahili. There are low divans and stools, Swahili implements and murals on the walls. Overnight at Nairobi Serena Hotel - bed and breakfast.

DAY 2 - NAIROBI TO KISUMU.
After a sumptuous breakfast at the Thorn Tree Café transfer to Jomo Kenyatta Int. Airport for your flight to Kisumu. Pick up at Kisumu Airport and transfer to your hotel for check in. In the afternoon, do a sightseeing tour of Kisumu City. Kisumu is a port city in western Kenya at 1131m, with a population of about 500,000 people. It is the third largest city in Kenya, the principal city of western Kenya, the capital of Nyanza Province and the headquarters of Kisumu District. It has no municipal charter. It is the largest city in Nyanza Province and second most Important city after Kampala in the greater Lake Victoria basin. Kisumu literally means a place of barter trade "sumo". The city has "Friendship" status with Cheltenham, UK and "Sister City" status with Roanoke, Virginia, USA. Attractions in the city include Kibuye Market, the Kisumu Museum, an impala sanctuary, a bird sanctuary, Hippo Point, and the nearby Kit Mikaye and Ndere Island National Park. Dinner and overnight Imperial Hotel - bed and breakfast.

DAY 3 - VISIT OBAMA'S VILLAGE - NYANGOMA KOGELO.
This day is dedicated to a visit to Nyangoma-Kogelo village, where Obama's father grew up and where his grandmother still lives. N.B. There will be no entry into the private residence of Obama's grandmother nor will there be any interviews or contact with any of the Obama family members. Return to Kisumu late in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight Imperial Hotel - bed and breakfast.

DAY 4 - KISUMU TO MASAI MARA SERENA LODGE (250KMS-4HRS).
After an early breakfast drive via Bomet to Masai Mara Nat. Reserve to arrive in time for lunch at the Mara Serena Lodge. This popular lodge is set high on a ridge within the reserve. It commands magnificent uninterrupted views down across the Mara plains and over two water holes. The Mara Serena's unique architecture and décor suggest a fantasy Masai manyatta - rounded spaces, earth tones, natural furnishings and tribal touches. A swimming pool has been positioned to take advantage of the wonderful view. Do afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at Mara Serena Lodge - fullboard.

DAY 5 AND DAY 6- MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE.
These days are solely reserved for game viewing in the vast Masai Mara National Reserve. The Masai Mara is the most popular game reserve in Kenya. It is an extension of the Serengeti Plains in Tanzania, and offers the best game viewing in Kenya. On these wide open rolling grasslands you can often see an incredible variety of different animals at one time. Perhaps a cheetah mother sits on a termite mound with her punky-looking cubs, while beyond, gazelle, antelope and zebra placidly graze. Giraffe might peer curiously through the trees, while elephants pass on silent feet and vultures circle above. Every year millions of wildebeests migrate north from the Serengeti to the green grass of the Mara. This exciting spectacle usually occurs sometime between July and August. Even when animals are not highlighting the scene, the views by themselves are worth the trip. Visits to a Masai manyatta can be arranged between you and the driver. Another popular 'excursion' is a romantic hot air balloon trip where you view animals from above and then touch down for an extravagant breakfast in the bush. Pricey but memorable, at a cost of USD 425.- per person this can be arranged directly before or upon arrival with Travel Connections. Lunch, dinner and overnight at Mara Serena Lodge - fullboard.

DAY 7 - MASAI MARA TO NARIOBI (300KMS-5HRS).
After breakfast take your morning schedule flight to Nairobi. (Lunch is not included on this day). In the afternoon depart on a sightseeing tour of Nairobi city. Nairobi is the largest city in East Africa. It began as a shantytown depot of the East Africa Railroad in 1899. In a little over 100 years it has become on of the major cities of modern Africa and a headquarters of the United Nations. It is a vibrant and growing city - a mosaic of many races and cultures. Shopping in Nairobi is vast and wide. There are soapstone carvings, wonderful ethnic jewelry, many wooden carvings and colourful coth Kanga and Kikoi. Farewell dinner then final transfer to the airport. Departure as per your flight details.