I have just returned from the trip of a lifetime, staying at beautiful Elewana Collection properties across Kenya, and I am so excited to share with you the  sheer contrast of experiences you can weave into one seamless itinerary: from city chic and conservation stories to forest canopies, rhino sanctuaries, star beds and lion calls echoing through the night.

We began our Kenyan discovery gently, with an overnight stay in Nairobi at Kwetu Nairobi. It is the perfect soft landing after a long-haul flight: a calm, boutique base where you can reset, freshen up and prepare for the adventure ahead without losing that sense of being in Africa from the moment you arrive.

The next morning we boarded a small aircraft and within a short hop were stepping out into the rugged beauty of Meru National Park with a stay at Elsa’s Kopje. Perched on a rocky kopje with sweeping views, this lodge is intrinsically linked with the “Born Free” story, and you really feel that legacy as you look out over the wilderness where Elsa the lioness once roamed. Our time here also highlighted crucial rhino conservation work in the region; learning about the rhino project, the protection efforts and how responsible tourism directly supports these endangered animals added real depth to the game drives and sightings.

From there we flew on to Lewa, where we stayed at the wonderfully intimate Kifaru House. Lewa is world-renowned for its rhino populations and broad conservation vision, and it was a privilege to meet the conservation team and hear first-hand how they are boosting rhino numbers and safeguarding habitats. One of the real highlights here was exploring the UNESCO-listed indigenous Ngare Ndare Forest; walking through lush, ancient woodland, taking on the canopy walk high in the treetops and discovering hidden waterfalls. It offers a totally different perspective to the open plains, and is a brilliant contrast to classic game viewing.

Our journey then took us to Loisaba Conservancy for two unforgettable nights at the stunning Lodo Springs. This is contemporary, stylish safari camp with vast views that seem to roll on forever. Loisaba is all about variety and activity: you can incorporate a night under the stars at the iconic Star Beds, fall asleep to the sounds of the bush and wake with the sunrise at your feet. There are e-bike safaris for a more active way to explore, and we had the chance to meet the anti-poaching dog team, seeing how their highly trained noses and handlers protect wildlife here every day. Evenings were for slow, indulgent wine pairing dinners, all against the backdrop of dramatic landscapes by day and the low, thrilling rumble of lions in the park at night.

Finally we flew on to Mara North and checked into Elephant Pepper Camp, a classic unfenced tented camp that really puts you at one with the bush. Here, the wildlife is all around you: you fall asleep to the chatter and calls of the night, and wake to the sounds of the plains coming to life. As well as incredibly rich wildlife viewing in this quieter corner of the Mara ecosystem, we went hot air ballooning at dawn and experienced a walking safari, which brings the environment alive in a completely different way. And of course, sundowners are almost a ritual here, as they are across the whole journey: that golden hour where the sky turns flame-orange and you raise a glass to another perfect day in the wild.

To round off the trip, we returned to Nairobi for a boutique stay at Hamilton House, a beautifully elegant and authentic private home stay. It felt like the ideal closing chapter: peaceful, personal and full of character, allowing us to gently transition from the bush back to city life without losing the warmth and intimacy that had defined the whole journey.

This itinerary really underlined what I love about Kenya: in a single trip you can experience so many facets of safari life, from pioneering conservation stories and forest adventures to ultra-stylish lodges, nights under the stars and classic tented camps where wildlife has right of way.

If you would like to follow in my footsteps and experience this journey for yourself, from Kwetu Nairobi to Elsa’s Kopje, Kifaru House, Lodo Springs, Elephant Pepper Camp and Hamilton House, I would love to design it for you. Contact me to start planning your own Kenyan safari story and I will tailor every detail to you.

zoe.palmer@mytc.com