The Ultimate Kenyan Safari: Beyond the “Big Five” to the “Big Experience”
This UAE National Day, Do you want the kind of escape that rewrites your holiday stories? Then, here it is!
Forget crowded city events and the usual long-weekend checklist; choose a sunrise that smells like dust and coffee, a jeep that hums across amber grass, and a night where constellations feel close enough to touch.
Xperienz Holidays’ UAE National Day departure (29th Nov – 3rd Dec) is your chance to squeeze a true Kenya wildlife safari into a long weekend.
It’s four nights, five days, and a carefully designed loop that balances game drives, culture, and comfort; all while giving you bragging rights for having celebrated National Day in one of the world’s greatest wildernesses.
Why Kenya for the UAE National Day?
National Day is about togetherness, reflection, and pride. What better way to honor that than by stepping out of the city and into a space where life is raw and shared? For UAE travelers, Kenya hits a sweet spot:
- Quick flights from Sharjah — you’re in Nairobi in just over five hours.
- Perfect long-weekend length — no marathon travel, just neatly packed adventure.
- A cultural match — hospitality and warmth that echo UAE values of community and connection.
You’ll come home on 3rd December with more than Instagram posts; you’ll bring back a story you’ll retell at every dinner table this winter.
The National Day Kenya wildlife safari package, what’s included
This isn’t a rough-it trip. It’s a smartly built Kenya safari package that blends adventure with ease.
- Flights: Air Arabia (Sharjah–Nairobi round-trip). The outbound flight leaves on 29th Nov at 09:00; the return is on 3rd Dec at 14:05.
- Accommodation: 1 night in Nairobi, 2 nights in Maasai Mara, 1 night in Nyahururu.
- Adventures: A trip to the Giraffe Center, game drives in the Mara, a visit to a Maasai village, a boat ride on Lake Naivasha, a stop at Thompson Falls, and a chance to take pictures at the Equator crossing.
- Logistics: All transfers, English-speaking driver-guide, game drives in 4×4 open-roof landcruisers, water in vehicles, and travel insurance.
- Meals: Full-board in the Mara and Nyahururu; half-board in Nairobi.
- Emergency medical evacuation, excluding hospital bills.
Extras like drinks, tips, or souvenirs are up to you, but that’s part of the fun.
This trip is not a checklist safari. It’s designed to let you truly experience the place, a genuine Kenya safari package that balances spectacle with calm.
Also excludes,
- Drinks, including water at mealtimes
- Items of a personal nature
- Tips & gratuities
- Extra optional activities
Why is the National Day timing perfect?
- Weather: late November to early December brings pleasant days, cool nights, and active predators.
- Crowds: fewer vehicles compared to the July–October migration rush.
- Value: better lodge availability and quieter experiences at classic spots.
So while you may not catch the full migration river crossings, you’ll trade it for intimacy, calm, and the feeling that the Mara is yours.
The story each day tells
- Day 1 — Arrival & A Gentle Start
You touch down, and the air feels like a promise. A short transfer brings you to the Giraffe Centre, where the lanky Rothschild giraffes eat from your palm and solemnly tilt their heads as if listening.There’s a light, friendly rhythm to the afternoon, a snack box on arrival, time to settle, and a quiet dinner where conversations start with “Did you see?” rather than “Did you pack?”
- Day 2 — Rift Valley to the Mara
The road through the Rift Valley is a travel film: escarpments, scattered farms, and suddenly the plains. By late afternoon, you’re on your first Mara game drive; low light makes the silhouettes cinematic, and a distant herd shudders the horizon.Your guide sets the pace: a slow approach, time to wait, and the patience to let wildlife behave naturally.
- Day 3 — Full Mara Day
Today is about length: long drives planned around animal rhythms (early morning and late afternoon are gold). Your guide knows places where cheetahs like to nap, where lions favour a certain kopje, and how to read the direction of migrating herds.The cultural pause, a Maasai village visit, is a human beat in the soundtrack: song, skill, and a chance to buy crafts that help local families.
- Day 4 — Waters and birds: Naivasha’s gentle contrast
After plains, the lake breathes in. A boat ride on Lake Naivasha brings a different tempo, hippos half-submerged, pelicans doing slow dance-like passes, and reedbed birds that make the photographer in you raise the zoom. The day ends near Nyahururu with a slower rhythm and time to reflect. - Day 5 — Final frames & the return
A quick Equator stop and a Thompson Falls photo moment wrap the trip. On the drive back to Nairobi, you trade open plains for the city skyline memory; by afternoon, you’re airborne toward Sharjah with a handful of stories and a few photos that make everyone ask, “When did you go?”
Beyond the Big Five: the micro-moments you’ll keep
The Kenyan safari is really a series of surprises: a brown-headed kingfisher’s flash, a lone red hartebeest trotting past an acacia, the scent of smoke from a small village kitchen at dusk, the way a mother elephant moves her ears. Also,
- The sounds: Hyenas whooping at night, hippos grunting by day.
- The light: Dawn mist that turns into gold, sunsets that make silhouettes art.
- The people: Maasai warriors telling you about their cattle, guides explaining spoor and bird calls, laughter shared across campfires.
- The small moments: A mongoose darting, a dung beetle rolling, a giraffe silhouetted against dusk.
It’s in these little things that the “Big Experience” lives. These micro-moments knit together to make your trip feel like an interior change, not just an itinerary tick.
Photography & story-crafting — tips that actually help
Gear: a 200–400mm lens gets you most wildlife shots; add a 24–70mm for landscapes and lodge-life portraits.
Settings: shoot RAW, use burst mode for action, and remember steady composition, sometimes a still moment beats a cropped, zoomed-in hit.
Timing: dawn and dusk are your magic windows. Set your alarm, sip black coffee, and be ready when the sky changes.
People portraits: ask before photographing Maasai residents; a small payment or buying a craft is the courteous way to say thanks.
Food, rest & lodge life: the unsung comforts
Safari luxury comes in small rituals: linen that smells like sun-dried cotton, a hot bucket shower after a dusty drive, a communal table with roasted veg and local stews.
Some camps run on rustic tent luxury (canvas, cosy beds) while others deliver boutique comfort. This Kenya wildlife safari package uses lodges that focus on comfort more than flash, ideal for families and first-time safari-goers.
Conservation, communities and how your trip helps
The conservancies around the Mara channel feed into anti-poaching patrols and local education programs; village visits are organized to ensure craft earnings get back to the community. When you book the trip, ask for the list of projects supported by the package so you can see how your holiday contributes.
Full packing checklist
- Neutral, lightweight layered clothing (avoid bright colors).
- Sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen.
- Binoculars and a camera with extra batteries and memory cards.
- Lightweight scarf or buff (dust guard).
- Reusable water bottle and small daypack.
- Small amounts of local currency for crafts and tips.
- Please ensure you have your personal medications and basic first-aid supplies, and consider consulting your doctor regarding vaccinations.
- Family, fitness, and accessibility
- Passengers with moderate fitness levels can enjoy most game drives in vehicles itself. Since, there aren’t many guided walking options, and kids would love feeding the giraffes and riding the boat.
- Most lodges have family rooms or tents that connect. Check the PDF for specific room options and child rates to make sure your family will be comfortable.
Package Prices
Kenya 29th Nov -3rd Dec | Per Adult | Per child (2-5yrs) | Per child (6-11yrs) | Single |
| Gross Price | 6499 | 3999 | 4399 | 7699 |
| Offer Price | 5999 | 3499 | 3899 | 7199 |
FAQs
Can people who have never been on a safari before safely go on this trip?
The itinerary follows well-traveled roads, has knowledgeable guides, and stays at lodges that are good for families and people who are new to the area.
Are there any vaccines that I really need to get?
The package includes basic emergency coverage, but the medical advice and vaccines you need depend on your health history.
Can I join solo or request a private vehicle?
Solo travellers are welcome; private vehicle upgrades are available for those wanting exclusivity.
How many people per vehicle?
Contact Xperienz for information on private alternatives and the exact capacity of their standard vehicles, which are designed to accommodate small groups for personal viewings.
Final thoughts
This National Day, choose an escape that rewires your holiday grammar. The experience is designed to be human, paced, and story-rich, a Kenya wildlife safari that’s compact enough for the long weekend but generous in memory.
This package balances marquee animal moments with quieter, human ones, so you return with more than photos: you return with a story.
Book your Kenyan safari today!
