New for 2019, Beyond Cruises is offering an itinerary that combines a Kenya safari in the Maasai Mara National Reserve with a small ship cruise exploring the Seychelles.
On either the 5- or 7-day safari, guests will land in Nairobi and begin their journey with a 2-night stay at the Lake Naivasha Country Club. Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake and part of the Great Rift Valley, is known for its multitudes of pink flamingos. This portion of the itinerary includes a boat ride across the lake and game drives in Nakuru National Park. The next two days are spent in the Maasai Mara National Park, where guests will stay at the recently refurbished Keekorok Lodge—the oldest lodge located in the heart of the Maasai Mara Reserve.
The itinerary will include daily game drives to spot some of the reserve’s most popular residents, including lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras and hippos. This is also the location of the annual great wildebeest migration that crosses the Mara River. Safari goers looking for an adrenaline rush can book an optional Balloon Safari, which includes a champagne breakfast. On the final day, experience another game drive on the way back to Nairobi, where guests will spend the night at the Hilton Garden Inn before their next-day departure to the Seychelles.
After a short flight from Nairobi to Mahe, Seychelles, guests will depart from Port Victoria to begin a 5- or 7-night small ship cruise to explore this Indian Ocean archipelago, located just under a thousand miles off the coast of East Africa. Travelers will island hop aboard the 21-cabin M/Y Pegasos with opportunities to discover giant Aldabra tortoises in the mangrove forests of Curieuse Island; swim and snorkel at Anse Lazio beach on Praslin; and view the Seychelles’ underwater world, packed with vibrant coral reefs, tropical fish, and shipwrecks. Another highlight of the trip will be walking through the centuries-old rainforest at Vallee de Mai with its unique fauna and flora that includes rare black parrots and Coco de Mer palm trees.
Rates for this itinerary start at $4,768 pp. For more information, visit beyondcruises.com.
