A First-Class Safari . . . and more

For over 15 years, we’ve brought individuals, families, and students—from age 6 to 90—to the Masai Mara in Kenya.

Basecamp travelers and Maasai groupWe do this for two reasons:

To give people a life-changing safari experience

🦒 Seeing elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, and more in their natural habitat
🤝 Meeting the joyful, resilient Maasai people
📍 The Mara and adjoining Serengeti in Tanzania are home to 40% of the large mammals in Africa

To educate travelers and connect them to meaningful projects

🎓 Student interactions and scholarships
🏥 Medical clinics
🌱 Reforestation
🐾 Wildlife conservation

Why Join One of Our Groups?

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 There is a multiplier or compounding effect when you share this experience as part of a group. Bring your partner or spouse, your family, your grandkids, your friends, and make new friends.
🧳 We do the heavy lifting for you in terms of making all the arrangements and looking after the details.
🌟 The Saruni Basecamp staff goes out of their way to ensure the quality of our group trips.
💖 We are able to make this experience more than just a great safari for you in multiple ways.

Your All-In-One Travel Guide

This page is your informational hub for everything you need to know—whether you’re traveling with us or just exploring your options.

First Stop: Nairobi

We recommend you arrive three days before the start of your safari.

✈️ You’ll be picked up at the airport when you arrive from your international flight.

🏨 You’ll be taken to the lovely Tamarind Tree Hotel where you will have a day/night to acclimate.

The next two days are for optional sightseeing in Nairobi. For example:

Day One: Nairobi National Museum, Ocean Sole and/or Kobe Beads, and the Karen Blixen Museum

Day Two: Nairobi National Park, Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, and the Giraffe Center

Recent Group Safari

Off to Safari – Let the Magic Begin!

🚐 Transport from Nairobi to Masai Mara by small airplane or travel by van through the villages and countryside of Kenya
🍽 Arrive at Basecamp and enjoy your first meal on the savanna
🏕 Two nights at Basecamp Masai Mara and three nights at Saruni Eagle View
🚙 Daily game drives from the safety of our vehicles
🐾 Watch the animals in their natural habitat with the expert narrative of our local guides
🍲 Delicious meals
🛏 Luxury permanent, ensuite tents
🎯 Visit the Enjoolata Awareness Center and learn about the Maasai culture and local conservation
🧵 Interact with the Maasai women as they create their fair-trade bead work
🏫 Visit to the local village, school and medical clinic
🎈 Optional balloon ride over the savanna (approx. $510 extra)

2027 Group Safari Dates

Each trip includes five nights and six days in the Masai Mara:

🗓 2027

January 20–25 → Bonnie Knight (bonnie.knight3@verizon.net)
January 28–February 2 → Peter Carey and Elisabeth Schreibfeder (contactpetercarey@gmail.com and elisabeth@quillrealestate.com)
February 5–10 → Peter Carey and Elisabeth Schreibfeder (contactpetercarey@gmail.com and elisabeth@quillrealestate.com)

📌 Each group will spend 2 nights at Basecamp Masai Mara and 3 nights at Saruni Eagle View.

What to Budget

The estimated cost per person based on double occupancy, excluding international airfare, is about $6,000 USD (based on 2025 numbers).

Lioness and cubs in the Masai Mara

How to Join

📄 Submit Pre-Arrival Form → Email to your group host by the specified date
💳 Deposit → 20% of trip total (invoiced by Barbara Njoroge & Beth Makau at Saruni Basecamp)
✈️ Book Flights → To/from Nairobi, then send us your itinerary
🧾 Final Invoice → Covers hotel nights, local travel, etc.
❌ Cancellation Policy → Full refund up to 60 days before departure; sliding scale refunds within 60 days

Passports and Visas

Passport must be valid 6+ months beyond return date and have 4 blank pages
Visa instructions will be provided before departure

Preparing for Departure

Closer to your trip, you’ll receive:

📦 A detailed packing list
💉 Vaccination guidance
💵 Tipping suggestions
👫 Optional roommate matching
🗺 Extension ideas if you wish to stay longer in Africa

Watch These Videos

Family Safari Experience – Basecamp (over 4.3 millions views)
Foundation Projects

What Guests Say

“Trip of a lifetime.”
“Exceeded every expectation.”
“We can’t wait to go back—and get involved.”

⭐ Saruni Basecamp received TripAdvisor’s “Best of the Best” distinction with a 98% guest satisfaction rating.

Still Have Questions?

Feel free to reach out to any of the group hosts—we’re here to help every step of the way.

💡 While there is no obligation, we hope this journey will inspire you to support the work we, Basecamp Explorer Foundation USA, are doing together with our Norwegian and Kenyan Foundation partners.