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SVI Presents

The Plains of Africa

September 22 – October 5, 2022

An unforgettable safari adventure waits for you in Africa. In Swahili, “Safari” means Journey. To you, it will mean that – and so much more. Explore the magnificent vistas of Kenya, home to incredible wildlife, from cheetahs to wildebeests.

Single Private Room – WAITLIST ONLY

Contoured by vineyard-clad hills and castles from yesteryear, the legendary Rhine captivates. Experience the allure of France’s Alsace region in its welcoming capital, Strasbourg, and its priceless gem, Riquewihr. Discover Breisach, rising above the vineyards of the Rhine, and Freiburg, one of Germany’s sunniest cities and gateway to the Black Forest. Fabled towns lost in time present you with the chance to taste local flavors—Rüdesheimer coffee—and to touch history up close with guided hikes and bike rides. From Amsterdam’s colorful canals to the majestic Swiss Alps, journey into the heart of the destinations you visit.

Per Person Rates: Double $8995* Single Private Room – WAITLIST ONLY Very Limited Availability!
Included: 13 day / 12 night trip 33 meals / 12 breakfasts / 11 lunches / 10 dinners VERY active tour!

ITINERARY

DAY 1

Arrival day Nairobi - The Sarova Stanley
A continent of adventure stirs the soul in Kenya, the heart of safari country. In the Morning, visit the Sheldrick Elephant Orphange and learn about their efforts to protect and rehabilitate these magnificent creatures.

DAY 2

Nairobi - Aberdare Country Club
Set out in the central highlands to the mists of Aberdare National Park. Inside this isolated volcanic range, peaks reach as high as 14,000 feet. Indigenous forests surround you on all sides and red soil drowns under brilliant waterfalls.

DAY 3

Buffalo Springs Reserve - Sarova Shaba Lodge
Discover the magic of the Shaba, Samburu and Buffalo Springs reserves – home to some of Africa’s most exotic wildlife. Arrive at peaceful Shaba National Reserve, your home for the next two nights. On your game drive, see if you can spot the “Big 5” – lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards and rhinos.

DAY 4

Samburu National Reserve - Sarova Shaba Lodge
Marvel at the striking contrast of sand, sky, and bush during a morning game drive inside Samburu National Reserve. Return for lunch before heading out on an afternoon game drive. As the sun sets over the banks of the Ewaso Ng'iro River, enjoy a traditional Sundowner in the company of a Samburu tribe.

DAY 5

Shaba Reserve - The Ark
Journey to the forests of Aberdare National Park. An amazing experience awaits you upon arrival to your lodge, The Ark, which offers four viewing decks that make it easy to watch the game go by.

DAY 6

Lake Nakuru - Sarova Lion Inn
To the middle of the Earth and beyond! Hit the road for a spectacular, mountain-kissed journey on the way to Nyahururu waterfalls. One of the Great Rift Valley’s soda lakes, Lake Nakuru is a haven of ecological diversity surrounded by picturesque ridges and wooded, bushy grassland.

DAY 7

Lake Nakuru - Sarova Lion Inn
Wake up in the embrace of Nakuru’s acacia forest. During this morning’s game drive, make sure your binoculars are ready – this is rhino country. Regale in a true taste of Africa: a traditional breakfast prepared right in the bush. After your afternoon game drive, return just in time to witness one of Nakuru’s unforgettable sunsets.

DAY 8

Masai Mara Game Reserve - Sarova Mara Tented Camp
Welcome to the Masai Mara Game Reserve. Your tented accommodations provide you with all the deluxe amenities of a proper lodge, with the added adventure of being on level with the wild. Graced with an astounding collection of wildlife including lions, giraffes, zebras and elephants. Enrich yourself in the culture during a visit to a Masai village.

DAY 9

Masai Mara Game Reserve - Sarova Mara Tented Camp
Ernest Hemingway said, “I never knew a morning in Africa when I woke up and was not happy.” Wake up happy, refreshed, and ready for your game drives through the grassy plains and rolling hills of the Masai Mara. The Mara plays host to one of the greatest natural spectacles on the planet: the annual wildebeest migration.

DAY 10

Masai Mara Game Reserve - The Sarova Stanley
Return to Nairobi and visit the farmhouse of Karen Blixen for a true Out of Africa experience. Have Rothschild giraffes eating right out of your hand at the Giraffe Sanctuary. Get an up-close-and-personal meeting with these fantastic creatures while feeding them from a platform that stretches as far into the sky as they do.

DAY 11

Amboseli National Park - OI Tukai Lodge
Open plains, free-running lions, roaming herds of elephants, and so many other animals take up the majority of the real estate in Amboseli National Park. Take to the plains for an afternoon game drive in the breathtaking aura of snow capped Mt. Kilimanjaro.

DAY 12

Amboseli National Park - OI Tukai Lodge
All of Amboseli is at your feet today during your game drives. This unique corner of Kenya is one of the best places in Africa to see hundreds of elephants up close. Wildebeests and zebras are ever-present. Perhaps you'll spot cheetah or hyena. Today is your last full day on the continent and your last chance to spot some more members of the elusive “Big 5.”

DAY 10

Nairobi - Tour Ends
Return to Nairobi for your departure for home. You may choose to reserve a day room to freshen up prior to your flight.

THE HOTELS

The Sarova Stanley Hotel

The Sarova Stanley is amongst the few five star rated hotels in Nairobi. It launched itself into Kenyan history in 1902 by becoming the first luxury hotel in Nairobi and the gracious host to prominent world leaders, renowned authors, and international celebrities. Sarova Stanley retains much of its historical charm while at the same time offering all the luxuries and amenities of a five-star hotel.

Today, Sarova Stanley’s heritage character is preserved whilst offering modern hotel services and amenities to create Nairobi’s best hotel experience. If you crave to enjoy the luxurious amenities provided by the best 5-star hotels in Kenya or taste world-class cuisines, then booking an accommodation here lets you achieve it.

The Aberdare Country Club

The Aberdare Country Club, only a two and a half hour drive northeast from Nairobi, is nestled on a slope of Mweiga Hill in the Aberdare Highlands, part of the Great Rift Valley. This captivating site was the homestead of an English couple that decided to settle in Kenya. Almost a half century later, their home, “The Steep”, was renamed the Aberdare Country Club and opened for guests.

The Sarova Shaba Lodge

Sarova Shaba Game Lodge is located in a natural oasis in the heart of the Shaba Game Reserve just east of Samburu, or one can say, in the “Born Free Country” that Joy and George Adamson called home for many years.

It is set along the bank of the Ewaso Nyiro River laid out around the natural springs that flow into the river. The Lodge has a virtual mini forest of indigenous trees, a fish pond and a large free form swimming pool.

The Ark

Set in the heart of the Aberdare National Park, iconic and yes, quirky. The Ark overlooks a floodlit waterhole and salt lick, which attracts a host of awesome wildlife. Resembling and named after Noah’s Ark, The Ark comprises of three decks from which numerous balconies and lounges provide a superb location for wildlife to be seen. So that you don’t miss any animal sightings, the night guard will buzz your room when special animals come to the waterhole.

The Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge

Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge is nestled along the Lion Hill overlooking the spectacular flamingo pink rimmed Lake Nakuru. Its location affords panoramic views of the lake and the picturesque Lake Nakuru National Park. A short two-hour drive from Nairobi, Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge is a favourite with residents and visitors to Kenya.

The Sarova Mara Tented Game Camp

The rolling plains around the camp are teeming with wildebeest, gazelles and zebras during the migration months, and the camp is situated right in the center of their migration path. A wildlife safari puts you right in the middle of all this action. Get a first-hand account of this epic phenomenon and live to tell the tale. A safari also helps you acquaint yourself with the landscapes of this beautiful African setting.

OI Tukai Lodge

Ol Tukai Lodge is one of the best spots in the world to watch elephant with the backdrop of Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. Writers have described Ol Tukai and the surrounding Amboseli National Park ‘as a home for the Gods’. Ol Tukai is an Eco-rated lodge having excellent outdoor and indoor facilities with its unique collection of African art. The property receives overwhelming response from the international and local tourism market.

WE GET IT

It can be difficult to decide where to spend your vacation dollars when every travel company claims to be the best. So don’t just take our word for it. Check out just of few of the reviews that demonstrate why Sober Vacations International is unsurpassed in the business:

These are just a few of the reasons that over 98% of our recent travelers would recommend a SVI vacation to a friend. Discover for yourself what makes Sober Vacations so special.

Contact us today to book your next vacation!

FAQs

As we are a sober travel agency, we can offer trips that other travel agencies cannot – specifically trips that are geared towards the sober traveler.  

You are absolutely allowed to bring your spouse/partner if they are not sober.  We are not the alcohol police, and have not yet had an instance where someone’s drinking caused a problem for the group. 

We have two different types of trips – Sober Vacations and Sober Villages. Sober Vacations are most of our trips – where we are a smaller group within the resort/cruise and people will be around us that are not in program. We have daily AA meetings and stick together for excursions and meals. Our Sober Villages happen yearly (usually in the beginning of the year during the winter) and these are full buyouts- meaning you will be at a resort with 500-600 fellow sober people. All bars/mini bars are wiped clean of alcohol and instead replaced with juice, soda, coffee, tea, and energy drinks. Our Sober Villages have daily jam packed schedules with AA meetings, al-anon meetings, attitude adjustment workshops, recovery yoga, trivia, scavenger hunts, and more! So, depending on what you prefer, you should choose what vacation suites you and your sobriety the best.

You do not. We ask for a deposit when you make your reservation. Once confirmed, you’ll receive an email with a personalized link to your reservation.  At any point, you can make payments to your account, or you can pay it all off at once.  As long as the trip is paid off 90 days before your departure, you can pay at whatever pace you are comfortable with. 

Usually. If it is an All-Inclusive trip, we will indicate such. 

 

All-inclusive means food, drinks, activities and entertainment are included in the cost of your trip.  Gratuities are not included, however.

We’ve been in operation as a sober travel agency since 1987. 

Los Angeles Dodgers!  Is there any other?

For most trips, yes. 

You arrange your flights yourself and bear in mind that most destinations/hotels have standard check-in times of between 3p – 4p and check out between 10a – 11a. 

Sadly, we cannot book your flights.  Your flights are your responsibility.

That’s okay.  We have been successfully matching roommates using our patent-pending roommate matching technology since 1987. In 35 years, we’ve only had eight fatalities out of over 8,000 matches. Which translates to over a 99% satisfaction rate!  

We do not control the culinary options on any of our trips. So, each vacation will be different, but we generally choose resorts and experiences that offer a wide range of quality food. That usually includes options for people with even the most restrictive diets. 

Yes! We describe our trips as a vacation…with meetings. On our Sober Village there are 5 scheduled meetings each day. On other trips, there are usually between 1-3 meetings a day. If you are on a trip, and you want to start a meeting, you are free to do so.  We just ask that it not conflict with any of our scheduled meetings. 

Absolutely not!  Meeting attendance is at your discretion.

Depends on the trip. Our Sober Villages have between 450-700 people! Some trips are smaller, more intimate experiences. 

We adhere to the policies of the destination to which we are traveling – if it is their policy that incoming travelers be vaccinated then we adhere to those recommendations. We do not set the policies for each destination, that is determined by their individual governments. 

We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance especially in this new travel landscape with Covid-19. We have a partnership with Allianz Travel Insurance. Please visit their website to sign up www.allianztravelinsurance.com – our ACCAM Number is: F019519