Page 1 www.vardafrica.com - © Vard Africa 2026 VARD AFRICA The Vard Wild Experiences Fourteen extraordinary encounters with Africa's wild places, wild people and wild creatures - curated to the standard that defines the Vard Africa name. 14 100% 24/7 wild experiences bespoke & private expert support www.vardafrica.com - info@vardafrica.com - Nairobi, Kenya Page 2 VARD AFRICA THE VARD WILD EXPERIENCES www.vardafrica.com - info@vardafrica.com - © Vard Africa 2026 2 CONTENTS Experience Guide Fourteen wild experiences - each one curated, guided and executed to the Vard Africa standard. 01 Wild Game Drives Day - Evening - Night 02 Wild Authentic Walking Safaris Private conservancies - Northern Kenya 03 Rhino Tracking Ol Pejeta - Sera - Borana - Lewa 04 Wild Hot-Air Ballooning Maasai Mara - Amboseli - Laikipia 05 Wild Helicopter Safaris Northern Kenya - Rift Valley - Mount Kenya 06 Authentic Cultural Immersion & Craft Workshops Maasai - Samburu - Turkana - Rendille 07 Wild Fly Camping Experiences Private conservancies - Lake Turkana - Suguta Valley 08 Wild Stargazing Experiences Northern Kenya - Laikipia - Mount Kenya 09 Wild Horseback Safaris Laikipia - Samburu - Kenya Highlands 10 Wild Camel Safaris Northern Kenya - Laikipia - Ol Lentille 11 Conservation-Led Experiences with Rangers Reteti - Ol Pejeta - Sera - Il Ngwesi 12 Wildlife, Yoga & Wellness Retreats All circuits - Specific wellness lodges 13 Guided Nature Walks All conservancies - Mount Kenya - Forest zones 14 Iconic Out of Africa Bush Sundowners All circuits - Signature positions - Private - Frequently Asked Questions Final section Page 3 VARD AFRICA THE VARD WILD EXPERIENCES www.vardafrica.com - info@vardafrica.com - © Vard Africa 2026 3 EXPERIENCE 01 Wild Game Drives The heartbeat of every African safari - from the golden first light to the electric darkness of a night drive. DURATION BEST TIME LOCATIONS DIFFICULTY 3-4 hrs per drive Year-round All Kenya circuits All levels ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE The game drive is three entirely different encounters wrapped in the same activity - each defined by the quality of light and the behaviour of wildlife at that specific hour. The dawn drive departing at 6am catches the landscape in the hour of greatest predator activity and greatest atmospheric beauty. Where permitted - in private conservancies across Laikipia, northern Kenya and the Samburu ecosystem - the night drive opens the wilderness to the nocturnal community: aardvark, honey badger, porcupine, civet, zorilla and the specific drama of lion and leopard hunting in total darkness. WHAT TO EXPECT ◆ Dawn drives in private conservancies - no other vehicles, no shared sightings, 10,000+ acres to yourselves ◆ Night drives by electric vehicle at Ol Pejeta Bush Camp - silence allows the closest possible wildlife approach ◆ Personalised wildlife briefings from KPSGA-certified guides before every single drive ◆ Pop-up bush breakfasts and sundowners at guide-chosen positions mid-drive ◆ Vehicle tracking of collared lions and leopards with telemetry equipment where available ◆ Elevated open-sided vehicles optimised for photography and unobstructed sightlines INCLUDED & NOT INCLUDED INCLUDED Private vehicle, KPSGA-certified guide, park/conservancy fees, bottled water, snacks on drive NOT INCLUDED Specialist photography equipment, personal items VARD AFRICA INSIDER NOTE We always prioritise private conservancies over national reserves. On 10,000 acres with one vehicle, you are not sharing a lion sighting. You own it completely. Page 4 VARD AFRICA THE VARD WILD EXPERIENCES www.vardafrica.com - info@vardafrica.com - © Vard Africa 2026 4 EXPERIENCE 02 Wild Authentic Walking Safaris Africa at ground level - the most intimate, most physically engaged and most fundamentally honest wildlife encounter available. DURATION BEST TIME LOCATIONS DIFFICULTY 2-5 hrs Jul-Oct, Jan-Feb Laikipia, North Kenya, Samburu Moderate ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE The walking safari is the original form of safari - the way all wildlife encounters happened before the vehicle arrived. Walking returns the guest to the landscape as a participant rather than an observer. A buffalo at 40 metres on foot is categorically not the same as a buffalo at 40 metres from a vehicle. Vard Africa offers walking safaris exclusively in private conservancies and the wild north - environments where the guide's expertise and the armed ranger's presence create the specific safety framework that genuine big-game walking requires. WHAT TO EXPECT ◆ Armed KPSGA-certified professional guides with deep conservancy-specific knowledge ◆ Tracking workshops - reading spoor, identifying droppings, ageing footprints in the sand ◆ Botanical interpretation - medicinal plants used by the Samburu, ancient cycads, habitat identification ◆ Cultural walking with Maasai or Samburu warrior guides in northern Kenya ◆ Half-day and full-day options; fly camping extensions for the most committed walkers ◆ Available at Il Ngwesi, Sarara, Koros, El Karama, Ol Pejeta and all Laikipia conservancies INCLUDED & NOT INCLUDED INCLUDED Professional guide, armed ranger escort, water, first aid kit, park/conservancy walking permit NOT INCLUDED Personal hiking boots - the single most important item to bring on any Kenya safari VARD AFRICA INSIDER NOTE The walking safari is the experience we recommend to every returning guest who has mastered the vehicle. It is not only for the adventurous - it is for anyone who wants to feel what Africa actually is under their feet. Page 5 VARD AFRICA THE VARD WILD EXPERIENCES www.vardafrica.com - info@vardafrica.com - © Vard Africa 2026 5 EXPERIENCE 03 Rhino Tracking The most specific and most urgent conservation encounter in Kenya - including the last two northern white rhinos alive on Earth. DURATION BEST TIME LOCATIONS DIFFICULTY 2-4 hrs Year-round Ol Pejeta, Sera, Borana, Lewa All levels ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE Ol Pejeta Conservancy is home to over 130 critically endangered eastern black rhinos - the largest single population in East Africa - as well as Najin and Fatu, the last two northern white rhinos alive anywhere on Earth. The Sera Community Conservancy in northern Laikipia is home to the first and most successful community-owned black rhino sanctuary in Kenya. Rhino tracking combines on-foot tracking with radio telemetry, working with the conservancy's dedicated ranger and research teams. The encounter is not a game drive sighting. It is a purposeful search for a specific animal, conducted by people whose daily work is the protection of these animals. WHAT TO EXPECT ◆ Private visit to Najin and Fatu - the last two northern white rhinos alive anywhere on Earth ◆ Radio telemetry tracking sessions with Ol Pejeta's Ecological Monitoring Department ◆ Black rhino individual ID - learning to recognise animals by ear-notch and body markings ◆ Baraka - Ol Pejeta's blind black rhino - interactive feeding encounter, included in conservancy fee ◆ Sera Conservancy night rhino tracking with community rangers (seasonal availability) ◆ Live data contribution to population monitoring datasets running continuously since 1988 INCLUDED & NOT INCLUDED INCLUDED Specialist guide, conservancy tracker, telemetry equipment where applicable, conservancy fees NOT INCLUDED Special activity fees at Ol Pejeta for specialist tracking sessions (approx USD 60 per adult) VARD AFRICA INSIDER NOTE Book the northern white rhino visit on the last full day of an Ol Pejeta stay - not the first. After four days of conservation immersion, the encounter with the last two of their subspecies lands with the full weight of everything you have learned. Page 6 VARD AFRICA THE VARD WILD EXPERIENCES www.vardafrica.com - info@vardafrica.com - © Vard Africa 2026 6 EXPERIENCE 04 Wild Hot-Air Ballooning One hour of silence above the African savannah at sunrise - the perspective that no game drive can replicate. DURATION BEST TIME LOCATIONS DIFFICULTY 1 hr + champagne breakfast Jul-Oct peak, year-round Mara, Amboseli, Laikipia No requirement ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE The balloon departs at approximately 6am, rising silently into the first light. For approximately one hour, guests drift at altitudes between 30 metres - low enough to see individual animals' expressions - and 300 metres, high enough for a full panoramic spread of the Mara's plains, rivers and escarpments. The silence is total. The wildlife below does not react. After landing - at a position determined by the wind - a champagne bush breakfast is served on a fully laid table in the middle of wherever the wind has brought you. Freshly baked pastries, Kenyan coffee, seasonal fruits and sparkling wine under the shade of a single acacia tree. WHAT TO EXPECT ◆ Silent flight over the Maasai Mara at altitudes between 30 and 300 metres above the plains ◆ Great Migration aerial views July-October - thousands of wildebeest visible simultaneously ◆ Champagne bush breakfast at landing site - properly set table in the open wilderness ◆ Cameron balloons operated by fully licensed pilots with impeccable Kenya CAA safety records ◆ Private basket option - the entire basket exclusively for your group (up to 12 or 16 guests) ◆ Available in Amboseli for simultaneous Kilimanjaro and elephant family aerial views PRICING GUIDANCE Shared basket: from USD 530-650 per adult. Private basket: from USD 5,040-7,840 depending on season and basket size. Children aged 8-15: from USD 330. Minimum age 8 years; minimum height 1.2m. INCLUDED & NOT INCLUDED INCLUDED Return camp transfers, flight, champagne bush breakfast, landing fees, park/conservancy fees NOT INCLUDED Personal camera equipment, gratuities for the flight crew VARD AFRICA INSIDER NOTE Book the private basket for any group of six or fewer - the per-person cost difference is modest and the experience transforms entirely. September and October offer the same excellent wildlife as peak season with significantly fewer other balloons in the air. Page 7 VARD AFRICA THE VARD WILD EXPERIENCES www.vardafrica.com - info@vardafrica.com - © Vard Africa 2026 7 EXPERIENCE 05 Wild Helicopter Safaris The most dramatically beautiful aerial programme in East Africa - the Suguta Valley, Lake Turkana and the northern frontier seen from above. DURATION BEST TIME LOCATIONS DIFFICULTY Half-day to full-day Year-round Northern Kenya, Laikipia, Coast No requirement ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE The Vard Africa helicopter safari programme, operated in partnership with Tropic Air Kenya, is the most specifically extraordinary aerial experience available from any DMC in East Africa. From Koros Camp in the South Horr Valley, the helicopter flies north into the Suguta Valley - over white volcanic sand dunes, ancient lava flows, Lake Logipi (pH 14, thousands of flamingos) and the jade expanse of Lake Turkana. From any Laikipia lodge, the helicopter connects the conservancy circuit in 20-minute hops that would otherwise require 3-hour road transfers - transforming the logistics of a northern Kenya circuit into the most dramatically scenic transportation programme available. WHAT TO EXPECT ◆ Suguta Valley circuit - volcanic dunes, lava flows, Lake Logipi flamingos, Lake Turkana aerial ◆ Northern Kenya helicopter circuit - Sarara to Koros, Sasaab to Sarara, Desert Rose to Koros ◆ Mount Kenya summit overflight - the retreating Lewis Glacier and the summit peaks from above ◆ Maasai Mara migration river crossing aerial - wildebeest formations at 100 metres above the water ◆ Koobi Fora flight - the cradle of humanity on Lake Turkana's eastern shore ◆ Remote landing at positions inaccessible by any other means - fly camp drops, private picnics INCLUDED & NOT INCLUDED INCLUDED Private charter, licensed pilot, fuel, landing fees where applicable NOT INCLUDED Park or conservancy entry fees at destination, personal equipment VARD AFRICA INSIDER NOTE The Suguta Valley helicopter excursion from Koros is the single most visually extraordinary aerial experience in the Vard Africa portfolio. Book it for the first morning - not the last. The landscape sets the register for the entire stay that follows. Page 8 VARD AFRICA THE VARD WILD EXPERIENCES www.vardafrica.com - info@vardafrica.com - © Vard Africa 2026 8 EXPERIENCE 06 Authentic Cultural Immersion & Craft Workshops Africa's most compelling cultural encounters - with communities sharing their actual lives, not a performance of them. DURATION BEST TIME LOCATIONS DIFFICULTY Half-day to full-day Year-round Across all Kenya circuits All levels ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE The Vard Africa cultural programme goes beyond the village visit. Craft workshops are conducted by the specific people who make the things: Samburu women whose beadwork carries 400 years of pattern knowledge; Il Ngwesi women whose VSO Jitolee cooperative produces beaded phone holders and lampshades; and the Maasai women of Ol Lentille whose workshop is available only to conservancy guests. Vard Africa books only genuinely community-based cultural encounters - properties where camp staff grew up in the communities guests visit, where fees go directly to the dancers, and where the encounter is a genuine homecoming rather than a curated show. WHAT TO EXPECT ◆ Authentic Maasai manyatta evening - hosted by community elders with a shared meal inside the compound ◆ Samburu Singing Wells ceremony - warriors singing water from the earth in a human chain (dry season) ◆ Beadwork workshop with Il Ngwesi, Samburu or Maasai women's cooperatives ◆ Cultural dance performance - up to 100 community participants; USD 670 paid directly to the dancers ◆ Community walk with Mr Kariuki at Olepangi Farm - knowledge of local social history described as "astonishing" ◆ Rain prayer ceremony at Ol Lentille - when the seasons require it - one of the most sacred Maasai practices INCLUDED & NOT INCLUDED INCLUDED Community liaison, cultural guide, all applicable community fees, workshop materials NOT INCLUDED Craft purchases from cooperatives - proceeds go directly to the artisans who made them VARD AFRICA INSIDER NOTE The most powerful cultural encounters happen where the guide's family lives in the village being visited. At Il Ngwesi, all 18 staff grew up in the surrounding Maasai communities. This is not a tour. It is a homecoming - shared with you. Page 9 VARD AFRICA THE VARD WILD EXPERIENCES www.vardafrica.com - info@vardafrica.com - © Vard Africa 2026 9 EXPERIENCE 07 Wild Fly Camping Experiences One night in the absolute wild - no walls, no lights, no sounds except the ones Africa makes itself. DURATION BEST TIME LOCATIONS DIFFICULTY 1-3 nights Jul-Oct, Jan-Feb Laikipia, North Kenya, Turkana Moderate ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE Fly camping is sleeping in the African wilderness without a permanent camp between you and it. Everything is carried in. Everything is carried out. On South Island in Lake Turkana, Fiammetta delivers the group in the afternoon, the camp is set on the island's shoreline, and guests sleep to the sound of Nile crocodiles and flamingos on the lake's margins. The sky tent innovation at El Karama - suspended in the forest canopy - elevates the standard fly camp experience into a tree canopy encounter: sleeping above the forest floor with the specific acoustic environment of the wilderness after dark, with Sophie Grant's renowned bush cooking served below. WHAT TO EXPECT ◆ South Island fly camp - overnight on a UNESCO World Heritage volcanic island in Lake Turkana ◆ Suguta Valley fly camp by helicopter - sleeping in the most geologically active landscape in Kenya ◆ El Karama sky tents - suspended in the forest canopy, with Sophie's celebrated bush cooking ◆ Sarara fly camp in Namunyak Conservancy - the northern Kenyan night sky at 1,600m altitude ◆ Valley floor camp at Koros - two mountains on either side, total darkness and total silence above ◆ Professional setup - bedding, cooking, water filtration, dedicated chef, ranger security all night INCLUDED & NOT INCLUDED INCLUDED All camping equipment, bedding, cooking equipment, water filtration, chef, ranger escort throughout NOT INCLUDED Personal sleeping attire appropriate for the specific altitude and season of travel VARD AFRICA INSIDER NOTE The northern Kenya night sky at 800-1,600 metres, with no light pollution for 200 kilometres, is among the finest dark-sky environments available to any traveller on Earth. The Milky Way is a physical object above you. This is why we go. Page 10 VARD AFRICA THE VARD WILD EXPERIENCES www.vardafrica.com - info@vardafrica.com - © Vard Africa 2026 10 EXPERIENCE 08 Wild Stargazing Experiences The night sky over Africa - one of the last genuinely dark skies available to any traveller anywhere on Earth. DURATION BEST TIME LOCATIONS DIFFICULTY 1-2 hrs Year-round All Kenya circuits No requirement ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE Northern Kenya above 1,000 metres is among the genuinely dark-sky environments remaining on Earth. Light pollution does not reach these places. The Milky Way is visible as a physical cloud of light. The Southern Cross, Scorpius, Sagittarius and the Magellanic Clouds are visible simultaneously. Vard Africa's stargazing experience combines naked-eye observation with guided astronomical interpretation - the Southern Cross as a navigation tool, the Samburu and Maasai mythology of the night sky, and the identification of planets, constellations and satellite passes in real time. WHAT TO EXPECT ◆ Guided naked-eye observation with a guide who speaks the Samburu mythology of the night sky ◆ Telescope observation of Saturn's rings, Jupiter's moons and Andromeda Galaxy where available ◆ Meteor shower observation during peak annual events - the Perseids and Leonids are exceptional ◆ Astrophotography guidance - long-exposure technique, star trail composition, Milky Way framing ◆ Campfire and telescope combination evening - fire, sky, guide's narration, total silence around you ◆ Mount Kenya high camps above 4,000m - altitude-enhanced stargazing of extraordinary clarity INCLUDED & NOT INCLUDED INCLUDED Astronomical guide, telescope where available, campfire, warm blankets, hot beverages NOT INCLUDED Personal binoculars - strongly recommended and available to borrow from most properties VARD AFRICA INSIDER NOTE The finest stargazing in the portfolio is at Koros Camp - 800 metres altitude, zero light pollution, and a valley silence that makes the acoustic environment as extraordinary as the visual one. The fly camp on the valley floor adds a dimension the lodge terrace cannot. Page 11 VARD AFRICA THE VARD WILD EXPERIENCES www.vardafrica.com - info@vardafrica.com - © Vard Africa 2026 11 EXPERIENCE 09 Wild Horseback Safaris Wildlife encounters at equestrian height - the only safari experience where animals do not register your approach as a threat. DURATION BEST TIME LOCATIONS DIFFICULTY Half-day to multi-day Jul-Oct, Jan-Feb Laikipia, Olepangi, El Karama Beginner to advanced ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE Horseback safaris offer the most specifically intimate wildlife encounter available in Kenya - one that depends on a biological fact: most plains wildlife does not identify a horse-and-rider combination as a predator threat. A fully grown black rhinoceros can be observed from horseback at distances that no vehicle or walking safari typically achieves. The Olepangi Farm programme, with 16 horses covering the Mount Kenya foothills, is one of Kenya's most beautiful highland equestrian environments. El Karama's programme operates across 15,000 acres with the Ewaso Nyiro River as the destination. WHAT TO EXPECT ◆ Riding alongside Ol Pejeta's black rhino population - the most specific horse-rhino encounter in East Africa ◆ Olepangi Farm highland morning rides - Mount Kenya foothills at dawn, tea and coffee included ◆ El Karama conservancy rides to the Ewaso Nyiro River - hippos and crocodiles at close approach ◆ Laikipia plateau rides with zebra, giraffe and elephant at equestrian proximity ◆ Multi-day horseback expeditions in the Samburu area (seasonal availability) ◆ All skill levels catered - beginners on farm paddocks, advanced riders on open wilderness routes INCLUDED & NOT INCLUDED INCLUDED Horse matched to rider ability, experienced equestrian guide, riding helmet, all equipment NOT INCLUDED Personal riding boots - strongly recommended; trainers accepted for beginners only VARD AFRICA INSIDER NOTE Olepangi Farm's 16 horses are its most celebrated asset. Elizabeth's specific care for the herd and the guides' knowledge of each horse's character ensure every rider is matched to the right animal before the first step is taken. Page 12 VARD AFRICA THE VARD WILD EXPERIENCES www.vardafrica.com - info@vardafrica.com - © Vard Africa 2026 12 EXPERIENCE 10 Wild Camel Safaris The original northern Kenya transport - the semi-arid landscape at the pace and from the height the Samburu and Rendille have always used. DURATION BEST TIME LOCATIONS DIFFICULTY 1-3 hrs Year-round North Kenya, Laikipia, Suyian All levels ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE The camel is not merely an activity vehicle in northern Kenya. It is a cultural statement - the specific animal through which the Samburu, Rendille and Turkana have navigated this landscape for thousands of years. Riding alongside a camel in the northern highlands is engaging with the specific logic of this landscape in a way that neither the vehicle nor the horse provides. The camel safari at Ol Lentille is a 90-minute river ride led by Maasai warriors - the handlers' specific knowledge of the animals and terrain providing both safety and cultural depth simultaneously. WHAT TO EXPECT ◆ Ol Lentille 90-minute river camel ride led by Maasai warriors - the conservancy's signature activity ◆ Northern Kenya community camel treks connecting Samburu and Rendille pastoral landscapes ◆ &Beyond; Suyian camelback safari - kopje terrain and river woodland from camel height ◆ Wildlife observation from camel height - animals respond as though to a familiar neighbour ◆ Camel handling demonstration - traditional pastoral skills explained by the handlers themselves ◆ Cultural engagement with herders about the camel's essential role in northern Kenya's economy INCLUDED & NOT INCLUDED INCLUDED Camel, experienced handler, safety briefing, guide escort throughout the activity NOT INCLUDED Soft riding trousers recommended - camel saddles are specific in their physical demands VARD AFRICA INSIDER NOTE The camel safari at Ol Lentille is simultaneously an encounter with the landscape, a cultural engagement with the Maasai warrior guides and a physical comedy of unexpected proportion - the dismount is universally and fondly described as "memorable." Page 13 VARD AFRICA THE VARD WILD EXPERIENCES www.vardafrica.com - info@vardafrica.com - © Vard Africa 2026 13 EXPERIENCE 11 Conservation-Led Experiences with Rangers Behind the conservation curtain - working alongside the rangers and researchers actually keeping Kenya's wildlife alive. DURATION BEST TIME LOCATIONS DIFFICULTY Half-day to full-day Year-round Laikipia, North Kenya, Samburu All levels ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE The Vard Africa conservation experience is not about observing conservation. It is about participating in it. From the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary keeper programme - bottle-feeding and monitoring rescued elephant calves - to Ol Pejeta lion tracking with VHF telemetry, guests contribute live data to population monitoring datasets. These experiences are available because Vard Africa has built specific relationships with the conservation teams at each property - relationships that produce genuinely immersive encounters not available through the standard conservancy visitor programme. WHAT TO EXPECT ◆ Reteti Elephant Sanctuary - bottle-feeding rescued calves and monitoring alongside the keeper team ◆ Ol Pejeta lion tracking with telemetry - VHF radio tracking, individual lion ID, live data contribution ◆ Bloodhound anti-poaching training at Ol Pejeta - mock-poacher exercise with tracker dogs ◆ Sera Community Conservancy rhino ranger patrol - accompanying armed rangers protecting the sanctuary ◆ Elephant monitoring walk - ear vein ID, condition assessment, GPS logging on live conservation data ◆ Junior Ranger Programme for children aged 4-12 at Ol Pejeta - full ranger oath and certification INCLUDED & NOT INCLUDED INCLUDED Conservation guide, safety briefing, relevant permits; specialist activity fees where applicable NOT INCLUDED Specialist activity fees at Ol Pejeta for telemetry tracking sessions (approx USD 60 per adult) VARD AFRICA INSIDER NOTE The bloodhound anti-poaching exercise is simultaneously the most educational and the most universally enjoyed activity in the portfolio. Children love it completely. Adults discover within five minutes exactly how effective these dogs are. Page 14 VARD AFRICA THE VARD WILD EXPERIENCES www.vardafrica.com - info@vardafrica.com - © Vard Africa 2026 14 EXPERIENCE 12 Wildlife, Yoga & Wellness Retreats The African wilderness as the world's finest wellness environment - altitude, silence, clean air, a landscape with no interest in your schedule. DURATION BEST TIME LOCATIONS DIFFICULTY Daily or multi-day Year-round Across all Kenya circuits All levels ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE Highland East Africa - with its altitude-enhanced air quality, its total absence of urban noise and its specific daily rhythm of dawn activity and midday restoration - is one of the finest wellness environments on Earth. Vard Africa curates wellness programming from sunrise yoga at Olepangi Farm to the cold plunge pool at &Beyond; Suyian to the most powerful wellness experience of all: Point Lenana at 4,985m at dawn. WHAT TO EXPECT ◆ Sunrise yoga at Olepangi Farm - on the terrace above the Mount Kenya foothills at 1,950m altitude ◆ &Beyond; Suyian wellness centre - cold plunge, steam room and shaded yoga studio in the kopje landscape ◆ Ol Lentille spa - Swedish massage, hot stone therapy, aromatherapy with the conservancy view below ◆ Post-Mount Kenya summit recovery at Olepangi - hot baths, kitchen garden meals, farm walks ◆ Wild swimming in mountain tarns at 3,500m - the most exhilarating cold-water wellness available ◆ Digital detox programmes at off-grid lodges - Kitich Forest Camp, Koros Camp, remote fly camps INCLUDED & NOT INCLUDED INCLUDED Instructor fees for guided sessions; spa treatments booked and priced separately per property NOT INCLUDED Personal yoga mat - available to borrow at all properties in the portfolio VARD AFRICA INSIDER NOTE The most powerful wellness experience in the portfolio is not in a spa. It is on the summit of Point Lenana at 4,985m at dawn - altitude clarity, complete silence, 360-degree views and the physical achievement of the approach. No treatment room produces what a mountain produces. Page 15 VARD AFRICA THE VARD WILD EXPERIENCES www.vardafrica.com - info@vardafrica.com - © Vard Africa 2026 15 EXPERIENCE 13 Guided Nature Walks The intimate, unhurried, botanically rich alternative to the game drive - for guests whose curiosity extends beyond the mammals. DURATION BEST TIME LOCATIONS DIFFICULTY 1.5-4 hrs Year-round All Kenya circuits Easy to moderate ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE The guided nature walk is the most accessible activity in the portfolio and, for the right guest, the most deeply informative. The guide's knowledge of the botanical landscape, the bird species, the invertebrate community and the ecological relationships of a specific piece of land is knowledge that the game drive's focus on large mammals consistently overlooks. At altitude on Mount Kenya, the nature walk becomes a botanical expedition through the most extraordinary plant community in Africa - giant lobelias, giant groundsels and Afro-alpine endemics found nowhere else on Earth. WHAT TO EXPECT ◆ Mount Kenya moorland botanical walks - giant lobelias, groundsels, Afro-alpine endemic species ◆ Laikipia conservancy tracking walks - medicinal plant ID and Maasai botanical knowledge ◆ Ngare Ndare ancient highland forest walk with swimming holes in crystal mountain streams ◆ El Karama organic garden walk with Sophie Grant - farm-to-table knowledge from the source herself ◆ Specialist bird walks - 400+ species accessible across the Vard Africa circuit ◆ Kitich Forest Camp forest walk - one of Kenya's most pristine montane forests, UNESCO Biosphere INCLUDED & NOT INCLUDED INCLUDED Certified nature guide, field guide references, bird list specific to the area visited NOT INCLUDED Personal binoculars - strongly recommended and available to borrow from most camps VARD AFRICA INSIDER NOTE The nature walk is the experience most often overlooked in planning and most often described as a highlight in the post-trip debrief. The Samburu guide who identifies 47 bird species and explains the medicinal use of every plant is demonstrating a lifetime of accumulated knowledge. Page 16 VARD AFRICA THE VARD WILD EXPERIENCES www.vardafrica.com - info@vardafrica.com - © Vard Africa 2026 16 EXPERIENCE 14 Iconic Out of Africa Bush Sundowners The single most universally beloved moment of every Kenya safari - a private table in the wilderness as the African light performs its final act. DURATION BEST TIME LOCATIONS DIFFICULTY 1-1.5 hrs Year-round All Kenya circuits No requirement ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE The Out of Africa sundowner is the guide's specific choice of position - the kopje top, the specific valley view, the escarpment edge as the sun drops - combined with the camp team's setup of table, chairs, ice and the guest's preferred drinks, and the specific silence that descends on the African savannah in the forty minutes before nightfall. Vard Africa guides curate specific sundowner positions at every property - positions not in the tourist brochure, not shared with other vehicles, chosen for their quality on that specific afternoon based on where the day's wildlife activity has been. WHAT TO EXPECT ◆ Private positions selected by the guide on the day - never shared, never repeated, never the same ◆ Properly set table in the wilderness - not a vehicle tailgate but a complete outdoor living room ◆ Signature Vard Africa sundowner menu - house cocktails, local wines, freshly made canapés ◆ Rooftop bar at Ol Lentille Gallery - 270-degree conservancy view, finest elevation in Laikipia ◆ Koros Camp rock pool at dusk - the South Horr Valley in the late light, mountains on both sides ◆ Suguta Valley helicopter sundowner - landing at the dunes for the specific geological light at sunset INCLUDED & NOT INCLUDED INCLUDED Selected drinks and canapés, table and chair setup, guide transport to and from position NOT INCLUDED Premium spirits or vintage champagne - available at additional cost at most properties VARD AFRICA INSIDER NOTE The sundowner is the moment guests describe first when asked what they remember most. Not the lion sighting. The sundowner. The combination of light, cold drink, guide's story, company and the specific completeness of the moment - this is what Africa does that nowhere else does. Page 17 VARD AFRICA THE VARD WILD EXPERIENCES www.vardafrica.com - info@vardafrica.com - © Vard Africa 2026 17 FREQUENTLY ASKED Questions Everything our guests need to know before stepping into the wild. Q01 Which experiences are available year-round and which are seasonal? Game drives, guided nature walks, cultural immersion, stargazing, sundowners, camel safaris, helicopter safaris and wellness activities are available year-round. Walking safaris and fly camping are most recommended in the dry seasons (July-October and January-February) when trails are firmer. The Singing Wells encounter is dry season only. Hot-air ballooning operates year-round but is most spectacular during the Great Migration (July-October). Q02 Do I need prior experience for walking safaris or horseback safaris? No prior experience is required for walking safaris - guides set a pace appropriate to the group. For horseback safaris, beginners are catered for at all equestrian properties with guided paddock sessions before open-terrain rides. Advanced riders can book multi-day wilderness expeditions. The Ol Pejeta horse-alongside-rhino experience is available to intermediate and advanced riders only. Q03 What is the minimum age for each experience? Hot-air ballooning: minimum 8 years, height 1.2m. Walking safaris in big-game areas: minimum 12 years recommended. Night game drives: all ages. Fly camping: minimum 8 years. Helicopter safaris: from 4 years. Horseback safaris: 6 years for farm riding; 14+ for open wilderness. Conservation Junior Ranger Programme at Ol Pejeta: 4-12 years. Q04 Are the walking safaris genuinely safe? Every Vard Africa walking safari in big-game territory is led by a KPSGA-certified professional guide and accompanied by an armed Kenya Wildlife Service or conservancy ranger. The safety record of properly guided walking safaris in private conservancies is exceptional. Your guide's pre-walk safety briefing is thorough and specific. We operate only in environments where the proper safety framework is established. Q05 Can activities be combined in a single day? Yes - Vard Africa designs multi-activity days as standard. A typical day might include a dawn walking safari (6-9am), guided nature walk (10am-12pm), lunch and rest, an afternoon game drive with bush sundowner (3:30-7pm) and an evening stargazing session (8-9:30pm). The itinerary is always calibrated to the group's energy, age range and specific interests. Q06 What should I wear for game drives and walking safaris? Neutral earth tones - khaki, olive, brown, beige. Avoid white, black, bright colours and camouflage (prohibited in some parks). Layering is essential: cold at dawn, warm by mid-morning. Closed shoes for walking safaris - sturdy hiking boots are ideal. Wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, SPF50+ sunscreen. On night drives, an additional warm layer is essential. Q07 Is hot-air ballooning safe? What if weather is poor? All operators used by Vard Africa hold Kenya Civil Aviation Authority licences and impeccable safety records. The pilot has final authority on go/no-go decisions - if conditions are unsafe, the flight is cancelled and rescheduled or refunded. The landing can be bumpy; guests with serious back conditions should consult a physician. Expectant mothers cannot fly. Q08 Can we do night game drives at any camp? Page 18 VARD AFRICA THE VARD WILD EXPERIENCES www.vardafrica.com - info@vardafrica.com - © Vard Africa 2026 18 Night drives are permitted in private conservancies (Laikipia, northern Kenya, Samburu ecosystem) but NOT in national parks and reserves including the Maasai Mara, Amboseli and Samburu National Reserve. Properties offering night drives in the Vard Africa portfolio include Sarara, Sasaab, Il Ngwesi, Ol Lentille, El Karama, Koros and all Laikipia conservancy lodges. Q09 Do cultural visits feel authentic or staged? The quality varies enormously across Kenya. The best encounters in the Vard Africa portfolio happen at properties where staff grew up in the communities being visited - Il Ngwesi (all 18 staff from surrounding Maasai villages), Koros Camp (all nine staff from Anderi village) and the Namunyak Conservancy properties. We book only genuinely community-based encounters. Q10 How far in advance should experiences be booked? Hot-air balloon safaris should be booked as early as possible - they sell out weeks ahead during peak season. The Ol Pejeta northern white rhino private visit and lion tracking have limited daily slots and should be pre-booked at time of camp booking. Fly camping, helicopter safaris and private cultural events require minimum 4-6 weeks notice. Vard Africa manages all advance bookings as part of the full itinerary planning service. Q11 What is included in Vard Africa's experience fees? Vard Africa's all-inclusive rates cover game drives, guided nature walks, bush sundowners, cultural visits and standard conservation experiences within the home conservancy. Hot-air ballooning, helicopter safaris, fly camping, specialist conservation activities and activities outside the home conservancy are priced separately. A complete all-in cost breakdown is provided for every itinerary before confirmation. Q12 What is Vard Africa's policy on environmental impact? Every Vard Africa-curated activity operates under the specific environmental standards of the conservancy or park it takes place within. We brief all guests on Leave No Trace principles for walking safaris and fly camping. 100% of Vard Africa's conservation activity surcharges are paid directly to the relevant conservancy trust. Our helicopter programme uses the minimum fuel required for each specific excursion. Ready to design your wild experience? Begin planning › Every Vard Africa journey is built from scratch for you alone - info@vardafrica.com - Nairobi, Kenya
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Experiences
The Vard Wild Experiences
Fourteen private wild experiences including walking safaris, rhino tracking, ballooning, helicopter safaris, fly camping, and culture.