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27th Sep 2025 - 4th Oct 2025
8 days/Kenya /Moderate
Experience one of Kenya’s last remaining areas of true wilderness on this trek through the Loita Hills. This low-lying mountain range is located south of Nairobi and is home to much of the traditional Maasai culture. On the trek you’ll walk through pockets of forest & wide open plains, you’ll learn from your local guide about the Maasai culture and their communities. You’ll spend several nights out under canvas before transferring to a lodge in the Masai Mara where you’ll spend 2 nights and take part in some game drives hoping to spot lions, elephants, hippos and more.
You don’t have to fundraise to join an open challenge but you can support a charity of your choice if you wish. See the costs tab for more details.
The trek is rated moderate for someone of a good fitness level. The terrain is generally fairly flat though mostly hard, sandy and rocky however when walking on top of Loita Hills there will be moderate ascents/descents. The distance you will walk each day will be up to 20km.
Kenya is situated on the east coast of Africa next to the Indian Ocean. It is almost the same size as France but packs in an astonishing variety of cultures and ecosystems. Named after Mount Kenya, the highest peak in the country, you can find steamy jungles, spectacular deserts, high mountains, incredible wildlife, bubbling hot springs, white sand beaches and a remarkable representation of 42 different peoples and cultures.
The Masai Mara, known locally as The Mara, is a large national game reserve in Narok, Kenya. “Mara” means “spotted” in the local Maasai language, due to the many short bushy trees which dot the landscape.
Masai Mara is one of the most famous and important wildlife conservation and wilderness areas in Africa, world-renowned for its exceptional populations of lion, leopard, cheetah and African bush elephant. It also hosts the Great Migration, which secured it as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, and as one of the Ten Wonders of the World.
This trek is accompanied by English-speaking local guides and a Different Travel Company UK tour manager. They are first-aid trained and will support you throughout your journey. You will also be supported by a team of assistant guides, cooks and porters who together make your journey possible.
The minimum age is 18. It may be possible to participate if you are 16 or 17 years old but you must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. There is no upper age limit. The ideal candidate would be fit, healthy and determined, open to adventure and adaptable to unexpected changes.
Temperatures average at 26°C during the day and drop to around 15°C at night, however, you must be prepared for variations to this which are out of our control. Weather during the trek will be dry but there may be some strong winds. Rain, although very rare, is not impossible. Please note: the temperatures and conditions above are historically accurate but climate change can impact the seasons so you may experience uncharacteristic conditions during the trip which are out of our control. The guides will assess the situation and make decisions to ensure the best enjoyment and safety of the group.
During the trek, you will sleep in tents (two to a tent). All sleeping equipment is provided including bedding. Toilet facilities consist of a bush toilet with a privacy screen. Solar-powered bucket showers will be available for limited use, however, you are recommended to bring a pack of baby wipes as it may not always be possible to take a shower.
Meals are provided as specified in the itinerary and during the trek are cooked by your chef who will prepare hearty Kenyan and Western meals. Camping tables and chairs are provided along with plates, mugs and cutlery.
The suggested kit list for this trek can be found here.
London – Nairobi
Depart London for Nairobi. On arrival transfer to a hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight: Hotel
Meals: Dinner
Nairobi – Loita Hills
Set off early this morning for the drive (approx 3.5 hrs) towards the Rift Valley where we make a stop at the escarpment to enjoy views of Suswa and Mt Longonot in the far distance. We continue to the Loita hills which have been the territory of the Masai peoples since the 19th century.
After lunch and a camp orientation, you’ll take a guided Nature Walk, have a cultural briefing and maybe a dip in a nearby hot spring before camping overnight
Overnight: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Loita Hills
After breakfast; start your trekking adventure with the local guide. The path will lead you through hills, valleys and plains of the Loitas, hopefully with wildlife encounters such as giraffes and zebras. We will also pass Maasai settlements, learning about their lives and culture. Overnight accommodation is at a bush camp, which will be basic but will have everything you need. Dinner will be prepared by the camp cook.
Overnight: Bush camp
Approx. 6 hrs walking depending on local conditions
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Loita Hills
You’ll spend the next two days on a walking safari, through the Loita Hills and Plains, getting to know the African nature, wildlife and Maasai culture in depth. The Loita has pockets of remote forests, and wide open plains surrounded by stunning hillsides and dotted with roaming wildlife. This is not an area for viewing big game but more somewhere to enjoy the scenery, walk with the local Maasai and learn more about their culture and communities.
Overnight: Bush camp
Approx. 6 hrs walking each day depending on local conditions
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Loita Hills – Masai Mara
After breakfast we break up camp and meet the safari vehicle to begin the drive towards Masai Mara, arriving in time for lunch. You’ll stay in comfortable lodge rooms for the next two nights. In the afternoon we depart for a game drive in search of the Big Five.
Overnight: Lodge rooms
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Masai Mara game drive
A full-day game drive exploring the Maasai Mara. You are likely to come across a pride of Lions, Cheetahs, Elephants, Zebras and Hippos. The landscape has grassy plains and rolling hills and is crossed by the Mara and Talek rivers where Wildebeest migrate through in July and August.
Overnight: Lodge rooms
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Masai Mara – Nairobi
Enjoy a final breakfast before we drive back to Nairobi (approx. 6 hrs), making a brief stop for lunch. Continue to the airport for your flight back to London (arriving next day)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
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N.B. This itinerary may change due to weather, the ability of the group and so on. We will do our best to keep to the itinerary but we cannot be held responsible for changes outside of our control. In all circumstances, your guide and tour leader will have the final say in the interest of health and safety. Â
Registration fee: £475 (please contact us to discuss paying this in instalments) and then either…
Self-funded: £2,975
or
Sponsorship: £5,950
orÂ
Flexi: £2,975 trip costs and £2,975 sponsorship for a charity* of your choice
This option is for those who choose to pay the trip costs (flights, accommodation, food, guides etc.) themselves. There is no sponsorship required although if you wish to raise sponsorship for a charity you are welcome to do so.
This option is for those who wish to raise sponsorship to cover both the costs of the trip (flights, accommodation, food, guides etc.) and a donation to their chosen charity. There is a minimum sponsorship amount for each trip that you are required to raise in order to participate.
This option is for those who choose to pay the trip costs (flights, accommodation, food, guides etc.) themselves while still raising some funds for the charity.
*If your chosen charity is not on this list, please seek permission to fundraise for them by taking part in this challenge before making your booking.
If you’ve a question about this challenge that you can’t find the answer to within the given information then complete this quick form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
