Those who arrived early will enjoy a relaxed morning before heading out to explore the best of Nairobi! Stops include an elephant orphanage, a giraffe sanctuary and lunch in the beautiful gardens of the Karen Blixen House.

Meanwhile, others will be arriving at the airport and that evening we will all enjoy our first group dinner together where we’ll dive into introductions, an overview of the week and details about our first run!

Running: none
Meals (early arrival): L, D (lunch, dinner)
Meals (regular arrival): D

After breakfast we’ll head to the Karura Forest, an indigenous forest preserve right in the middle of the city that is home to a fantastic trail network. There will be several distance options which you’ll share with local Kenyan athletes (at your pace, not theirs!), spotting waterfalls, caves and monkeys along the way. Afterward we’ll clean up, have lunch and catch a short flight to Eldoret. From there we’ll head to the nearby town of Iten, arguably the distance running capital of the world where many top athletes live and train. Settle in to our hotel with its sweeping views of the Kerio Valley; this will be home for the next few nights!

Running: 3 mi/5km-9 mi/15km options; dirt road & single track trail
Altitude: 5,800ft / 1800m above sea level
Meals: BLD

After breakfast we’ll head down the escarpment for a unique and challenging out-and-back route that gets well off the beaten track! Get a glimpse of traditional farming life in the area, expect to get cheered on by more than a few school kids and enjoy huge views of a towering waterfall the whole way. After the run we’ll head back to the lodge for a late lunch and an easy afternoon to relax as the pros do - tomorrow is the long run!

Running: up to 8 mi/13km; dirt road & single track trail
Altitude: 6500ft /2000 m above sea level;
Meals: BLD

Iten is where the running legends (and aspiring legends) live and train at 8,000ft. We’ll head out early and share the famed red dirt roads with hundreds of other runners getting their miles in as well; be on the lookout for an Olympian or four! A hot shower and big lunch awaits you at the end with plenty of time to soak in the magic of this running mecca. Kick back, get the kinks worked out from a local sports massage therapist and enjoy a full travel-free day of post-long run recovery.

Running: Up to 16 mi / 25km; dirt roads
Altitude: 7,800 ft / 2400 m above sea level
Meals: BLD

We’ll start the day with an early shakeout run around town before embarking upon a big travel day - but luckily one that involves a stunning descent into the Rift Valley! Our destination is Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake that is home to over 400 species of birds and quite a few hippos as well. Decompress from the drive with an afternoon drink and some birdwatching in the gardens, or maybe an evening stroll with the resident naturalist before a delicious dinner.

Running: 3 mi/5 km - 5mi / 8km shakeout ; dirt roads
Altitude: 7,800 ft / 2000m above sea level
Meals: BLD

After an early breakfast we’ll head to nearby Hells Gate National Park, one of the only game reserves that can be explored on foot. Its rocks and gorges (which served as the inspiration for the Lion King!) provide a dramatic backdrop, and wildlife abounds. Expect an experience unlike any other you’ve had before, running alongside zebras, gazelles, warthogs and usually a few giraffes as well!

It’s all the perfect warmup for what’s to come: the Masai Mara! After the run we’ll have another big travel day, but our destination - a luxurious tented safari camp set within the Mara - is well worth the effort.

Running: up to 10 mi / 17km; dirt road
Altitude: 6800ft / 2000m above sea level
Meals: BLD

We’ve wrapped up our running for the week, and today is all about what we’ve all been waiting for: safari! The Masai Mara is one of the most famous conservation areas in all of Africa and home to an astounding array of wildlife. We’ll wake to a big breakfast and a full day of game driving, exploring far reaches of the Mara in search of lions, rhinos, hippos, giraffe, elephants, wildebeest, crocodiles, and many, many other amazing animals. Bring your best camera gear – today is a photographer’s dream! We then spend a second night at the beautiful safari camp, with top-notch service and incredible surroundings.

Running: none
Meals: BLD

It may be the final day, but we’re going to make the most of every moment! We’ll start the day with a sunrise safari, exploring the savannah one last time and hopefully catching sight of many animals at their most active time of day. We’ll have a nice easy morning and big lunch back at camp, then depart by light aircraft from the nearby airstrip - this is an incredible chance to see the Mara from above!

We’ll land in Nairobi and have the opportunity to freshen up before boarding evening flights home, or connecting to any itinerary add-ons.

Running: none
Meals: BLD