Overview
| Accommodation | Confirmed together with you — see the Rates tab for general comfort levels we work with. |
|---|---|
| Meals | Full board on safari days; meals as specified for any city/beach nights, per your final itinerary. |
Day by Day (10 days)
ARRIVAL IN NAIROBI
You arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and are met by your driver-guide, who transfers you to your hotel in Nairobi. Your guide gives a briefing on the route and checks your plans, and you have the rest of the day to rest or explore. If you arrive early, you can visit the Giraffe Centre, the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage or the Karen Blixen Museum, all close to the city centre. The traffic can be heavy, so the transfer takes about one hour. You stay at a clean, simple tented camp or guesthouse with shared facilities, hot meals and a comfortable bed after a full day in the field.
SAMBURU NATIONAL RESERVE GAME DRIVES
Samburu National Reserve in northern Kenya is a hot, dry landscape along the Ewaso Nyiro River, with species that are not found in the south, including the Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and beisa oryx. Game drives along the river show elephants, lions, leopards and cheetahs. You can also visit a Samburu village to learn about the daily life of this pastoral people and see traditional dances and beadwork. The reserve is quiet and offers a very different safari from the Masai Mara. You stay at a clean, simple tented camp or guesthouse with shared facilities, hot meals and a comfortable bed after a full day in the field.
SAMBURU NATIONAL RESERVE GAME DRIVES
For a further day in the area, you explore a different part of the park with your guide. Samburu National Reserve in northern Kenya is a hot, dry landscape along the Ewaso Nyiro River, with species that are not found in the south, including the Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and beisa oryx. Game drives along the river show elephants, lions, leopards and cheetahs. You can also visit a Samburu village to learn about the daily life of this pastoral people and see traditional dances and beadwork. The reserve is quiet and offers a very different safari from the Masai Mara. You stay at a clean, simple tented camp or guesthouse with shared facilities, hot meals and a comfortable bed after a full day in the field.
LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK
Lake Nakuru National Park is a compact park around a shallow soda lake, known for black and white rhinos, Rothschild's giraffes and, when water levels allow, huge flocks of flamingos along the shore. Game drives pass through acacia woodland and grassland, with lions, leopards, buffalo, waterbucks and baboons. Baboon Cliff and Out of Africa viewpoint give wide views of the lake and park, and the park holds more than 450 bird species. It is easy to combine with Lake Naivasha and the Masai Mara. You stay at a clean, simple tented camp or guesthouse with shared facilities, hot meals and a comfortable bed after a full day in the field.
LAKE NAIVASHA BOAT RIDE AND CRESCENT ISLAND WALK
Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake in the Rift Valley, surrounded by acacia forests, flower farms and lodges. A boat ride on the lake takes you close to hippos and many birds, including African fish eagles that take fish from the water on command of the boatman. You can walk on Crescent Island among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and waterbucks with no large predators present, or visit Hell's Gate National Park, where you can walk or cycle through the gorge between cliffs and geothermal steam vents. You stay at a clean, simple tented camp or guesthouse with shared facilities, hot meals and a comfortable bed after a full day in the field.
AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK GAME DRIVES
Amboseli National Park lies at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro and is known for its large elephant herds, which are used to vehicles and can be seen at very close range. Your guide takes you to the Enkongo Narok swamps, where elephants, buffalo, hippos and flamingos gather, and to Observation Hill for views over the whole park. Early mornings give the best views of Kilimanjaro, which is often clear at dawn and covered in cloud by midday. Lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and wildebeest are also found on the plains, and the park has more than 400 bird species. In the afternoon you can visit a Maasai village or take another game drive at sunset, when the light on the plains and the mountain is at its best. You stay at a clean, simple tented camp or guesthouse with shared facilities, hot meals and a comfortable bed after a full day in the field.
TSAVO EAST AND TSAVO WEST GAME DRIVES
Tsavo East and Tsavo West form Kenya's largest park system, covering more than 20,000 square kilometres. Tsavo East is flat and dry with red soil that colours the elephants a deep rust, while Tsavo West is greener with volcanic hills, lava flows and the Mzima Springs, where hippos and crocodiles live in clear water. Game drives along the Galana River and across the plains show lions, buffalo, giraffes, gerenuk, dik-dik and many birds, and the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary protects black rhinos. The parks are less crowded than the Masai Mara and have a wild, remote character. You stay at a clean, simple tented camp or guesthouse with shared facilities, hot meals and a comfortable bed after a full day in the field.
MASAI MARA GAME DRIVES
The Masai Mara is Kenya's most famous reserve, a vast area of open grassland and acacia woodland that forms the northern part of the Serengeti ecosystem. Your guide starts the day at dawn, when lions, cheetahs and leopards are most active, covering the plains near the Mara River, Musiara marsh and the Talek area. The reserve holds the Big Five, as well as giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, hyenas, zebras, topi and large herds of wildebeest. From July to October more than a million wildebeest and zebra cross the Mara River from the Serengeti, one of the most dramatic wildlife events in the world. You take a picnic lunch in the bush or return to camp for a rest before an afternoon drive. Optional extras include a sunrise hot-air balloon flight, a visit to a Maasai village and a guided walk in the conservancies. You stay at a clean, simple tented camp or guesthouse with shared facilities, hot meals and a comfortable bed after a full day in the field.
MASAI MARA GAME DRIVES
For a further day in the area, you explore a different part of the park with your guide. The Masai Mara is Kenya's most famous reserve, a vast area of open grassland and acacia woodland that forms the northern part of the Serengeti ecosystem. Your guide starts the day at dawn, when lions, cheetahs and leopards are most active, covering the plains near the Mara River, Musiara marsh and the Talek area. The reserve holds the Big Five, as well as giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, hyenas, zebras, topi and large herds of wildebeest. From July to October more than a million wildebeest and zebra cross the Mara River from the Serengeti, one of the most dramatic wildlife events in the world. You stay at a clean, simple tented camp or guesthouse with shared facilities, hot meals and a comfortable bed after a full day in the field.
DEPARTURE FROM KENYA
After breakfast you check out and your driver-guide takes you to the airport for your flight home, or to your next destination. Allow plenty of time for the transfer and for check-in, and your guide will help with your luggage and any last-minute shopping for souvenirs. We hope you leave with wonderful memories of your safari and look forward to welcoming you back soon. Please let us know if you would like to add a beach stay, a Kilimanjaro climb or a cultural experience to your next trip.
Rates Per Person
The Overview tab explains the accommodation and meal options. Send us your dates and group size for an exact price.
Next: Inclusions →Inclusions
Included
- Private vehicle with your own driver-guide
- Park entry and conservation fees
- Accommodation as specified in your itinerary
- Meals as specified per day (full board on safari days)
- Airport pickup and drop-off
Excluded
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Getting There
Tour Start & End
This trip starts in Lake Nakuru National Park and ends in Maasai Mara, Kenya.
Airport Information
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (Nairobi, Kenya) is the most common arrival point for this trip.
Transfer Information
We meet you at the airport and handle every transfer between destinations throughout your trip.
Accommodation Before/After
Want an extra night in Arusha, Moshi or Zanzibar before or after your trip? Just ask and we will arrange it.