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 (9 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. Nairobi is the only capital city in the world with a national park inside its borders, and giraffes can be seen from the road. The traffic can be heavy, so the transfer takes about one hour. The Karen Blixen Museum shows the home of the author of Out of Africa, and its gardens are pleasant for a stroll. Your guide gives a briefing on the route and checks your plans, and you have the rest of the day to rest or explore. You rest at a standard budget camp, with a hot shower, a comfortable bed and a hearty dinner after the day outdoors.
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. The Ewaso Nyiro River is the lifeline of Samburu, and its banks are lined with doum palms where elephants and crocodiles gather. The reserve is quiet and offers a very different safari from the Masai Mara. The reserve is part of a group of three, along with Buffalo Springs and Shaba, and each one has a different landscape. You sleep in a modest tented camp or guesthouse chosen for its location and value, with meals included.
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. The Samburu Special Five are the Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, beisa oryx and gerenuk. You can also visit a Samburu village to learn about the daily life of this pastoral people and see traditional dances and beadwork. Leopards are often seen in the riverside trees, and cheetahs hunt on the open plains in the late morning. The night is at an affordable lodge where the rooms are plain but comfortable and the staff look after you well.
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. 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. Baboon Cliff gives a wide view over the lake, and on a clear day you can see the whole stretch of the Rift Valley floor. Game drives pass through acacia woodland and grassland, with lions, leopards, buffalo, waterbucks and baboons. Leopards and lions live here, and the park is well known for the lions that climb the acacia trees near the lake. Accommodation tonight is a budget safari lodge, simple and practical, with good food and a quiet place to rest.
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. Hell's Gate National Park nearby allows cycling and walking among zebras and warthogs, and has dramatic red cliffs. 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. Crescent Island is a private sanctuary where you can walk among giraffes, wildebeest and zebra with no large predators. The night is at an affordable lodge where the rooms are plain but comfortable and the staff look after you well. Coming up tomorrow: Amboseli National Park game drives.
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. Observation Hill is a short climb with a view over the whole park, and it is a good place for a picnic lunch. Lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and wildebeest are also found on the plains, and the park has more than 400 bird species. The park has over 400 bird species, including pelicans, crowned cranes and the beautiful Taita falcon. Accommodation tonight is a budget safari lodge, simple and practical, with good food and a quiet place to rest.
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. The conservancies bordering the reserve allow night drives and walking safaris, and have fewer vehicles than the main reserve. Optional extras include a sunrise hot-air balloon flight, a visit to a Maasai village and a guided walk in the conservancies. Crossings at the Mara River are best from July to October, when crocodiles wait at the banks for the herds to jump in. Black rhinos are protected by dedicated rangers and are seen occasionally in the Mara Triangle and near the Sand River. The reserve holds the Big Five, as well as giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, hyenas, zebras, topi and large herds of wildebeest. You sleep in a modest tented camp or guesthouse chosen for its location and value, with meals included. Tomorrow's programme: Masai Mara game drives.
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. Black rhinos are protected by dedicated rangers and are seen occasionally in the Mara Triangle and near the Sand River. The reserve holds the Big Five, as well as giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, hyenas, zebras, topi and large herds of wildebeest. Topi, Coke's hartebeest and Thomson's gazelle live in the reserve all year, so there is wildlife even outside the migration months. You take a picnic lunch in the bush or return to camp for a rest before an afternoon drive. 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. Optional extras include a sunrise hot-air balloon flight, a visit to a Maasai village and a guided walk in the conservancies. The Masai Mara covers about 1,500 square kilometres and forms the northern tip of the Serengeti ecosystem, with the Mara River running through it. The night is at an affordable lodge where the rooms are plain but comfortable and the staff look after you well.
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. We hope you leave with wonderful memories of your safari and look forward to welcoming you back soon. Jomo Kenyatta Airport is busy, so please arrive at least three hours before an international flight. The Maasai Market and the Nairobi Gallery are good places for souvenirs such as beadwork, carved animals and kikoi cloth.
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.