12 Days, 11 Nights Grand Kenyan Safari – Amboseli, Tsavo, Samburu, Lake Nakuru, and Masai Mara

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, you will be warmly greeted by your driver-guide and transferred to your hotel. As you settle into your comfortable accommodation, take some time to relax after your journey. If time permits, you can explore the vibrant city of Nairobi, visiting attractions like the Nairobi National Museum or the Karen Blixen Museum (optional). In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel where your guide will provide an overview of the exciting adventure ahead.

• Overnight: Nairobi Serena Hotel
• Meals: Dinner

After an early breakfast, you will begin your journey to Amboseli National Park. The drive takes you through the scenic countryside, offering glimpses of rural Kenyan life. Upon entering Amboseli, you’ll be greeted by the stunning sight of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, towering over the savannah. Check into your lodge, followed by lunch and some relaxation. In the afternoon, embark on your first game drive in Amboseli, known for its large elephant herds and diverse wildlife. As the sun sets, watch in awe as the elephants traverse the plains against the silhouette of Kilimanjaro, a moment that epitomizes the African safari experience.

• Overnight: Amboseli Serena Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Your day starts early with a morning game drive to capture the stunning sunrise over Mount Kilimanjaro. Amboseli’s vast open plains, marshlands, and acacia woodlands create an ideal environment for game viewing. Spend the day exploring the park’s diverse habitats, where you will encounter large herds of elephants, buffaloes, lions, cheetahs, and a variety of bird species. Midday, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, continue your exploration with another game drive. As the day winds down, consider an optional visit to a Maasai Village (additional cost) to learn about the Maasai people’s culture and traditions, adding a rich cultural dimension to your safari.

• Overnight: Amboseli Serena Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After breakfast, enjoy a final morning game drive in Amboseli before departing for Tsavo West National Park. The journey offers a scenic drive through the Chyulu Hills, eventually bringing you to the vast wilderness of Tsavo. Check into your lodge, situated amidst the park’s stunning landscapes. After lunch, set out for an afternoon game drive, where you’ll explore Tsavo’s diverse terrain, from volcanic hills and dense bushland to open savannahs. A highlight of the day is a visit to Mzima Springs, a series of crystal-clear pools fed by underground streams from Mount Kilimanjaro, where you can observe hippos and crocodiles from an underwater viewing chamber.

• Overnight: Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Today, immerse yourself in the wild beauty of Tsavo West. Early morning game drives in this park offer the chance to spot a wide variety of wildlife, including the iconic red elephants, so-called because of the red dust that coats their skin. Explore the park’s various habitats, home to lions, leopards, buffalos, and a plethora of bird species. Visit the Shetani Lava Flow, a vast expanse of jagged black rocks formed by volcanic activity, offering a dramatic contrast to the park’s savannah. After a picnic lunch in the bush, continue your exploration with an afternoon game drive, seeking out the park’s elusive predators and herds of grazing herbivores.

• Overnight: Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After an early breakfast, depart for Samburu National Reserve, located in the northern region of Kenya. The drive takes you through changing landscapes, from the rugged terrain of Tsavo to the arid and semi-desert regions of northern Kenya. Upon arrival in Samburu, check into your lodge and enjoy a late lunch. In the afternoon, set out for an introductory game drive. Samburu is known for its unique wildlife, including the Samburu Special Five: Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, and Beisa oryx. As you traverse the rugged terrain and cross the Uaso Nyiro River, keep an eye out for predators like lions and leopards that inhabit this remote wilderness.

• Overnight: Samburu Simba Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Spend a full day exploring the diverse ecosystems of Samburu. The reserve’s unique location along the Uaso Nyiro River provides a lifeline for the region’s wildlife, attracting animals to its waters. Your morning game drive will take you along the riverbanks, where elephants, crocodiles, and waterbucks can often be seen. Return to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation before heading out for an afternoon game drive. Samburu’s landscape of acacia woodlands, riverine forests, and open plains offers varied game-viewing opportunities. You may also visit a Samburu village (optional, additional cost) to gain insight into the traditional lifestyle and culture of the Samburu people.

• Overnight: Samburu Simba Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After breakfast, set off for Lake Nakuru National Park, traveling through the central highlands and the scenic Rift Valley. Arrive at Lake Nakuru in time for lunch at your lodge, which overlooks the lake and its surrounding acacia forest. In the afternoon, embark on a game drive around the lake, famous for its stunning flocks of flamingos that line the shores. The park is also a sanctuary for endangered black and white rhinos, offering a rare opportunity to see these magnificent creatures up close. Watch for other wildlife like Rothschild giraffes, waterbucks, and even the elusive leopard as you explore the diverse habitats of this compact yet richly rewarding park.

• Overnight: Sarova Lion Hill Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Begin the day with a morning game drive in Lake Nakuru, taking in the early light and the park’s vibrant birdlife. After breakfast, depart for the Masai Mara, the jewel of Kenya’s wildlife parks. As you travel through the Rift Valley and into the rolling hills of the Mara, the anticipation builds for the wildlife encounters that lie ahead. Arrive at the Masai Mara National Reserve and check into your lodge, nestled amidst the vast savannah. After lunch and some relaxation, set out for an evening game drive, where you may encounter prides of lions, herds of elephants, and a myriad of other wildlife that make the Mara one of the world’s premier safari destinations.

• Overnight: Mara Serena Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Today, you will embark on a full day of game viewing in the Masai Mara. Start with an early morning game drive to witness the Mara’s rich wildlife as they begin their day. The Masai Mara is renowned for its high density of lions, leopards, and cheetahs, as well as its iconic wildebeest migration (seasonal). Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush, surrounded by the vast open plains and the possibility of spotting the Big Five. In the afternoon, continue exploring different areas of the reserve, from the Mara River—where hippos and crocodiles bask—to the acacia-dotted plains teeming with gazelles, zebras, and giraffes. As dusk falls, return to the lodge for dinner and a chance to reflect on the day’s thrilling experiences.

• Overnight: Mara Serena Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

On your last full day in the Mara, you have the opportunity to delve deeper into this wildlife paradise. Begin with a dawn game drive, possibly witnessing predators such as lions and hyenas in action. For a unique perspective, opt for an early morning hot air balloon safari (optional, additional cost), drifting silently above the plains and experiencing the Mara’s beauty from the sky, followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush. Spend the rest of the day exploring the reserve, visiting the Mara River to see hippos and crocodiles and observing the complex dynamics of the Mara’s wildlife. You can also visit a Maasai village (optional, additional cost) to learn about the Maasai’s traditional way of life.

• Overnight: Mara Serena Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After breakfast, enjoy a final morning game drive in the Masai Mara, soaking in the last sights and sounds of this remarkable wilderness. Then, bid farewell to the Mara and embark on the drive back to Nairobi. Arrive in Nairobi in the afternoon, where you will be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your departure flight. If your schedule allows, you may opt for a farewell dinner or some last-minute shopping in Nairobi (optional, additional cost) before concluding your grand Kenyan safari adventure.

• Meals: Breakfast