10-Day Ultimate Kenya Safari Circuit

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Nairobi to Samburu National Reserve

Scenic Drive & Afternoon Game Drive
Your safari begins with an early morning pickup from your Nairobi hotel or JKIA. Drive north through the bustling town of Thika, passing coffee and tea plantations before crossing the equator near Nanyuki. Continue through Isiolo, the gateway to Kenya's northern frontier, arriving at Samburu National Reserve in time for lunch. After checking into your budget camp, enjoy an afternoon game drive along the Ewaso Nyiro River, searching for elephants, lions, and the unique wildlife that makes Samburu special.
• Accommodation: Camels Gate Lodge
• Meals: Lunch & Dinner.

Main Destination:

Samburu National Reserve

Best Time To Visit June to September and January to February

High Season December to March and July to October (Busy)

Best Weather June and December (Cool and fresh after rain)

Wildlife in Samburu NR

ElephantAbundant

GiraffeCommon

ZebraCommon

LionOccasional

LeopardOccasional

BuffaloOccasional

Show more

HippoOccasional

HyenaOccasional

CheetahRare

Wild DogRare

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

WildebeestNone

Accommodation:

Camels Gate Lodge

• Budget hotel located less than 1hr drive from Samburu NR

Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Full Day in Samburu National Reserve

Morning & Afternoon Game Drives
Today is dedicated to exploring Samburu's unique ecosystem. Start with an early morning game drive when wildlife is most active. Samburu is famous for the "Special Five": the Grevy's zebra (with its narrow stripes and large ears), Somali ostrich (distinguished by its blue-gray neck), reticulated giraffe (with its geometric patterned coat), gerenuk (the long-necked antelope that stands on hind legs to browse), and the Beisa oryx. Return to camp for lunch and rest, then head out for an afternoon game drive as the temperatures cool. The reserve's dramatic landscapes and the Ewaso Nyiro River attract elephants, lions, leopards, and over 450 bird species.
• Accommodation: Camels Gate Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.

Main Destination:

Samburu National Reserve

Accommodation:

Camels Gate Lodge

• Budget hotel located less than 1hr drive from Samburu NR

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Samburu to Lake Nakuru National Park

Cross-Country Drive & Afternoon Rhino Safari
After breakfast, depart Samburu and drive south, recrossing the equator en-route to Lake Nakuru National Park—approximately a 6-hour journey. Arrive in time for lunch at your budget hotel. In the afternoon, enjoy a game drive in this Rift Valley gem, famous as a rhino sanctuary. Lake Nakuru is home to both black and white rhinos, and you'll also see Rothschild giraffes, buffalo, waterbuck, and if you're lucky, leopards in the acacia woodlands. The lake itself often hosts thousands of flamingos, painting the shoreline pink.
• Accommodation: Buraha Zenoni Hotel & Resort
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.

Main Destination:

Lake Nakuru National Park

Best Time To Visit June to February (Best for wildlife viewing; little rain)

High Season July to February (The park gets very busy)

Best Weather June to February (Little rainfall)

Wildlife in Lake Nakuru NP

GiraffeCommon

White RhinoCommon

BuffaloCommon

ZebraCommon

HippoCommon

Black RhinoOccasional

Show more

LionOccasional

LeopardOccasional

HyenaOccasional

ElephantNone

CheetahNone

WildebeestNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Buraha Zenoni Hotel & Resort

• Mid-range hotel located less than 1hr drive from Lake Nakuru NP

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Lake Nakuru to Maasai Mara National Reserve

Morning Game Drive & Transfer to Mara
Enjoy an early morning game drive in Lake Nakuru to catch the soft light over the lake and increase your chances of spotting rhinos and lions. Return for breakfast, then depart for the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve. The scenic drive takes you through the Great Rift Valley, with a photo stop at the viewpoint overlooking the valley floor. Arrive at your budget camp in time for lunch, then settle in before an afternoon game drive to get your first taste of the Mara's incredible wildlife density.
• Accommodation: Miti Mingi Eco Camp
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.

Main Destination:

Lake Nakuru National Park

Accommodation:

Miti Mingi Eco Camp

• Budget tented camp located just outside Masai Mara NR

+5 Photos

+4 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Full Day in Maasai Mara

Full-Day Game Drive with Picnic Lunch
Today is about immersing yourself in the Mara's vast savannah. With a packed lunch, you'll spend the entire day exploring the reserve's diverse landscapes and abundant wildlife. Your guide will search for the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino—as well as cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, and countless antelope species. If visiting between July and October, you may witness the dramatic river crossings of the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest and zebras brave the crocodile-infested Mara River. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic spot before continuing your afternoon exploration.
• Accommodation: Miti Mingi Eco Camp
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic), & Dinner.

Main Destination:

Masai Mara National Reserve

Best Time To Visit June to October (For general wildlife viewing) and July or August to October (For wildebeest migration)

High Season June to October and December to March

Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot)

Wildlife in Masai Mara NR

ElephantCommon

GiraffeCommon

LionCommon

CheetahCommon

ZebraAbundant

WildebeestAbundant

Show more

BuffaloCommon

HippoCommon

HyenaCommon

LeopardOccasional

Black RhinoRare

Wild DogVery Rare

White RhinoNone

Accommodation:

Miti Mingi Eco Camp

• Budget tented camp located just outside Masai Mara NR

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Maasai Mara Exploration & Optional Village Visit

Morning Game Drive & Cultural Experience
Start with an early morning game drive to catch predators returning from a night hunt or beginning their morning patrols. Return to camp for breakfast. Mid-morning, enjoy an optional visit to a traditional Maasai village (Manyatta), where you'll learn about their customs, jumping dances, and harmonious coexistence with wildlife. After lunch and rest, head out for a final afternoon game drive in the Mara, perhaps exploring different areas of the reserve you haven't yet visited. The Mara's endless plains never fail to surprise.
• Accommodation: Budget Tented Camp
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.

Main Destination:

Masai Mara National Reserve

Accommodation:

Miti Mingi Eco Camp

• Budget tented camp located just outside Masai Mara NR

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Maasai Mara to Lake Naivasha

Scenic Drive & Boat Ride
After breakfast, depart the Mara and drive through the Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha, the highest of Kenya's Rift Valley lakes. The journey takes approximately 5-6 hours. Arrive at your budget hotel in time for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat ride on the freshwater lake, getting up close to hippos, fish eagles, and a myriad of waterbirds. You'll also have the opportunity for a guided walking safari on Crescent Island, a private sanctuary where you can walk among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and impalas—a unique experience that brings you closer to wildlife than vehicle-based safaris.
• Accommodation: Lake Naivasha Crescent Camp
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.

Main Destination:

Lake Naivasha (Naivasha)

Accommodation:

Lake Naivasha Crescent Camp

• Mid-range tented camp located at Lake Naivasha (Naivasha)

+7 Photos

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Lake Naivasha to Amboseli National Park

Drive South & Evening Game Drive
Enjoy breakfast with views of the lake before departing for Amboseli National Park. The drive takes you back through Nairobi and south towards the Tanzanian border, a journey of approximately 5-6 hours. Arrive at your budget camp in time for lunch. After resting, head out for an evening game drive in Amboseli, famous for its super tusker elephants and breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro—Africa's highest peak. Even if clouds obscure the summit, the park's wildlife, including buffalo, wildebeest, zebras, and lions, provides excellent viewing.
• Accommodation: Nyati Safari Camp
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.

Main Destination:

Amboseli National Park

Best Time To Visit June to October and January to February

High Season December to March and July to October (Busy)

Best Weather June to September and January to February (Little rainfall)

Wildlife in Amboseli NP

ElephantAbundant

GiraffeCommon

BuffaloAbundant

ZebraAbundant

WildebeestAbundant

HippoCommon

Show more

HyenaCommon

LionOccasional

CheetahOccasional

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

LeopardRare to None

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Nyati Safari Camp

• Budget tented camp located just outside Amboseli NP

+10 Photos

+9 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Amboseli National Park

Full-Day Game Drives with Kilimanjaro Views
Rise early for a sunrise game drive—the best time to capture Mount Kilimanjaro before clouds obscure its peak. The sight of elephants silhouetted against Africa's highest mountain is one of Kenya's most iconic images. Return to camp for breakfast, then head back into the park for a mid-day exploration of the swamps and marshes that attract enormous elephant herds, hippos, and a variety of waterfowl. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the park, continuing your game drive through the afternoon. Amboseli is also home to lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and over 400 bird species.
• Accommodation: Nyati Safari Camp
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic), & Dinner.

Main Destination:

Amboseli National Park

Accommodation:

Nyati Safari Camp

• Budget tented camp located just outside Amboseli NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Amboseli to Nairobi

Morning Game Drive & Return Journey
One final early morning game drive offers last sightings of elephants against Kilimanjaro and a chance to see predators on the move. Return to camp for breakfast, check out, and begin the scenic drive back to Nairobi. You'll be dropped off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) or your city hotel in the early afternoon, marking the end of an affordable and comprehensive Kenyan adventure.
• Meals: Breakfast.

Main Destination:

Nairobi (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.