10-Day Ultimate Kenya Midrange 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

Private Drive & Afternoon Game Drive
Your private driver-guide will meet you at your Nairobi hotel or JKIA for a briefing before departing for Samburu. The scenic drive north passes through Thika's pineapple plantations and the town of Nanyuki, where you'll cross the equator. Arrive at your mid-range lodge in Samburu by lunchtime. After settling in and enjoying a meal, embark on your first private game drive in the reserve. Your guide will introduce you to Samburu's unique wildlife, including elephants, lions, and the famous "Special Five" that call this arid region home.
• Accommodation: Sarova Shaba Game 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:

Sarova Shaba Game Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Samburu NR

+9 Photos

+8 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

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

Samburu National Reserve

Morning & Evening Game Drives
Today offers a full immersion in Samburu's rugged beauty. Start with an early morning game drive when wildlife is most active—this is the best time to spot leopards and lions before they seek shade. Return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast and some leisure time, perhaps relaxing by the pool overlooking the Ewaso Nyiro River. After lunch, head out for an afternoon game drive as the temperatures cool. Your guide will help you identify the "Special Five": the reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Somali ostrich, gerenuk, and Beisa oryx. The reserve is also excellent for bird watching, with over 450 species recorded. Return to the lodge as the sun sets over the dramatic landscape.
• Accommodation: Sarova Shaba Game Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.

Main Destination:

Samburu National Reserve

Accommodation:

Sarova Shaba Game Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Samburu NR

Meals & Drinks:

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

Samburu to Lake Nakuru National Park

Scenic Drive & Afternoon Game Drive
After breakfast, depart Samburu and drive south, recrossing the equator en-route to Lake Nakuru National Park—approximately 5-6 hours of scenic driving. Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch, which offers stunning views of the lake. In the afternoon, embark on a comprehensive game drive through this ornithological wonderland. Lake Nakuru is famous for its flamingos (subject to water levels) and is a designated rhino sanctuary, offering excellent chances to see both black and white rhinos. You'll also encounter Rothschild giraffes, buffalo, waterbuck, and possibly leopards in the acacia woodlands.
• Accommodation: Ziwa Bush Lodge.
• 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:

Ziwa Bush Lodge

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

Meals & Drinks:

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

Lake Nakuru to Maasai Mara National Reserve

Morning Game Drive & Transfer to Mara
Rise early for a morning game drive in Lake Nakuru to catch the soft light over the lake and increase your chances of spotting rhinos and lions near the shoreline. Return for breakfast, then depart for the iconic Maasai Mara National Reserve. The drive takes approximately 5 hours, with a stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint for panoramic photos. Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch, then enjoy some relaxation before your afternoon game drive. The Mara's endless plains teem with wildlife, and your first drive will introduce you to the incredible density of animals that call this reserve home.
• Accommodation: Mara Choroa Camp
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & 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:

Mara Choroa Camp

• Mid-range tented camp located just outside Masai Mara NR

+27 Photos

+26 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

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

Game Drives in Maasai Mara

Full-Day Game Drive with Picnic Lunch
Today is dedicated to exploring the Maasai Mara in depth. After an early breakfast, depart with a packed lunch for a full day of wildlife viewing. Your guide will navigate the vast savannah in search of the Big Five and the Mara's famous predators.
If visiting between July and October, you'll head towards the Mara River to witness the dramatic wildebeest crossings—one of nature's greatest spectacles. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic spot, perhaps under a shady acacia tree, watching zebras and wildebeest graze nearby. Continue your exploration through the afternoon, visiting different habitats and maximizing your wildlife sightings before returning to the lodge as the sun sets.
• Accommodation: Mara Choroa Camp.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic), & Dinner.

Main Destination:

Masai Mara National Reserve

Accommodation:

Mara Choroa Camp

• Mid-range tented camp located just outside Masai Mara NR

Meals & Drinks:

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

Maasai Mara Exploration & Cultural Visit

Sunrise Game Drive & Maasai Village Visit
Start with an early morning game drive to catch predators at their most active. The golden hour light provides excellent photography opportunities. Return to the lodge for a late breakfast. Mid-morning, visit a traditional Maasai village (Manyatta) for an immersive cultural experience. You'll be welcomed with traditional songs and dances, learn about Maasai customs, and gain insight into their semi-nomadic lifestyle and coexistence with wildlife. After lunch at the lodge, you have options: relax by the pool, enjoy a nature walk with a lodge naturalist, or head out for an afternoon game drive focusing on areas you haven't yet explored.
• Accommodation: Mara Choroa Camp
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.

Main Destination:

Masai Mara National Reserve

Accommodation:

Mara Choroa Camp

• Mid-range tented camp located just outside Masai Mara NR

Meals & Drinks:

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

Maasai Mara to Lake Naivasha

Activity: Scenic Drive, Boat Ride & Crescent Island Walk
After breakfast, depart the Mara and drive through the Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha, approximately 5-6 hours. Arrive at your lakeside lodge in time for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat ride on the freshwater lake, getting close to hippos, fish eagles, and cormorants. The boat will take you to Crescent Island, a private wildlife sanctuary where you'll embark on a guided walking safari. Walking among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and impalas—with hippos grunting in the background—is an unforgettable experience that brings you closer to nature than any vehicle can. Return to your lodge for dinner overlooking the lake.
• Accommodation: Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.

Main Destination:

Lake Naivasha (Naivasha)

Accommodation:

Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort

• Mid-range hotel located at Lake Naivasha (Naivasha)

+7 Photos

+6 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

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

Lake Naivasha to Amboseli National Park

Activity: 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—approximately 5-6 hours. Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch, which offers stunning views of the park and, on clear days, Mount Kilimanjaro. After resting, head out for an evening game drive in Amboseli, famous for its super tusker elephants—some of the largest in Africa. The park's swamps, fed by Kilimanjaro's melting snow, attract enormous herds of elephants, buffalo, and a variety of waterfowl.
• Accommodation: AA Lodge Amboseli
• 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:

Aa Lodge Amboseli

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Amboseli NP

+8 Photos

+7 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

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

Amboseli National Park

Activity: Full-Day Game Drives with Kilimanjaro Views
Rise before dawn for a sunrise game drive—the best time to photograph 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 the lodge for a late breakfast, then relax during the heat of the day. After lunch, head back into the park for an afternoon game drive exploring the swamps and marshes. Your guide will help you spot lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and the park's rich birdlife, including flamingos, pelicans, and kingfishers. Return to the lodge as the sun sets, painting the landscape in golden hues.
• Accommodation: AA Lodge Amboseli
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.

Main Destination:

Amboseli National Park

Accommodation:

Aa Lodge Amboseli

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Amboseli NP

Meals & Drinks:

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

Amboseli to Nairobi

Activity: Morning Game Drive & Departure
One final early morning game drive offers last sightings of elephants against Kilimanjaro and a chance to see predators returning from a night hunt. Return to the lodge 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, concluding your classic Kenyan safari with wonderful memories and photographs.
• Meals: Breakfast.

Main Destination:

Nairobi (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

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

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