$2,750 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Nairobi to Amboseli National Park
Nairobi to Amboseli National Park
Your safari begins with an early morning pickup from your Nairobi hotel or JKIA around 7:30 AM. Meet your professional driver-guide and depart for Amboseli National Park, a scenic 4-5 hour drive south through Maasai country. The landscape transitions from urban energy to open savannah, with glimpses of traditional manyattas along the way.
Arrive at your midrange lodge in time for a hot lunch and some rest. In the afternoon (around 4:00 PM), embark on your first game drive across Amboseli's ancient lake bed and lush swamps. This park is renowned for its enormous elephant herds—some of the most studied populations in Africa. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, you'll encounter elephants, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, and possibly lions returning from their daytime rest.
Return to your lodge as the sun sets, painting Kilimanjaro's peak in golden hues. Enjoy dinner and overnight.
Meals: Lunch & Dinner.
- Main Destination:
- Amboseli National Park
- Accommodation:
- Aa Lodge Amboseli
Wildlife in Amboseli NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
Full-Day in Amboseli National Park
Full-Day in Amboseli National Park
Giants of the African Savannah
Today offers two full game drives to maximize your Amboseli experience. Rise early for a sunrise game drive (around 6:00 AM)—the best time for photography as the first light touches Kilimanjaro's snow-capped peak and elephants emerge from the swamps. The morning cool means predators are often still active, and birds are abundant.
Return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast and relaxation during the heat of the day. Your lodge likely features a swimming pool with stunning views of Kilimanjaro—perfect for unwinding while watching elephants in the distance.
After lunch, head out for an afternoon game drive exploring different areas of the park. Visit Observation Hill for panoramic views of Amboseli's diverse ecosystems, from dried lake beds to permanent swamps fed by Kilimanjaro's melting snow.
Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.
- Main Destination:
- Amboseli National Park
- Accommodation:
- Aa Lodge Amboseli
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
Amboseli to Aberdares National Park
Amboseli to Aberdares National Park
Mountain Forests & Tree Lodge Magic
After breakfast, depart Amboseli and drive north through the scenic Kenyan highlands—a journey of approximately 5-6 hours. You'll pass through Nairobi and continue into the lush Kikuyu farmlands, with coffee and tea plantations lining the route.
Arrive at the Aberdare Country Club or Outspan Hotel for lunch. After lunch, you'll be transferred by lodge shuttle to your tree lodge inside the national park—either The Ark or Treetops. These unique lodges are elevated on stilts, overlooking floodlit waterholes and salt licks that attract wildlife throughout the day and night.
Spend the afternoon and evening on the lodge's viewing decks, watching elephants, buffalo, bushbuck, and occasional leopards visit the waterhole. The lodge's buzzer system alerts guests when interesting animals arrive.
Dinner is served in the lodge's dining room, with the possibility of continuing wildlife viewing after dark under floodlights.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.
- Main Destination:
- Aberdare National Park
- Accommodation:
- The Ark Lodge
Wildlife in Aberdare NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
Aberdares to Samburu National Reserve
Aberdares to Samburu National Reserve
Crossing the Equator to Northern Kenya
Enjoy breakfast while watching the last nocturnal visitors to the waterhole. After checkout, depart the misty highlands and descend toward northern Kenya, crossing the equator at Nanyuki. The landscape transforms dramatically—from lush green farmlands to semi-arid savannah dotted with acacia trees and red earth.
The drive to Samburu takes approximately 3-4 hours, arriving at your lodge in time for lunch. After settling in and resting during the heat of the day, head out for your first afternoon game drive in Samburu National Reserve.
Keep your eyes peeled for the famous "Samburu Special Five": the reticulated giraffe (with its striking geometric coat), Grevy's zebra (narrow stripes and large ears), Somali ostrich (blue-gray neck), Beisa oryx, and the gerenuk—an antelope that stands on its hind legs to browse acacia leaves.
Return to your lodge as the sun sets over the red hills, with dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.
- Main Destination:
- Samburu National Reserve
- Accommodation:
- Sarova Shaba Game Lodge
Wildlife in Samburu NR
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Full-Day in Samburu National Reserve
Full-Day in Samburu National Reserve
Rare Species & Rugged Beauty
Today offers two game drives to fully explore Samburu's wild landscapes. Start with an early morning game drive (around 6:30 AM) when predators are most active and temperatures are cool. The Ewaso Nyiro River attracts elephants, lions, leopards, and abundant birdlife—keep watch for crocodiles basking on the riverbanks.
Return to the lodge for a full breakfast and relaxation. Your lodge likely features a swimming pool overlooking the river, offering opportunities to spot wildlife while you rest.
After lunch, head out for an afternoon game drive exploring different areas of the reserve. Samburu's lower visitor numbers compared to southern parks mean a more intimate, off-the-beaten-path experience.
Return to your lodge as the sun paints the hills in shades of orange and red. Enjoy dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.
- Main Destination:
- Samburu National Reserve
- Accommodation:
- Sarova Shaba Game Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Samburu to Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Samburu to Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Conservation & Chimpanzees
After breakfast, depart Samburu and drive approximately 2-3 hours south to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a 90,000-acre private wildlife sanctuary located between the Aberdares and Mount Kenya. This is one of Kenya's most progressive conservation success stories, combining wildlife protection with community development. Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch—likely Sweetwaters Serena Tented Camp or similar, offering tented luxury with en-suite facilities and stunning views across the plains. After settling in, embark on an afternoon game drive within this private conservancy.
Ol Pejeta is home to the Big Five but is most famous for its rhino conservation work. You'll visit the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, the only place in Kenya where you can see chimpanzees—rescued orphans from across Africa. Even more remarkable.
Accommodation: Sweetwaters Serena Tented Camp / Comfort Gardens Sweetwaters
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.
- Main Destination:
- Ol Pejeta Conservancy (Laikipia Plateau)
- Accommodation:
- Maisha Sweetwaters Camp
Wildlife in Ol Pejeta Conservancy
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Ol Pejeta to Nairobi
Ol Pejeta to Nairobi
Rise early for one last game drive in Ol Pejeta (6:30-9:30 AM)—an excellent time to see predators and rhinos before the day heats up. Your guide will help you spot any wildlife you may have missed, and you can revisit the rhino sanctuary for final photographs.
Return to the camp for a leisurely breakfast, checking out afterward. Depart for Nairobi, a drive of approximately 3-4 hours south through the central highlands. You'll arrive in Nairobi by mid-afternoon and be dropped off at your hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for onward travel.
This marks the end of your diverse and memorable midrange safari through Kenya's contrasting landscapes.
Meals: Breakfast
Final Experience: Morning game drive, rhino sightings, departure.
- Main Destination:
- Nairobi (City)
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
