10 Day Kenya Safari Tsavo Amboseli Aberdare Samburu Nakuru & Mara

Day 1: Mombasa – Drive to Tsavo East National Park
Day 2: Tsavo West – Drive to Amboseli National Park
Day 3: Explore Amboseli National Park
Day 4: Amboseli – Drive to Aberdare National Park
Day 5: Aberdare –  Drive to Samburu National Reserve
Day 6: Explore Samburu National Reserve
Day 7: Samburu – Lake Nakuru National Park
Day 8: Lake Nakuru – Drive to Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 9: Explore Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 10: Masai Mara – Drive to Nairobi

Day 1: Mombasa – Drive to Tsavo East National Park

After breakfast in our hotel/ residence in Mombasa, our drive today takes us to Tsavo East National Park located only 120 km from Mombasa and is Kenya’s oldest national park. It is home to the largest Elephant herds.

We spend a day on wildlife viewing drives looking for the Big 5 (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino, and Buffalo) and other species including the Caracal, Cheetah, Hyena, Jackal and mongoose. Other wildlife species include Baboon, Dik-dik, Elephant, Giraffe, Hartebeest, Impala, Klipspringer, Kudu, Oryx, Warthog, Waterbuck, Zebra and many smaller species.

Birdwatchers also have plenty to be excited for with over 500 species of birds found within Tsavo national park. Ostrich is the largest however they are accompanied by kingfisher, hornbills, herons, starlings, weavers, buzzards, and kestrels, among others.

Accommodation Options: Satao Camp, Ashnil Aruba Lodge or Voi Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: {Lunch & Dinner}

Day 2: Tsavo East – Drive to Amboseli National Park

Start the day with a morning game-viewing drive and watch the African Sunrise as the natural world unfolds amid the freshness and beauty of the morning. Then return to the lodge for breakfast and later depart for Amboseli National Park.

Enjoy an afternoon game drive within the Amboseli park which lies on the floors of Mount Kilimanjaro and offers scenic backgrounds for photography. Amboseli is world-famous among African safari destinations, for its populations of large mammals.

The swamps are a centre of activity for Elephants, Hippos, Buffaloes and abundant water birds. The surrounding flat grasslands are home to grazing Antelopes. Spotted Hyenas are plentiful, as are Jackals, Warthogs, olive baboons and vervet monkeys.

No longer present in their original numbers, Lions can still be found in Amboseli though the famous black-maned Lions have long since disappeared, as have the black Rhinos that were once so plentiful.

Overnight Accommodation: Amboseli Serena, Amboseli Ol Tukai Lodge or Amboseli Sopa Lodge
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 3: Explore Amboseli National Park

We awaken to the sights and sounds of big game country and, if we’re lucky, to a view of Kilimanjaro often unclouded in the early morning sky. In addition to Elephant, Antelope, Zebra, Wildebeest, Buffalo, and the rare Black Rhino.

Amboseli is sought after by travellers in known for its breathtaking scenery and easily approachable wildlife.  Safari animals include Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Elephant, Zebra, Hippo, spotted and striped Hyena, Maasai Giraffe, Oryx, Wildebeest, Gerenuk, Impala and Grant’s Gazelle.

Bird life is abundant, especially in the vicinity of the lakes and swamps where a great variety of water birds may be seen. Over 425 bird species have been recorded here, including over 40 species of birds of prey.

Just after daybreak, we venture into the crisp morning air in search of the great herds. Our game drives are sure to reveal great wonders.

Overnight Accommodation: Amboseli Serena, Amboseli Ol Tukai Lodge, Amboseli Sopa Lodge
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Depart Aberdare National Park in the morning by road to Samburu Game Reserve located in the North rugged Semi desert region. Samburu Game Reserve is a wild and little-visited region, well known for spectacular scenery and wildlife not found in the south.

Lunch upon arrival at your lodge then proceeds on an afternoon game drive. This 165 km² game reserve offers excellent game viewing, hosting abundant animal and bird life, including large predators, herbivores and raptors.

Samburu is home to several rare species of northern Kenya, namely Grevy’s Zebra, Gerenuk Antelopes, Somali Ostriches, Reticulated Giraffes and Beisa Oryx, as well as Cheetahs, Lions and Elephants.

Overnight Accommodation
Luxury Accommodation: Saruni Samburu Camp, Elephant Bedroom Camp Samburu, Elephant Watch Camp
Mid-range Accommodation: Ashnil Camp Samburu, Larsens Camp Samburu, Samburu Intrepids Camp
Budget Accommodation:  Lion King Bush Camp, Samburu Sopa Lodge
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 6: Explore Samburu National Reserve

Full day in Samburu with morning and afternoon game drives. Samburu hosts beautiful forests, springs and rivers, offering stunning scenery. The game park is part of a lava plain that includes varied habitats, from thorn scrub, red dirt and dried river beds, to broken volcanic rock, steep hills and rocky outcrops.

This region of Kenya is home to the uncommon Grevy’s Zebra with huge fury ears, Gerenuk Antelope standing on hind legs to feed, Somali Ostriches with distinct blue legs and the shy Oryx. Elephants and Crocodiles are guaranteed sightings and lions, hippos and giraffes are also found in the reserve.

The bird watching is excellent, with over 365 species, including numerous varieties of weaver birds and the martial eagle. Leopard sightings are also a special feature here. The Samburu area is also home to interesting people with a rich heritage, making for a colourful cultural experience.

In between the game drives, there is an opportunity to visit a Samburu village at an additional cost.

Overnight Accommodation
Luxury Accommodation: Saruni Samburu Camp, Elephant Bedroom Camp Samburu, Elephant Watch Camp
Mid-range Accommodation: Ashnil Camp Samburu, Larsens Camp Samburu, Samburu Intrepids Camp
Budget Accommodation:  Lion King Bush Camp, Samburu Sopa Lodge
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 7: Samburu – Lake Nakuru National Park

Depart in the morning and drive to the floor of the Rift Valley – to Lake Nakuru National Park making a brief stop at Nyahururu Thomson Falls. Arrive in time for lunch. Afternoon, conduct a game drive.

This Kenyan game park has retained its reputation as an ornithologist’s delight, with more than 400 species of bird found here. Bird species include the Great White Pelican, African Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Stork, Lesser and Greater Flamingo, and Long-crested Eagle.

The Nakuru National Park surrounds the lake and was first gazetted to protect the rich bird life found here, later becoming a national park to provide sanctuary for endangered species such as the Rhino.

There are about 25 White and Black Rhinos, one of the largest concentrations in the country. Predators are also residents of this park while Rothschild’s Giraffes have been trans-located into the park for safety. This small park (180 sq km) is also home to Warthogs, Baboons, Waterbucks, Buffaloes, Reedbucks, Zebras and the occasional Leopard.

Overnight Accommodation
Luxury Accommodation: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
Mid-range Accommodation: Flamingo Hill Tented Camp, Sarova Lion Hill Nakuru
Budget Accommodation:  Jumuia Guest House Nakuru
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 8: Lake Nakuru – Drive to Masai Mara National Reserve

Enjoy an early breakfast, check out of the hotel and proceed on a ‘Spice game drive en–route to Masai Mara. A pleasant drive across the dramatic Great Rift Valley brings you to Narok Township a Masai business centre. After a short stopover continues to Masai Mara Game Reserve.

This enormous Reserve actually part of the vast Serengeti plains is famously known for its spectacular great wildebeest migration and is home to the Big Five – Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Cape Buffalo, and Leopard.

A ‘Spice game drive will be conducted after lunch, then proceed to the Camp or lodge for an enjoyable dinner. Wherever you go in the Mara Reserve you will see an abundance of wildlife, such as Masai Giraffe, Baboons, Warthogs, Bat-eared Foxes, Grey Jackals, Spotted Hyenas, Topis, Impala, Hartebeests, Wildebeest, Elephants, Buffaloes, Zebras and Hippos.

It is common to see Lions either basking after a heavy meal or surveying the plains for their next meal. Cheetahs and Leopards are harder to spot but are still reasonably common.

Overnight Accommodation
Luxury Accommodation: And Beyond Kichwa Tembo Camp, Angama Mara Camp, Cotters 1920 Camp
Mid-range Accommodation: Fairmont Mara Safari Club, Governors Camp Mara, JK Mara Camp
Budget Accommodation: Ol Moran Tented Camp, Enchoro Wildlife Camp, Rhino Tourist Tented Camp
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 9: Explore Masai Mara National Reserve

We spend a full day in the Masai Mara – one of the greatest wildernesses of the world in the morning and afternoon ‘Spice’ game drives. The Masai Mara is the ultimate safari destination in Kenya, if not Africa, and one of the top wildlife reserves in the world.

This vast landscape is the quintessential African bush scene, an open wilderness of undulating grasslands dotted with acacia trees.

The Masai Mara National Reserve is world-famous for the legendary Great Migration, a wildlife spectacle of epic proportions, where a million wildebeest, Gazelles (Thomson’s and Grant’s) and Zebras migrate along an age-old route between Mara and Serengeti in Tanzania.

The mass movement of herbivores draws an abundance of predators in search of an easy kill. The Masai Mara is, however, an exceptional Big Five game-viewing destination year round, and is also the home region of the red-robed Maasai people.

Optional Hot Air Balloon rides and a trip to Lake Victoria for fishing are available at an additional cost while in the Mara.

Overnight Accommodation
Luxury Accommodation: And Beyond Kichwa Tembo Camp, Angama Mara Camp, Cotters 1920 Camp
Mid-range Accommodation: Fairmont Mara Safari Club, Governors Camp Mara, JK Mara Camp
Budget Accommodation: Ol Moran Tented Camp, Enchoro Wildlife Camp, Rhino Tourist Tented Camp
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 10: Masai Mara – Drive to Nairobi

Begin today with a complete English breakfast at your lodge, followed by a ‘Spice’ game drive en route to Nairobi. The balance of the day is at leisurely for last-minute assisted shopping and sightseeing.

Meal Plan {Breakfast}