7 Day Kenya Road & Air Safari

This 7-day great-value road-and-air combines three of Kenya’s best game-viewing areas – Aberdare National Park, Samburu National Reserve & a flight from Nanyuki to the Masai Mara National Reserve.

The safari also includes a stay at the 5-star luxury Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, originally the retreat of movie star and Club founder, William Holden. Beginning and ending in Nairobi, this road safari’s first stop is the Aberdare National Park, located about 150km (93 miles) east of Nairobi.

Animals that can be found on safari in Aberdare National Park include elephants, buffalo, black rhino, leopards, baboons, black-and-white colobus monkeys, and Sykes monkeys. Rarer sightings include those of lions, the golden cat, and the bongo – an elusive antelope that lives in the bamboo forest.

Bird-watching is very good here with over 250 species of birds in the park, including the Jackson’s Francolin, sunbirds, and plovers. The birds of prey are of particular interest, with African Goshawks, Ayres’ Hawk Eagles, Rufous-breasted Sparrow Hawk, and Mountain Buzzards.

Within the park, we stay at the Treetops Lodge or the Ark Lodge, the latter being a lodge built in the shape of Noah’s Ark. These lodges offer night game viewing with good sightings of elephants, buffalo, lions, and rhinos, which are attracted to the salt licks and waterholes each evening.

Next, we visit Samburu National Reserve – the most popular reserve in northern Kenya. The reserve 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.

Samburu is home to the uncommon Grevy’s zebra with huge, furry ears, the gerenuk antelope that stands on its 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.

Birdwatching 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 colorful cultural experience.

The Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club is our next stop. Originally the retreat of movie star and Club founder, William Holden, the Club offers many recreational activities: horseback riding, golf, croquet, a putting green, a bowling green, table tennis, swimming, a beauty salon, an animal orphanage, and much more. 

After a night at the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, transfer to Nanyuki airstrip for your scenic flight over the spectacular Great Rift Valley to the Masai Mara Game Reserve, offering wonderful scenery and plenty of game.

It is perhaps the only region left in Kenya where the visitor may see animals in the same super-abundance as existed a century ago. The most famous wildlife area in Kenya, the Masai Mara National Reserve, is known not only for the annual great migration but also for year-round exceptional and abundant wildlife.

Over 100 mammal species are found here‚ including the Big Five‚ and over 450 bird species. Game viewing here is second to none.

Quick Time & Distance Summary

7-Day Road & Air Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Aberdare National Park

Morning 0730 Hours – 1200 Hours: You will be collected from your Nairobi hotel and drive north past Thika (approx. 150 km, taking about 3 to 4 hours) through lush Kikuyu farmlands. 
1230 Hours– 1400 Hours: Enjoy lunch at the Aberdare Country Club or Outspan Hotel. 
1430 onwards: Transfer into the park to an iconic tree-lodge like The Ark or Treetops. Spend the evening and night quietly observing leopards, buffalo, and elephants coming to drink from the floodlit waterholes directly below the lodge.

Day 2: Aberdare National Park to Samburu Game Reserve

0730 Hours – 1230 Hours: Early breakfast and check-out. Drive north through Kenya’s central highlands into the semi-arid, rugged landscape of the Samburu heartland (~250-280 km, about 5 hours)
1300 Hours – 1530 Hours: Check-in at your lodge in Samburu and enjoy a delicious lunch, followed by some time to relax by the pool.
1600 Hours – 1830 Hours: Head out on your first game drive to search for Samburu’s “Special Five” (Reticulated Giraffe, Grevy’s Zebra, Beisa Oryx, Somali Ostrich, and the Gerenuk).

Day 3: Exploring Samburu Game Reserve

Morning (06:30 – 09:30): Early morning game drive as predators are most active, followed by a hearty breakfast at your lodge or camp.
Mid-Day (10:00 – 15:30): Relax and enjoy the lodge facilities. Lunch will be served here.
Afternoon (16:00 – 18:30): Head out for a late afternoon game drive through the riverine forests along the Ewaso Ng’iro river.

Day 4: Samburu to Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club

Morning (08:30 – 12:00): After an early breakfast, depart Samburu and drive south towards the foothills of Mount Kenya (approx. 180 km, roughly 3.5 hours).
Afternoon (12:30 onwards): Check into the luxurious Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club. Enjoy the afternoon relaxing in the manicured gardens, playing a round of golf, or taking a guided nature walk.

Day 5: Mt. Kenya to Masai Mara National Reserve

Morning: Enjoy a leisurely breakfast. You will be transferred from the hotel to the nearby Nanyuki Airstrip.
Flight (Approx. 1-1.5 hours): Board your scheduled light aircraft flight from Nanyuki to the Masai Mara (often involves a brief stopover or connection at Nairobi Wilson Airport).
Afternoon: Upon arrival at one of the Mara airstrips, you will be met by your safari guide and driven to your camp or lodge, enjoying a game viewing drive en route.
Late Afternoon (16:00 – 18:30): Embark on your first Masai Mara afternoon game drive to scout for the Big Five.

Day 6: Exploring the Masai Mara

Morning (06:30 – 11:30): Either enjoy back-to-back morning game drives with a packed breakfast, or take a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch out on the savannah. This day is dedicated to experiencing the vast rolling plains teeming with wildlife.
Afternoon (16:00 – 18:30): Return to the lodge for a rest, then head out for another evening game drive or opt for an optional cultural visit to a local Maasai village.

Day 7: Masai Mara to Nairobi

Morning (06:30 – 09:00): Enjoy an early morning final game drive in the Mara to catch any action on the plains, followed by a relaxing breakfast at the camp.
Mid-Day (Approx. 10:30 – 11:00): Head to the local airstrip for your return flight back to Nairobi Wilson Airport (usually a 1-hour flight).
Afternoon: Upon arrival at Wilson Airport, your driver will transfer you to the city center or to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your international departure flight, often with time to grab lunch at a famous spot like the Carnivore Restaurant.