Best of Kenya Safari
Ten days across six of Kenya's finest parks — the arid north, the Aberdare highlands, the Rift Valley lakes, the Mara and Kilimanjaro views.
Kenya is not one landscape but a dozen, and ten days is what it takes to see that properly. This itinerary runs from the semi-desert of Samburu — where the wildlife is genuinely different from anywhere further south — up into the misty Aberdare highlands, down through the Rift Valley lakes, across to the Mara, and finally south to Amboseli for elephants beneath Kilimanjaro.
It is our most-booked long itinerary and works equally well for first-time safari-goers and returning travellers who want depth rather than a highlights reel.
Trip at a glance
Highlights
- Six parks and reserves in one seamless road journey
- The Samburu "Special Five" found nowhere else in Kenya
- Night game viewing from a tree lodge in the Aberdares
- Black and white rhino at Lake Nakuru
- Boat safari and Crescent Island walking safari at Naivasha
- Elephant herds framed by Mount Kilimanjaro at Amboseli
What's included
Included
- Park and reserve entrance fees for all listed parks
- Transport in a 4×4 pop-up-roof safari land cruiser or minivan
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Full-board accommodation (breakfast, lunch, dinner) as per itinerary
- Unlimited bottled drinking water in the vehicle
- All game drives as described
- Government taxes and levies
- Flying-doctor emergency evacuation cover
Not included
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips for your driver-guide and lodge staff
- Drinks, laundry and items of a personal nature
- Optional activities (balloon safari, cultural village visits)
- Accommodation before and after the safari
- Any increase in park fees or government taxes
Day-by-day itinerary
Nairobi → Samburu
Drive north past Mount Kenya to Samburu National Reserve. Afternoon game drive along the Ewaso Ng'iro river. Dinner and overnight.
Samburu National Reserve
Full day in Samburu searching for the Special Five — Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich. Dinner and overnight.
Samburu → Aberdare
Morning game drive, then transfer south to the Aberdare National Park. Afternoon and evening game viewing from the lodge's floodlit waterhole. Dinner and overnight.
Aberdare → Lake Nakuru
Descend into the Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru. Afternoon game drive focused on the rhino sanctuary. Dinner and overnight.
Lake Nakuru → Masai Mara
Morning game drive, then a scenic transfer to the Masai Mara. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight.
Masai Mara
Full day of game driving with a picnic lunch, covering the Mara Triangle and the river. Dinner and overnight.
Masai Mara
Optional sunrise balloon safari. A second full day in the reserve, working with your guide on whatever you most want to see. Dinner and overnight.
Masai Mara → Lake Naivasha
Transfer to Lake Naivasha. Afternoon boat safari among the hippo pods and a walking safari on Crescent Island. Dinner and overnight.
Naivasha → Amboseli
Cross Nairobi and continue south to Amboseli National Park. Late-afternoon game drive with Kilimanjaro views. Dinner and overnight.
Amboseli → Nairobi
Sunrise game drive when Kilimanjaro is clearest, breakfast, then the drive back to Nairobi for an afternoon arrival.
Where you'll be
Good to know
Before you travel
- Passport valid 6+ months beyond your return date
- Kenya eTA or the East Africa Tourist Visa ($100, covers 3 countries)
- Yellow fever certificate if arriving from an endemic country
- Antimalarials — speak to a travel clinic 6 weeks out
- Travel insurance covering cancellation and medical repatriation
Booking & payment
- 30% deposit secures your dates; balance due 30 days before departure
- Card, M-PESA and Airtel Money via Pesapal; bank transfer on request
- Confirmation and receipt by e-mail within minutes
- Free changes up to 21 days before departure
- Track your booking any time with your reference number
On safari
- Pop-up-roof 4×4 with a guaranteed window seat for everyone
- Neutral clothing; avoid dark blue and black (tsetse flies)
- Binoculars, a 200mm+ lens and a power bank earn their place
- Light aircraft transfers cap luggage at 15kg in a soft bag
- Flying-doctor evacuation cover included at no extra charge
After your trip
- We e-mail a short feedback form — we read every one
- Returning guests get priority on peak-season dates
- Photos shared with us may feature in our gallery, with credit
- Any concern raised within 28 days gets a reply in 14
$2,690 is per person sharing a twin or double room, in USD. Solo travellers pay a single supplement of $636. Children under 12 sharing with two adults pay $1,780. Rates are held for 30 days from the date we quote you and are subject to availability.
Park fees are set by the relevant wildlife authority and occasionally change without notice; where that happens we pass on the difference at cost and never mark it up. Peak-season dates (July–October and Christmas/New Year) may carry a supplement, which we will always state in writing before you pay. Full terms are in our Terms & Conditions.
Questions about this safari?
Ask us anything — dates, lodges, whether it suits your family. We reply within 24 hours.
