Detailed 9-Day Kenya Safari Itinerary

Day 1 — Nairobi to Amboseli National Park

Elephants Beneath Mount Kilimanjaro

Your safari begins with an early morning pickup from your Nairobi hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Travel south toward Amboseli, passing through Emali and the changing landscapes of southern Kenya. As you approach the Amboseli ecosystem, the scenery opens into plains and wetlands with Mount Kilimanjaro rising in the distance on clear days.

Arrive in the Amboseli area in time for lunch before heading out for your first afternoon game drive.

Amboseli is particularly well known for its large elephant herds and dramatic views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Explore the park's open plains, wetlands, and woodland areas while looking for elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, antelopes, and a variety of bird species.

Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Amboseli Sopa Lodge
Meals: Lunch & Dinner

Day 2 — Full-Day Amboseli National Park

Wildlife, Wetlands & Maasai Culture

Start with an early morning game drive, when temperatures are cooler and many animals are active. The early light can also provide some of the clearest opportunities for views of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Explore Amboseli's plains and wetland areas while searching for elephants, lions, cheetahs, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and birdlife.

Return to the lodge for breakfast and enjoy some time to relax.

Later in the morning, visit a Maasai community for a cultural experience. Learn about local traditions, daily life, and the relationship between the community, livestock, wildlife, and the surrounding environment.

After lunch, return to the park for an afternoon game drive.

As the day cools, continue exploring the Amboseli landscape before returning to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Amboseli Sopa Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3 — Amboseli to Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Wildlife & Rhino Conservation

After an early breakfast, depart Amboseli and travel north toward Nairobi before continuing into the Laikipia region.

The journey takes you through changing landscapes as you leave the southern plains behind and enter the greener highlands of central Kenya.

Arrive at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in time for lunch.

In the afternoon, head out for a game drive through the conservancy.

Ol Pejeta is renowned for its rhino conservation work and is home to black and white rhinos, elephants, lions, buffalo, cheetahs, and other wildlife. The conservancy also provides an opportunity to learn about chimpanzee rescue and care at the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary.

With views of Mount Kenya in the distance, continue exploring Ol Pejeta before returning to camp for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Sweetwaters Serena Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4 — Ol Pejeta to Samburu National Reserve

Into Northern Kenya

Begin the morning with a game drive at Ol Pejeta before returning for breakfast.

Continue north through Isiolo toward Samburu National Reserve. As you travel farther north, the landscape becomes noticeably drier and more rugged, introducing a very different side of Kenya.

Arrive in Samburu in time for lunch.

In the afternoon, enjoy a game drive along the Ewaso Nyiro River, an important source of water for wildlife in this semi-arid environment.

Samburu is particularly known for the Samburu Special Five:

• Grevy's zebra
• Reticulated giraffe
• Somali ostrich
• Beisa oryx
• Gerenuk

The reserve is also home to elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles, and a rich variety of birdlife.

Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Samburu Simba Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5 — Full-Day Samburu National Reserve

The Samburu Special Five, Culture & Sundowner

Start with an early morning game drive while temperatures are cooler and predators are often more active.

Explore Samburu's riverine areas, rocky hills, and open plains in search of the Special Five — particularly the gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Beisa oryx, and Somali ostrich.

Return to the lodge for breakfast and enjoy a relaxed mid-morning.

Later, visit a Samburu village for a cultural experience. Learn about the community's traditions, lifestyle, and connection with the unique environment of northern Kenya.

After lunch, head out for another afternoon game drive.

Continue exploring the reserve while watching for the Special Five as well as elephants, lions, leopards, and other wildlife.

As the afternoon comes to an end, pause at a scenic location for a Samburu sundowner. Enjoy a drink while watching the sun lower over the rugged northern landscape before returning to the lodge.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Overnight: Samburu Simba Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6 — Samburu to Lake Naivasha

From Northern Wilderness to the Great Rift Valley

After breakfast, begin the journey south through central Kenya.

Travel through the Mount Kenya region before continuing toward the dramatic landscapes of the Great Rift Valley.

Arrive at Lake Naivasha in time for lunch.

In the afternoon, take a boat safari on Lake Naivasha, looking for hippos and the many waterbirds found around the lake and its shoreline.

Continue to Crescent Island for a guided walking experience.

Crescent Island offers an opportunity to experience wildlife on foot in a scenic setting overlooking Lake Naivasha. Walk among giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and other wildlife while learning about the animals and the surrounding ecosystem from your guide.

Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7 — Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara National Reserve

Into the Legendary Masai Mara

After breakfast, depart Lake Naivasha and travel through the scenic Maasai countryside toward Narok and the Masai Mara.

The journey takes you from the Great Rift Valley into the expansive grasslands of the Mara ecosystem.

Arrive in the Mara area in time for lunch before heading out for your first afternoon game drive.

The Masai Mara National Reserve is one of Kenya's most celebrated wildlife destinations, with extensive grasslands supporting large populations of plains game and predators.

Explore the reserve in search of lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, hyenas, and other wildlife.

Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Sentrim Mara
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8 — Full-Day Masai Mara National Reserve

Big Five, Bush Breakfast & Time to Relax

Rise early for a sunrise game drive across the Masai Mara, when wildlife activity is often high and the soft morning light creates excellent conditions for viewing and photography.

After exploring for some time, stop at a scenic location for an included bush breakfast in the Masai Mara. Enjoy breakfast surrounded by the sights and sounds of the wilderness before continuing your game drive.

From here, choose how you'd like to spend the rest of the day.

Option 1 — Full Day in the Wilderness

Continue with a full-day game drive, exploring different areas of the reserve with a picnic lunch in the bush.

This option maximizes time in the Mara and allows your guide to follow wildlife activity and explore different habitats throughout the day.

Option 2 — Wildlife & Relaxation

Return to the lodge later in the morning or around lunchtime for some time to relax.

Enjoy the swimming pool, unwind at the lodge, and have lunch before heading back out for an afternoon game drive.

Whichever option you choose, the day provides opportunities to search for the Big Five — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino — as well as cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, hyenas, hippos, and numerous bird species.

Your guide will adapt the day's route around wildlife activity and your interests.

Return to Sentrim Mara in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Sentrim Mara
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Optional Experience: Hot-air balloon safari, available at an additional cost.

Day 9 — Masai Mara to Nairobi

Safari Ends

After breakfast, begin the journey back to Nairobi.

Depending on your onward travel plans, you can be dropped off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, your Nairobi hotel, or another agreed location in the city.

Your 9-day Kenya safari comes to an end after a journey through some of Kenya's most contrasting landscapes and wildlife areas.

Accommodation: None — safari ends in Nairobi
Meals: Breakfast