Day 1: Welcome to Samburu National Reserve 

Your adventure begins as you head north to the remote and wild Samburu. This park is famous for its rare wildlife species including the Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, and gerenuk. Enjoy afternoon game drives along the Ewaso Nyiro River, engage in guided bush walks and learn about the vibrant Samburu culture through village visit. Spend your night in a serene lodge or tented camp, surrounded by rugged beauty.

Day 2: Full Day in Samburu National Reserve

Spend the day exploring the wild beauty of Samburu with morning and afternoon game drives along the Ewaso Nyiro River and across the rugged plains. Here you’ll encounter the unique “Samburu Special Five” Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, and gerenuk alongside elephants, lions, and leopards. Midday offers time to relax at your lodge before heading out again. A highlight of the day is a visit to a Samburu village, where you’ll engage with the community, learn about their traditions, and enjoy vibrant cultural experiences. As the sun sets, return to camp for dinner and an evening under the stars, reflecting on a day rich with wildlife and culture.

Day 3: Ol Pejeta Conservancy Big Five & Chimpanzees

Travel south to the world-renowned Ol Pejeta Conservancy, located on the equator. This sanctuary is home to the Big Five and is the only place in Kenya where you can see chimpanzees. Visit the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary and enjoy a thrilling afternoon game drive. Overnight at a charming camp overlooking Mount Kenya.

Day 4: Ol Pejeta Conservancy to Lake Nakuru National Park

After an early breakfast at Ol Pejeta, bid farewell to the conservancy and set out on a scenic drive towards the Great Rift Valley. The journey takes you past lush highland farms, forested hills, and viewpoints that open up to sweeping panoramas of the Rift Valley floor. Arrive at Lake Nakuru National Park in time for lunch at your lodge, followed by an afternoon game drive.

Nakuru is renowned for its shallow soda lake, once famed for millions of flamingos that still gather seasonally, and is home to one of Kenya’s best populations of both black and white rhinos. You’ll also spot buffalo, giraffes, waterbucks, baboons, and with luck, leopards lounging in the acacia trees. The park is also a haven for bird lovers with over 400 recorded species. As the day ends, enjoy sunset views over the lake before returning to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara National Reserve

Wake up to the sounds of nature and enjoy an early breakfast before departing Lake Nakuru. The drive takes you across the scenic floor of the Great Rift Valley, through farmlands and Maasai homesteads, before arriving at the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve in time for lunch. After checking in at your lodge or camp, set out for your first afternoon game drive across the vast savannahs.

The Mara is teeming with wildlife, from elephants, lions, and cheetahs to herds of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles that graze the rolling plains. Depending on the season, you may witness the Great Migration, one of the most spectacular wildlife spectacles on earth. As the sun sets over the endless grasslands, return to your camp to enjoy dinner and settle in for the night, ready for two full days of exploration ahead.

Day 6: Full Day in Masai Mara

After breakfast set out for a morning game drive in the Masai Mara, where the plains come alive with predators returning from the night’s hunt and herds of grazers beginning their day. The reserve is a sanctuary for the Big Five lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino along with other species that make every drive unforgettable. Late morning, you’ll leave the vehicle behind for a guided nature walk led by Maasai warriors and your naturalist guide. Walking on foot in the Mara gives you a deeper connection to the land. In the afternoon, you’ll pay a visit to a traditional Maasai village, where the community welcomes you with songs, dances, and a chance to experience their way of life firsthand. You’ll learn about their cattle culture, visit their manyattas (homesteads), and enjoy authentic interactions that highlight the enduring traditions of one of Africa’s most iconic tribes. Return to your camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Masai Mara to Lake Naivasha

After an early breakfast, bid farewell to the Masai Mara and enjoy a scenic drive back through the Great Rift Valley towards Lake Naivasha, one of Kenya’s most beautiful freshwater lakes. On arrival, check in at your lodge and enjoy lunch before heading out for an afternoon of relaxation and exploration. In the afternoon, take a boat ride on Lake Naivasha, where you’ll glide past pods of hippos and encounter a variety of birdlife, from fish eagles to kingfishers. The experience is both tranquil and rewarding for bird lovers and photographers alike. You’ll also visit Crescent Island Sanctuary, a unique haven where giraffes, zebras, and antelopes roam freely, making it ideal for a guided walking safari in the company of wildlife.

Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner, as the sun sets over the shimmering waters of Lake Naivasha.

Day 8: Lake Naivasha to Amboseli National Park

Enjoy an early breakfast at Naivasha before departing on a scenic drive south towards Amboseli National Park, often referred to as the “Land of Giants” for its huge herds of elephants. The journey takes you through the Rift Valley floor, bustling towns, and stretches of open countryside, with glimpses of Mount Kilimanjaro’s snow-capped peak as you near Amboseli.

Arrive at your lodge or camp in time for lunch and some relaxation. In the late afternoon, set out for your first game drive in Amboseli, where you’ll encounter elephants up close along with lions, cheetahs, buffalo, giraffes, and abundant birdlife. The park’s open plains and wetlands, with Kilimanjaro looming in the background, offer some of Africa’s most iconic safari scenery.

Return to your lodge at sunset for dinner and an overnight stay, surrounded by the tranquil sounds of the African wilderness.

Day 9: Full Day in Amboseli National Park

Wake up to breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro towering above the plains and set out for an early morning game drive, the best time to capture the park’s wildlife against the mountain’s snowcapped peak. Amboseli is world-renowned for its large elephant herds, often seen moving in family groups across the savannah, offering incredible photography opportunities. Along the way, you may also encounter lions, cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, and a rich variety of bird species. You’ll explore the park’s wetlands and swamps, a vital habitat that attracts elephants, hippos, and a dazzling array of birdlife, from herons and egrets to fish eagles. Later, enjoy another game drive as the sun begins to set, when the golden light paints the landscape and wildlife in dramatic colors. Conclude the day with dinner at your lodge and perhaps some stargazing under the clear Amboseli skies.

Day 10: Amboseli to Tsavo West National Parks

After breakfast, depart Amboseli and drive into Tsavo West National Park, arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon, set out on a game drive to discover the park’s stunning volcanic scenery and diverse wildlife. Visit the famous Mzima Springs, a lush oasis of crystal-clear water where hippos and crocodiles thrive, and explore the dramatic lava fields of the Chyulu Hills. Tsavo West is also home to elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, and many antelope species. Return to your lodge in Tsavo West for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 11: Full Day in Tsavo East National Park 

After an early breakfast, drive across to Tsavo East, the larger and wilder section of the Tsavo ecosystem. Spend the day on game drives across its vast open plains, home to the famous red-dusted elephants, large prides of lions, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, and more. The park’s highlights include the Yatta Plateau, the world’s longest lava flow, and the Galana River, where crocodiles and hippos gather. A picnic lunch can be enjoyed inside the park before continuing your exploration. By evening, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 12: Tsavo Parks to Nairobi

Wake up to the calls of the wild and enjoy a relaxed breakfast before embarking on your final morning game drive. With luck, you may spot more elephants, predators, or plains game against the backdrop of Tsavo’s rugged landscapes. After the drive, begin your journey back to Nairobi, arriving in the late afternoon where your safari adventure concludes.