7-Day Best of Kenya Safari

Day-by-day itinerary

Route: Nairobi → Samburu → Lake Nakuru → Lake Naivasha → Masai Mara → Nairobi

1. Day 1

   Nairobi to Samburu

   Following an early breakfast, the day begins with the road transfer from Nairobi to Samburu, travelling north past Mount Kenya and through Nanyuki and Isiolo into the drier northern country. After check-in and a chance to freshen up, you head out into semi-arid northern rangeland of doum palms and riverine forest along the Ewaso Ng'iro river. This is good country in which to look for elephant, lion, leopard and the dry-country species often called the Samburu Special Five. Northern Kenya holds species rarely seen further south, including Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich. Your safari vehicle and guide are used by your party alone. Dinner and overnight are at your camp or lodge in Samburu.

2. Day 2

   Full-Day Samburu Safari

   The whole day is given to Samburu, with an early start to make the most of the cooler morning hours. The drives cover semi-arid northern rangeland of doum palms and riverine forest along the Ewaso Ng'iro river, moving between habitats as conditions change. There is the possibility of seeing elephant, lion, leopard and the dry-country species often called the Samburu Special Five, though wild sightings are never guaranteed. The river is the reserve's lifeline, and game commonly concentrates along it through the heat of the day. Northern Kenya holds species rarely seen further south, including Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich. Your safari vehicle and guide are used by your party alone. You return to your camp or lodge for dinner and a second night at Samburu.

3. Day 3

   Samburu to Lake Nakuru

   After breakfast you leave Samburu and travel on toward Lake Nakuru, travelling through the Rift Valley floor and the farming towns of the Nakuru region. Lunch and check-in come first, then an afternoon drive through a Rift Valley soda lake ringed by yellow-barked acacia woodland and steep escarpment viewpoints. There is the possibility of seeing black and white rhino, Rothschild's giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck and dense birdlife, depending on movement and conditions on the day. The park operates as a sanctuary and is one of Kenya's more reliable places to look for rhino; flamingo numbers on the lake rise and fall with water levels. The evening is spent at your Lake Nakuru accommodation, with dinner and overnight there.

4. Day 4

   Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha

   The morning starts in Lake Nakuru, from where you continue overland to Lake Naivasha, following the Rift Valley escarpment road with its long views over the valley floor. Arrival is followed by check-in and a first drive into a freshwater Rift Valley lake fringed by papyrus, fever trees and flower-farming country. This is good country in which to look for hippo, waterbuck, colobus and an exceptional range of resident and migratory waterbirds. Naivasha is one of the few freshwater lakes in the Rift Valley, which is why boat trips and walking safaris are possible here rather than vehicle drives alone. Dinner and overnight are at your camp or lodge in Lake Naivasha.

5. Day 5

   Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara

   The day opens in Lake Naivasha with a morning departure for Masai Mara, descending the wall of the Great Rift Valley and passing through Narok and Maasai farming country. Lunch and check-in come first, then an afternoon drive through open savanna grassland, acacia stands and the rolling country of the greater Mara ecosystem. There is the possibility of seeing lion, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, buffalo and large herds of plains game, depending on movement and conditions on the day. The reserve is best known for its big cat densities, and between roughly July and October the wildebeest migration commonly moves through the ecosystem. Dinner is served at your Masai Mara camp or lodge, where you spend the night.

6. Day 6

   Full-Day Masai Mara Safari

   The day is set aside for Masai Mara, with drives timed around the first and last hours of light. The drives cover open savanna grassland, acacia stands and the rolling country of the greater Mara ecosystem, moving between habitats as conditions change. Species commonly associated with the area include lion, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, buffalo and large herds of plains game. A full day allows morning and late-afternoon drives when animals are most active, with the option of a picnic lunch out in the reserve. The reserve is best known for its big cat densities, and between roughly July and October the wildebeest migration commonly moves through the ecosystem. Dinner and overnight are again at your Masai Mara camp or lodge.

7. Day 7

   Masai Mara to Nairobi

   You leave Masai Mara after breakfast and head for Nairobi, returning through the highland approaches to the city. After check-in and a chance to freshen up, you head out into Kenya's highland capital and the usual start and end point for road safaris. Nairobi is the arrival and departure hub for most Kenyan safari itineraries. You are dropped at your Nairobi hotel or the airport in the late afternoon.