12 Days Samburu - Aberdares - Nakuru - Masai Mara - Naivasha -Amboseli & Tsavo West Np
This 12-day private Kenya safari explores some of the country’s most iconic wildlife destinations, including Samburu, Aberdare, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli, and Tsavo West National Park. Travelers enjoy immersive game drives, scenic drives through the Great Rift Valley, and luxury or mid-range accommodations, with optional activities such as hot air balloon rides, boat safaris, and cultural visits. The safari offers the chance to witness Kenya’s diverse wildlife, from the Big Five to flamingos and rare rhinos, while experiencing the beauty of mountains, lakes, and savannahs. Guests can finish their adventure with a coastal beach stay in Mombasa, Diani, Watamu, or Malindi.
Trip Highlights
- Game drives in Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, Amboseli, and Tsavo West
- Wildlife sightings: Big Five, rhinos, lions, elephants, hippos, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest
- Scenic drives through Kenya Highlands and Great Rift Valley
- Bird watching at Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha
- Boat rides on Lake Naivasha
- Nature walks at Crescent Island and Hell’s Gate National Park
- Optional Maasai village visit for cultural immersion
- Optional hot air balloon safari over Masai Mara
- Stunning views of Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro
- Mzima Springs visit in Tsavo West
Itinerary
Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner
0730hrs: Pick up from your Nairobi hotel or Nairobi airport. Depart Nairobi and proceed to the Samburu game reserve.
The scenic drive is via the Kenya highlands with views of tea, coffee and subsistence farmlands.
You shall experience different climatic and vegetation zones on today’s drive including the highlands and semi-arid desert conditions of northern Kenya.
Afternoon game viewing drive at Samburu. Dinner and overnight at Samburu Sopa lodge { https://www.sopalodges.com/samburu-sopa-lodge/the-lodge} or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day shall be spent at the Samburu game reserve with game viewing drives. Options of combining the Samburu, Buffalo springs and Shaba reserves.
Game viewing concentrates along the Ewaso Nyiro River that is the lifeline of this semi desert environment.
Overnight at your Samburu Sopa lodge { https://www.sopalodges.com/samburu-sopa-lodge/the-lodge}
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Early game viewing drive at the Samburu game reserve. Later depart for the cooler Mount Kenya region at the shadows of Mount Kenya.
Afternoon optional activities depending on your safari accommodation preference. Mount Kenya safari club: Relaxation and optional activities at the exclusive club
Sweetwaters tented camp: Game viewing drives at Olpejeta sanctuary
Mountain lodge: Game viewing from the tree lodge or optional nature activities.
Overnight at your Aberdare Country Club { https://aberdarecountryclub.com/}
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning shall be spent with optional activities depending on your choice of accommodation at Mount Kenya.
Later proceed to the Aberdares National park. Afternoon transfer to a tree hotel. Overnight at the Ark Lodge { https://thearkkenya.com/} with game viewing from the balconies of your cabin.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Transfer to your base hotel (either the Aberdare country club or Outspan hotel).
Proceed to the lake Nakuru national park. There shall be a stop to view the scenic Thompson falls at Nyahururu.
The drive via farming country and homesteads via the Great Rift Valley escarpment edge is scenic. Afternoon bird watching and game viewing drive.
The lake Nakuru national park is home to hundreds of thousands of flamingoes and other bird species.
The lake also hosts the black and white rhinos in its sanctuary. Overnight at your lake Nakuru lodge { https://lakenakurulodge.com/} or similar.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Morning bird and game viewing drives. Proceed to the Masai Mara game reserves with stops at scenic points.
Afternoon game viewing drives. Overnight at your Masai Mara Enkorok Luxury Tented camp { https://www.enkorokmaracamp.com/} or similar
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Today shall be a game viewing extravaganza! Masai Mara Game reserve remains the most exciting wildlife eco-system in the Natural world.
It is host to the highest and most varied concentration of wild animals than any other wildlife park in the region.
The scenic appeal of the tree studded savannah plains, the moderate climate and diversity of wild game species makes it a one stop shop for game viewing activities.
We shall traverse the Masai Mara reserve on a full day of unlimited game viewing encountering the big five and more of the lesser game.
Picnic lunch shall be by the Mara river as we watch hippos & crocodiles or maybe the great migration (July – October)
Overnight at your Mara Enkorok Luxury Tented camp { https://www.enkorokmaracamp.com/} or similar
Full day spent exploring the park in search of the big 5. Morning and afternoon game drives are offered. An optional hot air balloon safari can be arranged at an extra cost of US$ 450 per person. Dinner and overnight stay at Osero Camp or any of similar
The Mara offers wildlife in such variety and abundance that it is difficult to believe: over 450 species of animals have been recorded here.
You will easily see lions, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, wildebeests, zebras, buffalo, warthogs, hyenas, jackals, wild dogs, buffalo, leopard, many kinds of antelopes, and elephant. It is in the Mara that perhaps the most spectacular event of the natural world takes place.
- Main Destination: Masai Mara National Reserve
- Accommodation: Osero Camp { https://oserolodge.com/} - Mid-range tented camp located just outside Masai Mara NR
- Meals & Drinks: All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Full day spent exploring the park in search of the big 5. Morning and afternoon game drives are offered. An optional hot air balloon safari can be arranged at an extra cost of US$ 450 per person. Dinner and overnight stay at Osero Camp or any of similar
The Mara offers wildlife in such variety and abundance that it is difficult to believe: over 450 species of animals have been recorded here.
You will easily see lions, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, wildebeests, zebras, buffalo, warthogs, hyenas, jackals, wild dogs, buffalo, leopard, many kinds of antelopes, and elephant. It is in the Mara that perhaps the most spectacular event of the natural world takes place.
- Main Destination: Masai Mara National Reserve
- Accommodation: Osero Camp { https://oserolodge.com/} - Mid-range tented camp located just outside Masai Mara NR
- Meals & Drinks: All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Meal plan: breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Game viewing drives at the Masai Mara. Later depart the Mara for Lake Naivasha. Afternoon optional lake activities including boat rides and nature walks at the crescent island or simply enjoy a game viewing at the Hell’s gate national park. Overnight at your Lake Naivasha dovenest Safari Lodge { http://www.dovenestlodge.com/index.php/en/}
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Optional bird and nature walk at the lodge gardens on the shores of Lake Naivasha. Proceed to the Amboseli national park.
Arrive at in time for an afternoon game viewing drive. Overnight at your Amboseli AALodge { https://aalodges.com/aa-lodges/aa-amboseli/} or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day spent at the Amboseli national park with game viewing drives. The National park is small and compact.
The Mount Kilimanjaro on a clear day provides a dramatic background for wildlife photography.
Overnight at your Amboseli AALodge { https://aalodges.com/aa-lodges/aa-amboseli/} or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Morning game drive at the Amboseli. Proceed to the Tsavo West. Scenery and game viewing drives at the Tsavo west.
Overnight at your tsavo west Ngulia safari lodge { https://safari-hotels.com/} or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch.
Game viewing drives at the Tsavo west. Visit the Mzima springs to view hippos, crocodiles and exotic fish.
Later depart for Nairobi or proceed to Mombasa and Kenya coast beach hotels.
NB: Spend the rest of the days at the beach.
Includes/Excludes
Cost Includes
- - Accommodation as outlined above.
- - All meals noted in the itinerary.
- - Each day generally includes Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner buffets consisting of both western and local dishes.
- - Transportation in standard game viewing safari vehicles complete with a pop¬up roof for easy viewing and photography.
- - Every passenger guaranteed a window seat.
- - Your driver/guide speaks English and has in-depth knowledge of the flora, fauna, landscape, and culture.
- - A 4x 4 Safari Van of pop-up roof outfitted with two-way, long range high-frequency radio communications equipment in Kenya.
- - Each safari Vehicle carries safari accessories including wildlife books, binoculars for the guide, a first-aid kit, and a fire extinguisher.
- - Flying doctors (AMREF) insurance cover each client doing a safari with us just for emergencies
- - Park entrance fees and game drives as noted in the itinerary.
- - All government taxes, levies, 2 liters of bottled water during safari
- - Pick up from airport/your hotel and drop off back to the Hotel or airport in good time for your outbound flight after the trip.
Cost Excludes
- - Domestic and international airfares and departures taxes.
- - Personal communications charges for telephone calls, faxes, email, etc
- - Tips and gratuities for your driver/guide.
- - Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
- - Laundry services.
- - Between meal ssnacks, parks, attractions, and events not included in your iitinerary
