9 Days Best of Kenya Safari

Your safari begins with your pick-up from either your hotel in Nairobi or Nairobi Airport and transfers to the world-renowned Masai Mara National Reserve. Enjoy the 5 to 6-hour journey, taking you through the Great Rift Valley, where you will stop to marvel at the stunning escarpment stretching across East Africa. The Great East African Rift Valley is known for its breathtaking scenery, unique geographical formations, and rich cultural history. Upon arrival at Masai Mara, you will check into your tented camp or safari lodge and enjoy a delicious lunch. In the evening, venture into the savannah for a game drive. As the northern tip of the Serengeti-Mara system, Masai Mara is known for its untouched abundance of wildlife, including hosting the Great Annual Migration of millions of wildebeests and zebras, alongside attendant predators. After the drive, return to your lodge for a delightful dinner and relaxation. Overnight stay in Masai Mara National Reserve.

Wake up to the sounds of the African wilderness and enjoy an early breakfast before setting out on a full-day game drive, with packed lunch. Masai Mara is one of Africa’s top safari destinations, renowned for its exceptional wildlife sightings. The park is home to the Big Five—lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhino—along with cheetahs, giraffes, gazelles, and over 500 recorded bird species. If you visit between July and October, you may witness the Great Wildebeest Migration, where millions of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles cross the crocodile-infested Mara River in search of greener pastures. This spectacle, one of nature’s greatest wildlife events, is a dramatic encounter between prey and predator. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the middle of the savannah, taking in the breathtaking scenery before proceeding with your full-day game drive. In the evening, return to your lodge, relax around a bonfire, and reflect on the day’s adventures.

After breakfast, depart for Lake Nakuru National Park, a stunning wildlife haven known for its abundant birdlife, rhinos, and incredible scenery. The 6-hour drive takes you through the Rift Valley escarpments, offering a unique perspective of Kenya’s countryside. Arrive in time for lunch at your lodge and check in. After lunch, head for an afternoon game drive to explore Lake Nakuru National Park. Known for its astounding population of flamingos, reaching up to a million, Lake Nakuru is considered one of the world’s natural wonders. The park is also a sanctuary for the white and black rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, and predators like leopards and lions. While the large numbers of pink flamingos that flock to the alkaline lake have always been a major attraction, this park still has more to offer! Drive around the Baboon Cliff Viewpoint, which provides a spectacular panoramic view of the lake and baboons that like to hang around the cliff. Return to your lodge for a relaxing evening. Overnight stay in Lake Nakuru National Park.

After breakfast, embark on a 3-hour scenic drive to Lake Naivasha, one of the most beautiful lakes in Kenya’s Rift Valley, known for its abundant birdlife and hippos. Upon arrival, check-in and take a boat safari (optional), where you will glide across the calm waters and get up close with hippos, pelicans, and African fish eagles. Lake Naivasha is another popular bird-viewing destination with more than 400 species. It is also a popular weekend destination for those who like sailing, water skiing, and fishing. In the evening, take a guided nature walk to explore Crescent Island Game Sanctuary. Here, you can walk among several wildlife including giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, and impalas, making it one of the few places, where you can safely observe wildlife on foot. Return to your lodge after and have dinner. Overnight at Lake Naivasha.

After breakfast, depart for Amboseli National Park, known for its large elephant herds and breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Located south of Nairobi, Amboseli offers one of the best places in Africa to get close to free-roaming elephants in their natural habitat. Its diverse landscape is mostly dry but with a touch of savannah, acacia forest, and volcanic hills, creating a picturesque spot for wildlife and photography enthusiasts. After a 6-hour trip, arrive in Amboseli in the afternoon and check in at your lodge. Enjoy lunch and spend the afternoon at leisure, taking in the mesmerizing views of Africa’s highest peak. Overnight stay in Amboseli National Park.

Kickstart the day with an early morning game drive, when wildlife is most active. Spot cheetahs, lions, hyenas, and large elephant herds move across the open plains while others feed and bathe in the swamps. Return to your lodge for a late breakfast and relax. In the late afternoon, embark on a cultural visit to a nearby Masai village, where you can learn about the rich culture of one of Africa’s most famous tribes. Overnight stay in Amboseli National Park.

After breakfast, drive for about 5 hours to Tsavo West National Park, a haven of rugged landscapes, lava flows, and diverse wildlife. The park is known for its man-eating lions, which have a peculiar history of terrorizing and killing construction workers on the Kenya-Uganda Railway in 1898. On arrival, drive to your lodge and check in. In the afternoon, enjoy an evening game drive, exploring the park’s unique attractions including the Mzima Springs, a natural spring that features a million gallons of crystal pure water spilling out of dry lava rocks, creating a stunning picture. Home to a variety of hippos, crocodiles, and a range of bird species, this site offers spectacular game viewing. After the game drive, return to your lodge and relax. Overnight stay in Tsavo West National Park.

Wake up early and have a quick breakfast before heading out for your full-day game drive. Spot predators like lions, leopards, and cheetahs as they hunt in the cool dawn air as well as large herds of elephants dusting themselves in red soil. Tsavo West is also home to buffaloes, the rare lesser kudu, zebras, giraffes, and over 600 bird species, making it a paradise for wildlife lovers. As you explore, stop at the Chaimu Lava Flows and Shetani Lava Fields, where black volcanic rock creates an otherworldly landscape, blending beautifully with the golden grasslands. Climb to the Roaring Rocks viewpoint and explore a panoramic view of the park’s rugged terrain which is an excellent spot for photography. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the heart of the wilderness, and relax before proceeding with your game drive. As the day winds down, enjoy one final drive en route back to your lodge, and have dinner. Overnight stay in Tsavo West National Park.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before returning to Nairobi, concluding your unforgettable 9-day Best of Kenyan safari. Depending on your schedule, you can opt for a short tour in Nairobi or transfer to the airport for your departure.