Wildlife Safaris
8-Day Kenya Safari: Samburu, Mount Kenya, Lake Nakuru & Masai Mara
Our most complete circuit at 8 days and 7 nights - the arid north of Samburu, the forested slopes of Mount Kenya, the rhino sanctuary of Lake Nakuru, and two full days on the plains of the Masai Mara.
Itinerary
Download Itinerary (PDF)Itinerary at a Glance
| Day | Destination | Travel | Key Sightings | Overnight | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Nairobi
Arrival in Nairobi
|
Drive |
-
|
- | B L D |
| 2 |
Samburu National Reserve
Nairobi to Samburu National Reserve
|
Drive |
Grevy's Zebra
Reticulated Giraffe
African Elephant
|
Samburu Sopa Lodge | B L D |
| 3 |
Samburu National Reserve
Full Day in Samburu National Reserve
|
Drive |
Grevy's Zebra
Gerenuk
Beisa Oryx
+1
|
Samburu Sopa Lodge | B L D |
| 4 |
Mount Kenya National Park
Samburu to Mount Kenya National Park
|
Drive |
African Elephant
Cape Buffalo
Bushbuck
|
Serena Mountain Lodge, Mount Kenya | B L D |
| 5 |
Lake Nakuru National Park
Mount Kenya to Lake Nakuru National Park
|
Drive |
White Rhinoceros
Black Rhinoceros
Flamingo
|
Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge | B L D |
| 6 |
Masai Mara National Reserve
Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara
|
Drive |
Lion
African Elephant
Topi
|
Mara Sopa Lodge | B L D |
| 7 |
Masai Mara National Reserve
Full Day in Masai Mara
|
Drive |
Lion
Leopard
Cheetah
+1
|
Mara Sopa Lodge | B L D |
| 8 |
Nairobi
Departure
|
Drive |
Lion
African Elephant
|
- | B L D |
Full Day-by-Day Itinerary
Arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
After breakfast, drive north via Nanyuki to the Samburu National Reserve, a rugged, semi-arid landscape along the Ewaso Nyiro River. Arrive in time for lunch, then head out on an afternoon game drive. Overnight on a full-board basis (lunch, dinner and breakfast).
A full day of morning and afternoon game drives across Samburu and neighboring Buffalo Springs, home to species found nowhere else in Kenya's southern parks - Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and Beisa oryx among them. An optional visit to a local Samburu village can be arranged. Overnight on a full-board basis.
Drive to the forested slopes of Mount Kenya National Park, arriving at a lodge built around its own floodlit waterhole with mountain views. Overnight on a full-board basis. A warm jacket is recommended for the cool highland evenings.
Drive to Lake Nakuru National Park, with a stop at Thompson's Falls along the way. Afternoon game drive around the lake shore for its rhino sanctuary and, in good years, dense flocks of flamingos. Overnight on a full-board basis.
Continue west across the Rift Valley to the Masai Mara, the northernmost extension of the Serengeti ecosystem, arriving in time for an afternoon game drive. Overnight on a full-board basis.
A full day of game drives across the Mara's plains, with the best chance of the trip for lion, leopard, cheetah and, in season, the Great Migration. An optional Maasai manyatta visit or sunrise hot air balloon safari can be arranged locally. Overnight on a full-board basis.
Final morning game drive, then depart the Masai Mara for Nairobi. Lunch at the renowned Carnivore Restaurant before your transfer to JKIA for departure.
Best Time to Visit
July - October for the Great Migration; dry seasons (Jun-Oct, Jan-Feb) for the clearest game viewing
High Season - Jun-Oct & Jan-Feb
Dry weather makes for the clearest game viewing, with animals gathering at rivers and waterholes. Masai Mara river crossings peak July-October. Expect busier parks and the highest rates of the year.
Low Season - Mar-May & Nov
The "green season" brings lush scenery, dramatic skies and newborn wildlife, with far fewer visitors and the lowest accommodation rates. Expect afternoon showers, muddier roads and a handful of camps closed for maintenance.
What to Expect
Our longest circuit covers five distinct regions of Kenya:
Nairobi is your arrival and departure point, and the usual base for onward transfers to the parks that follow.
Samburu National Reserve lies in Kenya's arid north along the Ewaso Nyiro River, whose doum-palm-lined banks draw large herds of elephant even in the dry season. It's the best place in the country to find the "Samburu Special Five" - Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and the Somali ostrich - alongside a rich birdlife and a Samburu culture with deep ties to the Maasai.
Mount Kenya National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers a cooler, forested contrast - guests can watch elephant, buffalo and forest antelope visit a floodlit waterhole after dark, with views up to the glacier-carved peaks of Africa's second-highest mountain.
Lake Nakuru National Park is a compact, fenced sanctuary built around its alkaline lake in the Great Rift Valley. Expect a strong chance of seeing both black and white rhino, along with leopard, buffalo and, in good years, dense flocks of flamingos along the shoreline.
The Masai Mara is Kenya's best-known reserve, part of the same ecosystem as Tanzania's Serengeti. Visitors come for the Big Five, resident prides of lion, and - from around July to October - the Great Migration, when huge herds of wildebeest and zebra cross the Mara River in search of fresh grazing. A visit to a local Maasai village or a sunrise balloon safari over the plains are popular optional additions here.
Route Map
Approximate route followed during this safari.
What's Included
- All transport in a 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Park entry fees for Samburu, Mount Kenya, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara
- 7 nights' accommodation as per itinerary (bed & breakfast Day 1, full board Days 2-8)
- Lunch at the Carnivore Restaurant, Nairobi, on Day 8
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
What's Excluded
- International flights
- Hot air balloon safari and village visits (optional, paid locally)
- Travel insurance and visa fees
- Tips and gratuities
- Drinks and items of a personal nature
Get your free, no-obligation plan
Traveler Reviews
No reviews yet - be the first to book and share your experience.
