7-Day Best of Kenya Safari

Your adventure begins as we depart Nairobi for the rolling plains of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. You arrive at your selected lodge in time for lunch, overlooking the vast grasslands. An afternoon game drive immediately introduces you to the Mara’s rich tapestry of live lions lounging in the sun, towering giraffes, and vast herds of wildebeest and zebra. As the sun sets, you enjoy a welcome dinner, listening to the sounds of the African night.

The entire day is devoted to exploring the Mara. An early morning game drive catches predators at their most active and offers sublime golden-hour photography. You visit the Mara River, a stage for dramatic wildlife crossings during the Great Migration season. The afternoon includes a visit to an authentic Maasai village, where you engage with local warriors, learn about their traditions and witness traditional dance. Alternatively, you soar above the plains on an optional hot air balloon safari, culminating in a sparkling bush breakfast.

After a final Mara game drive, we journey to the Great Rift Valley and Lake Nakuru National Park. Famous for its shimmering pink flocks of lesser and greater flamingos, the lake creates a spectacular visual feast. An afternoon game drive here offers excellent chances to see both black and white rhinos within the park’s sanctuary, along with tree-climbing lions, pelicans, and a stunning diversity of birdlife from the lakeside viewpoints.

Today, we travel north, crossing the Equator, to the arid beauty of Samburu National Reserve. This region is home to species found nowhere else in Kenya the reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, gerenuk, and beisa oryx. An afternoon game drive along the Ewaso Ng’iro River reveals elephants, crocodiles, and the hardy wildlife adapted to this rugged landscape. You spend the evening at a riverside lodge, under a blanket of incredible stars.

A morning game drive in Samburu provides another chance to track its unique wildlife. Later, you connect with the local Samburu community for a deeply authentic cultural experience, gaining insight into their pastoralist heritage. In the afternoon, we travel to the foothills of Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest peak. You settle into a serene mountain lodge, where the cooler climate and lush forests offer a refreshing contrast to the lowland parks.

Descending from the highlands, we drive to the iconic Amboseli National Park, renowned for its large elephant herds and spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro. An afternoon game drive takes you across the park’s plains and swamps, where you witness vast families of elephants against the breathtaking backdrop of Africa’s highest mountain. The photographic opportunities here are unparalleled.

You enjoy one last magical morning in Amboseli with an early game drive, capturing the sunrise over Kilimanjaro. After breakfast, we begin our journey back to Nairobi. We arrive in the capital by mid-afternoon, where we transfer you directly to your hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward flight, concluding a remarkable week through the very heart of Kenyan safari splendor.