7-Day Into the Wild Kenya Safari

Depart Nairobi after breakfast in your private pop-up roof 4x4 and travel toward the Masai Mara through the Great Rift Valley region. Enjoy scenic views along the way, with suitable stops for photographs and refreshments. Arrive at your mid-range safari lodge or tented camp around lunchtime or early afternoon, depending on road conditions and the camp’s location.

After check-in and lunch, head out for an afternoon game drive if time permits. Explore the reserve’s open grasslands while your guide helps you look for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes and predators. Return to your accommodation before evening for dinner and a relaxing night surrounded by the sounds of the African bush.

Meals: Lunch and dinner, depending on departure time and arrival arrangements.

Transport: Nairobi to Masai Mara, approximately 250–300 km; allow around 5–7 hours, depending on traffic, stops and lodge location.

Begin early with breakfast before setting out on a morning game drive. The cooler hours can be productive for wildlife viewing, and your guide will explore suitable areas in search of lions, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes and other species. Wildlife sightings depend on animal movements and conditions, but your guide will adapt the route to maximise your opportunities.

Return to camp for lunch and a rest before an afternoon game drive, or arrange a longer excursion with a packed lunch. The open plains provide excellent opportunities for wildlife photography and learning about predator-prey relationships. Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and time to relax. Optional activities, such as a hot-air balloon safari, may be arranged separately if available and suitable for your budget.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Transport: Morning and afternoon game drives within the Masai Mara in your private 4x4; distance varies according to wildlife activity and route.

After breakfast, leave the Masai Mara and travel toward Lake Nakuru National Park through Kenya’s Rift Valley landscapes. Enjoy views of the countryside and make comfort stops along the way. Arrive in the Lake Nakuru area around lunchtime or early afternoon, check in at your accommodation and enjoy a meal before continuing with the day’s activities.

If time permits, enter the park for an afternoon game drive. Lake Nakuru is known for its rhinos, varied birdlife and scenic setting, with opportunities to see giraffes, buffaloes and other wildlife. Your guide will select a suitable circuit based on the available time and recent conditions. Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Transport: Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru, approximately 200–250 km; allow around 4.5–6.5 hours, excluding extended stops. Afternoon game drive depends on arrival time and park access.

Enjoy breakfast before travelling south to Lake Naivasha, another beautiful destination in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley. The drive is relatively short compared with other days on this itinerary, allowing more time to enjoy the lakeside surroundings. Arrive at your mid-range lodge or hotel, check in and enjoy lunch before your afternoon excursion.

Take a boat ride on Lake Naivasha to look for hippos and observe waterbirds along the shoreline. Depending on availability, lake conditions and your interests, you may add a guided walk on Crescent Island, where wildlife can sometimes be observed on foot with a local guide. Return to your accommodation for dinner and a relaxed evening beside the lake.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Transport: Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha, approximately 75–100 km; allow around 1.5–2.5 hours. Boat excursion and optional island activities are subject to local arrangements and conditions.

After an early breakfast, depart Lake Naivasha and travel toward Amboseli National Park. This is one of the longer road journeys of the safari, so plan for comfort stops and a lunch break en route. As you approach Amboseli, the landscape opens into dry plains and wetlands that support large herds of elephants and other wildlife. Check in at your lodge when you arrive, subject to the day's timing.

If you reach the park early enough and park-entry arrangements allow, enjoy an afternoon game drive. Explore the plains and wetland areas in search of elephants, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes and other species. On clear days, Mount Kilimanjaro may form a dramatic backdrop to the wildlife. If the transfer takes longer than expected, prioritise a relaxed lodge arrival and save the main game drives for the following day.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Transport: Lake Naivasha to Amboseli, approximately 300–350 km; allow around 5.5–7.5 hours or longer, depending on traffic, road conditions and stops.

Start with an early-morning game drive through Amboseli National Park. Explore its open plains, swamps and seasonal wetlands, where elephants are often seen feeding and moving in family groups. Your guide will also look for zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, buffaloes and predators, while explaining how the park’s water sources sustain wildlife in a relatively dry environment.

Return to the lodge for breakfast or lunch according to your chosen schedule, with time to relax during the warmer part of the day. Head out again in the afternoon for another game drive and further opportunities to observe wildlife. If the skies are clear, enjoy views of Mount Kilimanjaro across the plains. Return to your accommodation for dinner and your final night of the safari.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Transport: Game drives within Amboseli National Park in your private pop-up roof 4x4; driving distance varies according to sightings and route.

Enjoy breakfast at your lodge before beginning the drive back to Nairobi. Travel through the countryside toward the capital, with planned comfort stops along the way. Depending on your schedule, you can be dropped off at your Nairobi hotel or at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

The road journey can take much of the morning and afternoon, so avoid arranging a tight international flight connection without checking the timing carefully. If you have an early departure, consider adding an overnight in Nairobi before your flight. Otherwise, your guide will coordinate the drop-off according to your confirmed travel arrangements.

Meals: Breakfast; lunch may be arranged depending on your departure time.

Transport: Amboseli to Nairobi, approximately 200–240 km; allow around 4–6 hours, depending on the lodge, traffic and road conditions.