9-Day Southern Kenya Family Big and Special Five Safari

After breakfast, meet your safari guide in Nairobi and begin the drive north toward Samburu National Reserve. The journey passes through changing countryside and central Kenya’s highlands before descending into the drier landscapes of northern Kenya. Allow approximately 5–6 hours of driving, excluding extended stops and traffic.

Arrive at your lodge or tented camp, check in and enjoy lunch depending on your arrival time. If time and park-entry arrangements permit, head out for an introductory game drive to look for elephants, giraffes, zebras and other wildlife. Otherwise, relax at the accommodation and begin game viewing the following morning.

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

Transport: Pop-up roof 4x4 or pop-up roof minivan, approximately 300 km and 5–6 hours.

Spend the day exploring Samburu’s rugged terrain, riverine woodland and open scrubland on morning and afternoon game drives. With your guide, look for the Samburu Special Five: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Somali ostrich and Beisa oryx. Elephants are also frequently encountered in the reserve, particularly around the Ewaso Ng’iro River.

Return to the lodge for lunch and some downtime during the warmer hours. An afternoon drive offers another chance to search for predators and learn how animals adapt to this drier environment. For children, your guide can turn sightings into a simple wildlife challenge, helping them notice animal tracks, feeding behaviour and differences between species.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Transport: Game-drive vehicle within Samburu National Reserve.

After breakfast, leave Samburu and travel south toward the Great Rift Valley and Lake Nakuru National Park. This is a substantial road-transfer day, so plan for comfort stops and a lunch break en route. Allow approximately 6–7 hours of driving, depending on road conditions, traffic and the location of your Samburu accommodation.

On arrival, check in and, if time permits, enjoy a short afternoon game drive. Lake Nakuru is known for its rhino population, Rothschild’s giraffes and diverse birdlife. Depending on arrival time and park access, your first drive may be brief; a longer exploration can be arranged if you reach the park early enough.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Transport: Pop-up roof vehicle, approximately 300–330 km and 6–7 hours.

Enjoy breakfast before departing Lake Nakuru for the Masai Mara, travelling through Rift Valley scenery and rural landscapes toward southwestern Kenya. The drive commonly takes around 5–6 hours, although the exact time depends on your accommodation, route and road conditions. A packed lunch or planned lunch stop can make the journey easier for children.

Arrive at your Mara camp or lodge, settle in and take an afternoon game drive if arrival time and park-entry arrangements allow. The reserve’s open grasslands provide habitat for lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards and many other species. Your guide will look for wildlife while explaining how to observe animals respectfully and safely.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Transport: Pop-up roof 4x4 or pop-up roof minivan, approximately 250–300 km and 5–6 hours.

Spend a full day discovering the Masai Mara, with morning and afternoon game drives or a full-day outing with a packed lunch. Search for the Big Five and observe the wider ecosystem, including cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, antelopes and abundant birdlife. The wildlife encountered will depend on season, weather and animal movements.

Between drives, take time to enjoy the scenery and share a relaxed lunch in an authorised area. If the family prefers a slower pace, return to the lodge for lunch and rest before heading out again in the afternoon. The Great Migration may be visible in the Mara during part of the year, but its timing and location vary and should never be guaranteed.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Transport: Safari vehicle for morning and afternoon game drives, or a full-day drive with packed lunch.

After breakfast, depart the Masai Mara and travel toward Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley. This transfer can take approximately 5–6 hours or longer depending on the camp’s location and road conditions. Breaks along the way are especially useful for families travelling with younger children.

Arrive at your lakeside accommodation and enjoy lunch, followed by a relaxed afternoon. Depending on time and availability, choose an optional boat ride to look for hippos and waterbirds from a safe distance. A guided lakeside nature experience may also be possible, subject to the property, local conditions and the activity provider’s safety rules.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Transport: Pop-up roof vehicle, approximately 250–300 km and 5–6 hours, depending on route.

After breakfast, leave Naivasha and travel south toward Amboseli National Park. This is another long transfer, typically around 5–6 hours or more depending on the route, traffic and stops. Plan an early departure and a comfortable break along the way to help the family arrive with enough energy for the next day’s wildlife activities.

Arrive at your Amboseli lodge or camp, check in and enjoy lunch according to your arrival time. If time permits, take an introductory game drive across Amboseli’s open plains and seasonal wetlands. The park is famous for its elephant herds, while clear weather may reveal views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Mountain visibility is weather-dependent, so it cannot be guaranteed.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Transport: Pop-up roof 4x4 or pop-up roof minivan, approximately 280–330 km and 5–6+ hours.

Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in Amboseli, exploring the park’s open plains, marshes and acacia woodland. Watch for elephants moving in family groups, along with buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, lions and a wide variety of birds. Your guide can help children understand elephant family behaviour and how the wetlands support wildlife.

Return to the lodge for lunch and a rest during the heat of the day before setting out again in the afternoon. When conditions are clear, the views of Mount Kilimanjaro can provide a memorable backdrop for family photographs. Keep the day flexible, with opportunities for rest and shorter drives if the children need a break.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Transport: Safari vehicle for morning and afternoon game drives.

Enjoy breakfast at the lodge before departing Amboseli for Nairobi. The drive usually takes around 4–5 hours or longer depending on the lodge’s location, traffic and road conditions. An early departure is recommended if you have an international flight or a scheduled onward connection.

Arrive in Nairobi and transfer to your hotel, residence or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport according to your plans. If you are flying home the same day, allow a generous buffer for traffic and airline check-in requirements. Your safari ends with memories of Kenya’s varied landscapes, distinctive northern wildlife and classic savannah encounters.

Meals: Breakfast; lunch and dinner are excluded unless specifically arranged.

Transport: Pop-up roof vehicle, approximately 200–250 km and 4–5+ hours.