7-Day Luxury Safari in Kenya
Overview
This 7-day Safari Trip in Kenya takes you through some of the country’s most spectacular landscapes and wildlife destinations, beginning and ending in Nairobi. The journey explores the rugged beauty of Samburu National Reserve, famous for its unique wildlife species known as the Samburu Special Five. You will then travel to the lush highlands of Aberdare National Park, where wildlife gathers at floodlit waterholes near your lodge. The safari continues to Lake Nakuru National Park in the Great Rift Valley, a sanctuary for rhinos and diverse birdlife, before concluding in the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve, one of Africa’s richest wildlife ecosystems. This carefully designed Safari Trip in Kenya offers unforgettable game drives, diverse scenery, and exceptional wildlife encounters.
Tour Plan
Your Safari Trip in Kenya begins with an early morning pick-up from your Nairobi hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. After a brief safari briefing, depart north through Kenya’s central highlands toward the semi-arid landscapes of Samburu National Reserve. The drive offers scenic views of Mount Kenya and rural countryside as you journey toward northern Kenya.
Arrive at the reserve in time for lunch at your camp, followed by a short period of relaxation. In the late afternoon, embark on your first game drive starting around 4:00 pm. Samburu is renowned for its rare wildlife species known as the Samburu Special Five—the Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, and Beisa oryx. As the sun sets over the Ewaso Nyiro River, return to camp for dinner and overnight in the heart of the wilderness.
Accommodation: Ashnil Samburu Camp
Day 2: Full Day in Samburu National Reserve
Spend a full day exploring the dramatic landscapes of Samburu during your Safari Trip in Kenya. Start the morning with an early game drive at around 6:30 am when wildlife activity is at its peak. Predators such as lions and leopards may still be active while elephants gather near the riverbanks.
Return to camp for breakfast and spend the late morning relaxing while enjoying the views of the surrounding wilderness. After lunch and some leisure time, depart again at around 4:00 pm for an evening game drive that continues until dusk. This second safari drive offers further chances to spot the reserve’s unique wildlife and beautiful birdlife. An optional visit to a Samburu Cultural Village can also be arranged to experience the traditions and lifestyle of the local Samburu people.
Accommodation: Ashnil Samburu Camp
After breakfast, depart Samburu and travel south toward the cool highlands of Aberdare National Park, one of the most unique destinations on any Safari Trip in Kenya. The park is known for its steep forested ravines, bamboo forests, waterfalls, and open moorlands that create a completely different ecosystem from the northern savannah.
Arrive at Aberdare Country Club in time for lunch before transferring to The Ark Lodge, a famous safari lodge built overlooking a waterhole where animals gather throughout the day and night. From the lodge’s balconies and viewing decks, you can observe elephants, buffalo, bushbuck, and other wildlife as they come to drink. The lodge also provides a special nighttime wildlife viewing experience under floodlights.
Note: Only a small overnight bag is needed for the stay at The Ark, while larger luggage remains at the Aberdare Country Club.
Accommodation: The Ark Lodge
Early morning tea is served before transferring back to Aberdare Country Club for breakfast. Afterwards, reconnect with your safari driver-guide and continue your Safari Trip in Kenya toward Lake Nakuru National Park, located within the scenic Great Rift Valley.
Along the way, stop briefly at the famous Thomson Falls and the Equator crossing point for photographs before continuing toward the park. Arrive in time for lunch at your lodge overlooking the lake. Later in the afternoon, embark on a game drive beginning at around 4:00 pm. Lake Nakuru is well known for its thriving populations of black and white rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, buffalo, and numerous bird species. Return to the lodge at sunset for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge
After breakfast, depart Lake Nakuru and continue your Safari Trip in Kenya toward the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve. The journey takes you through the rolling landscapes of the Great Rift Valley and across traditional Maasai lands before arriving at the reserve in time for lunch.
In the late afternoon, head out for your first game drive in the Masai Mara beginning at around 4:00 pm. The reserve is renowned for its incredible concentration of wildlife including lions, leopards, elephants, cheetahs, and large herds of wildebeests and zebras. This vast savannah ecosystem provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in Africa. Return to camp at sunset for dinner and overnight surrounded by the sounds of the African bush.
Accommodation: Mara Enkaji Camp
Day six of your Safari Trip in Kenya is dedicated to exploring the remarkable wildlife of the Masai Mara. Begin with a morning game drive across the endless plains where predators are often seen hunting in the early hours. The Mara is one of the few places in Africa where the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino—can often be seen in a single day.
After returning to camp for breakfast and some leisure time, enjoy lunch before heading out again for an afternoon game drive. Optional activities include a visit to a Maasai cultural village, a breathtaking hot air balloon safari over the plains followed by a champagne breakfast, or a night game drive for a different perspective of the Mara’s wildlife.
Accommodation: Mara Enkaji Camp
On the final morning of your Safari Trip in Kenya, enjoy breakfast at the camp before beginning the scenic drive back to Nairobi. The journey provides one last chance to admire the landscapes of the Great Rift Valley.
Arrive in Nairobi in the afternoon where you will be dropped off at your hotel, preferred location, or transferred to the airport for your onward flight. This marks the end of an unforgettable safari experience through Kenya’s most iconic wildlife destinations.
