10-Day Exciting Kenya Mid-Range Private Safari

Day-by-day itinerary

Route: Nairobi → Amboseli → Aberdare → Samburu → Lake Nakuru → Lake Naivasha / Hell’s Gate → Masai Mara → Nairobi

1. Day 1

   Nairobi to Amboseli

   Breakfast is taken before you set out from Nairobi for the drive to Amboseli, travelling south past Kajiado and through Maasai rangeland toward the Tanzanian border country. Arrival is followed by check-in and a first drive into open plains, dust flats and spring-fed swamps beneath the bulk of Kilimanjaro. Look for large elephant herds, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, and abundant water birds around the swamps as the light softens through the afternoon. Amboseli is known for its free-ranging elephant families, and on clear mornings Mount Kilimanjaro often rises above the plains, though cloud can hide it. The vehicle and driver-guide are private to your party throughout. You return for dinner and an overnight stay at Amboseli.

2. Day 2

   Full-Day Amboseli Safari

   You have a complete day in Amboseli, starting early while the air is still cool and animals are active. You travel through open plains, dust flats and spring-fed swamps beneath the bulk of Kilimanjaro, working the areas your guide judges most productive on the day. Keep watch for large elephant herds, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, and abundant water birds around the swamps as you move between the different habitats. The swamps stay green through dry months, drawing elephants and plains game into concentrated, highly photographable groups. Amboseli is known for its free-ranging elephant families, and on clear mornings Mount Kilimanjaro often rises above the plains, though cloud can hide it. The vehicle and driver-guide are private to your party throughout. Dinner and overnight are again at your Amboseli camp or lodge.

3. Day 3

   Amboseli to Aberdare

   Bags are loaded after breakfast and you depart Amboseli bound for Aberdare, climbing into the central highlands through Nyeri and the tea and coffee country. Lunch and check-in come first, then an afternoon drive through high montane forest, bamboo belt and moorland cut by streams and waterfalls. Wildlife commonly associated with this area includes elephant, buffalo, giant forest hog, bushbuck and, with patience, rarely seen forest species. The Aberdare lodges are built overlooking floodlit waterholes, so wildlife is watched from the building itself rather than from a vehicle. Dinner and overnight are at your camp or lodge in Aberdare.

4. Day 4

   Aberdare to Samburu

   You leave Aberdare after breakfast and head for Samburu, travelling north past Mount Kenya and through Nanyuki and Isiolo into the drier northern country. You arrive in time to settle in, and the day continues with a game drive across semi-arid northern rangeland of doum palms and riverine forest along the Ewaso Ng'iro river. Look for elephant, lion, leopard and the dry-country species often called the Samburu Special Five as the light softens through the afternoon. Northern Kenya holds species rarely seen further south, including Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich. You return for dinner and an overnight stay at Samburu.

5. Day 5

   Full-Day Samburu Safari

   The whole day is given to Samburu, with an early start to make the most of the cooler morning hours. The drives cover semi-arid northern rangeland of doum palms and riverine forest along the Ewaso Ng'iro river, moving between habitats as conditions change. Keep watch for elephant, lion, leopard and the dry-country species often called the Samburu Special Five as you move between the different habitats. The river is the reserve's lifeline, and game commonly concentrates along it through the heat of the day. Northern Kenya holds species rarely seen further south, including Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich. Dinner and overnight are again at your Samburu camp or lodge.

6. Day 6

   Samburu to Lake Nakuru

   Following an early breakfast, the day begins with the road transfer from Samburu to Lake Nakuru, travelling through the Rift Valley floor and the farming towns of the Nakuru region. You arrive in time to settle in, and the day continues with a game drive across a Rift Valley soda lake ringed by yellow-barked acacia woodland and steep escarpment viewpoints. There is the possibility of seeing black and white rhino, Rothschild's giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck and dense birdlife, depending on movement and conditions on the day. The park operates as a sanctuary and is one of Kenya's more reliable places to look for rhino; flamingo numbers on the lake rise and fall with water levels. Dinner and overnight are at your camp or lodge in Lake Nakuru.

7. Day 7

   Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha

   After breakfast you leave Lake Nakuru and travel on toward Lake Naivasha, following the Rift Valley escarpment road with its long views over the valley floor. Once you reach Lake Naivasha there is time to check in before heading out among a freshwater Rift Valley lake fringed by papyrus, fever trees and flower-farming country. This is good country in which to look for hippo, waterbuck, colobus and an exceptional range of resident and migratory waterbirds. Naivasha is one of the few freshwater lakes in the Rift Valley, which is why boat trips and walking safaris are possible here rather than vehicle drives alone. Dinner is served at your Lake Naivasha camp or lodge, where you spend the night.

8. Day 8

   Lake Naivasha / Hell’s Gate to Masai Mara

   Breakfast is taken before you set out from Lake Naivasha / Hell’s Gate for the drive to Masai Mara, descending the wall of the Great Rift Valley and passing through Narok and Maasai farming country. After check-in and a chance to freshen up, you head out into open savanna grassland, acacia stands and the rolling country of the greater Mara ecosystem. Your guide works the area for lion, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, buffalo and large herds of plains game, with sightings varying by season and conditions. The reserve is best known for its big cat densities, and between roughly July and October the wildebeest migration commonly moves through the ecosystem. The evening is spent at your Masai Mara accommodation, with dinner and overnight there.

9. Day 9

   Full-Day Masai Mara Safari

   You spend the day in Masai Mara, heading out early and returning as the light goes. Much of the day is spent among open savanna grassland, acacia stands and the rolling country of the greater Mara ecosystem. There is the possibility of seeing lion, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, buffalo and large herds of plains game, though wild sightings are never guaranteed. A full day allows morning and late-afternoon drives when animals are most active, with the option of a picnic lunch out in the reserve. The reserve is best known for its big cat densities, and between roughly July and October the wildebeest migration commonly moves through the ecosystem. You return to your camp or lodge for dinner and a second night at Masai Mara.

10. Day 10

    Masai Mara to Nairobi

    After breakfast you leave Masai Mara and travel on toward Nairobi, returning through the highland approaches to the city. After check-in and a chance to freshen up, you head out into Kenya's highland capital and the usual start and end point for road safaris. Nairobi is the arrival and departure hub for most Kenyan safari itineraries. Arrival back is normally in the afternoon, with a drop-off at your hotel or the airport.