An In-depth Kenya Discovery

As soon as you land, our local guide will pick you up from the Nairobi Airport, and then directly drive to the Samburu National Reserve. Located in north central Kenya, it is 300 km (190 miles) away from Nairobi, which will take 5-6 hours on the way. Upon arrival, check into the camp and take a break. If time permits, we will have a game drive in the late afternoon.

As a vast expanse of wilderness, Samburu National Reserve attracts tourists for its pristine grassland and numerous animals. Our guide will drive you to track the famous African Big Five: lions, rhinos, elephants, buffalo, and leopards. Hosting a thriving population of leopards, it is set as the location of BBC to shoot documentaries of these big cats, which means you will have many chances to spot these formidable predators prowling on the savanna or hopping onto the trees.

★ Our Vehicle Strength: 4×4 Pop-up Roof Land Cruiser
The land cruiser we provide you can enhance the outdoor experience when the pop-up roof is opened. In addition, it offers a shelter space with a fully enclosed body that is dustproof and sun-protective. Compared to the minivan, it has a better performance and comfier seats, which makes it ideal for long off-road safaris and can drive you anywhere on the savanna.

 For Your Information:
1. Visa Requirement: Travelers need to present the Electronic Travelers Authorization (ETA) when entering Kenya, which is advised to be applied 3-5 days before departure. What’s more, you can re-enter Kenya from Tanzania with the same single-entry visa.
2. Currency & Tipping: The Kenya Shilling (Ksh) is the official currency of Kenya. It is advised to exchange enough Ksh cash at the airport or before departure for daily use or tips which would reasonably range from Ksh 1,300 to 2,600 (USD 10-20) per person per day according to the service you received. 

Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ashnil Samburu Camp (4 stars)

Packing a picnic lunch, our driver-guide will accompany you to an all-day private safari in Samburu National Reserve. It is a heaven for the African Special Five: reticulated giraffes, Grevy's zebras, East African oryxes, Somali ostriches, and gerenuks. Take your time to capture Somali ostriches as they may hardly be found elsewhere. As one of the tallest and biggest birds in the world, they are obvious on the golden savanna with black and white fur and blue-gray necks and legs. Known as flightless birds, they survive on the semi-desert plain depending on their fleet feet. Besides animals, Samburu is also a good place to admire the snow-capped Mount Kenya, the 2nd highest peak in Africa. At sunset, we will go back to the camp for dinner.

Tips for Game Drive:
1. We recommend you prepare neutral-colored clothing in khaki, green, or brown, easy to hide yourself, and good at resisting stains. Clothes in bright or dark colors are not advised because they may attract insects.
2. If luckily encounter predators hunting, our guide will drive you to chase after them to catch their thrilling killing moment. For your safety, please sit on the seat and avoid leaning out of the window then.
3. As animals on the savanna are far from tamed, we suggest you not hail loudly as they may be irritated.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ashnil Samburu Camp (4 stars)

After breakfast, we are going to leave Samburu for the Ol Pejeta Conservancy for 3 hours. Upon arrival, we will have lunch in the camp and enjoy an afternoon game drive. Ol Pejeta is a private conservancy, which means there are far fewer visitors than other national parks. You can have a chance to admire animals more quietly and closely. Home to the world’s last remaining white rhinos and housing Kenya’s only chimpanzee sanctuary, the conservancy offers you a unique safari experience. Please keep calm while admiring chimpanzees, or you may suffer a ‘feces attack’ from these timid creatures if they are scared. Want to see something exciting? If time permits, our experienced guide will drive you to the deep forest to track lions to see them drinking or hunting close up. You can also try your luck to encounter African wild dogs, Grevy’s zebras, and Jackson’s hartebeests.

After the exhilarating safari, you will be escorted back to the camp we selected for you. Located on the equator, it offers a majestic view of Mount Kenya on sunny mornings. The camp holds night safaris at 19:00 and 21:00 every day, lasting for 2 hours, each of which costs USD 80 per person. You will be escorted to find the African Big Five and other nocturnal animals. If you are interested in this activity, please consult the hotel staff on your own. It is advised to wear thick clothes if you take part in the night safari.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Serena Sweetwaters Camp (4 stars)

After breakfast, we will drive for 2 hours to Aberdare National Park, which is said to be one of "God's Homes". Upon arrival, check into the hotel and then start an afternoon game drive. With diverse terrains such as lush tropical rainforests, vast swamps, and plains, it provides habitats to various animals, such as elephants, leopards, rhinos, antelopes, and more than 250 species of birds. While searching for animals, you can also enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the snow-peaked Mount Kenya.

At the end of the day, we will go back to the Treetops Lodge where Elizabeth II once stayed when she received the bad news of her father’s death. Then she returned to Britain and succeeded to the throne of the kingdom. It is this legendary story that made the lodge famous then. Sited in front of a natural water pond, it is a perfect place to view animals. The lodge also provides free afternoon tea, which offers you the chance to admire the landscape leisurely from the viewing platform while drinking a cup of coffee.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Treetops Lodge - a world-renowned rustic treehouse

Today we are leaving for the next destination, Lake Nakuru National Park. It is about 150 kilometers (95 miles) away, taking about 3.5 hours to drive there. On the way, we will make a stop at Thompson Falls, Kenya's largest waterfall.

After arriving at Lake Nakuru, we will take a lunch break and then start the game drive. The park was famous for millions of flamingos. But due to the decline of the water, most of these birds migrated to Lake Bogoria. Although the number of flamingos is much lower than before, the remaining ones are still worth admiring. Known as a bird-watching paradise, it is also home to more than 400 birds including pelicans, sandpipers, and long-crowned eagles. If interested, we can cruise on the lake to watch birdlife closely. Beyond avian diversity, Nakuru is one of the best places to track white and black rhinos, Rothchild's giraffes, zebras, and antelopes. After sunset, we will drive back to the lodge for a palatable dinner and have a good rest.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Lake Nakuru Lodge - one of the best lodges in Lake Nakuru

After breakfast, we will drive for 5-6 hours to Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya's most famous wildlife reserve which is more than 200 kilometers (125 miles) far away from Lake Nakuru. Check into the lodge to get some rest as we arrive. Then we will go on our first game drive to track the African Big Five and find wildlife that appears in the documentary Animal World such as aardwolves, African hares, banded mongooses, and bat-eared foxes.

After game driving, we will return to the camp at dusk. Situated by the side of Mara River and near the animals’ area, it offers more opportunities for you to spot wildlife. You can see herbivores come for water and crocodiles sunbathe on the shore on sunny days. If lucky, you can even encounter a small group of wildebeests crossing the river near the camp.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ashnil Mara Camp (4 stars)

It is an all-day safari in Masai Mara National Reserve with a packed lunch. Our English-speaking driver guide will escort you to spot the Big Five and many other wildlife animals.

★ See Nature’s Greatest Show: Migration of Millions of Wildebeests
If you are traveling from July to September, you will have a chance to witness the wildebeest migration that draws worldwide attention every year. The herbivores rush northward crossing the Mara River to Masai Mara from Serengeti in Tanzania to seek food for survival. Main migrators including the wildebeests, antelopes, and zebras are tasty for predators, and a large number of them will be killed by lions and crocodiles on the way. If lucky, you will spot the killing time of these carnivores. After the safari today, we will go back to the lodge for a satisfying dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ashnil Mara Camp (4 stars)

After breakfast, we are going to head to Lake Naivasha National Park, one of the most beautiful freshwater lakes in the Great Rift Valley. Check into the lodge on arrival and then go for a game drive.

★ Cruise around Crescent Island to Spot Hippos and Birds
With shimmering waters and lush surroundings, Lake Naivasha provides a perfect habitat for more than 450 species of birdlife and is known as a bird-watching paradise. If interested, we can take a boat ride around Crescent Island at the center of the lake to spot diverse birds such as African fish Eagles, kingfishers, and herons. Our guide will throw the fish into the sky, which may attract fish birds to come closer to you. It is also a good place to admire flamingos which add a mesmerizing pink hue to the crystal lake during the rainy season (November - May). Lake Naivasha is also home to hippos. You may encounter these clumsy creatures lounging in the lake or grazing on the shore while cruising. Please calm down when encountering them, as they can be aggressive if irritated.

After that, we will drive for 1 hour to the Hell's Gate National Park which is less than 40 km (25 miles) away from Lake Naivasha. Predators are rare here, so you can enjoy a safe hike to explore its rocky cliffs and spot antelopes and zebras grazing. Want to have some different experiences? You can rent a bicycle on your own (USD 20) and cycle in the park to immerse in the breeze of the savanna. At the end of the day, we will return to the lodge for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort (4 stars)

Today, we will head to the Amboseli National Park with a packed lunch. About 350 km (220 miles) far away, we will spend 6 hours driving there. On arrival, check into the lodge we selected for you. Located at the center of the park, it is surrounded by lush forests, so you can always encounter monkeys roaming in the yard. There is a natural pond nearby which attracts various mammals and birds to come for water, which can be easily seen from the window. At night, you may even hear the roar of lions from afar. Please have a good rest to be well prepared for the following safari.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge (4 stars)

A great number of wildlife live in Amboseli, among which the best known and the most frequently seen ones are the enormous elephants. Amboseli is also one of the best places in Kenya to admire the majestic scenery of the snow peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. You can take a snap of herds of elephants standing against the backdrop of Kilimanjaro, which is considered the symbol of Africa. When driving across the vast savanna, you may drop by Lake Amboseli. As a seasonal lake, it has abundant water during the rainy season (November - May), which nourishes lush scrub and attracts diverse mammals and birds. You may encounter flocks of flamingos during this period. If time permits, our guide will also escort you to the top of the Observation Hill where you can overlook the entire national park. After a full day's safari, we will return to the lodge for dinner and stay overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge (4 stars)

After having breakfast, we will drive for 2 hours to the Tsavo West National Park, and check into the lodge. Then we are going to enjoy the last game drive of this private Kenya safari tour. Because of its remote location, fewer travelers visit here, so you will have more chances to admire animals closer up. As soon as we drive to the park, the skeletons of Cape buffalos at the entrance come into your eyes. Exploring deeper, you will gradually see the specific red soil in the park, which makes you feel like on Mars. Sometimes, you may also encounter elephants covered by red dust strolling on the savanna.

Following the bumpy road, we will soon arrive at the rhino habitat where you can watch these dynamic animals at a short distance. If you want, our guide will escort you to Mzima Springs, an impressive sight welcomed among visitors. Formed by the water gushing from the parched lava, it is home to hippos and crocodiles. Walking along the paths around the ponds and the wooden stairs, you will reach its underwater viewing room, where you can enjoy an amazing sight of amphibians and various kinds of fish. After sunset, we will get back to the lodge for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Kilaguni Serena Lodge (4 stars)

Today we will say goodbye to the national park and drive for around 6 hours to the Nairobi Airport, where you can take your return flight home. May you have a good journey!

If you want to admire more landscapes and wildlife on the savanna, Tanzania awaits you! Please feel free to contact our consultant for more about Tanzania tours. It’s our honor to continue to serve you!

Meal: Breakfast