10-day A Taste of Kenya

An ideal itinerary for a first-time safari experience, visiting three of the main reserves in southern Kenya and spending a day sightseeing in Nairobi. You’ll explore the rolling hills of Tsavo, experience the thrill of being close to elephants in Amboseli, watch the sunrise over Kilimanjaro, enjoy a boat ride on Lake Naivasha, and track down all the Big Five in Kenya’s world-famous reserve, the Masai Mara!

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Price from $3,175 USD / £2,442 GBP per person (based on two sharing, discounts for larger groups).

Parks & places of interest: Tsavo West, Amboseli, Nairobi, Lake Naivasha, & the Masai Mara

Activities: Game drives, boat safari, bush walks

Accommodation: Good mid-range lodges & tented camps

What’s included in the price?

  • Full board accommodation

  • Transport in a private 4x4 vehicle

  • Unlimited game drives

  • Experienced driver / guide

  • All airport transfers

  • Park and conservancy fees

  • All excursions and entrance fees

  • Drinking water while on safari

What’s not included in the price?

  • International flights

  • Kenya eTA (travel authorisation)

  • Alcoholic drinks

  • Soft drinks

  • Tips & gratuities

Day by day itinerary

  • Depart Nairobi by road for Tsavo West (5 hours), a vast park over 7,000 sq. km, comprising woodland, savannahs, and riverine habitats. It is home to many species, including thousands of elephants, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, crocodiles, and more than 600 bird species.

    Upon entering the park, you’ll head to the stunning Serena Kilaguni Lodge, arriving in time for lunch. Situated between Mount Kilimanjaro and the volcanic Chyulu Hills, this stone-built safari lodge offers great views of the surrounding hills and overlooks its own waterhole, often visited by elephants, buffalo, and a variety of plains animals. It was one of the first lodges built inside a national park in Kenya and features a restaurant, lounge, and bar, all overlooking the waterhole. The lodge also has a swimming pool, sun deck, gift shop, and various room types, either overlooking the waterhole or with views of the Chyulu Hills.

    After lunch, you'll set out on a late afternoon game drive, which will include a visit to Mzima Springs, where you may see hippos, Nile crocodiles, and many different bird species. You’ll then return to Kilaguni for dinner and spend the evening relaxing while watching wildlife arrive at the watering hole

  • After breakfast, you’ll head to Amboseli National Park (2 hours), a stunning park offering magnificent views of Mount Kilimanjaro. It’s one of the best places in Africa to have close encounters with elephants! Amboseli features various habitat types, including savannahs, woodlands, swamps, and wetlands, which support over 600 bird species, big cats, and many other mammals, including all the Big Five.

    You’ll arrive in time for lunch at Kibo Tented Camp, located just outside the park. Each spacious en-suite tent features a comfortable bed, a stone floor, canvas walls, and tasteful décor. The camp boasts a large dining area serving buffet-style meals, a bar, a swimming pool to relax in, and a small art gallery and souvenir shop. In the late afternoon, you'll go on a game drive into Amboseli to explore the park, then return to camp for dinner and an evening of relaxation. The next day will include morning and afternoon game drives, with all meals provided at camp

  • After breakfast, you’ll head back to Nairobi, stopping for lunch along the way. You’ll arrive in the late afternoon at the Wildebeest Eco Camp, situated on the outskirts of Nairobi in the verdant suburb of Karen. The camp offers various types of accommodation, including luxury ensuite tents and ensuite cottages. There is a pool, restaurant, games room, and an excellent souvenir shop with all items made locally. The site is very attractive, surrounded by numerous trees and birdlife.

    The next morning, after a leisurely breakfast, you’ll spend the day sightseeing in Nairobi. The first stop will be the Karen Blixen Museum, originally part of a 4,500-acre farm owned by author Karen Blixen and her Swedish husband, made famous by the 1985 film ‘Out of Africa’. You’ll have lunch at the Karen Blixen Coffee House, followed by a visit to the Giraffe Centre, which runs a breeding programme for the now rare Rothschild giraffe, found only in small numbers in the wild. At the end of the day, you will return to camp for dinner and an evening relaxing.

  • After breakfast, you’ll depart Nairobi for Lake Naivasha and the Sopa Resort (1.5 hours), arriving in time for lunch. The lodge is situated close to the lake shore and boasts beautiful gardens where wildlife such as bushbuck, zebra, and giraffe often wander. It features a restaurant, as well as a comfortable lounge and bar area with leather sofas and fireplaces to warm the cool Naivasha evenings. The rooms are spacious, Swahili-style chalets, either with a balcony or a glass-fronted lounge ideal for relaxing and wildlife viewing.

    After lunch, you’ll go on a boat safari across the lake, where you might spot hippos and numerous bird species, including fish eagles and pelicans. Towards the end of your boat safari, you’ll disembark at Crescent Island for a guided nature walk. At the end of the day, you’ll return to the lodge to unwind, enjoy dinner, and watch the hippos come up from the lake to graze at Sopa grounds.

  • After an early breakfast, you’ll leave Naivasha for the open grassland of the Masai Mara (5 hours). Rich in biodiversity and home to a wide variety of bird and wildlife species, this savannah reserve offers excellent game-viewing and birdwatching opportunities. The Masai Mara is considered the jewel of Kenya’s wildlife reserves and hosts the annual wildebeest migration (July to October), which involves over 1.5 million animals! In addition, 95 species of mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, along with over 400 bird species, have been recorded here. Nowhere in Africa is wildlife more plentiful, and visitors will rarely miss the chance to see the Big Five!

    You’ll arrive in time for lunch at Basecamp, a small-tented camp with just 17 tents located on the banks of the Talek River. Each tent features an en-suite bathroom with a solar-heated hot water shower and a private terrace overlooking the river. The camp follows an eco-friendly policy, with all waste being 100% recycled, and is fully powered by a solar bank. It also supports local communities, with a large on-site art centre where many items are produced for sale locally and for export.

    After lunch, you’ll go on a game drive in the reserve, where you’ll have the chance to see big cats and all the other members of the Big Five! The next two days will be spent exploring the savannah grasslands of the Masai Mara and tracking the Big Five, along with many other mammal, reptile, and bird species.

  • After breakfast, you will return to Nairobi by road (a 5-hour journey), stopping for lunch along the way. Upon arrival in Nairobi, you will be dropped off at your preferred destination.

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