13-Day Grand Kenya Safari

Day 1: Nairobi – Samburu National Reserve

Early morning drive to Samburu National Reserve arriving in time for lunch, followed by an afternoon game drive. Samburu National Reserve is one of East Africa’s popular destinations located on the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro River. The area is gently low lying due to lava flow that resulted from volcanic activities. Acacia trees are dominant in the region while animals such as zebras, buffalo, lions, leopards and others are in large numbers. Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Full Day in Samburu National Reserve

Enjoy a full day game drive with parked lunch in search of the Northern special 5. The rare species animals include the Grevy Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Gerenuk and the Besia Oryx. The rocky habitat makes it one of the most conducive environments for spotting a Leopard. Elephants are also abundant along the Ewaso Nyiro River. The famous Kamunyak lioness that adopted a baby Oryx is a resident of the reserve. Due to aridity conditions in the region, animals find water from oases within the park. The climate here is hot and semi-arid. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Samburu – Ol Pejeta Conservancy

After breakfast, continue your journey to Ol Pejeta Conservancy with an enroute game drive arriving at your lodge or camp in time for lunch. Set out for an afternoon game drive with a visit to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary which aims to provide a refuge for chimpanzees rescued from the black market, and is the only place in Kenya where these fascinating animals can be seen. Proceed to Meet and closely interact with the famous blind Baraka Rhino who was born in the wild but lost sight in both eyes due to a fight and then a cataract. Baraka can be fed from the specially designed feeding platform that borders his enclosure. The Conservancy boasts an astounding variety of animals, including the Big Five (the endangered black and white rhino, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and lion), Grevy’s zebra, Jackson’s hartebeest, cheetah, and chimpanzee. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Ol Pejeta – Aberdare National Park

Early morning transfer to Aberdare National Park arriving in time for a mid-morning game drive enroute to your lodge for lunch followed by an afternoon game drive. Aberdare National Park is home to elephants, black rhinos, leopards, spotted hyenas, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, buffalos, warthogs and bushbucks among others. Rare sightings include those of the Giant Forest hog, bongo, golden cat, serval cat, African wild cat, African civet cat and the blue duiker. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Aberdare – Lake Nakuru National Park

Proceed your journey further to Lake Nakuru National Park arriving in time for lunch followed by an afternoon game drive. Lake Nakuru National Park is a standpoint and harbor for watching more than 400 species of birds in the rift valley with the main highlight being the flamingos forming a stunningly beautiful deep pink band around the edge of the lake shore. The park is also a rhino sanctuary harboring a population of more than 100 black and white rhinos and also offers great sightseeing of larger predators like the lions and leopards. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Lake Nakuru – Masai Mara National Reserve

After breakfast depart for Masai Mara National Reserve situated in the south west of Kenya arriving in time for lunch followed by an afternoon game drive. Masai Mara is popularly known for its breathtaking landscapes and plenty of wildlife making it one of Africa’s most iconic safari destinations with high concentration of wildlife. The park’s open grasslands provide an ideal hunting grounds for the apex predators such as lions, leopards and cheetahs. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Full Day in Masai Mara National Reserve

Full day of game viewing within the reserve with packed lunch in search of The Big Five animals (Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Rhinos and Buffalo) with an option of taking a Hot Air Balloon. What amazes tourists in this reserve is the annual migration of wildebeests. The animals shift in July and return in November and are among the seven wonders of the world. The park has the largest concentration of African lions, including the black-maned lion. Bird life is abundant as wildlife at the Mara, which boasts over 400 different bird species. (Optional) visit to the nearby Maasai Village later in the evening where you have the opportunity to learn and interact with the local Maasai Community. Maasais are popular and better-known ethnic people in East Africa due to their traditional origins from areas surrounding Masai Mara Game Reserve. Return to your lodge or camp for dinner and overnight stay. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Masai Mara – Lake Naivasha & Hell’s Gate National Park

Rise for early breakfast, checkout and drive further to Lake Naivasha arriving in time for Lunch followed by an afternoon game drive, guided walk or take a bike across Hell’s Gate National Park. Hell’s gate national park is one of the places in Kenya where you can walk alongside wild animals as there are no predators. Take great pictures with an animal background as you descend down to the Hell’s Gate Gorge. At the Gorge, you can enjoy a guided nature walk with the local guides to spice up your Kenya safari memories. Later ascend to the gate, exit the park and return to your nearby hotel for dinner and overnight stay. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Lake Naivasha & Crescent Island – Amboseli National Park

Start with an early breakfast, checkout and enjoy boat safari to the Crescent Island Sanctuary spending time relaxing on a boat across the lake, where you will spot pods of hippos and a rich variety of birdlife including fish eagles, cormorants, and kingfishers. Disembark at Crescent Island, a privately owned sanctuary where you will take a guided nature walk and stroll freely among giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, and gazelles. At around 0930hrs exit the sanctuary and drive further to Amboseli National Park arriving for late lunch followed by an afternoon game drive with a perfect view of Africa’s highest mountain, Mt Kilimanjaro. Against this magnificent backdrop roams vast herds of elephants accompanied by a mixture of other fabulous beasts like lion, buffalos, cheetahs and giraffes to name but a few.. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Full Day in Amboseli National Park

Rise up early for breakfast and embark on a full day game drive with parked lunch as you enjoy good views of Mount Kilimanjaro before clouds build up over the summit. Despite its changing habitat, Amboseli National Park is possibly the best wildlife area in the whole of Africa to experience elephants at close range. Your game drive will take you to the observation hill to have a better overall view of the park including the adjacent marshy swamps. Wildlife is abundant in this park together with pelicans and other bird species. Your game viewing will be spread to cover the open plains, acacia woodland, rocky thorn bush country, swamps and marshland. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Amboseli – Tsavo West National Park

Early morning drive to Tsavo West National Park arriving in time for lunch followed with an afternoon game drive. Tsavo West is the most visited section in Tsavo National Park, offering many attractions apart from its wildlife. The foremost is the famous Mzima Springs where up to 227.3 million liters of cool crystal-clear water flows out of the ground through porous volcanic rocks. The water is believed to originate from Chuyulu Hills, via an underground river. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Tsavo West – Tsavo East National Park

After breakfast, proceed further to Tsavo East National Park arriving in time for lunch followed by an afternoon game drive. A large herd of red-skinned elephants and Man-eaters (lions) of Tsavo define this park. One of the Park’s most recognizable features is the Yatta Plateau, which is the longest lava flow in the World. The Park is home to a good population of Giraffe, Zebra, Impala Gazelles, and Buffalo. Large prides of Lions, Leopards and Cheetah represent predators in the park. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Tsavo East – Nairobi/Mombasa

After breakfast you can decide to extend your safari to the coast (Mombasa, Diani or Malindi) by train with a drop off at Voi Train Station or drive back to Nairobi arriving later in the afternoon followed by a transfer to the Airport or Nairobi Hotel. Meals: Breakfast