9-Day Kenya Ultimate National Parks Wildlife Safari from Nairobi
- Duration: 9 Days (approx.)
- Product code: PMEQRQ
Embark on a comprehensive safari adventure taking you on a 9-day journey through the best scenic landscapes, endemic wildlife sightings, and vibrant cultural experiences of Kenya, with plenty of time for exciting game drives and leisure!
Begin your safari journey at Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks, notable for its abundant lion population and other Big Five game. Continue on to the scenic Amboseli National Park situated at the foot of majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. Here, you are guaranteed to see the magnificent herds of wild African elephants, which captivate visitors of this remarkable national reserve.
Afterwards, make your way to the lakes of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru. You will also board a captivating boat safari on Lake Naivasha, cruising past hippos, fish, and exotic birds. Next, enjoy a guided walking safari to the awesome Crescent Island Game Sanctuary, where you can get up-close views of zebra and gazelle leisurely grazing. To add to the fun, take a special bicycle safari for a short trip over to Hell's Gate National Park where you will ride and hike past giraffes, impalas, and antelopes. You will then soon arrive in the fascinating Lake Nakuru National Park, which is home to rare animals like the Rothschild's giraffe and rhino as well as rare birds like flamingos. Lake Nakuru is a stunning park with waterfalls, an acacia forest, and spectacular rocky escarpments. It also has some unexpected wildlife, like monkeys, baboons, hyenas, and occasionally leopards and lions.
Your safari comes to a perfect conclusion in the Masai Mara National Reserve, where wildlife roams freely throughout the savannah. With its rich concentration of large game, particularly lions, Masai Mara National Reserve is the most popular and visited park in Kenya. Additionally, you can witness tens of thousands of zebras and wildebeest during the migration season. It is unlike any other park!
This ultimate wildlife safari adventure will give you the chance to get up close and personal with a wide variety of endemic species while providing unforgettable, life-changing experiences.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Nairobi - Tsavo East National Park
Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Your local guide will meet you at the airport, taking you to Tsavo East National Park through the Mombasa/Nairobi Highway. Along the way, take a few stops to stretch and take in the beautiful views. Once you arrive in Tsavo East, admire the sizable, fabled national park that is the subject of legends about ferocious lions. Here, begin your safari adventure by tracking local wildlife species such as lions, buffalos, zebras, giraffes, and more. You will also see the famous elephants rolling in the oxide-red mud, giving themselves a distinctive rosy coat.
Day 2 - Tsavo East National Park - Tsavo West National Park
Wake up early to hear the birds sing and see the park in the early hours of the morning as you go on an early morning game drive to look for endemic wildlife. After breakfast, take another game drive out of Tsavo East National Park to Tsavo West National Park, where the landscape has more vibrant color and all of the Big Five are present. You will also head to the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary to look for the fascinating yet occasionally elusive rhinos.
Day 3 - Tsavo West National Park - Amboseli National Park
Take an early morning game drive and see who you can spot on the way to their breakfast. Appreciate the spectacular beauty of nature during this time of the day. After breakfast, head towards Mzima Springs, a natural, refreshing oasis, to see hippo, crocodile, fish, and birds in this lush area's clear waters and verdant canopy. You will then make a quick trip to Amboseli National Park, where you will have lunch, unwind, and go on an afternoon game drive to see the majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro towering over the park's southern horizon and discover a wide variety of bird species throughout the day, as well as lions, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, and wildebeest. Renowned for being one of the best locations to watch African elephants up close, there is a great probability to see some of Africa's most famous wildlife species due to the area's sparse vegetation.
Day 4 - Amboseli National Park
Spend all day exploring the game reserve on game drives to see how many species you can cross off your list. Amboseli National Park is small but fascinating. Elephants and other large creatures are frequently spotted thanks to the sparse vegetation, which also makes it simpler for game viewing. Wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, gazelle, and lions are some of the species to be on the lookout for as well as hyena, fox, monkeys, and baboons. The park is also notable for its prolific variety of birds, so look for pelicans, kingfishers, crakes, and egrets. And if you want some downtime, just let your driver or guide know, and he will be pleased to oblige. When it gets dark, keep an eye out for Kilimanjaro's snowy top, which occasionally breaks through the clouds. You might be rewarded with an incredible view of Africa's highest peak.
Day 5 - Amboseli National Park - Lake Naivasha National Park
Get up and say goodbye to the majestic mountain as you depart to the Great Rift Valley to view its magnificent towers and gorges. Arrive at Lake Naivasha in time for an enjoyable safari boat cruise across the lake. Say hello to the hippo and other water creatures as you leisurely cruise by, and possibly look out for zebras and antelopes close to the lakeshore. After the boat trip, proceed on a guided walking safari of the adjacent Crescent Island Game Sanctuary. Although it appears smaller, the park is actually teeming with gentle and leisurely games. You will pass gazelles, zebras, waterbucks, and wildebeest as you go by. Giraffe, buffalo, and possibly even some hippos could also be seen. Such a good way to round off the day.
Day 6 - Lake Naivasha National Park - Lake Nakuru National Park
Spend the day with a trip to the gorgeous Lake Nakuru National Park, notably known for its large population of colorful flamingos and rhinos. Begin the day with a guided bicycle safari through Hells Gate National Park and stroll through the canyons in search of impalas and antelopes that are leisurely grazing. Afterwards, take a short one-hour drive taking you to Lake Nakuru National Park, where you may see the park's waterfalls, euphorbia and acacia trees, and other wildlife. Keep an eye out for ostriches, cormorants, pelicans, and pink flamingos as you explore this lovely area, which is home to an amazing bird population! You will also get to come across a variety of wildlife species, including the rare Rothschild Giraffe, zebra, waterbuck, lion, and buffalo.
Day 7 - Lake Nakuru National Park - Masai Mara National Reserve
Take an early morning game drive through Lake Nakuru National Park. With its unique variety of birdlife, there is no better park for an early morning game drive. You will also watch the eagle and heron take flight as the sun rises over the lake. These are a few of Lake Nakuru's wonders. Then, it is time to get ready and depart for Masai Mara National Reserve. One of Africa's largest wildlife preserves, Masai Mara National Reserve is well known for having extraordinary populations of cheetah, leopard, lion, and the recognizable African bush elephant. As soon as you arrive, take a game drive in the late afternoon, introducing you to the park's stunning landscape and its famous acacia trees.
Day 8 - Masai Mara National Reserve
Spend the entire day with an exciting game drive through the Masai Mara National Reserve! One of the greatest wildlife reserves in Africa, the Masai Mara National Reserve is renowned for its exceptional populations of cheetah, leopard, lion, and the iconic African bush elephant. A rich variety of birds, including immigrants, are abundant in the area. Take time to spot birds of prey among the bird species that have been identified and documented. One of the highlights of Masai Mara National Reserve is the Great Migration, which takes place every year from July to October. Countless herds of gazelle, wildebeest, and zebra can be seen crossing the Mara River during the season as they look for more vegetation. You will then eat lunch along the Mara River while possibly watching the migration and keeping an eye out for hippo and crocodile that live there. As part of the wild's natural order, other predators are nearby, waiting in the hills and on the plains for the grazers. You may also want to schedule some time for an optional cultural interaction with the local tribespeople. To watch and learn more about the Maasai villages' way of life and culture, ask your driver/guide to arrange a visit with them. Cap off your nine-day adventure with an optional pre-dawn hot air balloon tour over the park. Nothing compares to awakening with the sun over a large park and witnessing it come to life in the early morning hours. Your guide will be more than delighted to make the necessary preparations.
Day 9 - Masai Mara National Reserve - Nairobi
Take an early morning game drive before heading back to Nairobi. You will then transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward destination.
Inclusions
Pick Up and Drop Off
8 Nights Accommodation
Breakfast (8)
Lunch (9)
Dinner (8)
English-Speaking Local Driver Guide
4x4 Safari Land Cruiser Jeep
Transportation as Per Itinerary
Admission Fees and Activities as Per Itinerary
Government Taxes and Levies
Flying Doctors
Air Ambulance Evacuation (In Case of Life Threatening Accident or Injury)
Exclusions
Local and International Flights
Meals and Drinks Not Mentioned
Hot Air Balloon Ride at Masai Mara (Optional: $420 USD/pax)
Masai Village Visit (Optional: $20 USD/pax)
Visas
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Gratuities (Optional)
Additional Information
This experience involves a moderate amount of walking; Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
This experience requires good weather conditions. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Arrival time at each location may vary depending on the season.
If there is insufficient time for all attractions/destinations on the itinerary, the tour guide will adjust the length of time spent at other attractions/destinations.
Delays, shortening of the tours, or omissions to the itinerary due to traffic, weather, or other unforeseen circumstances are not subject to refund.
Itinerary is subject to change and the attractions may be closed due to traffic, weather, and force majeure. An alternative itinerary may also be omitted depending on road conditions.
Please note that on days in which no activities are planned, you are free to explore at your leisure; all activities and purchases will be at your own expense. You will have your tour guide's mobile number in case of emergency.
