10 Days Best of Kenya Safari Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi – Samburu National Park (Driving Distance 422km/ 5-6 hrs drive)
Our company representative will meet and greet you at the Airport and then transfer you to Samburu National park.which is hot dry with cool nights with an average annual maximum temperature of 30ºc (86F) and minimum annual temperature of 20ºc (68F). The park is Located about five hours north of Nairobi and an area of the nomadic people that is related to the Masai.
The reserves major attractions are the rare net giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, giraffe, gazelle and oryx Beisa, Endangered- Wild Dogs, Endangered- Pun Cake Tortoise. This reserve is a home to the big five that include Lions, Elephants, Buffaloes, the endangered black Rhinos and the many Leopards that are found in the north part where the river through rocky hills and narrow plain flows.
Other animals of interest that are found in this reserve include the Gerenuk, Reticulated Giraffe and the Somali Ostrich with the blue neck and a number of more than 400 other bird species including vultures, kingfishers, marabous, bateleurs, guinea fowl among others.
You will reach Samburu late afternoon with enroute Game drive to Samburu Serena lodge, if the opportunity arises; you can visit Samburu and acquainted with their way of life. Even tough the Samburu people are hard to survive here.
The area around the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River (Samburu name for “brown water”) is much greener on the other hand and here you’ll also find many different species.
Dinner and overnight at Samburu Serena Lodge/ Sopa lodge (Luxury), Samburu Game Lodge (Mid range) Serova Shaba Lodge/ Camping (Budget) (FB).
Day 2: Game Drive- Transfer to Aberdares National Park (Driving distance 214km/ 4:1/2hrs drive)
Take an early breakfast in preparation for the morning game drive which will introduce you to the unique species of the Samburu reserve that is the rare net giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, giraffe, gazelle and oryx Beisa, Endangered- Wild Dogs, Endangered- Pun Cake Tortoise.
With thousand chances to see the big five that include Lions, Elephants, Buffaloes, the endangered black Rhinos, the many Leopards that are found in the north part where the river through rocky hills and narrow plain flows among the Gerenuk, Reticulated Giraffe and the Somali Ostrich with the blue neck and a number of more than 400 other bird species including vultures, kingfishers, marabous, bateleurs and guinea fowl among others.
After, you will transfer to Aberdare National parking reaching late afternoon with enroute game drive to Ark safari lodge/ Aberdera country club (Luxury), The Fishing Lodge Guest House/ Tusk Camp Bandas/ Camping (Budget) (FB)
Day 3: Game Drive- Transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park (Driving Distance 114km/2-3 hrs Drive)
An Early breakfast and then go for a game drive in Aberdares National park with its unique topography diverse with a deep ravines/ water fall that cuts through the forested eastern and western slopes. Some of the Animals easily observed in the park include; the Black Rhino, leopard, baboon, black and white Colobus monkey and sykes monkey with rarer sightings of lions, the golden cat and the bongo- an elusive forest antelope that lives in the bamboo forest.
Animals like the eland and spotted and melanistic serval cats can be found higher up in the moorlands. Afternoon Transfer to Lake Nakuru National park, this park supports a wide ecological diversity with Flamingos (Greater and Lesser) and other water birds being the major attractions of the area.
The ecosystem provides for about 56 different species of mammals including the white rhino, waterbuck and buffaloes and a variety of terrestrial birds numbering nearly 450 species. Reaching there early afternoon for an evening game drive on the base of the Rift Valley where you can anticipate seeing millions of flamingos as they gather to the shores of the to feed.
This is a sight not to be missed. Overnight at Lake Nakuru Lodge (luxury), Langa Langa Guest house (Mid range), Nakuru backpacker Hostel (Budget) (FB).
Day 4: Full day Lake Nakuru National Park
Take an Early Breakfast head for a game drive in anticipation of millions of flamingos; The Lake’s abundance of algae attracts the vast quantity of flamingos that famously line the shore. Other birds also flourish in the area, as do warthogs, baboons and other large mammals.
You may also have a chance to come across the Black or white rhinos that have also been introduced in this park among the predators like lion, cheetah and leopard that are frequently seen. You return to the lodge for lunch and after you will have a boat ride on the lake returning back late afternoon with your guide who will pass through some stories to do with the lake.
Nakuru means “Dust or Dusty Place” in the maasai language, the national park is just stone throw to Nakuru town and it started off small only encompassing the famous lake and the surrounding mountainous vicinity, but has since been extended to include a large part of Savannah. Dinner and overnight as above.
Day 5: Lake Nakuru – Masai Mara game reserve. (Driving Distance 245 kme/3-4hrs Drive)
Early breakfast to preparations for your Journey to the famous Masai Land, one of the Africa’s Greatest Wildlife Reserve, situated in southwest Kenya and Famous for its abundance of lions, the Great Wildebeest Migration and the Maasai people who are well known for their distinctive custom and dress.
The Maasai Ecosystem holds one of the highest population of lions in world and this is where over 2 MILLION Wildebeest, Zebra and Thomsons Gazelle migrate annually. Its hosts over 95 species of mammals and 570 recorded species of birds.
The journey will take you between 5-6 hrs; arrive at your lodge with game viewing en-route. With a brilliant opportunity to enjoy the African dish prepared by experienced chief with first touch! Dinner and overnight at Mara Serena Safari lodge (Luxury), David Livingstone lodge (mid range), Rhino tourist camp/ Mara sadai camp (Budget) Camping (FB)
Day 6: Masai Mara Game Reserve
After break fast in the morning, go for the game drive which will introduce you to the Mara area. The Mara offers wildlife in such variety and abundance that it is difficult to believe: over 450 species of animals have been recorded here.
You will easily see lions, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, giraffe, wildebeests, zebras, buffalo, warthogs, hyenas, jackals, wild dogs, buffalo, leopard, many kinds of antelopes and elephant. It is in the Mara that perhaps the most spectacular event of the natural world takes place.
This is the annual migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra from the Serengeti (Tanzania) in search of water and pasture. Following on their heels are the predators of the savanna- lion, cheetah, wild dog, jackal, hyena and vultures. Retire for dinner and overnight as above.
Day 7: Full Day Maasai Cultural Tour
Take an early break in preparation for your Cultural tour to Maasai land/ the Maasai people of East Africa that live in southern Kenya. The Maasai are a semi-nomadic people who lived under a communal land management system. They occupy a total land area of 160,000 square kilometer with a population of approximately one and half million people.
Their society in Kenya is comprised of twelve sections “in maasai language, the section is called lloshon” Ildamat, Ilpurko, Ilkeekonyokie, Iloitai, Ilkaputiei, Ilkankere, Isiria, Ilmoitanik, Iloodokilani, Iloitokitoki, Ilmatatapato and Ilwuasinkishu. These people live in kraals arranged in a circular fashion. the fence around the kraal is made of acacia thorns, which prevent lions from attacking the cattle.
It is a man’s responsibility to fence the kraal. While women construct the houses and their movement of livestock is based on seasonal rotation. During your Maasai visit you will be able to experience their homestead, labor, and Maasai economy with outsiders and their diet. Returning late afternoon for dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 8: Masai Mara-Amboseli (Driving Distance- 503km/ 10 hrs)
Kindly make sure you wake up early in the morning, don’t linger any more, because it is your last day in Mara. Have a break fast in an African style and then do the ever life changing activity, last in a life time game drive to the area where wild beasts will be noted concentrated.
Spot the wild beasts at the Mara River. Lunch and then in the afternoon leave for Amboseli located in Loitoktok District, Rift Valley Province of Kenya. The park is famous for Large Herds of Elephants, Big Five (Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephants and hippos.
You will have lunch in the town of Namanga, After you’ll divert east to Amboseli National Park at the base of grand Mount Kilimanjaro, home to a wealth of wildlife but particularly known for its elephants. Arrive at your lodge with game viewing en-route.
Over night at Amboseli Serena Safari lodge (luxury) Sentrim Amboseli lodge (mid range) Kibo Guest house/ kibo safari camp/ kilimajaro guest house (Budget) Camping (FB).
Day 9: Amboseli – Tsavo East (Driving Distance -299km/ 4-5hrs)
After breakfast go for a morning Game drive in search for Large Herds of Elephants, Big Five (Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephants and hippos and after the game drive you will connect to East Tsavo, the larger of the two, lies to the east of the Nairobi –Mombasa road