14-Day Kenya Safari Adventure
Prepared by Richard
14-Day Kenya Safari Adventure
Experience Kenya’s remarkable diversity on this 14-day journey through Nairobi, the central highlands, Samburu, Ol Pejeta, the Great Rift Valley, the Maasai Mara, Amboseli and the Tsavo region. The itinerary combines exceptional wildlife viewing, beautiful scenery and stays at carefully selected safari lodges and tented camps.
All named accommodations are suggested options and remain subject to availability.
Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be welcomed by our representative and transferred to your Nairobi hotel.
Depending on your arrival time, spend the remainder of the day relaxing after your flight or enjoying the hotel’s facilities. Your guide will provide a short safari briefing covering the journey ahead.
Meals: Depending on arrival time
Overnight: Nairobi hotel
Day 2: Nairobi City Experience
After breakfast, enjoy a guided exploration of Nairobi. Possible attractions include the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s elephant orphanage, the Giraffe Centre, the Karen Blixen Museum and a local crafts centre.
Lunch may be arranged at a city restaurant. The afternoon can be spent sightseeing, shopping or relaxing at the hotel before the safari begins.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Nairobi hotel
Day 3: Nairobi – Solio Ranch – Aberdare Country Club
After breakfast, depart Nairobi and travel north through Kenya’s fertile central highlands toward the Mount Kenya and Aberdare region.
Visit Solio Ranch for a rewarding game drive. The conservancy is especially renowned for its successful rhinoceros conservation programme and provides excellent opportunities to observe both black and white rhinos. Other wildlife may include lions, leopards, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes and various antelope species.
Continue to Aberdare Country Club for lunch. Spend the afternoon enjoying the peaceful surroundings and views of the Aberdare highlands.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight: Aberdare Country Club
Day 4: Aberdare – Samburu National Reserve
After breakfast, depart for Samburu National Reserve. Travel past Mount Kenya and through Isiolo, observing the changing landscape as the fertile highlands give way to Kenya’s rugged northern wilderness.
Arrive in time for lunch at your lodge. Later, take an afternoon game drive in Samburu and the neighbouring Buffalo Springs ecosystem.
Look out for northern Kenya’s rare wildlife species, including the Somali ostrich, Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and Beisa oryx. Samburu is also home to elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs and buffaloes.
Conclude the game drive by enjoying a beautiful African sunset before returning to the lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight options: Samburu Sopa Lodge or Samburu Simba Lodge
Day 5: Samburu National Reserve
Begin the day with an early-morning game drive, when wildlife is particularly active and the temperature is pleasantly cool.
Return to the lodge for breakfast and enjoy time at leisure during the warmer hours of the day. After lunch, embark on another game drive along the Ewaso Nyiro River and across the reserve’s open plains.
The river attracts elephants and many other animals, while the surrounding woodland provides excellent habitat for predators and birdlife.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight: Samburu Sopa Lodge or Samburu Simba Lodge
Day 6: Samburu – Ol Pejeta Conservancy
After breakfast, depart Samburu and drive south toward Mount Kenya. Arrive at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in time for lunch at your camp.
In the afternoon, enjoy a game drive across the conservancy. Ol Pejeta is known for its rhino conservation work and is home to both black and white rhinos. It also protects the world’s last two northern white rhinos.
Depending on time and local arrangements, the visit may include the endangered-species enclosure or the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight options: Sweetwaters Serena Camp or Maisha Sweetwaters Camp
Day 7: Ol Pejeta – Great Rift Valley – Lake Nakuru
After breakfast, travel toward the Great Rift Valley. Stop at a scenic viewpoint to admire the valley’s vast escarpments and take photographs.
Continue to Lake Nakuru National Park, arriving at your lodge in time for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a game drive through the park.
Lake Nakuru is an important sanctuary for black and white rhinos. Wildlife sightings may also include Rothschild’s giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, waterbucks, lions, leopards and numerous bird species. Flamingo numbers vary depending on seasonal water conditions.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight options: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge or Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge
Day 8: Lake Nakuru – Maasai Mara National Reserve
After breakfast, depart for the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve. The journey passes through the Great Rift Valley and the rural landscapes of Maasai country.
Arrive at your camp or lodge for lunch. After settling in, take an afternoon game drive across the Mara’s open savannah.
The reserve supports an extraordinary variety of wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeest, zebras, hippos and many species of antelope.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight options: Mara Sentrim Camp, Mara Sopa Lodge, Zebra Plains Mara Camp or Little Zebra River Camp
Day 9: Full-Day Maasai Mara Safari
After breakfast, depart for a full-day game-viewing experience in the Maasai Mara. A picnic lunch can be arranged so that more time can be spent exploring the reserve.
Travel toward the Mara River and follow the routes used by migrating wildebeest and zebras. The Great Migration is seasonal, and river crossings cannot be guaranteed, but the Maasai Mara offers outstanding wildlife viewing throughout the year.
Return to the lodge or camp in the late afternoon.
An optional sunrise hot-air-balloon safari may be arranged at an additional cost. The flight is normally followed by a celebratory breakfast in the bush.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight: Selected Maasai Mara lodge or camp
Day 10: Maasai Mara – Lake Naivasha
After breakfast, leave the Maasai Mara and travel to Lake Naivasha, a beautiful freshwater lake in the Great Rift Valley.
Arrive in time for lunch and spend the afternoon enjoying the lakeside environment. An optional boat excursion can be arranged to observe hippos and waterbirds. A guided walk on Crescent Island may also be available.
Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight: Lake Naivasha lodge
Day 11: Lake Naivasha – Amboseli National Park
After an early breakfast, depart for Amboseli National Park. Travel south through Nairobi and onward to the landscapes beneath Mount Kilimanjaro.
Arrive at your lodge for lunch, subject to road and traffic conditions. In the afternoon, enjoy your first game drive in Amboseli.
The park is famous for its large elephant herds, seasonal wetlands and iconic views of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro. Other animals may include lions, cheetahs, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and hippos.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight: Amboseli lodge or tented camp
Day 12: Amboseli – Tsavo West National Park
Rise early for a game drive and, weather permitting, clear views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Return to the lodge for breakfast before departing for Tsavo West National Park.
Tsavo West is characterised by volcanic hills, ancient lava flows, springs and dramatic wilderness scenery. After lunch at the lodge, enjoy an afternoon game drive.
Possible highlights include Mzima Springs, the Shetani lava flow and sightings of elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes and antelopes.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight: Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge
Day 13: Tsavo West – Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
After breakfast, enjoy a final game drive in Tsavo West before continuing to Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary.
Arrive for lunch and check in at the distinctive Salt Lick Safari Lodge. The lodge is elevated on stilts overlooking a waterhole, offering excellent opportunities to watch animals from the comfort of the property.
Later, take an afternoon game drive through the sanctuary. Return to the lodge for dinner and an evening of wildlife viewing around the floodlit waterhole.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight: Salt Lick Safari Lodge
Day 14: Taita Hills – Nairobi and Departure
Enjoy an early-morning game drive followed by breakfast at the lodge.
Check out and begin the journey back to Nairobi, with lunch en route or upon arrival depending on the day’s schedule. You will then be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your international flight.
Guests continuing to the coast may travel to Mombasa or Diani Beach for an optional beach extension.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch, depending on departure arrangements
End of safari services
Optional Diani Beach or Mombasa Extension
After the safari, extend your holiday with a relaxing stay on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast. Enjoy white-sand beaches, warm tropical waters and optional activities such as snorkelling, diving, dhow sailing, spa treatments and cultural excursions.
The number of nights and choice of beach resort can be tailored to suit your preferred schedule and budget.
Suggested Safari Package Inclusions
- Airport arrival assistance and transfers
- Accommodation in selected hotels, lodges and tented camps
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Transportation in a safari vehicle
- Services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Scheduled game drives
- National park, reserve and conservancy entrance fees
- Bottled drinking water during safari drives
- Emergency medical evacuation cover, where included by the operator
Typical Exclusions
- International and domestic flights unless specifically quoted
- Visa or electronic travel-authorisation fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Optional hot-air-balloon safari
- Optional boat trips, guided walks and beach activities
- Alcoholic and premium beverages
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Items not expressly listed as included
Important Notes
- Wildlife sightings and Great Migration river crossings cannot be guaranteed.
- Driving times are approximate and may vary because of traffic, weather and road conditions.
- Accommodation is subject to availability at the time of booking. A comparable property may be offered if the preferred lodge or camp is unavailable.
- The itinerary may be adjusted to suit flight schedules, seasonal conditions, guest preferences and the selected accommodation category.
