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Summary
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Duration
9 DaysStarts In
NairobiRoute
Nairobi, Masai Mara National Reserve, Samburu National Reserve, Nyahururu, Lake Naivasha
Discover the remarkable diversity of Kenya on this scenic safari, travelling from the wild, sun-baked north to the legendary plains of the south. Begin in Buffalo Springs National Reserve, home to the rare Samburu Special Five: gerenuk, Grevy's zebra, Beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe and Somali ostrich. Continue to the cool Central Highlands at Nyahururu to see the thundering Thomson's Falls and stand on the Equator. Descend into the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru, a sanctuary for rhinos and Rothschild's giraffe, and cruise the tranquil waters of Lake Naivasha. End your journey in the Masai Mara, home of the Big Five and, from roughly July to October, the awe-inspiring Great Migration.
SMALL GROUP SAFARI - 9 Days / 8 Nights featuring Kenya. Includes private arrival & departure transfers, accommodations in Nairobi, Samburu, Nakuru and Masai Mara National Reserve, game drives as indicated in the itinerary. This itinerary is also available as a Private Safari.
Includes
- Accommodations as per itinerary
- Meals as per itinerary; breakfast (B), lunch (L), dinner (D)
- Keytours 24-hour emergency assistance
- Private arrival and departure transfers as per itinerary
- National Park Entrance Fees
- Game Drives: As Per Itinerary
Excludes
- Items of a personal nature
- All other items not mentioned as included
- Transfers not mentioned in the itinerary
- Travel insurance; please inquire with your Keytours travel consultant
- Gratuities for drivers, guides, and escorts
Itinerary
Day
1
1
Day 1
Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi
Welcome to Kenya! On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you'll be met and transferred to Emara Ole Sereni, where check-in is from around 14:00. This stylish hotel sits on the edge of Nairobi National Park, with floor-to-ceiling windows framing sweeping views of grazing wildlife on one side and the city skyline on the other. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, or if you arrive early, explore on an optional excursion. Watch orphaned baby elephants at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, visit Karen Blixen's former home on an Out of Africa excursion, or discover the city with local guides on a Nai Nami cultural walking tour (additional cost; please refer to the local excursion rate sheet).
Day
2
2
Day 2
Day 2: Nairobi to Buffalo Springs National Reserve
After an early breakfast, head north out of Nairobi, passing Thika and travelling through a lush landscape of mountain streams and tea and coffee plantations. Skirt the slopes of Mount Kenya beyond Nanyuki and continue to Isiolo, the frontier town that marks the gateway to Kenya's northern wilderness. Arrive at Samburu Simba Lodge in time for lunch, perched above Buffalo Springs and the Ewaso Nyiro River with views over plains often dotted with grazing elephants. In the afternoon, set out on your first game drive in search of the region's rare and unusual wildlife, returning as the sun sets over the dramatic northern landscape.
Day
3
3
Day 3
Day 3: Buffalo Springs National Reserve
Rise early for a morning game drive, when the reserve's wildlife is most active. Search for the Samburu Special Five, found almost nowhere else in Kenya: the long-necked gerenuk standing on its hind legs to browse, the finely striped Grevy's zebra, the elegant Beisa oryx, the beautifully patterned reticulated giraffe and the blue-legged Somali ostrich. Return to the lodge for a leisurely breakfast, then relax by one of the two pools or on the terrace overlooking the river. After lunch, head out on an afternoon drive, watching elephants gather along the riverbanks as the day cools, before returning to the lodge at sunset.
Day
4
4
Day 4
Day 4: Buffalo Springs to Nyahururu
Leave the north behind and travel south through Isiolo, skirting the northern foothills of Mount Kenya with sweeping highland views. Pass through the charming equatorial town of Nanyuki and pause on the Equator for a memorable photo stop, before heading northwest to Nyahururu. Arrive at the Panari Resort Nyahururu for lunch, set in 20 acres of forest overlooking the Thomson's Falls gorge. In the afternoon, join a guided nature walk through the grounds, then continue to Thomson's Falls, where the Ewaso Narok River plunges 74 metres into the gorge below, and on to the nearby hippo pools. Return to the resort to relax for the evening.
Day
5
5
Day 5
Day 5: Nyahururu to Lake Naivasha via Lake Nakuru
After an early breakfast, drive south into the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park for a game drive through its woodlands, grasslands and lakeshore. One of Kenya's most important rhino sanctuaries, the park is home to both black and white rhinos, the endangered Rothschild's giraffe and abundant birdlife, including flamingos when water levels allow. Enjoy lunch at a lodge within the park, then continue game viewing on your way to the gate before travelling on to Lake Naivasha. Arrive mid-afternoon for a peaceful one-hour boat ride, gliding past hippos, pelicans and fish eagles, before continuing to Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge for the evening.
Day
6
6
Day 6
Day 6: Lake Naivasha to the Masai Mara
After an early breakfast, journey south from the lake, climbing the Mau Escarpment for sweeping views back across the Great Rift Valley. Pass through Narok, the bustling gateway to the Masai Mara, and on through vast golden fields of wheat and barley. Arrive at Mara Simba Lodge in time for lunch and a short rest, then head out on your first game drive in the legendary Masai Mara. Watch for lion, cheetah, elephant and the great herds of zebra, topi and wildebeest that roam the endless savannah, returning to the lodge as the golden sun sinks below the horizon.
Day
7
7
Day 7
Day 7: The Masai Mara
After breakfast, set out on a morning game drive across the Mara's open plains, when predators are often still on the move after the night's hunt. Return to the lodge mid-morning to relax before lunch, then head out again in the afternoon as the light softens and the bush comes alive. From roughly July to October, the Great Migration brings vast herds of wildebeest and zebra, with the chance to witness dramatic river crossings. For a truly magical experience, pre-book a sunrise hot-air balloon safari, floating silently over the plains before a champagne breakfast in the bush (additional cost). Return to the lodge at sunset for dinner.
Day
8
8
Day 8
Day 8: Another Day in the Mara
Spend another exhilarating day exploring the Masai Mara on morning and afternoon game drives, searching for any of the Big Five still missing from your list or following up on the previous day's sightings. You might find a leopard resting in the branches of a fig tree, a pride of lions with playful cubs, or elephants moving in slow procession across the horizon. Between drives, relax at the lodge and enjoy the bush surroundings. If you didn't take to the skies yesterday, there's another chance this morning for a sunrise balloon safari (additional cost). This evening, toast your final night on safari.
Day
9
9
Day 9
Day 9: Masai Mara to Nairobi
After breakfast, bid farewell to the Mara and travel back through the rolling wheat and barley fields to Narok. Cross the floor of the Great Rift Valley and climb the escarpment via the historic road built by Italian prisoners of war during the Second World War, enjoying sweeping views along the way. Arrive in Nairobi in the early afternoon, where you'll be dropped at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the Panari Hotel or Emara Ole Sereni for your onward travel, with memories of rare northern wildlife, thundering waterfalls and the great plains of the Mara.
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