14 Days Ultimate Kenya Wildlife Expedition

Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi – The Gateway to Africa

Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where you’ll be met by your private safari guide and transferred to your Nairobi hotel. After check-in, relax and unwind from your journey. Depending on your arrival time, you may visit the Giraffe Centre, David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, or enjoy a leisurely dinner at the famous Carnivore Restaurant.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Hemingways Nairobi / Giraffe Manor

• Mid-range: Tamarind Tree Hotel / Eka Hotel Nairobi

Day 2: Nairobi – Drive to Amboseli National Park

After breakfast, set off for Amboseli National Park, one of Kenya’s most scenic reserves, located at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. Arrive in time for lunch at your lodge, followed by an afternoon game drive.

Amboseli is renowned for its huge herds of elephants, set against the backdrop of Africa’s highest peak. Keep your camera ready for spectacular photos of elephants walking across the plains beneath the mountain’s snowcapped summit.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Tortilis Camp / Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge

• Mid-range: Ol Tukai Lodge / Kibo Safari Camp

Day 3: Full-Day Game Viewing in Amboseli

Rise early for a sunrise game drive, when Mount Kilimanjaro is most visible and wildlife most active. Spot elephants, lions, giraffes, buffaloes, and hippos thriving around Amboseli’s wetlands.

Return to your lodge for breakfast and relaxation. In the afternoon, embark on another game drive before sunset, capturing the golden glow over the plains.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Tawi Lodge / Tortilis Camp

Day 4: Amboseli – Drive to Aberdare National Park

After breakfast, journey north through fertile highlands to Aberdare National Park, known for its cool climate, thick forests, and abundant wildlife.

Arrive at your lodge built deep in the forest, where wildlife such as elephants, bushbucks, and leopards frequent the floodlit waterholes. Spend the evening watching animals from the viewing decks—a magical, tranquil experience unique to Aberdare.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: The Ark Lodge / Aberdare Country Club

• Mid-range: Treetops Lodge

Day 5: Aberdare – Drive to Samburu National Reserve

After breakfast, drive further north to the semi-arid landscapes of Samburu National Reserve, home to rare wildlife species found only in northern Kenya. Arrive in time for lunch at your camp, then enjoy your first game drive in this rugged, beautiful wilderness.

Expect to see the “Samburu Special Five”—Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, Beisa oryx, and gerenuk—alongside elephants, lions, and leopards along the Ewaso Nyiro River.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Samburu Intrepids Camp / Saruni Samburu Lodge

• Mid-range: Ashnil Samburu Camp

Day 6: Full-Day Game Drives in Samburu

Spend the day exploring Samburu’s unique ecosystems. Morning and afternoon game drives offer opportunities to spot elephants, cheetahs, leopards, and even wild dogs.

You can also visit a Samburu village to learn about the tribe’s customs, colorful attire, and traditional dances—a cultural highlight of your journey.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Elephant Bedroom Camp / Samburu Intrepids

Day 7: Samburu – Drive to Mount Kenya Region (Ol Pejeta Conservancy)

After breakfast, head south to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, located between the foothills of Mount Kenya and the Aberdare ranges.

Ol Pejeta is a world-leading conservation area, home to the last two northern white rhinos and a large population of black rhinos. It’s also the only place in Kenya where you can see chimpanzees in the Sweetwaters Sanctuary. Enjoy game drives and learn about the conservancy’s impressive wildlife protection efforts.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Sweetwaters Serena Camp

• Mid-range: Serena Mountain Lodge

Day 8: Ol Pejeta – Drive to Lake Nakuru National Park

After breakfast, descend into the Great Rift Valley toward Lake Nakuru National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rhinos, flamingos, and scenic beauty.

Enjoy an afternoon game drive around the lake, watching white and black rhinos, Rothschild giraffes, and buffaloes grazing against the backdrop of acacia woodlands. The park is also a paradise for bird lovers.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: The Cliff Nakuru / Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge

• Mid-range: Lake Nakuru Lodge / Flamingo Hill Camp

Day 9: Lake Nakuru – Drive to Lake Naivasha

After breakfast, continue to Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake famous for its tranquil beauty and rich biodiversity.

Take a boat ride to observe hippos and waterbirds, followed by a walking safari on Crescent Island, where giraffes and zebras roam freely. The afternoon is at leisure to relax by the lake or enjoy an optional cycling tour at Hell’s Gate National Park.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Chui Lodge / Loldia House

• Mid-range: Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort / Naivasha Kongoni Lodge

Day 10: Lake Naivasha – Drive to Masai Mara National Reserve

After breakfast, journey west to Kenya’s most iconic safari destination—the Masai Mara National Reserve. Arrive in time for lunch at your camp, followed by an afternoon game drive across the vast golden plains.

The Mara teems with wildlife year-round and is especially famous for the Great Migration (July–October), when millions of wildebeest and zebras cross from Tanzania’s Serengeti in search of greener pastures.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Angama Mara / Mara Bushtops

• Mid-range: Mara Simba Lodge / Mara Sopa Lodge

Day 11: Full-Day Game Drive in Masai Mara

Spend the day exploring the Masai Mara’s endless savannahs on morning and afternoon game drives. The park offers exceptional opportunities to see the Big Five and witness predator-prey interactions in their natural habitat.

Optional: Take a hot air balloon safari at sunrise for breathtaking aerial views, followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Mara Plains Camp / Mahali Mzuri

• Mid-range: Ashnil Mara Camp / Mara Intrepids

Day 12: Cultural Visit & Sunset Safari in Masai Mara

Start your day with a visit to a traditional Maasai village, where you’ll learn about the tribe’s culture, traditions, and coexistence with wildlife.

Later, enjoy an afternoon game drive and end your day with a sundowner experience—a perfect way to celebrate your Kenyan adventure as the sun dips below the savannah horizon.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Mara Serena Safari Lodge / Angama Mara

• Mid-range: Mara Leisure Camp / Fig Tree Camp

Day 13: Masai Mara – Flight to Nairobi

After a final early morning game drive, enjoy breakfast at your camp before your transfer to the airstrip for a short flight to Nairobi. Upon arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel for a relaxing afternoon or an optional Nairobi city shopping tour.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Hemingways Nairobi

• Mid-range: Tamarind Tree Hotel

Day 14: Nairobi – Departure

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before being transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward flight. Depending on your schedule, you can enjoy lunch at a local restaurant or visit the Kazuri Beads Women’s Cooperative for authentic souvenirs.

Your 14 Days Ultimate Kenya Wildlife Expedition ends with a heart full of memories—from the elephants of Amboseli to the lions of the Mara, and the vibrant culture that makes Kenya truly magical.