9 Days Kenya Family Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi – Welcome to Magical Kenya

Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where your private safari guide will greet your family and transfer you to your hotel in Nairobi. After check-in, relax and unwind after your flight. Depending on your arrival time, you may visit the Giraffe Centre to feed endangered Rothschild giraffes or stop by the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage to meet rescued baby elephants—two experiences children adore.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Hemingways Nairobi / Giraffe Manor

• Family-Friendly: Eka Hotel / Tamarind Tree Hotel

Day 2: Nairobi – Drive to Amboseli National Park

After breakfast, depart for Amboseli National Park, located at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. The drive takes about four hours, passing through scenic farmlands and Maasai villages.

Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch and enjoy your first afternoon game drive in the park. Amboseli is famous for its large elephant herds, often photographed with the towering Kilimanjaro as a backdrop. Kids will love spotting giraffes, zebras, lions, buffaloes, and warthogs roaming freely across the plains.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Tortilis Camp / Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge

• Family-Friendly: Ol Tukai Lodge / Kibo Safari Camp

Day 3: Full-Day Safari in Amboseli National Park

Wake up early for a sunrise game drive, when the light is golden and wildlife is most active. Watch elephants splash in the swamps, see hippos lounging in the water, and look out for big cats hiding in the tall grass.

Return to the lodge for a late breakfast, then enjoy some family leisure time—swim in the pool, play board games, or relax on your veranda as Kilimanjaro’s snow-capped peaks glisten in the distance.

In the afternoon, head out for another game drive followed by a sundowner in the bush. The day ends with storytelling around the campfire under Africa’s starlit sky.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Tawi Lodge / Tortilis Camp

Day 4: Amboseli – Drive to Lake Naivasha (Great Rift Valley)

After breakfast, set off for the Great Rift Valley, a scenic drive descending into one of Africa’s most dramatic geological features. Arrive at Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake teeming with birdlife and hippos.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat ride on Lake Naivasha, where children can spot hippos up close and watch fish eagles swooping for their catch. Continue to Crescent Island for a guided walking safari among giraffes, zebras, and antelopes—a thrilling yet safe adventure for the whole family.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Chui Lodge / Loldia House

• Family-Friendly: Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort / Naivasha Kongoni Lodge

Day 5: Explore Hell’s Gate National Park

After breakfast, head to Hell’s Gate National Park, one of the only parks in Kenya where walking and cycling safaris are allowed. Ride bicycles through scenic gorges and volcanic formations while spotting zebras, giraffes, and gazelles. Kids especially love this hands-on experience and the chance to explore the dramatic landscapes that inspired Disney’s The Lion King.

Optional activities include a visit to the nearby Elsamere Conservation Centre, the former home of Joy Adamson, author of Born Free, for a light lunch and storytelling about wildlife conservation.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Chui Lodge

• Family-Friendly: Lake Naivasha Country Club

Day 6: Lake Naivasha – Drive to Lake Nakuru National Park

After breakfast, travel to Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for its flocks of flamingos and rhinos. Arrive for lunch, followed by an afternoon game drive around the lake.

Look out for white and black rhinos, Rothschild giraffes, lions, buffaloes, and baboons. The combination of forest, lake, and escarpment provides stunning scenery and easy game viewing—ideal for families with children.

Dinner and Overnight:

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

• Family-Friendly: Lake Nakuru Lodge / Flamingo Hill Camp

Day 7: Lake Nakuru – Drive to Masai Mara National Reserve

After breakfast, continue your safari to the Masai Mara National Reserve, the crown jewel of Kenya’s parks. The drive takes you through rolling hills and Maasai villages, arriving in time for lunch.

In the afternoon, head out for your first game drive in the Mara, where you’ll encounter elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and cheetahs across the golden plains. Kids will love spotting animals up close and learning about their behaviors from your guide.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Mara Bushtops / Angama Mara

• Family-Friendly: Mara Serena Safari Lodge / Basecamp Explorer

Day 8: Full-Day Game Drive in Masai Mara – Maasai Village Visit

After an early breakfast, set out for a full-day game drive in the Masai Mara. Depending on the season (July–October), you may witness the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest and zebras cross the Mara River—a spectacle that captivates all ages.

Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush surrounded by Africa’s breathtaking landscapes. In the afternoon, visit a traditional Maasai village to learn about their culture, dance, and crafts. It’s a fun and educational experience for children and a beautiful way to connect with Kenya’s living heritage.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Mara Plains Camp / Mahali Mzuri

• Family-Friendly: Mara Intrepids Camp / Mara Leisure Camp

Day 9: Morning Game Drive – Return to Nairobi

Enjoy your final morning game drive as the sun rises over the Mara. Capture those last family photos with elephants or giraffes before returning to your lodge for breakfast. Later, check out and drive back to Nairobi, arriving in the afternoon.

Depending on your flight schedule, you can enjoy lunch at Carnivore Restaurant or visit the Kazuri Beads Women’s Cooperative for souvenirs before transferring to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your departure flight.

Your 9 Days Kenya Family Safari ends with hearts full of joy, camera rolls full of memories, and a renewed love for Africa’s wilderness.