Best of Kenya Wildlife Safari
Trip duration
9 days/ 8 nights
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN KENYA, NAIROBI
Our Best of Kenya Wildlife Safari starts in the capital city of Kenya, Nairobi. This is also the tourism capital of Kenya and hosts hundreds of tourist attraction sites and monuments. The city of Nairobi is also famous for being the only capital city in the world with a national park – Nairobi National Park.
When you land at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, our concierge team will meet you and help you with a transfer to the hotel. Here you will get to relax in the “green city in the sun”, Nairobi’s nick-name; as you wait for your safari to begin.
On this day if you have some free time, you may choose to explore local attractions around Nairobi, or do a game drive in Nairobi National Park.
Night in Nairobi.
DAY 2 AND 3: AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK, THE FOOTHILLS OF MT. KILIMANJARO
Our Best of Kenya Wildlife Safari will then head to Amboseli National Park, at the foothills of the mighty Mt. Kilimanjaro (Africa’s highest mountain). This beautiful park is one of the premium national parks in Kenya and offers amazing views of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Amboseli National Park is very famous for its elephants. This is often termed as the best destination in Africa to see and photograph wild elephant herds. Amboseli also hosts the oldest elephant research project, which was started by the famous Cynthia Moss and her team.
We shall enjoy game drives here as we scan the salty and dusty plains. Some sections have beautiful grasslands, and others are covered by Acacia woodland. Amboseli is also famous for Lake Amboseli, a seasonal pan that collects water in the rainy season. There are many other wetlands and swamps all over the park, and these attract many waterbirds and mammals.
Highlight mammals here include African Elephant, Banded Mongoose, Olive Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Common Hippopotamus, Common Zebra, Common Waterbuck, Gerenuk, Grant’s Gazelle, Thomson’s Gazelle, Common Impala, Bohor Reedbuck, Maasai Giraffe, Common Warthog, Cheetah, African Civet, White-bearded Wildebeest, Black-backed Jackal, African Golden Wolf, Spotted Hyena, Serval, African Wild Cat and African Lion.
Highlight birds include Lesser Flamingo, Greater Flamingo, African Fish Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Saddle-billed Stork, Hamerkop, Common Ostrich, Goliath Heron, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Kori Bustard and Grey Crowned Crane.
Some of the exciting reptiles found in Amboseli National Park include Leopard Tortoise, Striped Skink and Kenya Red-headed Rock Agama.
Nights in Amboseli.
DAY 4: NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK
We shall then proceed to Nairobi city, where we shall enjoy an afternoon in Nairobi National Park. This is a key site on our Best of Kenya Wildlife Safari.
Nairobi National Park is the oldest national park in Kenya, set up around 1945-46. This urban park is very unique globally for being the only national park located in a major capital city. This national park is small, with a great road network, allowing you adequate space to enjoy local wildlife.
Nairobi National Park is one of the rhino sanctuaries in Kenya, where both Black Rhinos and White Rhinos breed. Other mammals found here are African Lion, Common Hippopotamus, African Buffalo, Bohor Reedbuck, Mountain Reedbuck, Olive Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Common Waterbuck, Defassa Waterbuck, White-bearded Wildebeest, Leopard, Cheetah, Spotted Hyena, Serval, Black-backed Jackal, Bushbuck, Suni, Maasai Giraffe, Common Impala, Thomson’s Gazelle, Grant’s Gazelle, Common Zebra, Slender-tailed Mongoose, Ochre Bush Squirrel, Common Eland, Bush Hyrax, Southern Tree Hyrax, Common Warthog, Coke’s Hartebeest and Bush Duiker.
Nile Crocodiles, Striped Skink, Leopard Tortoise, Serrated Hinged Terrapin, Tropical House Gecko and Kenya Red-headed Rock Agama are common reptiles seen in Nairobi National Park.
Interesting birds found here include White-backed Vulture, African Open-billed Stork, White-bellied Bustard, Secretarybird, White-winged Widowbird, Long-tailed Fiscal, Long-toed Lapwing, Speke’s Weaver, Superb Starling, Hybrid Lovebird, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Hamerkop and Yellow-necked Spurfowl.
Night in Nairobi.
DAY 5: LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK
Our Best of Kenya Wildlife Safari will then head to the beautiful Lake Nakuru National Park. Lake Nakuru is a Salty or Soda Lake found in the heart of the Great Rift Valley.
Lake Nakuru National Park is a rhino sanctuary where both Black Rhinos and White Rhinos breed. Other mammals found in Lake Nakuru National Park include African Lion, Rothschild’s Giraffe, Defassa Waterbuck, Black-backed Jackal, Side-striped Jackal, Bat-eared Fox, Spotted Hyena, Striped Hyena, Common Zebra, Common Impala, African Buffalo, Naivasha Dikdik, Rock Hyrax, Leopard, Olive Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Common Hippopotamus, Grant’s Gazelle and Thomson’s Gazelle.
This diverse national park was the first park in Africa to be set up as a birds’ sanctuary. Birds are indeed very exciting here and one of the main attractions in Lake Nakuru is the big flock of flamingos. Both Lesser Flamingos and Greater Flamingos co-exist here. Other exciting birds here include Great White Pelican, Hamerkop, African Fish Eagle, Grey-backed Fiscal, Greater Blue-eared Starling, Lilac-breasted Roller, Helmeted Guineafowl, White-browed Robin-Chat, Yellow-billed Duck, Blacksmith Lapwing and Yellow-billed Stork.
Common reptiles found in Lake Nakuru National Park include Tropical House Gecko, Kenya Red-headed Rock Agama and Striped Skink.
Night in Nakuru.
DAY 6, 7 AND 8: MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
We shall spend the next days exploring the mighty Masai Mara National Reserve, a key site for our Best of Kenya Wildlife Safari. On our way, we shall enjoy scenic landscapes, such as the Great Rift Valley.
Masai Mara National Reserve, sometimes commonly known as Maasai Mara, is definitely the top wildlife safari destination in Kenya. The name Maasai Mara comes from the local people who live here – the Maasai Tribe.
The Great Wildebeest Migration is an annual event here that is often regarded as the eighth (8th) wonder of the world. The migration journey takes the wildebeests in a circle, from the breeding grounds in Southern Serengeti round to Northern Masai Mara and back.
Other exciting mammals in Masai Mara National Reserve include African Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Topi, Thomson’s Gazelle, Common Zebra, Common Eland, Grant’s Gazelle, Steenbok, Oribi, Defassa Waterbuck, African Buffalo, Maasai Giraffe, Naivasha Dikdik, Common Impala, Common Warthog, Coke’s Hartebeest, Olive Baboon, Vervet Monkey, African Savannah Elephant, Black Rhino, Bushbuck, Banded Mongoose, Serval, Black-backed Jackal, Bohor Reedbuck and Common Hippopotamus.
Interesting birds in Masai Mara include Lappet-faced Vulture, Grey Crowned Crane, Kori Bustard, Common Ostrich, Martial Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Hamerkop, Saddle-billed Stork, Southern Ground Hornbill, Bare-faced Go-away-bird and Secretarybird.
Common reptiles in Masai Mara include Mwanza Flat-headed Rock Agama, Nile Monitor Lizard and Nile Crocodile.
Nights in Masai Mara.
DAY 9: MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE TO NAIROBI
On this day, we shall travel back to Nairobi, cruising across the scenic Great Rift Valley.
We shall then enjoy a transfer to the airport, for our flights home. This marks the end to our lovely Best of Kenya Wildlife Safari.
You may also choose to join one of our safari extensions, such as the Diani Beach Holiday.
Highlight mammals and others
African Lion, White-bearded Wildebeest, Maasai Giraffe, African Elephant, Common Hippo, Cheetah, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Serval, Black Rhino, African Buffalo, Topi, Thomson’s Gazelle, Grant’s Gazelle, Common Warthog, Common Zebra, Caracal, Nile Crocodile, Nile Monitor Lizard
Highlight birds
Grey Crowned Crane, Kori Bustard, Common Ostrich, Martial Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Hamerkop, Saddle-billed Stork, Southern Ground Hornbill, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Secretarybird
Habitats covered
Savannah, Wetlands, Dry Upland Forest
Photographic opportunities
Excellent
Special moments
Mt. Kilimanjaro views, views of the Great Rift Valley, Masai Mara
Price Table:
Peak Season | High / Mid Season | Low Season | |
---|---|---|---|
1 Guest | (Please enquire) | (Please enquire) | (Please enquire) |
2 Guests | (Please enquire) | (Please enquire) | (Please enquire) |
3 Guests | (Please enquire) | (Please enquire) | (Please enquire) |
4 Guests | (Please enquire) | (Please enquire) | (Please enquire) |
5 Guests | (Please enquire) | (Please enquire) | (Please enquire) |
6 Guests | (Please enquire) | (Please enquire) | (Please enquire) |
Single room supplement | (Please enquire) | (Please enquire) | (Please enquire) |
Services Provided / Items Included
- Full time access to a 4×4 open-roofed safari vehicle throughout your trip; with our qualified driver-guide
- Complimentary airport transfers on the stated safari starting and completion days
- Home/ hotel/ airport pick-up and drop-off during the main safari dates
- Accommodation in shared twin or double or triple or family rooms (Please note: single rooms are available at an extra single room supplement, single or solo travelers do not need to pay a single room supplement, because the price for 1 person already includes the single room supplement)
- All meals as per the safari plan
- Unlimited drinking water during the entire trip – to be provided in the vehicle
- Conservation areas, reserves, conservancies and park entry fees as per the safari plan
- Local flights where included in your safari (please check with our office to know which flights are included for your specific safari)
- AMREF Flying Doctors Tourist Cover per person (medical emergency evacuation insurance/ cover)
- All taxes
Items Not Included
- International arrival and departure flights to the safari
- Visas
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal drinks at lodges
- Items of personal pleasure e.g. laundry
- Health and travel insurance