
Kenya Budget Wildlife Safari – 7 Days
Trip duration
7 days/ 6 nights
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN KENYA, NAIROBI
Our Kenya Budget 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: SAMBURU AND BUFFALO SPRINGS NATIONAL RESERVES
We shall then head North, beyond the towering peaks of Mt. Kenya, into the drier semi-arid lands of Northern Kenya. This is a great destination on our Kenya Budget Wildlife Safari.
Samburu National Reserve and her sister Buffalo Springs National Reserve are two adjacent conservation areas, separated by the mighty Ewaso Nyiro River (often known as Ewaso Ng’iro North River). This is a semi-arid area North of the Equator line; and characterized by bushland and scrubland. In scattered areas, mixed thorny bush habitat and acacia woodlands host many exciting animals all year round. Here majestic Doum Palms are a characteristic sight in the vast landscape, often growing along the seasonal rivers.
Buffalo Springs National Reserve is famous for the natural springs that form a swimming pool in the hot environment. A dip in the pool is one of the attractions here.
Mammals found in Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves include the Beisa Oryx, Gunther’s Dikdik, Kirk’s Dikdik, Greater Kudu, African Elephant, African Buffalo, Common Zebra, Grevy’s Zebra, Desert Warthog, Unstriped Ground Squirrel, Black-backed Jackal, Bat-eared Fox, Reticulated Giraffe, Klipspringer, Leopard, African Lion, Cheetah, Bush Hyrax, Olive Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Striped Hyena, Bright’s Gazelle and Gerenuk.
Exciting birds here include Somali Ostrich, Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill, White-throated Bee-eater, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Black-faced Sandgrouse, White-headed Buffalo-Weaver, Golden-breasted Starling, White-headed Mousebird, African Orange-bellied Parrot and Vulturine Guineafowl.
Reptiles common in Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves include Nile Crocodile and Savannah Monitor Lizard.
Nights in Samburu or Buffalo Springs.
DAY 4: LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK
Our Kenya Budget 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 5 AND 6: MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
We shall spend the next days exploring the mighty Masai Mara National Reserve, a key site for our Kenya Budget Wildlife Safari.
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 7: 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 Kenya Budget Wildlife Safari.
You may also choose to join one of our safari extensions, such as the Mombasa 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, Beisa Oryx, Grevy’s Zebra, Gerenuk, 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, Semi-arid Scrubland
Photographic opportunities
Excellent
Special moments
Mt. Kenya views, 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) |
Prices are indicated per group (if you are more than 1 person, the price indicated is the total for your entire group; so it will be shared among all of you). Prices are based on seasons (dates), transport option (landcruiser or van), accommodation type and group size.
Seasons: Peak Season (1st July to 31st October, 16th December to 5th January); High Season (6th January to 31st March, 1st November to 15th December); Low Season (1st April to 30th June).
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
- Economy Hotels/ Lodges/ Resorts/ Camps
- Medium Hotels/ Lodges/ Resorts/ Camps
- Luxury Hotels/ Lodges/ Resorts/ Camps
Ibis Hotel Nairobi, Samburu Sopa Lodge/ Samburu Simba Lodge, Lake Nakuru Lodge, Sentrim Mara Camp/ Osero Mara Camp; or similar lodges