Kenya Wildlife Safari
10 game drives in Nairobi, Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru & Masai Mara; Stay in superior Nairobi hotels & safari lodges. Also available with Victoria Falls.
Overview
| Style | Small Group TourTravel with a small, intimate group of no more than 16 likeminded travelers (and often much fewer), escorted by an English speaking guide and/or tour manager for some or all of your journey. (Some exceptions, including special promotional packages, may accommodate up to 30.) More of these packages
Dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout |
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| Departures | February – December 2025 | Group Size | 16 travelers max |
| Themes | Active, Nature & Wildlife | ||
| Activity Level | Recreational | ||
| What to Expect | This fast-paced, partially escorted tour includes a reasonable amount of walking or hiking and requires an average level of physical fitness. This tour also includes long scenic drives between destinations, sometimes on bumpy unpaved roads and may have limited rest stops. | ||
| Already booked? | Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more. | ||
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Savvy travelers and novices include Kenya on their list of dream destinations, and for good reason. Kenya is blessed with an abundance of spectacular wildlife and lavishly gorgeous, incredibly photogenic landscapes. The people are friendly and welcoming everywhere, from the teeming cities to the plains of the Masai Mara. Tourist infrastructure is impressive, often offering white glove service where the basics of running water and electricity appear impossible to find. Game reserves are magnificent, filled with wildlife, beautiful lakes and beaches, and sweeping vistas that seem to go on forever.
With more than 50 parks to choose from in Kenya alone, it's hard to decide where to go. But everyone agrees that the Masai Mara and Samburu parks are must-visit sites. Our Kenya Wildlife Safari includes them both plus a lot more! And like all Friendly Planet tours, you'll enjoy the best of Kenya at prices that are as amazing as the country.
If you want even more iconic Africa, see our Kenya Wildlife Express with Victoria Falls!
Package includes
- Flights
- Coach
- Transfers
- Hotel
- Meals
- Guides
- Round trip airfare from New York to Nairobi, including taxes & fees
- All intra-Africa land transportation and transfers
- 8 nights' accommodations at superior Nairobi hotels and safari lodges plus day-use room on day 10
- 22 meals: 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners, including a welcome dinner at the famous Carnivore Restaurant
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours and game-viewing drives by local English-speaking guides
- All-wheel drive (4x4) safari vehicles with guaranteed window seat and access to roof hatch, maximum 6 guests per vehicle
- Experienced driver/guide
Optional add-ons
- Flights from other cities are available. Request pricing when making your reservation.
- Masai Mara Hot Air Balloon Safari with champagne breakfast
Why you'll love it
- Set out on ten incredible game drives in search of the “Big 5” and more.
- Fall in love with the orphaned elephant babies of Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphans' Nursery and learn how these adorable creatures are cared for before being released back into the wild.
- Learn about the production of handmade beads at the Kazuri Bead Factory, which employs local women and single mothers.
- Help in reforestation by seed bombing, a technique of introducing vegetation to land by throwing or dropping seedballs.
- Tour the Karen Blixen Museum, previously home to the author whose memoir inspired the Oscar-winning film, Out of Africa.
- Hand-feed endangered giraffes at the Langata Giraffe Center.
- See the efforts to save chimpanzees from extinction at the Jane Goodall Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
- Indulge in an array of exotic meats at the famous Carnivore Restaurant.
Itinerary at a Glance
- 1 Depart USA
- 2 Arrive Nairobi
- 3 Nairobi
- 4 Samburu Game Reserve
- 5 Samburu Game Reserve
- 6 Ol Pejeta Conservancy
- 7 Lake Nakuru National Park
- 8 Masai Mara National Reserve
- 9 Masai Mara National Reserve
- Optional Excursion: Masai Mara Hot Air Balloon Safari with champagne breakfast, $470
- 10 Masai Mara & Nairobi/Depart Kenya
Videos
Dates & Prices
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Depart USA
- Depart the USA on your overnight flight to Nairobi, Kenya
Day 2 Arrive Nairobi
- Upon arrival in Nairobi, following customs and immigration formalities, meet our representative and transfer to your hotel
- This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at the famous Carnivore Restaurant
Tamarind Tree Hotel or similar Dinner
Day 3 Nairobi
- Drive to Nairobi National Park for game viewing
- Visit the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
- Tour the Karen Blixen Museum
- See the endangered Rothschild's giraffe at the Langata Giraffe Center
Tamarind Tree Hotel or similar Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryAfter an early breakfast at the hotel, journey to Nairobi National Park, the only national park in the world within a capital city. Established in 1966, the park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, and more! The park is also also known for its large population of black rhinos, which are endangered in the wild.
Continue to the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphans' Nursery, where young orphaned elephant babies are hand-raised until they are released back to their natural habitat in the Tsavo National Park. Here they can mingle freely with the wild community. After lunch, visit the Sandstrom factory, a family-owned business that specializes in designing and producing high-quality leather goods, including handbags, backpacks, wallets, and accessories. The materials used in these fine products are sourced from local suppliers and use traditional leather-crafting techniques; some products are made extra special with the addition of African fabrics and designs, giving them a distinct and authentic look.
Next, visit the Karen Blixen Museum. "Out of Africa" author Karen Blixen formally owned the house and surrounding 4500-acre farm from 1917 until 1931, before becoming a museum in 1991. Later, see the endangered Rothschild's giraffes at The Langata Giraffe Center, established to protect the species. Several warthogs roam freely with the giraffes. Guests may feed the giraffes from a raised feeding platform. Return to the hotel for the remainder of the day at leisure.
Note: Visiting Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage requires advanced booking with limited tickets available per day and has become increasingly difficult to secure advanced tickets. A visit to Nairobi Animal Orphanage, located just outside the Nairobi National Park, will be substituted should Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage be unavailable.
Day 4 Samburu Game Reserve
- Travel north to the remote Samburu Reserve, arriving at the lodge for lunch
- Enjoy an afternoon game drive and dinner at the lodge
Samburu Simba Lodge, Samburu Intrepids Tented Camp or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryAfter an early breakfast, depart Nairobi heading north, traveling through some breathtaking scenery dotted with rushing mountain streams and fields of tea and coffee. After passing the town of Nanyuki, continue north, eventually reaching a dusty outpost known as Isiolo, the last major stop on the journey into the semiarid northern frontier district. Arrive at your lodge in Samburu in time for lunch.
In the afternoon, depart on your first game drive at Samburu Reserve, host to notable five species: the Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk antelope, beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, and Somali ostrich. Return to the camp as the sun sets.
Day 5 Samburu Game Reserve
- Embark on a morning game drive
- After lunch, enjoy free time to relax
- Search for animals during an evening game drive
Samburu Simba Lodge, Samburu Intrepids Tented Camp or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryEnjoy another day of game viewing drives in the Samburu Game Reserve during two safari drives, one in the morning and another in the late afternoon, in a safari vehicle with roof hatch access for perfect game viewing and photography. Guided by your expert driver, search for animals native to this fascinating and beautiful area.
Day 6 Ol Pejeta Conservancy
- Depart for Ol Pejeta Conservancy
- Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at your camp
- In the afternoon, visit the Jane Goodall Chimpanzee Sanctuary followed by a game drive
- This evening, sit by the lit waterhole to view the animals
Sweetwaters Serena Camp, Sarova Maiyan Nanyuki or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, depart for the 90,000-acre Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The conservancy is situated on the equator, in Kenya’s Laikipia District between the foothills of the Aberdares and the snow-capped Mount Kenya. The preservation hosts many animals, including Grevy’s zebra, Jackson’s hartebeest, cheetah, and more. After lunch, visit the Jane Goodall Chimpanzee Sanctuary, followed by a game drive. In the evening, sit by the lit waterhole to view the animals.
Day 7 Lake Nakuru National Park
- Early this morning, travel to Lake Nakuru National Park
- Once in the park, enjoy a game drive
- In the afternoon, there will be another game drive prior to check-in and dinner
Sarova Lion Hill Lodge or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryToday, head west to Nyahururu, still known to many as Thomson's Falls for its 237-foot cascade. Continue south to your next destination, Lake Nakuru. This park is a rhino sanctuary, offering the opportunity to see these endangered animals. It's also home to rare Rothschild giraffes, buffalo, leopards, and lions. Once in the park, there will be a game drive. After lunch, enjoy an afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park. Then, continue to Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge, arriving as the sun sets.
Day 8 Masai Mara National Reserve
- After breakfast, head out for the Masai Mara National Reserve
- En route, enjoy lunch
- Take your first game drive in the Masai Mara on the way to your camp
Mara Intrepids Tented Camp or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, head to the Masai Mara National Reserve, which borders Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. Every year, between July and September, millions of wildebeests and zebras migrate into the Mara in search of water. The timing of this phenomenon varies, depending on the rains, but they usually start heading back to the Serengeti in October.
Whether you see the migration or not, the grassy plains and lush landscape offer a wide variety of game, including lions, cheetahs, buffalo, and abundant bird life, such as ostriches, cranes, and storks. Stop for lunch at a lodge, followed by an afternoon game drive through this haven of wildlife, arriving at the Mara Intrepids Camp as the sun sets.
Day 9 Masai Mara National Reserve
- Enjoy a morning game drive, or take an optional hot air balloon safari
- Have lunch at the lodge, followed by some free time to relax
- Embark on a late afternoon game drive
Mara Intrepids Tented Camp or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryToday, embark on two safari drives, one in the morning and another in the late afternoon, in a safari vehicle with roof hatch access for perfect game viewing and photography.
Have the chance to join an optional early morning Hot Air Balloon safari, which provides an exciting opportunity to soar high over the plains for animal viewing from above. Whether you go by air or land, you will enjoy searching for animals native to this fascinating and beautiful area accompanied by your expert guide, who will amaze you with his ability to spot game hidden in the bush.
Optional Excursion: Masai Mara Hot Air Balloon Safari with champagne breakfast, $470Take to the sky over herds of wildlife in the Masai Mara game reserve, flying in a hot air balloon. The balloon can soar over the most inaccessible and undisturbed parts of the reserve and offers a bird's eye view of the plains below. After an hour in the air, your safari finishes with a champagne breakfast in the bush. This is certain to become a once-in-a-lifetime experience you will remember long after returning from Kenya! Flight may not operate if weather conditions are not suitable.
Note: Rates are higher in July and August.
Day 10 Masai Mara & Nairobi/Depart Kenya
- Depart the Masai Mara for Nairobi
- Enjoy a farewell lunch at a local restaurant
- Transfer to the airport for your overnight return flight
- Your amazing adventures come to an end as you arrive in the USA tomorrow morning
Hilton Garden Inn or similar Breakfast & lunch
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, depart the Masai Mara for Nairobi and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Then, transfer to your day-use room to relax and freshen up before your return flight. Finally, bid farewell to Kenya as you transfer to the airport for your return flight.
Your amazing adventures end as you arrive in the USA tomorrow morning.
Hotels
Tamarind Tree Hotel is ideally located just 5 kms to the southwest of Nairobi near iconic Carnivore Restaurant. The hotel offers easy access to all parts of the city, its national park, as well as to the country’s many diverse attractions via the neighboring Wilson Airport and Southern Bypass. The nearby Langata and Karen suburbs are among the liveliest and most popular in Nairobi with world-class shopping malls and excellent restaurants.Tamarind Tree Hotel's outstanding leisure facilities and genuine service ensures that all our guests experience the very best of Tamarind hospitality.
Samburu Simba lodge is located 300 km north of Nairobi, in Buffalo Springs Game Reserve, overlooking the Uaso Nyiro River. From your room you have a fantastic view over the stunning plains, where elephants are grazing. Reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Beisa orynx and long-necked gerunuk can be seen nearby.
Located 345 kilometers north of Nairobi, this tented lodge offers 28 modern and newly refurbished tents with a private view over the wildlife-rich riverbanks. All the tents are large and spacious under palm-thatched roofs with netted screens. This allows for the river breeze to keep them cool and give you stunning views of Samburu.Behind the bar, surrounded by a shady sunbathing area, is our freeform swimming pool - a soothing drop of blue in this otherwise arid land
The exclusive Sweetwaters Serena Camp is a tented camp located in a private conservancy with a higher wildlife-to-area ration than any of Kenya's national parks. The camp lies in the center of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy which is host to elephants, rhinos, lions, buffalo, and leopard.
Sarova Maiyan Nanyuki is a luxurious hotel nestled in the heart of Nanyuki, Kenya, offering a serene escape amidst the breathtaking landscapes of Mount Kenya and Lolldaiga Hills. This idyllic retreat boasts a perfect blend of modern comfort and natural beauty. The hotel's highlights include stunning views of Mount Kenya, lush gardens, a rooftop pool lounge, horseback riding, and a rejuvenating wellness spa.
Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge is nestled along the Lion Hill overlooking the spectacular flamingo pink rimmed Lake Nakuru. Its location affords panoramic views of the lake and the picturesque Lake Nakuru National Park. A short two-hour drive from Nairobi, it is cleverly laid out in such a way that most rooms and sitting areas afford stunning views of the lake and the park. The Lodge incorporates natural landscaping with tall acacia trees, winding walkways and greens dotted with bird feeds.
Mara Intrepids Camp is located in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. The camp is a short drive to the Mara River, home of the iconic wildebeest migration. The camp’s outdoor pool is surrounded by sun-loungers. There is a library with board games and a playground for children. Hot air balloon rides can be organised at Mara Camp.
The Hilton Garden Inn Nairobi Airport is a 175 room hotel with a convenient location close to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The hotel features complimentary Wi-Fi, a 24 hour business center, a heated rooftop swimming pool, fitness center, complimentary self-operated laundry.
In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.
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What should I know before I go?
Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements?
Can I make changes to my trip?
Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions?
Should I purchase travel insurance?
What's the fine print?
What should I know about Kenya?
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