10-Day Epic Kenya Safari – Samburu, Nakuru, Mara, Naivasha & Amboseli

The journey starts in Nairobi and heads north through the central highlands and Nanyuki area towards Samburu. The landscape changes from highland farmland to the drier country of northern Kenya. The afternoon game drive introduces Samburu’s riverine woodland and open dry-country habitats. The guide looks for elephants and the northern species associated with the reserve, including reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra and gerenuk, with stops to observe and photograph wildlife encountered along the circuit.

Morning and afternoon game drives explore Samburu’s dry plains, scrub and Ewaso Nyiro River corridor. The programme looks for the northern species associated with the reserve, including reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich. The riverine woodland provides a contrasting setting for looking for elephants, predators and birds. The full day allows time to explore both the river habitats and more open country, with observation stops following the wildlife encountered on the drives.

The safari leaves Samburu and crosses the highlands towards Lake Nakuru via Nyahururu. The programme retains the stop at Thomson’s Falls to view the waterfall and its wooded setting before continuing into the Rift Valley. At Lake Nakuru National Park, the arrival-day game drive introduces the woodland, grassland and lakeshore habitats. The guide stops for wildlife observation as animals and birds are encountered, beginning the two-night Nakuru stage before the full park day that follows.

Morning and afternoon game drives explore Lake Nakuru National Park’s grasslands, acacia woodland and accessible lakeshore areas. The guide looks for rhinos, giraffes and other mammals, while the lake margins provide time for waterbird observation. The programme covers the contrasting habitats around the lake rather than treating Nakuru as a single viewpoint stop. Flamingo numbers vary with lake conditions and bird movements. The full day builds on the arrival circuit and completes the two-night Nakuru stay.

The safari leaves Lake Nakuru and travels by road towards the Maasai Mara. The arrival-day game drive introduces the Mara’s grassland and woodland habitats, with the guide following reserve tracks to look for the wildlife active on the circuit. Stops allow time for observation and photographs as animals are encountered. This is the first of two Mara nights, with a full day of morning and afternoon game drives scheduled before the route continues towards Lake Naivasha.

Morning and afternoon game drives provide a full day in the Maasai Mara. The morning circuit explores the grasslands and riverine habitats, with time to look for predators, grazing herds and the smaller animals and birds encountered along the way. The later drive continues through the reserve’s open plains, allowing time to follow wildlife behaviour and changing activity through the day. The guide’s stops focus on observation and photography rather than a promised checklist of sightings.

The safari leaves the Maasai Mara and continues by road to Lake Naivasha. The first of the programme’s two boat rides introduces the lake’s papyrus-fringed water and waterbird habitats, with wildlife observed from the boat under the operator’s guidance. This begins the two-night Naivasha stage and provides a change from vehicle-based game viewing. The next day continues the lake programme with the second boat ride and the guided Crescent Island walk before the later journey to Amboseli.

The full Naivasha day includes the programme’s second boat ride and the guided Crescent Island walk. The boat offers another opportunity to observe the lake and its birdlife, while the walk explores the sanctuary’s grassland habitats on foot with the guide. The activity sequence follows lake and site-access conditions. Hell’s Gate cycling remains an optional, separately charged activity alongside the included boat-and-walk programme.

The safari leaves Lake Naivasha for Amboseli, moving from the Rift Valley lake landscape to the plains beneath Mount Kilimanjaro. The arrival game drive introduces the park’s open country and wetland margins, with the guide stopping to observe wildlife encountered along the park roads. This is the single Amboseli overnight in the programme. The next morning completes the Amboseli stage with the scheduled final game drive before the road return to Nairobi.

The final Amboseli game drive provides another opportunity to explore the park’s plains and wetland edges in the morning. The guide stops for wildlife observation and photographs as animals are encountered, completing the Amboseli stage of the safari. The party then leaves the park area for the road journey back to Nairobi. The drive returns the safari from the southern plains to the capital, where the stage finishes at the agreed Nairobi point.