06:30 hrs: Transfer from your Nairobi hotel to our office for a full safari briefing before beginning your journey to the Masai Mara.
Our first stop is at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint, where you can enjoy spectacular panoramic views across this remarkable landscape. Continue through Mai Mahiu and Suswa, passing the open countryside and expansive wheat fields before arriving at the bustling trading town of Narok.
Continue onwards to the Masai Mara National Reserve, arriving at our private campsite in time for a hot lunch and some time to settle in.
15:30 hrs: Set out on your first afternoon game drive in the Masai Mara. We are on the lookout for the famous black-maned lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, buffalo and a variety of plains game.
Enjoy your first taste of the incredible wildlife and landscapes that make the Mara so special before returning to camp in the evening for dinner and overnight.
06:30 hrs: An early start this morning as we head out for one of the best game drives of the day. After breakfast and hot cup of Chai (tea) or Kahawa (coffee), set off into the Masai Mara while the reserve is still cool and quiet. The early hours offer excellent opportunities to observe wildlife at its most active. We are on the lookout for lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and other wildlife as the morning unfolds across the plains. Return to camp in for hot lunch.
15:30 hrs: Head out once again for a full afternoon game drive. With every game drive, we aim to explore a different part of the reserve, giving you the opportunity to experience new landscapes and encounter different wildlife. As the day comes to an end, enjoy the beautiful Mara sunset before returning to camp for dinner and overnight.
08:00 hrs: After breakfast, head out into the Masai Mara for a full day of game viewing, with a picnic lunch enjoyed in the reserve. With the whole day ahead, there is plenty of time to explore different areas of the Mara at a leisurely pace, while being on the lookout for the abundant wildlife found here.
A highlight of the day will be a visit to the Hippo Pools along the Mara River, where you can leave the vehicle at a designated area and enjoy views of hippos and crocodiles in the river. If conditions permit, you may also have the opportunity to take a short guided walk with a park warden, offering a different perspective of the Mara and its surroundings. Continue exploring the reserve before returning to camp in the late afternoon for some time to relax, followed by dinner and overnight.
06:30 hrs: After breakfast, depart the Masai Mara and travel towards Lake Nakuru National Park.
After lunch, head into the park for an afternoon game drive around Lake Nakuru. The park is renowned for its rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, buffalo, waterbuck and abundant birdlife, with the lake itself attracting a wonderful variety of water birds.
Lake Nakuru has long been associated with its spectacular flamingo populations, creating one of Kenya’s most memorable wildlife and bird-viewing experiences.
After your game drive, continue to your accommodation on the shores of Lake Elementaita, where you can relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
07:00 hrs: After breakfast, depart for Samburu, travelling through the scenic highlands and making a stop at Thompson’s Falls, one of Kenya’s most impressive waterfalls. Continue towards northern Kenya with a picnic lunch en-route, arriving in the Samburu region during the afternoon.
15:30 hrs: Set out on your first game drive in the Samburu ecosystem, exploring the rugged landscapes along the Ewaso Nyiro River.
We are on the lookout for some of northern Kenya’s distinctive wildlife, including the reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, elephants, lions, leopards and other plains game.
Return to your lodge or luxury tented camp for dinner and overnight.
06:30 hrs: Rise early for a morning game drive, one of the best times to experience Samburu. The cool morning hours provide excellent opportunities to watch elephants as they make their way towards the Ewaso Nyiro River to drink and bathe. Return to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, enjoy some leisure time at the lodge — perhaps relax around the pool or simply take an afternoon rest before heading out again.
15:30 hrs: Depart for a full afternoon game drive in search of elephants, big cats, reticulated giraffes, gerenuk, Grevy’s zebra and other wildlife. As the sun begins to set over the Ewaso Nyiro River, enjoy the beautiful Samburu landscape before returning to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast: Depart Samburu and travel towards the foothills of Mount Kenya, arriving at your hotel in time for lunch. Afternoon at leisure, with an opportunity to enjoy a nature walk around the hotel, included in the safari. For those looking for a little more adventure, optional activities are available, including walking or horseback riding along the foothills of Mount Kenya, visiting the Mau Mau Caves and exploring the freshwater streams flowing down from the mountain. These activities are payable directly at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
OPTIONAL UPGRADE: ABERDARE COUNTRY CLUB & THE ARK
After breakfast, depart for Aberdare Country Club, arriving in time for lunch. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon at the country club — take a swim, walk around the golf course or hire a bicycle and explore the grounds.
16:30 hrs: Take the afternoon shuttle to The Ark, where your evening and night are spent overlooking the famous floodlit waterhole and salt lick. From your comfortable viewing areas, watch as wildlife comes to drink throughout the evening and into the night. Depending on the season and conditions, visitors may encounter elephants, buffalo, rhinos, bushbuck, hyenas and other nocturnal wildlife. Dinner and overnight at The Ark.
06.30 After breakfast: Depart the Mount Kenya region and travel south towards Amboseli, passing through the Athi Plains and continuing towards the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Arrive at your camp in time for lunch and some time to settle in.
15:30 hrs: Set out for your first afternoon game drive in Amboseli National Park. We are on the lookout for the park’s famous large elephant herds, as well as lions, hyenas, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and other wildlife. Amboseli’s open plains, seasonal wetlands and spectacular views towards Mount Kilimanjaro create a wonderful setting for an afternoon safari. Return to camp in the evening for dinner and overnight.
06:00 hrs: Wake-up call. This is a beautiful time of day to see Mount Kilimanjaro, often at its clearest before the clouds build around the mountain.
08:00 hrs: After breakfast, set out for a full day of exploring Amboseli National Park, with an extensive morning game drive across the open plains and wetlands. We are on the lookout for the park’s famous large elephant herds, lions, hyenas, bat-eared foxes, cheetahs and a variety of plains game. Amboseli is also home to an impressive range of birdlife, particularly around the swamps and wetlands, so there will be plenty to watch both on the ground and in the skies.
Picnic Lunch: Stop at Observation Hill, one of Amboseli’s most spectacular viewpoints. From the summit, enjoy panoramic views across the park’s plains and swamps, with Mount Kilimanjaro rising majestically in the distance. It is also a wonderful vantage point for watching elephants moving through and bathing in the surrounding swamps while you enjoy your picnic lunch.
After lunch, continue with a full afternoon game drive, exploring another part of the park and taking in more of Amboseli’s incredible scenery, wildlife and birdlife.
16:00 hrs – Optional: Visit a traditional Maasai village and experience an authentic glimpse into local culture. Enjoy captivating dances and songs, witness traditional fire-making techniques and learn more about the customs and way of life of the Maasai people. USD 25 per person.
Return to camp in the late afternoon for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast: Enjoy a leisurely depart from Amboseli as you begin your journey towards Nairobi or continue onwards to Mombasa for your onward journey. For those continuing to Nairobi, travel back to the city with time to relax or connect with your onward flight. Alternatively, continue to Mombasa by train for your onward journey, bringing your Grand Kenya Safari to a relaxed close.
