9-Day Kenya Luxury Safari – All Major Parks

The safari starts at approximately 7:00 a.m. with a pick-up from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or your Nairobi hotel. Upon meeting your professional driver-guide, you will receive a short briefing about the safari, the vehicle, and safety procedures. The journey to Amboseli National Park begins immediately, traveling through scenic rural landscapes, with occasional stops for photographs and refreshments.

Arrive at Amboseli Ol Tukai Lodge around noon, where you will have lunch and check-in. After a short rest, embark on your first afternoon game drive from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., exploring the park’s open plains. You will likely encounter large herds of elephants, zebra, giraffe, and buffalo. Predators such as lions and cheetahs may also be sighted in their natural habitats. As the sun sets, capture the golden light illuminating Mount Kilimanjaro before returning to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

The second day in Amboseli offers flexible game viewing options.

Option 1: After an early breakfast, embark on a morning game drive, exploring the park while wildlife is most active. Return mid-morning to the lodge for relaxation, swimming, or enjoying lodge amenities. After lunch, depart again for an afternoon game drive, where you can continue to observe elephants bathing in waterholes, lion prides resting under acacia trees, and giraffes browsing the savannah.

Option 2: Opt for a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch in the bush, giving you more time to explore the diverse habitats of Amboseli, from open plains to marshlands. Your guide will point out animal behavior, bird species, and provide insight into Amboseli’s ecosystems. Return to the lodge in the late afternoon for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, depart Amboseli and travel north towards Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a drive of approximately six to seven hours. En route, stop at Nanyuki for a visit to the Equator Line, where your guide will demonstrate the hemisphere phenomenon and allow for photographs.

Arrive at Sweetwaters Serena Tented Camp in time for lunch. After a short rest, embark on a 3–4 hour afternoon game drive. Ol Pejeta is East Africa’s largest black rhino sanctuary and the conservancy also hosts the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, where orphaned and rescued chimpanzees are rehabilitated. You will also see lions, leopards, elephants, and buffalo, all within a private, spacious reserve. Return to camp for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, check out and depart for Samburu Game Reserve, a rugged northern Kenya wilderness with unique wildlife species. Upon arrival at Ashnil Samburu Tented Camp, enjoy lunch and some rest.

In the afternoon from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., embark on a game drive. Explore the reserve’s dry bushlands, riverine areas, and rocky outcrops, observing elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and antelope. Pay particular attention to the Samburu Special Five: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, Beisa oryx, and gerenuk. As the sun sets, the colors of the landscape make for breathtaking photography opportunities. Return to the camp for dinner and overnight.

Spend a full day exploring Samburu with your professional guide, with options tailored to your preference:

Option 1: Begin with an early morning game drive, followed by breakfast at the camp. After a mid-morning rest, embark on another game drive, with lunch at the camp. In the afternoon, take a short game drive before returning to the lodge.

Option 2: Opt for a full-day game drive from early morning to late afternoon, with a packed bush lunch, allowing for extended time observing wildlife and photographing rare species. Return to Ashnil Samburu Tented Camp for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, depart Samburu and head south to Lake Nakuru National Park, stopping at Nyahururu to view Thomson’s Falls, a 74-meter waterfall framed by mist and greenery.

Arrive at Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge for lunch, then enjoy an afternoon game drive from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Explore Lake Nakuru and the surrounding forests, observing black and white rhinos, Rothschild giraffes, hippos, flamingos, and large herds of buffalo. Makalia Waterfall and several scenic viewpoints offer excellent photographic opportunities. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, enjoy a short morning game drive while exiting the park, then drive to the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve, a journey of approximately five hours.

Arrive at Mara Serena Safari Lodge for lunch and rest. At around 4:00 p.m., depart for an afternoon game drive lasting 2.5–3 hours. Explore the Mara’s rolling plains and riverine habitats, searching for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffalo, wildebeest, and zebras. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Spend a full day exploring the Mara with your professional guide.

Option 1: Take a full-day game drive with a packed lunch, moving across different areas of the Mara to maximize wildlife sightings.

Option 2: Embark on a morning game drive, return for breakfast, relax at the lodge, then take an afternoon game drive.

Optional Experience: A hot air balloon safari (USD 400 per person) can be taken at dawn. After landing, enjoy a champagne breakfast in the bush and visit a Maasai village to learn about their culture and traditions. Return to the lodge for overnight.

After an early breakfast, embark on your final morning game drive to spot any wildlife you may have missed. Depart the Masai Mara and drive back to Nairobi, optionally stopping at Lake Naivasha for a boat ride and guided walking safari on Crescent Island, observing hippos, giraffes, zebras, and diverse birdlife.

Arrive in Nairobi in the afternoon for drop-off at your hotel or airport, marking the end of your luxury 9-day safari with Trailark Tours and Safaris. Exclusive