This 9-day Kenya safari combines four destinations in one private journey: Amboseli National Park, the Masai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park and Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
The route opens with elephants and Mount Kilimanjaro views in Amboseli, before returning to Nairobi and heading out again to the Masai Mara for Big Five game viewing. From there you travel to Lake Nakuru for rhinos and birdlife, then finish at Ol Pejeta Conservancy — home to a black rhino sanctuary and Kenya's only chimpanzee sanctuary.
The safari is operated privately, using a safari-equipped 4x4 vehicle with your own driver-guide, rather than a shared van tour.
Safari Highlights
- 9 days / 8 nights across four destinations
- Private safari vehicle and driver-guide
- Amboseli National Park, with Mount Kilimanjaro views
- Great Rift Valley viewpoint stop
- Masai Mara National Reserve game drives
- Lake Nakuru National Park, rhinos and birdlife
- Ol Pejeta Conservancy black rhino sanctuary
- Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary visit
- Big Five game-viewing opportunities
- Optional Maasai village visit
- Optional hot-air balloon safari
- Suitable for couples, families and small private groups
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Nairobi to Amboseli National Park
Morning pickup from your Nairobi hotel after breakfast, then head out to Amboseli National Park, arriving in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive.
Amboseli's open landscape gives you a good chance of spotting larger predators against the backdrop of a snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro. Look out for elephants, buffaloes, lions, cheetahs, wildebeest, hyenas, Masai giraffes, zebra and waterbuck.
Full-Day Amboseli National Park
Morning and afternoon game drives across Amboseli's five habitats — the dried Lake Amboseli bed, sulphur-spring wetlands, savannah and woodland — with magnificent views of Kilimanjaro throughout.
Animals here include leopard, cheetah, buffalo, elephant, giraffe, zebra, lion, crocodile and dik-dik, alongside over 600 recorded bird species. An optional visit to the local Maasai community can also be arranged for this day.
Amboseli to Nairobi
An early start with a packed lunch for a final full day of game viewing in Amboseli. Morning wildlife activity gives way to animals gathering at the swamps to drink and cool off through the heat of the day.
As the sun sets, leave Amboseli for the drive back to Nairobi.
Nairobi to Masai Mara
Depart Nairobi for the Masai Mara, descending the Great Rift Valley along the way. Stop at the escarpment viewpoint for around 30 minutes to take in the views across the valley floor.
Continue to the Masai Mara, arriving in good time for lunch, then head out for an afternoon game drive tracking the reserve's big cats.
Full-Day Masai Mara Game Reserve
A full day exploring the Mara with morning and afternoon game drives. Abundant water and food make the Mara home to one of the greatest concentrations of wild animals in Africa.
From roughly late July to September, the reserve can host part of the annual wildebeest and zebra migration from the Serengeti, with predators including lion, cheetah and hyena following closely behind. Over 450 species have been recorded here, including lions, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, giraffe and elephant.
Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru National Park
A full-day game drive in the Masai Mara after breakfast, before leaving for Lake Nakuru National Park — an important wildlife sanctuary home to both black and white rhinos and abundant birdlife.
An optional visit to a Maasai village can also be arranged on this day. The itinerary can be run in reverse order on request.
Lake Nakuru National Park to Mutara Conservancy
Morning and afternoon game drives in Lake Nakuru National Park, a shallow alkaline Rift Valley lake known for its flamingo population and one of your best chances of spotting rhino.
Zebras, elephants and gazelles are also commonly seen. After the game drive, leave for the Mutara Conservancy area near Ol Pejeta, arriving in time for dinner.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
After breakfast, drive to Ol Pejeta Conservancy for a full day of game viewing across its open plains. Visit the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, established by the Jane Goodall Institute for orphaned and rescued chimpanzees.
Ol Pejeta also protects one of Kenya's most significant black rhino populations. During the game drive, look out for reticulated giraffe, Burchell's zebra, African elephant, Cape buffalo, lion, cheetah, leopard and Thomson's gazelle.
Ol Pejeta to Nairobi
An early breakfast, then a final morning game drive at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, timed to catch the wildlife rising for the day. Afterwards, depart for Nairobi, arriving in good time before dusk.
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Tour Cost & Pricing
This is a private safari using a safari-equipped 4x4 vehicle with your own driver-guide, priced according to accommodation category, season, group size and park fees.
What Affects the Price?
- Number of travellers
- Accommodation category (hotel, lodge or tented camp)
- Travel season and park fees
- Optional Maasai village visit or hot-air balloon safari
- Private vehicle and driver-guide throughout
What's Included & Excluded
Included
- All game drives and park entrance fees
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Ground transport in a comfortable safari vehicle for game viewing, photography and touring
- Full accommodation while on safari
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout
- Bottled purified mineral water each day
- Government taxes
- Airport pickup and drop-off
Excluded
- International flights to and from home
- Tips and gratuities
- Soft drinks or alcoholic drinks
- Laundry
- Optional Maasai village visit
- Optional hot-air balloon safari
Getting There
The safari starts and ends in Nairobi, with pickup arranged from your Nairobi hotel, residence or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The full route is travelled by road in a private safari vehicle: Nairobi to Amboseli, back to Nairobi, then on to the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, the Mutara Conservancy area and Ol Pejeta before returning to Nairobi.
