7-Day Iconic Kenya Luxury Safari

Starts from

$2,130 pp (USD)

Overview

This seven-day safari covers Kenya’s essential parks in a logical circuit that minimizes backtracking. You’ll track elephants in Amboseli with Kilimanjaro as your backdrop, take a boat on Lake Naivasha among hippos and birds, search for rhinos at Lake Nakuru, and finish with two full days in the Masai Mara watching lions, leopards, and seasonal migration herds.

The routing makes sense. Amboseli first while you’re fresh, then northwest through the Rift Valley lakes, finishing at the Mara before the return to Nairobi. Each park offers something different. Amboseli is famous for elephants and mountain views. Naivasha is gentler with boat safaris and walking options. Nakuru packs rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, and varied terrain into a compact area. The Mara needs no introduction.

Properties are mid-range comfortable. Ol Tukai sits inside Amboseli next to a swamp that attracts constant wildlife. Sawela overlooks Lake Naivasha from elevated grounds with good lake and escarpment views. Mbweha Camp is small and well-positioned in Nakuru. Mara Serena has the location advantage on a hill with panoramic reserve views.

Accommodations:

Ol Tukai Lodge (Amboseli)
Sawela Lodge (Lake Naivasha)
Mbweha Safari Camp (Lake Nakuru)
Mara Serena Safari Lodge (Masai Mara)

Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Amboseli National Park

Driving Time: Approximately 4-5 hours

Meals: Lunch & Dinner

You'll leave Nairobi early in the morning, heading southeast toward Amboseli. The drive takes you through the city's edges and into rural farmland before the landscape opens into dry plains. When the weather's clear, you can spot Kilimanjaro from quite a distance. You'll arrive at Ol Tukai Lodge in time for lunch. The lodge sits right inside the park next to a swamp, which means wildlife wanders past constantly.

After settling in, the late afternoon game drive takes you into Amboseli proper. The park isn't huge, but it concentrates animals around five permanent swamps fed by underground water from Kilimanjaro. Elephants run the show here. The population has been studied since 1972, so your guide often recognizes individuals and knows the family dynamics. You'll also see buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, and various gazelles, with Kilimanjaro towering in the background if the clouds cooperate.

Dinner and overnight stay at Ol Tukai Lodge.
Day 2: Full Day in Amboseli

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

The morning game drive leaves early when Kilimanjaro is usually visible and the light is perfect for photos. You'll watch elephant families moving through the swamps, and your guide can tell you about the relationships between different groups. The research here has tracked over 1,600 individual elephants. Lions show up but they're not as common as in the Mara. Cheetahs sometimes hunt on the dry lake bed. There are also over 400 bird species to watch for, including pelicans and kingfishers around the water.

After lunch back at the lodge, the afternoon drive covers different parts of the park. Observation Hill gives you a view over the whole basin and shows how the landscape changes from swamp to grassland to acacia woodland. Each zone attracts different animals. You might stop somewhere scenic for sundowners before heading back as the sun drops. Wildlife gets more active again as things cool down.

Dinner and overnight stay at Ol Tukai Lodge.
Day 3: Amboseli to Lake Naivasha

Driving Time: Approximately 5-6 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast you're heading northwest toward the Rift Valley. It's a long drive but the scenery keeps changing. You'll pass through Maasai areas, climb up to Nairobi's altitude, then drop down the Rift Valley escarpment. The descent is dramatic, nearly 500 meters down with several places to stop and take photos. Lake Naivasha spreads out below, surrounded by papyrus beds and those distinctive yellow-barked fever trees. You'll get to Sawela Lodge in time for lunch.

The lodge sits up on higher ground with views across the lake and the escarpment behind. Once you've rested, the late afternoon gives you options. You can take a boat out on the lake or visit Crescent Island for a walking safari among zebra, giraffe, and antelope. The lake attracts over 400 bird species. African fish eagles are everywhere. Hippos spend the day in the water and come out to graze at night, so the boat gets you close for good photos.

Dinner and overnight stay at Sawela Lodge.
Day 4: Lake Naivasha to Lake Nakuru National Park

Driving Time: Approximately 1.5-2 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

It's a short hop north to Lake Nakuru this morning. The road is good and you'll reach Mbweha Safari Camp well before lunch. Nakuru town sits just outside the park, but once you're inside the boundary it feels completely separate. After checking in and eating, you'll have time to rest before the late afternoon game drive. The park is compact, only 188 square kilometers, so you can cover quite a bit in one outing.

Nakuru was set up as a rhino sanctuary, and it works. Both black and white rhinos live here and sightings are pretty reliable. Rothschild's giraffes were brought in years ago and they've done well. Lions move through the mix of woodland and grassland. Leopards are around too, though harder to spot, usually in the forested sections. The lake itself is alkaline and attracts pelicans, cormorants, and waders. Flamingos used to appear in massive numbers but water levels have changed, so now it's smaller flocks.

Dinner and overnight stay at Mbweha Safari Camp.
Day 5: Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara National Reserve

Driving Time: Approximately 5-6 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

You'll leave after breakfast and head west over the Mau Escarpment. The road climbs through highland forest before dropping down into Maasai country. The landscape gradually shifts from farms to proper wild grassland. By early afternoon you're pulling into Mara Serena Safari Lodge. It sits on a hill with a big view out over the reserve. After lunch and some downtime, your first Mara game drive starts in the late afternoon.

The Mara lives up to its reputation right away. Your first drive will likely turn up lions, elephants, buffalo, and plenty of plains game spread across classic savannah with scattered acacia trees. The guides stay in touch over the radio, so if something good is happening they'll know about it. Between July and October the migration passes through, over a million wildebeest plus zebra making dramatic river crossings. Outside those months the resident wildlife is still exceptional year-round.

Dinner and overnight stay at Mara Serena Safari Lodge.
Day 6: Full Day in Masai Mara National Reserve

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

You've got the whole day in the Mara, starting with an early breakfast and morning game drive. This is when things are most active, with big cats often still out from their night hunts and herbivores grazing before it heats up. Lions are everywhere here, sometimes in prides of ten or more. Cheetahs work the open plains. Leopards take more effort but they're around, particularly near the rivers and in patches of woodland. Your guide knows the ecosystem well and will share what's happening as you watch.

The Mara River runs through the reserve with hippos in the pools and big crocodiles on the banks. Even without migration crossings it's worth the time for the different habitat and species. The forest along the river attracts different birds and elephants. You'll have a picnic lunch out in the savannah, then keep going in the afternoon. Over 500 bird species have been recorded here, including 57 different raptors. Optional activities include a hot air balloon safari at dawn or visiting a nearby Maasai village.

Dinner and overnight stay at Mara Serena Safari Lodge.
Day 7: Masai Mara to Nairobi

Driving Time: Approximately 5-6 hours

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

You'll get up early for one last game drive before breakfast. It's a final chance to see anything you've missed or go back to spots that worked well earlier. The early morning is prime time for wildlife as animals are active before the heat builds. After the drive you'll head back to the lodge for breakfast and check out.

The drive back to Nairobi retraces your route through the Rift Valley. You'll see it from different angles now on the return trip. There are good viewpoints for photos and stretching your legs. You should arrive in Nairobi by mid to late afternoon depending on how traffic is running. Drop-off is at your hotel or the international airport for your onward flight. Evening flights work fine. If you're leaving the next morning you'll need to overnight near the airport.
Day 8: Masai Mara to Nairobi - Departure

Drive Time: Approximately 5 hours

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Final early morning game drive before breakfast. Last chance to make the most of the Mara Triangle at dawn. Return to camp for breakfast and check out, then drive back to Nairobi arriving mid to late afternoon.

Drop off at your Nairobi hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport depending on your onward plans. Most Australian travelers use Emirates via Dubai, Qatar via Doha, or Kenya Airways via Bangkok. Evening departures work well with morning drives from the Mara. If time allows before your flight, the Maasai Market near the city center is worth a quick stop for souvenirs.

Accommodation

Rates

Season	2 Pax	3 Pax	4 Pax	5 Pax	6 Pax
Jan - Jun	$2,900	$2,500	$2,300	$2,200	$2,130
Jul - Dec	$3,800	$3,450	$3,250	$3,150	$3,100

Includes & Excludes

Park entry fees
All meals
Comprehensive game drives
The services of a professional tour guide
Pick up and drop off from your hotel/Airport
Transportation in a customized Landcruiser
All government levies and taxes

International airfares and flights
Alcoholic drinks
Travel insurance
Single room supplement
Tips and other expenses of personal nature
Visa fees

A Family Safari to Remember

Our Kenya safari exceeded expectations! Expert guides, comfortable accommodations, and unforgettable wildlife sightings. Highly recommend!

The Smiths

USA

An Unforgettable Solo Adventure

Solo traveler, felt safe and well-cared for. Guides were knowledgeable and friendly. Beautiful scenery and wildlife.

Mark Davis

Australia

Honeymoon Paradise in Kenya

Honeymoon was a dream come true! Luxurious accommodations, personalized service, and romantic atmosphere. Perfect!

David & Emily Harris

Budget-Friendly Safari Adventure

Budget-friendly safari with incredible wildlife sightings. Knowledgeable guides and comfortable accommodations. Highly satisfied!

Théo Martin

France

A Luxury Safari Experience

Best safari experience ever! Saw the Big Five, learned about Maasai culture, and enjoyed delicious food. Amazing!

Jennifer Lee

Canada

Luxury Honeymoon in the Wild

Our Kenya safari was unforgettable! Expert guides, luxurious accommodations, and incredible wildlife sightings. Highly recommend!

David and Emily Johnson

United States

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7-Day Iconic Kenya Luxury Safari

Overview

Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Amboseli National Park

Day 2: Full Day in Amboseli

Day 3: Amboseli to Lake Naivasha

Day 4: Lake Naivasha to Lake Nakuru National Park

Day 5: Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara National Reserve

Day 6: Full Day in Masai Mara National Reserve

Day 7: Masai Mara to Nairobi

Day 8: Masai Mara to Nairobi - Departure

Accommodation

Ol Tukai Lodge

Sawela Lodge

Mbweha Camp

Mara Serena

Rates

Includes & Excludes

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