7 Day Kenya Safari

7-day Kenya safari takes you from Nairobi through the forested Aberdare highlands to the dry northern landscapes of Samburu, the Great Rift Valley and the open plains of the Masai Mara. Along the way, look for Grevy’s zebras, reticulated giraffes and gerenuks in Samburu, track down black and white rhinos in Lake Nakuru National Park, and search for lions, cheetahs, leopards and other wildlife in the Masai Mara. Spend your first night in the Aberdare region, where you can watch wildlife gathering at a lodge waterhole. Continue to Samburu for two nights of game drives along the Ewaso Ng’iro River, then head south to Lake Nakuru before finishing with two nights in the Masai Mara. With Nairobi as your starting and finishing point, this route brings together some of Kenya’s most contrasting landscapes and wildlife within one week.

Safari Highlights

Detailed Safari Itinerary

Day 1, Nairobi to Aberdare National Park

Your Kenya safari begins with pickup from your Nairobi hotel or an agreed meeting point. From here, you’ll head north towards the Aberdare highlands, passing through central Kenya’s farming country, with cultivated hillsides, small towns and countryside along the way. The drive takes approximately 3 to 5 hours, depending on your lodge and traffic. As you climb into the highlands, the scenery becomes greener, with thick forests, bamboo, deep valleys and open moorland. After lunch at your base hotel, continue to your overnight lodge according to your accommodation arrangements. If you’re staying at a forest lodge overlooking a waterhole or salt lick, settle in and spend the afternoon watching for animals coming to drink. Elephants and buffalo are regular visitors at some of these waterholes, and you may also spot forest antelopes and other wildlife. Enjoy dinner and spend the night in the Aberdare region.

Accommodation: The Ark  

Meals: Lunch and dinner.

Day 2, Aberdare to Samburu National Reserve

After breakfast, leave the cool Aberdare highlands and head north to Samburu National Reserve. Along the way, you’ll notice a change in scenery as the green central highlands give way to the drier landscapes of northern Kenya. The journey takes approximately 4 to 6 hours, depending on your departure point and route. Samburu lies along the Ewaso Ng’iro River, an important lifeline for wildlife in this dry region. Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch, depending on the journey, before heading out for your first game drive in the late afternoon. Samburu offers a different wildlife experience from the Aberdares. Keep an eye out for the reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich, often grouped as the Samburu Special Five. You may also encounter elephants along the river, while lions, leopards and cheetahs roam the reserve. As the afternoon cools, continue exploring the reserve with your guide before returning to the lodge for dinner.

Accommodation: Samburu Intrepids Tented Camp or Samburu Sopa Lodge 

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Grevy’s zebra, Samburu

Day 3, Samburu Game Drives and Birdwatching

Start the day with an early morning game drive while the air is still cool and animals are beginning to move through the reserve. Your guide will take you through Samburu’s open plains, acacia woodland and riverine areas, looking for elephants, big cats and the Samburu Special Five. Watch for gerenuks standing on their hind legs to reach leaves high in the shrubs, Grevy’s zebras moving across the plains, and reticulated giraffes feeding among the trees. Samburu is also rewarding for birdwatching. Look out for Somali ostriches, vulturine guineafowl, hornbills, bee-eaters, kingfishers and birds of prey as you explore the reserve. Return to your lodge for lunch and some time to relax during the heat of the day. Later, head out for another game drive, exploring different areas in search of wildlife you may not have encountered in the morning. If you’d like to experience the landscape on foot, a guided nature walk can also be arranged in an authorised neighbouring conservancy. Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Samburu Intrepids Tented Camp or Samburu Sopa Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 4, Samburu to Lake Nakuru National Park

After an early breakfast, leave Samburu and travel southwest to Lake Nakuru National Park. The journey takes you from the dry northern landscapes through central Kenya and into the Great Rift Valley. Allow approximately 5 to 7 hours for the drive, depending on road conditions and stops along the way. Arrive in the Lake Nakuru area for lunch or a late afternoon meal before settling in at your lodge. If you arrive with enough time, head into the park for an afternoon game drive. Lake Nakuru is an important sanctuary for both black and white rhinos, so your guide will keep a close watch along the grasslands and woodland as you search for them. You may also see buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, waterbucks and other wildlife. The lakeshore is another worthwhile stop, especially for birdwatching. Pelicans and flamingos visit the lake, although their numbers change with water levels and feeding conditions. You might see large flocks during your visit, but the shoreline does not remain pink with flamingos throughout the year. After your game drive, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge or Lake Nakuru Lodge  

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 5, Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara National Reserve

After an early breakfast, leave Lake Nakuru and continue southwest to the Masai Mara. The drive passes through the Great Rift Valley countryside and the Narok region before the rolling grasslands of the Mara come into view. Allow approximately 5 to 7 hours for the journey, depending on road conditions and the location of your accommodation. Arrive at your lodge or tented camp for lunch, depending on your travel time. If there is enough time, head out for your first game drive in the reserve that afternoon. The Masai Mara is a wonderful place to look for Africa’s big cats. Lions patrol the grasslands, cheetahs hunt across the open plains, and leopards move through wooded areas and along riverbanks. Elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and numerous antelope species also roam the reserve. With your guide, explore the surrounding plains and watch how the wildlife changes as the afternoon progresses. You might come across a herd grazing peacefully or spend time following the movements of a predator. Return to your lodge or camp for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mara Serena Safari Lodge or Sarova Mara Game Camp 

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 6, Full-Day Masai Mara Wildlife Safari

Wake up early for a full day of wildlife viewing in the Masai Mara. The morning is a good time to look for animals as they move through the grasslands before the day becomes hotter. Your guide will explore open savannah, acacia woodland and riverine areas in search of lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes and the many grazing animals that share the plains. You may find lions resting near rocky outcrops, watch herds of zebras and wildebeest moving across the grasslands, or spend time observing elephants as they feed. Every drive brings different opportunities, so your guide will adjust the route according to wildlife activity. Depending on your route, you may also visit areas around the Mara River, where hippos gather in the deeper pools, and crocodiles wait along the banks. If you visit during the Great Migration, generally between July and October, you may encounter large herds of wildebeest and zebras moving through the greater Mara ecosystem from the Serengeti. The timing depends on rainfall and grazing conditions, and although river crossings are spectacular to witness, they cannot be guaranteed. Enjoy a picnic lunch in a designated area or return to your lodge for lunch, depending on your arrangements. Continue with an afternoon game drive before returning to camp for dinner. If you would like to add a guided nature walk, this can be arranged in an authorised conservancy or another permitted area.

Accommodation: Mara Serena Safari Lodge or Sarova Mara Game Camp 

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Great Migration safaris during Mara River crossings

Day 7, Masai Mara to Nairobi

After breakfast, check out and begin the journey back to Nairobi. Leave the open grasslands of the Masai Mara behind as you travel through the Narok region and across the Great Rift Valley towards the city. The drive generally takes 5 to 7 hours, depending on your camp’s location, road conditions and traffic approaching Nairobi. Stop for lunch along the way if it is included in your package. On arrival in Nairobi, your driver-guide will drop you off at your hotel or transfer you to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward journey. If you have an international flight that evening, allow plenty of time for the drive, traffic and airport check-in. A later flight gives you more room for delays on the road. Your 7-day Kenya safari comes to an end after exploring the Aberdare highlands, Samburu’s distinctive northern wildlife, Lake Nakuru’s rhino sanctuary and the big-cat country of the Masai Mara.

Meals: Breakfast. Lunch 

Inclusions and Exclusions

Safari Inclusions

Safari Exclusions