10-Day Kenyan Classics Safari

Your Long Stay Safari in Kenya begins with an early morning pickup from Nairobi as you travel north toward the spectacular landscapes of Samburu National Reserve. The journey takes you through changing scenery, from the busy surroundings of Nairobi to the dry, rugged and beautifully contrasting landscapes of northern Kenya. Upon arrival, check into your lodge and enjoy lunch before taking some time to relax and settle into the peaceful surroundings.

In the afternoon, embark on your first Samburu game drive, exploring the reserve along the Ewaso Nyiro River and its surrounding plains. The river provides an important source of water, attracting elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes and many other animals. Samburu is particularly famous for its unique northern wildlife species, including Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and Somali ostrich.

Day 2 gives you more time to experience the reserve with morning and afternoon game drives. The morning safari offers excellent opportunities to observe wildlife when animals are most active, while the afternoon drive allows you to explore different areas of the reserve. Enjoy the dramatic scenery, diverse birdlife and quieter atmosphere before returning to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

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Accommodations:

• Gold Soroi Samburu Lodge

After breakfast, leave Samburu behind and travel south toward the fertile landscapes of Laikipia Plateau, home to the renowned Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The drive offers beautiful views of Kenya’s changing landscapes as you move from the dry northern region toward the greener highlands.

Upon arrival at Ol Pejeta, check into your accommodation and enjoy lunch before beginning an afternoon filled with wildlife and conservation experiences. Ol Pejeta is one of Kenya’s most important wildlife conservation areas and is particularly well known for its successful rhino conservation programs.

Visit the rhino sanctuary and learn about the efforts being made to protect endangered rhino populations. You may have opportunities to see both black and white rhinos during your visit. Depending on the schedule, you can also visit the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, which provides a safe haven for rescued chimpanzees.

Later, head out on an afternoon game drive through the conservancy. Keep watch for lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes and other plains wildlife. The open landscapes provide excellent opportunities for photography and wildlife observation before returning to camp for dinner and overnight.

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Accommodations:

• Platinum Sweetwaters Serena

After breakfast, continue your Long Stay Safari in Kenya toward Lake Nakuru National Park, travelling through the scenic landscapes of Kenya’s Great Rift Valley. The journey offers opportunities to appreciate the changing scenery, with rolling hills, escarpments and agricultural landscapes along the way.

En route, make a stop at the famous Thomson’s Falls viewpoint, where you can enjoy views of the spectacular waterfall and surrounding gorge before continuing toward Lake Nakuru.

Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch and some relaxation. In the afternoon, head out for a game drive through Lake Nakuru National Park, a compact but wildlife-rich destination surrounded by beautiful landscapes.

The park is particularly known for its black and white rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes and large numbers of waterbirds. As you explore the park, keep an eye out for buffaloes, zebras, lions, leopards and other wildlife. The lake, woodland, grassland and rocky viewpoints create a diverse safari environment.

After your afternoon game drive, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight, enjoying the peaceful surroundings of the Rift Valley.

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Accommodations:

• Platinum Nakuru Sopa

After breakfast, depart Lake Nakuru and continue toward the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve. The journey takes you through the spectacular Great Rift Valley and into the rolling grasslands of southwestern Kenya.

Arrive in the Mara around lunchtime and check into your camp before enjoying lunch and a short rest. In the afternoon, begin your first Masai Mara game drive, entering a landscape famous for its abundant wildlife and dramatic open plains.

The reserve is home to large populations of lions, elephants, buffaloes, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and wildebeest. Your experienced driver-guide will search for wildlife and share information about the animals, their behavior and the Mara ecosystem.

Day 6 is dedicated to a full day of exploration. Enjoy an early morning game drive, when predators are often active and the cooler temperatures make wildlife viewing comfortable. After breakfast or a picnic lunch, continue exploring different parts of the reserve before an afternoon game drive.

The Mara is also one of the world’s most famous destinations for the Great Wildebeest Migration, with seasonal movements of wildebeest and zebra across the ecosystem. Throughout the day, enjoy opportunities for photography, bird watching and unforgettable encounters with Kenya’s wildlife before returning to camp.

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Accommodations:

• Platinum Zebra Plains Mara

After breakfast, leave the Masai Mara and travel toward Lake Naivasha, one of the beautiful freshwater lakes in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley. The journey takes you through changing landscapes, from the open Mara plains into the scenic Rift Valley.

Arrive at your accommodation in time for lunch and enjoy a relaxing break before your afternoon activities. Later, experience a scenic boat ride on Lake Naivasha, where you can enjoy views of the surrounding landscape while looking for hippos and a variety of waterbirds.

The lake is particularly known for its birdlife, and your boat guide can help identify different species along the shoreline and around the lake. After the boat ride, continue to Crescent Island, where you can enjoy a guided walking safari.

Walking among wildlife provides a completely different experience from a traditional vehicle game drive. You may encounter giraffes, zebras, impalas, gazelles and other plains animals at relatively close range. The peaceful surroundings and open landscape make this an excellent opportunity for photography.

After the activities, return to camp for dinner and overnight.

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Accommodations:

• Platinum Naivasha Crescent Camp

After breakfast, depart Lake Naivasha and travel south toward Amboseli National Park, famous for its large elephant herds and spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro. The journey takes you through changing landscapes before arriving in the Amboseli ecosystem.

Check into your lodge and enjoy lunch before relaxing briefly. In the afternoon, head out for your first Amboseli game drive, exploring the park’s open plains, seasonal wetlands and wildlife-rich areas.

Amboseli is particularly famous for its elephants, many of which can be seen moving across the plains with Mount Kilimanjaro providing a dramatic backdrop on clear days. You may also encounter lions, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos and numerous bird species.

Day 9 provides a full day to explore the park with morning and afternoon game drives. The early morning safari offers excellent wildlife viewing and beautiful photographic conditions, while the afternoon drive allows you to explore more of the park.

Enjoy a picnic or lodge lunch before continuing your safari. As the sun begins to set, the Amboseli landscape becomes especially scenic, providing memorable opportunities for photography before returning to the lodge for your final evening.

Activities:

Accommodations:

• Platinum Amboseli Sopa Lodge

After breakfast, check out from your lodge and begin your final journey from Amboseli to Nairobi. As you leave the national park behind, enjoy the last views of the Amboseli landscape and, weather permitting, another glimpse of Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance.

The drive provides a relaxed conclusion to your Long Stay Safari in Kenya, allowing you to reflect on the diverse experiences of the previous nine days. From the unique wildlife of Samburu and the conservation experiences of Ol Pejeta to the rhinos of Lake Nakuru, legendary plains of the Masai Mara, peaceful waters of Lake Naivasha and elephants of Amboseli, the journey showcases some of Kenya’s most remarkable safari destinations.

Arrive in Nairobi around midday or early afternoon, depending on road and traffic conditions. You will be dropped off at your hotel or transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward flight.

Your 10-Day Long Stay Safari in Kenya ends in Nairobi with unforgettable memories of Kenya’s wildlife, landscapes and diverse safari experiences.