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Kenya Big 5 Ultimate Safari

8-Day Kenya Big 5 Ultimate safari

From $773.00 USD* / Big Five / 8 days

Price per person include guide, safari vehicle, accommodation, and park entrance fees. International fees are excluded.

8-Day Kenya Big 5 Ultimate safari

If seeing Kenya’s wildlife is high on your travel list, this 8-day Big Five safari gives you the chance to experience some of Kenya’s most iconic landscapes and wildlife destinations in one well-rounded journey.

Starting in Nairobi, the safari takes you through Amboseli National Park, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru National Park, and the Masai Mara National Reserve, combining classic game drives with beautiful scenery and plenty of time to enjoy the journey between destinations.

Your 8-day adventure begins in Nairobi, heading to Amboseli National Park, famous for its large elephant herds and spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro

From the open plains, you will continue to the peaceful surroundings of Lake Naivasha, where you can experience an optional boat ride offering a completely different perspective of Kenyan wildlife and birdlife.

Next comes Lake Nakuru National Park, where the scenery changes again. The park is popularly known for its rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, and diverse birdlife, while its compact size can make wildlife viewing particularly rewarding.

The final and much-anticipated stop is the Masai Mara National Reserve. Here you will spend several days exploring its expansive grasslands on morning and afternoon game drives, looking for the Big Five.

What makes this itinerary special is the variety. You are not simply visiting one park repeatedly, but you are moving through different ecosystems, landscapes, and wildlife habitats, giving you a broader taste of Kenya.

 

 

 

Itinerary

  • Day 1: Day 1: Nairobi to Amboseli National Park
  • Day 2: Day 2: Full Day in Amboseli National Park
  • Day 3: Day 3: Amboseli to Lake Naivasha
  • Day 4: Day 4: Lake Naivasha to Lake Nakuru National Park
  • Day 5: Day 5: Lake Nakuru National Park to Maasai Mara National Reserve
  • Day 6: Day 6: Full Day in Maasai Mara National Reserve
  • Day 7: Day 7: Full Day in Maasai Mara National Reserve
  • Day 8: Day 8: Maasai Mara to Nairobi

Day 1

Nairobi to Amboseli

This is the beginning of your 8-day Big Five Ultimate Kenya Safari.

The first day combines a comfortable road journey, beautiful scenery, and your first opportunity to see wildlife beneath the iconic backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Your Kenya safari trip begins with a morning pick-up from your Nairobi hotel, residence, or another agreed location. After meeting your professional safari guide, you will have a short briefing about the journey, safari etiquette, and what to expect for the next 8 days.

Once everyone is ready, you will leave Nairobi and begin the drive towards Amboseli National Park. The journey takes you through changing Kenyan landscapes from the busy surroundings of Nairobi to open countryside and rural communities.

Along the way, you will see farms, small towns, and stretches of open land. Your guide can point out interesting features and explain aspects of everyday life as you travel. In addition, a suitable stop can be made along the way for refreshments and a chance to stretch and recharge. However, depending on your departure time and day’s logistics, lunch can be enjoyed en route. After lunch, you will continue towards the park and your accommodation.

On arrival at your accommodation, you will check in, relax a bit, then head out for your first game drive in Amboseli National Park.

In the evening, you will return to your accommodation, enjoy dinner and relax after your first day on safari.

 

 

 

 

 

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Day 2

Full Day in Amboseli National Park Safari

This day is devoted to exploring the wonders of Amboseli.

You will begin with an early game drive when the wild animals are most active, and Mount Kilimanjaro is often visible. After your breakfast, you will relax at the lodge or enjoy the scenery from the pool.

Later in the afternoon, after enjoying lunch at your lodge, you will go for an afternoon game drive, providing another opportunity to spot lions, hyenas, leopards, elephants, etc. Additionally, you can visit a nearby Maasai village to learn about their rich culture and traditional lifestyle.

In the evening, you will return to your accommodation for dinner and relaxation.

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Day 3

Amboseli to Naivasha

After an early breakfast, you will depart for Lake Naivasha, located in the Great Rift Valley.

The drive takes you through varied landscapes, arriving by midday for lunch at your lodge by the lake. In the afternoon, you will take a relaxing boat ride on Lake Naivasha ( optional), where you will see hippos, waterbucks, and abundant bird species, including African fish eagles and herons.

You may also explore Crescent Island on foot, one of the few places in Kenya where you can walk among wild animals.

In the evening, you will return to your accommodation, have dinner, relax, and prepare for the next day’s adventure at Lake Nakuru National Park.

 

 

 

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Day 4

Lake Naivasha to Lake Nakuru National Park

After breakfast, depart for the short drive to Lake Nakuru National Park, a UNESCO-listed site known for its conservation efforts, particularly for rhinos and Rothschild’s giraffes.

You will then check into your lodge and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, you will be set for a game drive across the park’s acacia woodlands and lake shores, where you will spot white and black rhinos, zebras, lions, leopards, waterbucks, and bird species such as pelicans, cormorants, and flamingos.

If conditions allow, you can make a scenic stop at Makalia Waterfall or another suitable viewpoint within the park.

After the game drive, you will head to your accommodation for check-in, dinner and relaxation.

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Day 5

Lake Nakuru to Maasai Mara National Reserve

Day 5 marks the beginning of the Mara section of your 8-day Big Five safari tour. After exploring Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, and Lake Nakuru, you will now head towards the vast grassland of the Mara, where the safari becomes more focused on Big Five game viewing.

After enjoying your breakfast at your Lake Nakuru accommodation, you will check out, and the journey to the Mara will begin. This journey gives you a chance to see rural communities, farmlands, and changing landscapes as you move from the Rift Valley towards the Mara.

Since this is one of the longer road transfers of this safari, a stop can be made along the way.

On arrival in the Mara, you will check in to your accommodation, then later head out for your first game drive in the Masai Mara. The Mara is an excellent place to look for the Big Five.

In the evening, you will return to your accommodation for dinner and relaxation.

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Day 6

Full Day Maasai Mara

You will enjoy a full day of uninterrupted safari adventures.

You will start with a sunrise game drive, return to the camp or lodge for breakfast, then spend the rest of the day exploring deeper into the Mara’s vast territory.

During the Great Migration season from July to October, you may witness dramatic river crossings and predator-prey encounters, and for an extra thrill, you can book a hot air balloon safari followed by a champagne bush breakfast ( optional/ pre-booking is required).

In the afternoon, you will return to your camp or lodge for lunch and some downtime.

Later, you will head back into the Mara and explore different areas and look for fresh wildlife sightings. As the heat eases, animals may become active again. This is often a beautiful time for photography.

In the evening, you will return to your accommodation for dinner and relaxation.

 

 

 

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Day 7

Full Day Maasai Mara National Reserve

You will spend another full day in the Mara, giving you more chances to track the Big 5 and witness diverse animal behaviour in different parts of the reserve.

You might visit areas near the Mara River or Talek River where crocodiles and hippos are commonly seen. Between game drives, you will relax at your lodge, enjoying views over the endless savannah. Also, you can visit a local Maasai village for a cultural immersion experience.

In the evening, you will return to your accommodation for your final dinner in the Mara. Also, take some time to relax, pack your belongings, and prepare for departure.

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Day 8

Masai Mara National Reserve to Nairobi

After breakfast, you will enjoy a morning game drive as you exit the park, spotting any wildlife you may have missed. Thereafter, you will proceed with your journey back to Nairobi with a packed lunch or stop en route for a hot meal. You will arrive in the late afternoon for drop-off at your hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward flight, marking the end of your safari.