This 8 Days Kenya Wildlife Safari enables you to experience wildlife and culture of the Maasai people. Parks visited on this safari include Masai Mara national reserve, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, and Lake Naivasha national parks. These are the best places to see wildlife in Kenya when you visit between July and October. Masai Mara offers an opportunity to see the wildebeest migration.
The reserve is also famous for harboring the Big 5 African mammals including rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, lions, and leopards. Amboseli national park is the best place to see super tusker elephants with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background. The rift valley lakes of Nakuru and Naivasha are renowned for being the best birding places with a large number of lesser and greater flamingos as well as crocodiles, and hippos. Lake Nakuru has a rhino sanctuary, where you are likely to spot them.
Boat rides are available at Lake Naivasha. This tour starts and ends in Nairobi capital city with a historical Nairobi city tour. Driving in a 4×4 vehicle is the most convenient way of transportation. Flying between the selected destinations is an option for those looking to save time. Accommodation will be selected in prime wildlife viewing spots. Popular parks attract a lot of visitors in the high season. However, those intending to have an exclusive experience have the option to stay in private or community conservancies. There is still a chance to visit the national parks when staying in conservancies.
Highlights of the 8 Days Kenya Wildlife Safari
Exploring Nairobi capital city
Visiting the Maasai people
Going on safari to witness the wildebeest migration and Big 5 African mammals in Masai Mara
Searching for black and white rhinos in Lake Nakuru national park
Taking boat rides on Lake Naivasha
Seeing the super tuskers and enjoying views of Mount Kilimanjaro in Amboseli national park
8 Days Kenya Wildlife Safari – Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi capital city
Meet and greet at Jomo Kenyatta International airport and transfer to your hotel overnight in Nairobi capital city.
Accommodation: Tamarind Tree House Hotel
Day 2: Nairobi to Amboseli national park
The protected area is 204 km (4-hour drive) south of Nairobi city. After breakfast, you’ll leave the city for Amboseli arriving late morning. Check in at the lodge and go on a game drive at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. The wild animals you might see include super tusker elephants, buffaloes, Maasai giraffes, lesser kudu, and common zebras. In the midafternoon return to the lodge for lunch. There’s time for relaxing after which you will go for an evening game drive. Descend into the lake Amboseli basin and drive around the dry lake beds. There are fresh water pools such as Ol Tukai where hippos and crocodiles reside. The Observation Hill, which overlooks the lake offers views of the park and elephants in the swamps. Lake Amboseli attracts over 600 species of which most are found around the lake such as great white pelicans. In the cool of the day your guide will devote the evenings searching for predators like lions, cheetahs, and leopards. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
Day 3: Amboseli national park
The whole day will be dedicated to explore the park’s attractions including super tusker elephants, lions, ostriches, Mount Kilimanjaro, dry lake beds, Ol Tukai swamp, Observation and Lerne Boti hills. Activities available to do include game drives, nature walks, and a Maasai community tour. In between there’s time for lunch, picnics, and sundowners in the park at the observation hill, where the view of the lake is most spectacular.
Accommodation: Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
Day 4: Amboseli to Lake Naivasha
Lake Naivasha is 233 km (4-hour drive) north of Amboseli. Take your final game drive in Amboseli in the early morning to search for predators. Afterwards depart for Lake Naivasha national park via Nairobi West, stopping there for lunch en route. Lake Naivasha is situated in the rift valley and offers a wide range of activities including boat rides, game drives, nature walks, birding, and horseback rides. Arrive and check in at the lodge first and later go for an afternoon boat trip to Lake Naivasha. The protected area is an Important Bird Area with over 400 species of birds including lesser and greater flamingos and the red-knobbed coot (fulica cristata).
Crocodiles, hippos, and other mammal species are also found around the lake such as zebras, buffaloes, and waterbucks. After the boat ride, you will go on an evening game drive and sundowner on the way back to the lodge.
Accommodation: Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge
Day 5: Naivasha to Lake Nakuru national park
Lake Nakuru national park is 66 km (1-hour drive) northwest of Naivasha. The short drive takes you through the rift valley landscape with views of Mau escarpment. Arrive at lake Nakuru famous for harboring black rhinos and flamingos. The park contains diverse habitats such as euphoria and riverine forests, open and dense woodland savanna, shrubs, and wetlands which support over 56 mammal species. The highlight will be to look for rhinos during game drives, visit Makalia waterfalls and Out of Africa lookout.
Accommodation: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
Day 6: Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara
Masai Mara national reserve is 235 km (5-hour drive) southwest of Lake Nakuru. The park can be reached by air through Mara Serena airstrip in Mara Triangle, which borders Serengeti national park in Tanzania. Mara triangle serves as the entry and exit point for the wildebeests as they migrate from Serengeti into the Masai Mara. Visiting the Mara Triangle between July and October offers an opportunity to witness the wildebeest crossing of the Mara river. The area contains riverine forests along the river and vast stretches of open savanna plains and is famous for harboring the Big 5 animals including lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos as well as cheetahs, hyenas, African wild dogs as well as hippos, and crocodiles. Besides staying in the Mara Triangle, other parts of the reserve include conservancies in north Mara which offer unique activities such as night game drives, star gazing, and horseback rides. Activities in the main reserve include game drives, hot air ballooning, walking safari, and Maasai cultural tour. And then you will go on later afternoon and evening game drives including sundowners.
Accommodation: Little Governors Camp
Day 7: Masai Mara full day
Given that large mammal species and predators alike are mostly active in the morning hours, early morning game drive or hot air balloon safari offers an opportunity to spot lions and cheetahs hunting or resting on the rocky outcrops or a leopard in the acacia tree. Elephants, wildebeests, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, gazelles, elands, impalas, and rhinos can also be seen across the vast savanna plains. Following the morning activity, you can return to the lodge for lunch and refreshment. Head out again in the late afternoon for second game drives featuring sundowners or take a community tour to visit the Masai people. Dinner and overnight stay in Masai Mara national reserve.
Accommodation: Little Governors Camp
Day 8: Masai Mara to Nairobi for departure
Nairobi capital city is 270 km (5-hour drive) north west of Masai Mara. you will leave the park after breakfast or depending on the departure flight schedule. End of 8 Days Kenya wildlife safari.