7 Days – Old Fashioned Kenya Safari
7 Days / 6 Nights Days
Nairobi, Kenya (hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) → Nairobi, Kenya (midday arrival on Day 7)
Why Choose This Safari?
This seven-day safari covers five of Kenya’s best-known wildlife areas, from the Aberdare range to the Maasai Mara. Aberdare National Park is about 767 square kilometres, lies about 100 km north of Nairobi and includes moorland, bamboo forest and wildlife, with elephants among its animals. Samburu National Reserve covers about 165 square kilometres, where the Ewaso Ng’iro river runs through the reserve and Nile crocodiles bask along its banks. Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake at about 1,884 metres, is home to hippos and more than 400 bird species. Lake Nakuru National Park, about 188 square kilometres, is known for its flamingos and rhinos. The trip ends with the Maasai Mara National Reserve, about 1,510 square kilometres, where the wildebeest and zebra migration from the Serengeti usually arrives around July and leaves around October, with predators following the herds.
Safari Highlights
- We may have to re-route the itinerary or accommodation in similar Lodges/Tented Camps in case of non – availability
- Upgrades are available eg To Luxury Accommodation Safari
- Tour above can be customized based on your needs or requirements
Destinations to Travel
Itinerary
Day 1 — Nairobi to the Aberdares
You are picked up in Nairobi and driven towards the Aberdare range, near the slopes of Mount Kenya, arriving at Aberdares Country Club for lunch. A game drive is provided on the way to The Ark. In the evening you watch game from your balcony at The Ark, where elephants, rhinos, buffaloes and giant forest hogs sometimes visit the floodlit waterhole and salt lick. You have dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2 — Aberdares to Samburu National Reserve
After breakfast you check out and drive to Samburu National Reserve, with a game drive on the way to your lodge. You have lunch at the lodge, then take an afternoon game drive in the reserve until late in the evening. Samburu is known for the reticulated giraffe, Grévy’s zebra, beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, vulturine guinea fowl and gerenuk, and you may see lions on the grass, cheetahs and leopards. Optional visits to Samburu villages are available at extra cost. You have all meals and an overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 3 — Samburu to Lake Naivasha
At 6:30 am you take an early morning game drive in Samburu. At 8:30 am you have breakfast at the lodge and check out, then drive towards Lake Naivasha with lunch on the way. Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake in the Rift Valley, is known for its birdlife and hippo colonies. You arrive in the late afternoon and take a boat ride on the lake. You have dinner and an overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 4 — Lake Nakuru National Park
After breakfast you drive to Lake Nakuru National Park for a full-day game drive. Lunch is provided in the park. The lake is often called the pink lake because of its flamingos, which often number in the hundreds of thousands or more, and it is a birdwatchers’ paradise. The park is home to all of the Big Five except the elephant, though sightings can’t be guaranteed. You have dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 5 — Lake Nakuru to the Maasai Mara National Reserve
In the morning you take a game drive in Lake Nakuru, which is a rhino sanctuary, and look for warthogs and waterbuck as you leave the park. You have breakfast at the lodge and depart for the Maasai Mara. The route crosses the Loita plains, where you may see Maasai herders with their livestock among the plains game. You arrive in the Mara in time for lunch, then take an afternoon game drive. You have dinner and an overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 6 — Maasai Mara National Reserve
You have breakfast at the lodge, then leave with picnic lunches for a full-day game drive inside the Maasai Mara National Reserve. The Mara is famous for its black-maned lions, and you may see cheetahs, buffaloes, wildebeest, zebras, leopards, Grant’s gazelles and hyenas. Rhinos are rare, so a sighting can’t be guaranteed. You extend the drive to the hippo point, where hippos submerge as vehicles approach and surface moments later, while crocodiles sunbathe on the river banks. Optional visits to the Maasai villages are available between meals at extra cost. You have all meals and an overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 7 — Maasai Mara to Nairobi
After breakfast at the lodge you depart for Nairobi, arriving at about midday, when you are dropped at your hotel or the airport.
What's Included
Rate Includes
- Flying Doctors - Emergence air rescue from any point of the safari circuit
- Arrival and departure Airport Transfers
- All entrance fees for client as per program
- Full board accommodation on tour
- Service of an English speaking driver guide
- Transport based on excellent Vehicle rebuilt for safari to give nice game viewing
- Mileage is built in the price
- Driver Accommodation and Meals
- Park fee for vehicle and driver
- Game drives as per the Itinerary
- Complementary water in the vehicle
- Government taxes
Rate Excludes
- Extras at the lodges i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry, Internet etc.
- International flight
- Departure tax
- Tips to drivers (highly recommended)
- Visa, Travel Insurance
Best Time to Go
This safari can be taken all year round. The wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara is seasonal, with herds usually arriving around July and leaving around October. Flamingo numbers at Lake Nakuru change with water and food, and have been lower in recent years. The dry months from June to October are generally the most comfortable for game drives, while the long rains from roughly April to May and the short rains in November and December can bring cloud and rain, especially in the Aberdare highlands. Our team can advise on the best dates for your trip.
Pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this safari start and end, and how long does it last?
It starts in Nairobi with a pickup on Day 1 and ends with a drop-off in Nairobi around midday on Day 7. The safari runs for 7 days and 6 nights: one night in the Aberdare National Park area, one in Samburu National Reserve, one at Lake Naivasha, one at Lake Nakuru National Park and two in the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Will we see the Big Five?
The Big Five can all be found in the Maasai Mara, and Lake Nakuru is home to all of them except the elephant. Rhinos are rare and sightings can’t be guaranteed on any single drive.
Is the balcony viewing at The Ark guaranteed?
No. Animals may visit the floodlit waterhole and salt lick during your evening at The Ark, but sightings can’t be guaranteed. Please bring a camera and patience for the evening.
Is the boat ride on Lake Naivasha included?
Yes, the boat ride on Day 3 is included, and our team will confirm the timing when you book. Trips take you to the hippo area and Crescent Island, and any extra fees for Crescent Island are not included.
Can we visit the Maasai villages?
Yes, optional visits to the Maasai villages are available on Day 6 at extra cost. Please ask our team for the price before you book.
Will we see the wildebeest migration?
The herds usually reach the Maasai Mara around July and leave around October. The migration depends on the rains and can’t be guaranteed on your dates.