Unmatched Expeditions · Kenya
12-Day Kenya Safari Itinerary
2 – Tsavo West National Park • 2 – Amboseli National Park • 1 – Lake Naivasha • 2 – Samburu National Reserve • 1 – Lake Nakuru National Park • 3 – Maasai Mara National Reserve
Safari Overview
| Company | Unmatched Expeditions |
| Duration | 12 Days / 11 Nights |
| Cost pps | $5,874 |
| Start | Nairobi, Kenya |
| End | Nairobi, Kenya (JKIA) |
| Parks Visited | Tsavo West, Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Samburu, Lake Nakuru, Maasai Mara |
| Best Season | Year-round — Great Migration (July–Oct) in Maasai Mara |
| Vehicle | 4WD Safari Land Cruiser / Land Rover |
| Included | Accommodation, stated meals, park entry fees, game drives |
| Excluded | International flights, visas, tips/gratuities, hot air balloon safari, personal expenses, travel insurance |
Day 1
Tsavo West National Park
Tsavo West National Park
| Transfer | Nairobi to Tsavo West: ~230 km (approx. 4–5 hours) |
| Stay | Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge OR Voyager Ziwani Tented Camp |
| Meals | Lunch & Dinner at lodge |
| Wildlife | Elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, hippo, crocodile, buffalo, giraffe, zebra |
Daily Programme
- Depart Nairobi early morning, driving southeast through the Athi Plains
- Enter Tsavo West via Mtito Andei Gate
- Afternoon game drive: look out for elephants, lions, cheetahs, and the famous Tsavo red elephants
- Visit Mzima Springs: a natural oasis where hippos and crocodiles can be observed through an underwater viewing chamber
- Sundowner at your lodge overlooking the Chyulu Hills
Day 2
Tsavo West National Park
Tsavo West National Park
| Transfer | Full day in park — no transfer |
| Stay | Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge OR Voyager Ziwani Tented Camp |
| Meals | Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner at lodge |
| Wildlife | Leopard, wild dog, lesser kudu, gerenuk, eland, over 600 bird species |
Daily Programme
- Full day of game drives in Tsavo West
- Explore the volcanic Shetani Lava Fields (one of Kenya’s most dramatic landscapes)
- Visit Roaring Rocks viewpoint for sweeping views across the savannah
- Optional: guided walk at Ziwani or birdwatching session (over 600 bird species recorded)
Day 3
Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park
| Transfer | Tsavo West to Amboseli: ~100 km (approx. 2–3 hours via Chyulu Gate or Kimana Gate) |
| Stay | Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge |
| Meals | Lunch & Dinner at lodge |
| Wildlife | Elephant (largest concentration in Kenya), lion, cheetah, wildebeest, zebra, hyena, Cape buffalo |
Daily Programme
- Check in at lodge
- Afternoon game drive around the swamps and open plains
- Observe massive elephant herds crossing the dusty plains beneath Africa’s highest peak
- Sunset photography at Observation Hill
Day 4
Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park
| Transfer | Full day in park — no transfer |
| Stay | Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge |
| Meals | Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner at lodge |
| Wildlife | Superb starling, flamingo, pelican, saddle-billed stork, gerenuk, impala |
Daily Programme
- Early morning game drive for the best Kilimanjaro visibility and predator activity
- Visit the Enkongo Narok Swamp — rich in hippos, pelicans, and hundreds of water birds
- Afternoon Maasai cultural village visit (optional & at own cost)
- Evening sundowner with Kilimanjaro backdrop
Day 5
Lake Naivasha
Lake Naivasha
| Transfer | Amboseli to Lake Naivasha: ~320 km (approx. 4–5 hours via Nairobi Southern Bypass) |
| Stay | The Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort |
| Meals | Lunch & Dinner at lodge |
| Wildlife | Hippos in Lake Naivasha; African fish eagle, pelican, cormorant, waterbuck, giraffe (on Crescent Island) |
Daily Programme
- Scenic drive through Nairobi and up into the Great Rift Valley
- Stop at the Rift Valley viewpoint for panoramic photos
- Check in at the Great Rift Valley Lodge perched on the Eburru escarpment
- Afternoon boat ride on Lake Naivasha — spot hippos, fish eagles, and a variety of water birds
- Visit Crescent Island Game Sanctuary (walking with wildlife)
Day 6
Samburu National Reserve
Samburu National Reserve
| Transfer | Naivasha to Samburu: ~340 km (approx. 6 hours via Nanyuki) |
| Stay | Sopa Lodge Samburu |
| Meals | Lunch & Dinner at lodge |
| Wildlife | Reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Beisa oryx, gerenuk, Somali ostrich (‘Samburu Special Five’), lion, leopard, elephant |
Daily Programme
- Early departure northward through the central highlands
- Scenic drive through Nanyuki town with views of Mount Kenya
- Cross the equator — photo stop at the equator monument
- Arrive Samburu in the early afternoon
- Late afternoon game drive along the Ewaso Nyiro River
Day 7
Samburu National Reserve
Samburu National Reserve
| Transfer | Full day in reserve — no transfer |
| Stay | Sopa Lodge Samburu |
| Meals | Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner at lodge |
| Wildlife | Leopard, cheetah, wild dog, dwarf mongoose, Pel’s fishing owl |
Daily Programme
- Full day of game drives in Samburu and neighbouring Shaba Reserve
- Search for the rare ‘Samburu Special Five’ — unique northern Kenya species
- Afternoon river bank game drive — crocodile, elephant and lion sightings common
- Sundowner on a rocky outcrop overlooking the reserve
Day 8
Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park
| Transfer | Samburu to Lake Nakuru: ~302 km (approx. 5.5 hours) |
| Stay | Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge |
| Meals | Lunch & Dinner at lodge |
| Wildlife | Flamingo (lesser & greater), white rhino, black rhino, lion, leopard, Rothschild’s giraffe, hippo, pelican |
Daily Programme
- Morning departure from Samburu; arrive Lake Nakuru by mid-morning
- Afternoon game drive around the lake shore — famous for flamingos and white rhino
- Spot Rothschild’s giraffe, one of the world’s rarest giraffe subspecies
- Visit Makalia Falls and the baboon cliff viewpoints
Day 9
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Maasai Mara National Reserve
| Transfer | Lake Nakuru to Maasai Mara: ~260 km (approx. 5 hours via Narok) |
| Stay | Sopa Lodge Mara |
| Meals | Lunch & Dinner at camp |
| Wildlife | Lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo (Big Five), cheetah, wildebeest, zebra, topi, hyena |
Daily Programme
- Scenic drive south through Narok town and the vast Mara ecosystem
- Arrive Maasai Mara by early afternoon
- Afternoon game drive across the world’s most famous wildlife reserve
- Look out for the Big Five on your first Mara game drive
Day 10
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Maasai Mara National Reserve
| Transfer | Full day in reserve — no transfer |
| Stay | Sopa Lodge Mara |
| Meals | Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner at camp |
| Wildlife | Cheetah, wild dog, bat-eared fox, grey-crowned crane, Secretary bird, Maasai giraffe |
Daily Programme
- Full day Big Five game drives in the Maasai Mara
- Visit the Mara River — famous crossing site of the Great Migration (July–October)
- Optional hot air balloon safari at dawn over the Mara plains (additional cost)
- Afternoon visit to a Maasai manyatta (village) for cultural interaction (optional at own cost)
Day 11
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Maasai Mara National Reserve
| Transfer | Full day in reserve — no transfer |
| Stay | Sopa Lodge Mara |
| Meals | Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner at camp |
| Wildlife | Hippo (Mara River), crocodile, elephant, leopard, lion (in trees), jackal |
Daily Programme
- Dawn game drive — best time for lion hunts and cheetah activity
- Sunset photography on the open plains
- Farewell dinner at camp under the African sky
Day 12
Return to Nairobi
Return to Nairobi
| Transfer | Maasai Mara to Nairobi: ~260 km (approx. 6 hours via Narok) |
| Stay | Departure day |
| Meals | Breakfast en route |
Daily Programme
- Depart Maasai Mara after breakfast
- Drive back to Nairobi — arrive early afternoon
- Optional: lunch at a Nairobi restaurant, city tour, or Giraffe Centre (own cost)
- Transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for onward flights
Important Notes
Road Conditions & Travel Times
- All distances and travel times are approximate and may vary due to road conditions, weather, and stops
- Kenya’s roads range from tarmac (highways) to murram (gravel/dirt) tracks within the parks — a 4WD vehicle is essential
- The Mara–Nairobi return leg can optionally be done by scheduled charter flight (approx. 45 minutes) to save time
Health & Safety
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate required if arriving from an endemic country
- Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended for all safari destinations listed
- Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is required
Packing Essentials
- Neutral-coloured clothing (khaki, olive, brown) — avoid white, blue and black which attract insects
- Warm fleece or jacket for early morning game drives, sunscreen, sunhat, bug repellent
- Binoculars, camera, extra memory cards and batteries
- Soft-sided bags recommended as bush planes have strict weight limits (typically 15 kg)