Kenya – The Home of the Safari

After meeting your safari guide, your 7 day Kenya safari begins with a drive in your 4×4 Land Cruiser. Today’s drive takes you northeast, past Mount Kenya and the stunning Laikipia region.

Make a quick stop in the town of Nanyuki, the border between the southern and northern hemispheres—you have now crossed the equator. As the landscape gets drier and drier, you approach the first destination: the Samburu Game Reserve. The arid landscape gives Samburu its unique character.

In the afternoon, you will embark on your first game drive in the reserve, looking for elephants, crocodiles and hippos along the Ewaso Ngiro Riverbank. This life-giving river leads you to your home for the next two nights, the Elephant Bedroom Camp.

The luxury camp is situated in the Samburu Game Reserve, under large trees in a riverine forest with river views. Listen to the sounds of the bush at night while you dream of more adventures ahead.

Waking up in the middle of nature is the best way to start your second safari day. Today, you will have ample time to explore Samburu Game Reserve during exciting game drives.

Samburu is home to wildlife you will not see in southern Kenya; the animals here have adapted to a life with little water. Look out for the ‘Northern Five’, the rare Somali ostrich, Beisa oryx, Grevy’s zebra, and the Gerenuk—an antelope with a giraffe-like neck.

The Ewaso Ngiro River attracts many animals, especially during the dry season. Staying another night at the Elephant Bedroom Camp, your game drive continues well into the late afternoon when you look out for elephants coming to the river to quench their thirst.

After yesterday’s exploration of the arid and hot Samburu, you will travel to the Aberdare National Park this morning, where the change of scenery will surprise you.

The Aberdare Mountain Range comprises lush mountainous rainforest, moorland and plunging waterfalls 300m tall. It is the ideal habitat for elephants; you will see many of them on your afternoon game drive. Buffaloes, leopards and the rare bongo antelope also call the Aberdare Mountains home. In these higher altitudes, it can get chilly, especially at night, so remember to carry a warm jersey.

Overnighting at The Ark in the heart of the national park is an exciting experience. Named and designed after Noah’s Ark, this quirky lodge has a floodlit waterhole and viewing platforms, so you can spot wildlife while enjoying a refreshing sundowner.

Heading west this morning, stop at the Thomson’s Waterfalls near the town of Nyahururu, before continuing through the Great Rift Valley to the Lake Nakuru National Park.

Lake Nakuru is among the classic safari destinations in Kenya. It is well-known for its large flocks of flamingos, which gather in hundreds at the alkaline lake depending on season and water levels. Being a paradise for bird lovers, the park is home to 450 different species. If you don’t enjoy birds as much, you will surely love that Lake Nakuru National Park is home to one of the largest populations of white and black rhinos in Kenya.

On your afternoon game drive around the park, look out for buffaloes, waterbucks and hippos. You will stay at the Flamingo Hill Tented Camp tonight.

Today’s journey takes you deep into Masai land; you will drive through open plains dotted with acacias and shrubs, passing small local villages along the way. Your destination: the world-renowned Masai Mara Game Reserve – a highlight on your 7 day Kenya safari.

The Mara is not only home to the greatest show on earth, the Great Migration, of millions of wildebeests and zebras following the rains in search of fresh grass, but it is also home to the Big Five and a stunning wildlife destination all year round.

On your afternoon game drive, scout for animals in this magnificent corner of the earth before you relax at the Tipilikwani Mara Camp, your home for the next two nights.

Today is all about the Masai Mara. You have the whole day to explore this prime wildlife destination, including a stop at the Mara River. If you visit the Mara during the Great Migration, stop here long enough, and you might be lucky enough to see a herd of wildebeest and zebras cross the crocodile-infested river.

You can take time to slow down and enjoy the small moments in nature, which makes a safari a unique experience. You never know which animals await around the next corner. The Mara is home to large prides of lions, herds of elephants, cheetahs, hyenas and many kinds of antelopes.

You will be surprised how much you have learned from your safari guide about Kenya’s flora and fauna by day six of your safari. After an exciting day, return to Tipilikwani Mara Camp and enjoy a sundowner before dinner.

Today, it’s time to return to Nairobi, the bustling capital of Kenya. When bumpy paths turn into tarred roads, you know your 7 day Kenya safari adventure is coming to an end. After exploring the country’s diverse regions, we will take you to your hotel or the airport, where you say goodbye to your safari guide before returning home or continuing your travels.