8 Days Highlights of Kenya Safari

Experience the thrill of game drives across Samburu’s arid plains before journeying to Aberdare National Park, where the Ark Lodge offers unparalleled views of wildlife gathering at a floodlit waterhole.

Continuing southward, delve into the spectacle of Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for its flamingos and rhinos, before culminating your adventure in the world-renowned Masai Mara. Here, amidst the sweeping savannahs, witness the grandeur of the Big Five and the annual migration of wildebeests.

Throughout, enjoy the comfort of top-tier accommodations like Samburu Sopa Lodge and Mara Sopa Lodge, each offering a blend of luxury and immersion in Kenya’s natural wonders. This safari promises sightings and an intimate connection with Kenya’s rich wildlife and cultural tapestry, ensuring memories that will linger long after your return home.

Detailed Itinerary

• Day 1 Nairobi

  Our representatives will warmly meet you on arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International airport; transfer you to your city hotel where they will brief you on your safari arrangements. Enjoy overnight at the hotel where you are booked on bed and breakfast. Sarova Panafric Hotel BB or similar

  http://www.sarovahotels.com/panafric-nairobi/gallery.html

  Sarova Panafric Hotel

  Idyllically located 5 minutes’ drive from the CBD and 18 km from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, amidst beautifully landscaped gardens in a quiet suburb of Nairobi, Sarova Panafric offers 162 rooms in a range of Superior, Executive, Club, Studio and Themed Suites – all recently refurbished and decorated in a contemporary vibrant African style. Once the watering hole for freedom fighters, spies and foreign correspondents; Flame Tree restaurant is named after the Flame Tree that holds pride of place in the gardens and offers leisurely meals.

  Sarova Panafric offers state-of-the-art banqueting and conferencing facilities with a range of meeting and function rooms equipped with the latest audio visual and WIFI equipment. To wind up the day, take a dip in the pool or go for a leisurely massage – or simply enjoy a cool drink to the soothing sounds of Africa’s rhythm.

  And this hotel is centrally located, only a short 0.5 km from Kenya’s landmark ‘Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC)’, one of the most prominent events venues in Africa.

• Day 2 Nairobi - Samburu Game Reserves

  Early this morning our guide driver will warmly meet you at the hotel after breakfast; drive you to Samburu. You will be arriving for lunch. This afternoon depart on an exciting game viewing drive in search of the special five of Samburu which includes the Gerenuk (nicknamed Twiga gazelle), the beisa Oryx, the Reticulated Giraffe, the Somali ostrich and Grevy’s Zebra. Over 50 wildlife species are found in this game reserve including the elusive leopard and cheetah. Enjoy dinner and overnight. Samburu Sopa Lodge LDBB or similar

• Day 3 Samburu Game Reserves

  Enjoy morning and afternoon game viewing in both Samburu and Buffalo Springs game reserves. This is home to the Savannah Elephant, Lion, Rhino, cape Buffalo, Wild Dog, the Endangered Pun cake Tortoise among many others. Of attraction also are over 450 species of indigenous birds. The Samburu people have a rich culture you may opt to enjoy at a small additional cost. Samburu Sopa Lodge LDBB or similar

  http://www.sopalodges.com/samburu-sopa-lodge/photo-gallery

  Samburu Sopa Lodge

  Located inside the Samburu National Reserve in Northern Kenya, Samburu Sopa lodge is built atop high ground allowing panoramic views of the vastness of Samburu shrub land and the hills beyond. The lodge is built to reflect the architectural heritage of the local communities whose sons and daughters make up the majority of the work force at the lodge.  Fifteen cottages, each with two bedrooms are built in an arch formation on either side of the public areas to surround the waterhole but leaving a wide gap to allow the animals’ free movement to the water.

• Day 4 Samburu Game Reserves - Aberdare National Park

  Enjoy breakfast then drive down to the Aberdare National Park. We arrive at the Aberdare Country Club to a warm welcome then lunch. Only a small sleeping bag is allowed at the Ark where you are heading from there. The reason is that the cabins there are small. You will leave your excess luggage in safe custody at the Aberdare Country Club which is the ground serving hotel for the Ark. Transfer to the Ark Lodge, located deep in the park & nicely surrounded by a nice, green forest. Your night is spent watching wildlife from the lodge decks. There is also an underground bunker that takes you more closely to the wildlife as they come to the flood-lit water hole to drink and bath. Enjoy overnight The Ark Lodge LDBB or similar

  http://www.marasa.net/galleries/the-ark

  The Ark

  Set in the heart of the Aberdare National Park, iconic and yes, quirky. The Ark overlooks a floodlit waterhole and salt lick, which attracts a host of awesome wildlife. Modeled after Noah’s Ark, The Ark has four viewing areas from which to observe the ever-present animal activity at the waterhole and saltlick. There is also a ground level hide – the perfect spot for the discerning photographer. From this vantage point, photos of animals can be taken at eye-level.

  In this intimate recess one can almost, but not quite, pat the animals, hear their sounds and smell the aroma of the night. This is a magical corner, where there is close contact with the essence that tells of unexplored Africa, and where, very often, the visitor may enjoy in solitary state the beauty of it all. So as not to miss any animal sightings, the resident guide will buzz your room when special animals come to the waterhole. Simply throw on your provided robe and slippers, grab your camera and view nightlife at the waterhole!

• Day 5 Lake Nakuru National Park

  Enjoy breakfast then depart the Lake Nakuru National Park with a brief stopover at Thompson’s Falls. We will be arriving at the lodge for lunch. We depart on an afternoon game viewing drive. The scenic 188km2 Lake Nakuru game park is home to the black and white rhino, prides lions, cape buffalos, waterbucks, reticulated giraffes, hartebeests among many others. When the water levels in the lake are low, the 68km2 alkaline lake is famous for the thousands of greater and lesser flamingoes. The park has the largest euphorbia forest in Africa. Enjoy dinner and overnight. Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge LDBB or similar

  http://www.sopalodges.com/lake-nakuru-sopa-lodge/photo-gallery

  Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge

  Located on a range of hills that form the western limits of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, the lodge offers spectacular views over the vastness of Africa. The lodge has 62 rooms and overlooks Lake Nakuru and its surrounding National Park, one that is a paradise for bird watchers and wildlife lovers’ alike.

  Lake Nakuru National Park is mainly a wooded and bushy grassland with a wide ecological diversity and characteristic habitats that range from the lake waters to the escarpment and ridges.

• Day 6 Lake Nakuru National Park - Masai Mara Game Reserve

  Enjoy an early breakfast and depart to the Maasai Mara National Reserve arriving for lunch. Depart on an afternoon game viewing drive in search of the hundreds of wildlife species the game reserve is famous for. These include the lion, Cape buffalo, the savannah elephant, black rhino and the elusive leopard, impalas, Masai giraffes, waterbucks, warthogs, Thompson & grant’s gazelles, topis, the resident wildebeests among many others. Enjoy dinner and overnight Mara Sopa Lodge LDBB or similar

• Day 7 Masai Mara Game Reserve

  Enjoy breakfast then a full day of game viewing drive in search of the Big-Five among many other wildlife species. In addition to wildlife, the Mara has nice, varied scenery to enjoy. OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Balloon Safari over the Mara plains or visit a traditional Masai Village (at an extra cost).The vast plains and grasslands is also home to hundreds of bird species. Enjoy meals and overnight. Mara Sopa Lodge LDBB or similar

  http://www.sopalodges.com/masai-mara-sopa-lodge/photo-gallery

  Mara Sopa Lodge

  Located high on the slopes of the Oloolaimutia Hills, Masai Mara Sopa Lodge was one of the first safari lodges to be built in the Masai Mara Game Reserve, a reason why its gardens and trees are so lush and mature. All the buildings follow the design of traditional African round houses with conical roofs, and these stretch along the line of the hills with the impressively large public area buildings and the swimming pool at their centre.

  The lodge has fifty guest cottages divided into two wings to either side of the main public areas. Each of these house two spacious guest rooms with queen and king size beds; mosquito nets; electronic safes; dressing tables; en-suite bathrooms and sheltered verandas that all have views over the gardens and the game reserve beyond.

  Six of the cottages each contain two suites with larger bedrooms and bathrooms, and both indoor and outdoor seating areas. In addition to all of the above, the honeymoon suite has an extremely large, luxuriously appointed bedroom with a king size bed; dressing table and indoor seating area. Its lavishly appointed bathroom contains both a shower and a sunken bath; and its sheltered veranda offers some of the most magnificent views available over the African landscapes below.

• Day 8 Masai Mara Game Reserve - Nairobi

  Enjoy breakfast then check-out. You may opt to drive or take a one-hour flight (at an extra cost) to Nairobi. Enjoy a farewell lunch at the carnivore restaurant then our guide driver will drop you at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward flight.