16 days Kenya: 10 days of game drives & the beach
Driving, walking, sailing, and diving in the Indian Ocean – this is our, or rather your, 16-day safari and beach adventure.
After a meet-and-greet with some rhinos and chimpanzees in Ol’ Pejeta Conservancy, get ready for some good old game drives. In Samburu National Reserve, African animals and the Samburu Special Five are already waiting for you. During a trip to the rhino sanctuary of Solio Game Reserve, it’s time for rendezvous #2 with the grey giants. And if luck is on your side, you’ll get to see tree-climbing lions in Lake Nakuru National Park.
Your next stop is the famous Masai Mara National Reserve. Here you’ll search for the Big Five and, if you’re there at the right time, get goosebumped by the Great Wildebeest Migration. On the beautiful Lake Naivasha, you’ll sail between hippos and flamingos and walk between zebras and giraffes on Crescent Island. Discover the famous elephants of Amboseli National Park at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro and end your holiday with a dive in the ocean in Diani Beach. This sounds too good to be true? Then you’ll best see for yourself!
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi
Day 2: Ol’ Pejeta Conservancy
Day 3: Samburu National Reserve
Day 4: Samburu National Reserve
Day 5: The Solio Ranch Conservancy
Day 6: Lake Nakuru National Park
Day 7: Drive to the Masai Mara National Reserve to accommodations outside the park + Walking safari at Zebra Plains + Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 8: Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 9: Boat ride on Lake Naivasha & walking safari on Crescent Island
Day 10: Sundowner at Tulia Amboseli + Amboseli National Park
Day 11: Amboseli National Park
Day 12: Diani Beach + Train ride to Mombasa + Chale Island
Day 13: Diani Beach + Chale Island
Day 14: Diani Beach + Chale Island
Day 15: Diani Beach + Chale Island
Day 16: Flight home from Mombasa (not included in the price)
Day 1
Arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi
As you step out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, your personal Africa Safari Trips guide greets you with a big smile: ‘Karibu Kenya – welcome to Kenya!’ The guide takes you straight to your hotel, where you can relax and take in the images of vibrant Nairobi. The next day, your guide takes you on an exclusive, private safari that allows you to travel at your own pace. Enjoy the luxury of your private safari jeep and take the liberty to stop and watch the animals as long as you like!
Accommodations:
Silver: Boma Inn Nairobi
Day 2: Ol’ Pejeta Conservancy
The Ol’ Pejeta Conservancy is a protected area set up for endangered species. For rhino lovers, this is a pure heaven on earth with a population of more than 100 black rhinos, almost 40 southern white rhinos AND the last two remaining northern white rhinos worldwide. These white rhinos can even be visited up close! Besides rhinos, the conservancy hosts endangered species like the African wild dog, the oryx, Jackson’s hartebeest and Grévy’s zebra, and houses a sanctuary for abused or orphaned chimpanzees.
Accommodations:
Silver: Sweetwaters Serena Camp
Day 3 – 4: Samburu National Reserve
Samburu National Reserve is a great place the first half of your safari adventure, with a dry semidesert and savannah landscape that allows for far sights and lots of animals. It is home to four of the Big Five and to the Samburu Special Five – five rare animals that can only be spotted together in Samburu. The central Ewaso Nyiro River makes for a great spot to see all these animals, while just outside the park you can meet the fascinating Samburu tribe, and observe their special way of living.
Accommodations:
Silver: Samburu Sopa Lodge
Day 5: The Solio Ranch Conservancy
The Solio Ranch Conservancy is a privately owned and very special wildlife sanctuary. Surrounded by stunning landscapes, the former ranch is dedicated to saving and protecting rhinos in Kenya. Enjoy thrilling game drives, guided walks, and serene picnics amidst the picturesque scenery and not only marvel at the grey giants but also animals like buffalos, zebras, giraffes, elands, oryx, impala, waterbucks, Thompson’s gazelles, and warthogs. You can either spend an unforgettable day here or even stay the night at this tranquil place in the middle of nowhere.
Accommodations:
Silver: Rhino Watch Safari Lodge
Day 6: Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park is an amazing wildlife haven, smack in the middle of the Great Rift Valley. The Nakuru Lake in the middle of the park is its main attraction, with hundreds of birds flocking to its shores. The park used to be known for its many flamingos, but rising water levels caused these birds to migrate elsewhere. Luckily, they are slowly returning, and in any case, Lake Nakuru is a great place to visit with its black and white rhinos, giraffes, buffalos, lions, the occasional leopard and over 400 species of birds.
Accommodations:
Silver: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
Day 7: Drive to the Masai Mara National Reserve to accommodations outside the park
No game drive on this day, but a day to remember as you make your way to the famous Masai Mara National Reserve – the highlight of your trip! Enjoy both straight and winding roads on this beautiful road trip, while passing by some exceptional landscapes that you can only find in this part of the world. Because this road trip will take up the biggest part of your day, you sleep in accommodation just outside the park to be well-rested for all the beauty the Mara has to offer the next day!
Accommodations:
Silver: Zebra Plains Mara Camp
Day 8: Masai Mara National Reserve
The Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the most famous places for safari worldwide. Located 270 kilometers west of Nairobi, this is one of the biggest game reserves in Africa. It extends over 1,500 km² and has more than 400 species of birds and no less than 95 species of mammals. Big cats are frequently spotted here, and this is THE place to watch the world-famous Great Migration between August and October, with its vast herds of wildebeests and zebras crossing the Mara River.
Accommodations:
Silver: Zebra Plains Mara Camp
Day 9: Boat ride on Lake Naivasha & walking safari on Crescent Island
Have you ever wanted to pass floating hippos by boat? Seek no longer: during a boat safari on Lake Naivasha, this is exactly what will happen. You will pass between huge groups of hippos while seeing eagles and cormorants flying above you, and admiring giraffes and buffalos on the shore. The safari on board a small motorized boat takes about 90 minutes and ends on the beautiful Crescent Island, where you will continue with a stunning walking safari between zebras, giraffes, and wildebeests.
Accommodations:
Silver: Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge
Day 10: Sundowner at Tulia Amboseli
After driving to Amboseli National Park today, you end your day in style with a classic safari sundowner. Upon arrival in the lodge and after freshening up, a guide accompanies you to a special sundowner spot. The short walk over the savannah leads to a table and chairs, glasses and drinks, snacks and, of course, a view to die for. With some luck, you see your first Amboseli animals while the sun slowly sets in the most beautiful glow over the long savannah grasses…
Accommodations:
Silver: Tulia Amboseli Safari Camp
Day 11: Amboseli National Park
Discover the mesmerizing Amboseli National Park, a true wildlife haven at the foot of the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. The national park on the border with Tanzania offers sweeping savannahs, impressive lava rocks, and shimmering swamps, creating an ideal habitat for large herds of elephants, graceful lions, a staggering variety of bird species, and many more animals. Shoot them all (with your camera, of course!) with the mighty Kili in the background – an amazing sight!
Accommodations:
Silver: Tulia Amboseli Safari Camp
Day 12 – 15: Diani Beach
Stretching along Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast like a ribbon of brilliant white, Diani Beach is a gorgeous setting for a beach holiday. Against the backdrop of forests echoing with the sounds of wildlife, it offers clear blue waters, white palm-fringed beaches, and many watersports activities. Here you can swim along sandbanks, snorkel among colorful reefs, dive in deep sea canyons, or try out kitesurfing or supping. And for those in need of a dash of culture, the vibrant city of Mombasa is not far away!
Accommodations:
Silver: Papillon Lagoon Reef Hotel
Day 16: Flight home from Mombasa (not included in the price)
This is your last day! Unfortunately, our driver will have to take you to Mombasa to catch your flight home from Moi International Airport. Sad to leave…? Then don’t worry! We can still add a few more days on those beautiful beaches or even add a few exciting safari days to your holiday!