Itinerary
- Day 1
Nairobi
You'll arrive in Nairobi and get transferred to the Tamarind Tree Hotel. At 6pm your tour leader holds a welcome meeting, and there's an optional dinner available if you're interested. The rest of your day is yours to settle in and relax after traveling.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tamarind Tree Hotel), Hotel (Tamarind Tree Hotel (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Welcome dinner at a restaurant of your choice
Landmarks Jomo Kenyatta International Airport - Day 2
Nairobi to Aberdare Mountains
Driving north from Nairobi takes you through the Great Rift Valley and into the Aberdare Mountains, passing through farming communities along the way. At Aberdare Country Club you'll have lunch with views of the plains and Mount Kenya. Later you reach The Ark lodge where you settle in and can watch wildlife from the balconies and bunker waterhole. Before dinner there's an informal talk about local plants and animals.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Aberdare Country Club), Dinner (Dinner at The Ark lodge)
- Accommodation
- Lodge (The Ark Lodge), Lodge (The Ark Lodge (or similar))
Included Activities
- Drive through Great Rift Valley and Aberdare Mountains
- Lunch at Aberdare Country Club
- Wildlife viewing from lodge viewing decks and bunker waterhole
- Informal talk on local flora and fauna of Aberdare National Park
- Dinner at lodge
Optional Activities
- Night-time wildlife watching with ranger alert system (listen for buzzer signals: 1 ring for elephant, 2 for rhino, 3 for leopard, 4 for other unusual sightings)
Landmarks Aberdare Country Club The Ark Aberdare National Park Mount Kenya 
- Day 3
Aberdare Mountains to Nakuru
An early departure starts your four-hour drive to Nakuru. Along the route you stop at Thompson Falls on the Ewaso Ngiro River to see the 70-meter drop. From there you head into Nakuru National Park and arrive at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge for lunch. The afternoon brings your first game drive around Lake Nakuru where you'll search for rhinos and other wildlife.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge), Dinner (Dinner at lodge)
- Accommodation
- Lodge (Sarova Lion Hill Lodge), Lodge (Sarova Lion Hill Lodge (or similar))
Included Activities
- Stop at Thompson Falls
- Lunch at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge
- First game drive at Nakuru National Park
Landmarks Thompson Falls Ewaso Ngiro River Nakuru National Park Lake Nakuru - Day 4
Nakuru National Park
You'll start before breakfast in 4x4 Land Cruisers with experienced safari guides searching for white and endangered black rhinos throughout Nakuru National Park. After returning for late breakfast, the hottest part of the day gives you time to relax, swim if you want, or do some birdwatching. Your afternoon game drive departs around 4pm and returns as evening falls.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Late breakfast at lodge), Dinner (Dinner at lodge)
- Accommodation
- Lodge (Sarova Lion Hill Lodge), Lodge (Sarova Lion Hill Lodge (or similar))
Included Activities
- Early morning game drive in 4x4 Land Cruiser at Nakuru National Park
- Late breakfast at lodge
- Afternoon game drive at Nakuru National Park
Optional Activities
- Swimming in lodge pool
- Birdwatching
- Siesta during rest period
Landmarks Nakuru National Park Lake Nakuru - Day 5
Nakuru to Maasai Mara
A five-hour drive takes you across the Rift Valley floor and over the Mau Escarpment toward the Maasai Mara. You'll pass through the busy market town of Narok before arriving early afternoon at your lodge in the heart of the Mara near the Talek River. After late lunch, an afternoon game drive starts around 4pm and returns as the sun sets. You'll freshen up for drinks and dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch (Late lunch at lodge), Dinner (Buffet dinner with fresh seasonal produce sourced from around Kenya)
- Accommodation
- Camping (Sarova Mara Game Camp), Camping (Sarova Mara Game Camp (or similar))
Included Activities
- Drive across Rift Valley and Mau Escarpment
- Late lunch at lodge
- Afternoon game drive at Maasai Mara
- Dinner at lodge restaurant
Optional Activities
- Visit Narok market town
Landmarks Rift Valley Mau Escarpment Narok Maasai Mara Game Reserve Talek River - Day 6
Maasai Mara
This full day in the Maasai Mara includes two game drives, one early morning and another mid-afternoon. Between drives you have time to relax at your lodge, swim, or read. The Mara holds one of the largest animal concentrations anywhere, and if you're traveling between late July and early October, you may see the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at lodge), Lunch (Lunch at lodge), Dinner (Dinner at lodge)
- Accommodation
- Camping (Sarova Mara Game Camp), Camping (Sarova Mara Game Camp (or similar))
Included Activities
- Early morning game drive at Maasai Mara
- Mid-afternoon game drive at Maasai Mara
Optional Activities
- Swimming in lodge pool
- Reading or relaxing at lodge
Landmarks Maasai Mara Game Reserve - Day 7
Maasai Mara
Your third Mara day goes deeper into the reserve with expert guides who cover large areas including river tributaries. You'll look for lions, elephants, wildebeest, and various antelope species. In the evening you'll have a traditional Mara Salt Lick Deck dinner overlooking a watering hole and salt lick where wildlife comes to gather.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at lodge), Lunch (Lunch at lodge), Dinner (Traditional Mara Salt Lick Deck dinner overlooking watering hole and salt lick area)
- Accommodation
- Camping (Sarova Mara Game Camp), Camping (Sarova Mara Game Camp (or similar))
Included Activities
- Game drives through Maasai Mara reserve and river tributaries
- Traditional Mara Salt Lick Deck dinner overlooking watering hole
Landmarks Maasai Mara Game Reserve Lake Nakuru - Day 8
Maasai Mara to Nairobi
After early breakfast you drive back to Nairobi for the five-hour journey, with your tour ending at the Tamarind Tree Hotel. Airport transfer is included, or you can arrange a day-use room to relax by the pool or do some last-minute souvenir shopping around Nairobi.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Early breakfast at lodge before departure)
Included Activities
- Early breakfast
- Five-hour drive back to Nairobi
Optional Activities
- Day-use room at Tamarind Tree Hotel
- Relax by hotel pool
- Last-minute souvenir shopping in Nairobi
Landmarks Tamarind Tree Hotel Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Nairobi
