Arrival in Nairobi

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), you will be greeted by your expert guide from Ngeye Uganda Tours and transferred to a comfortable hotel in Nairobi. Depending on arrival times, optional activities include a visit to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where orphaned elephants are rehabilitated, or the Giraffe Centre, offering close encounters with endangered Rothschild giraffes.

Evening dinner at the hotel allows guests to review the 11 Days Kenya Ultimate Safari itinerary and meet their guide for a briefing. Nairobi provides a perfect contrast to Kenya’s wilderness, offering cultural insights, modern amenities, and urban wildlife experiences. This introductory day helps travelers acclimatize and prepare for the adventures ahead.

• Animals to Spot: Urban wildlife near Nairobi National Park – impalas, giraffes, zebras.
• Birds to Spot: Hornbills, weavers, starlings.
• Cultures to Experience: Urban Kenyan culture, conservation education programs.

Amboseli National Park – Elephants Against Kilimanjaro

On day two, depart Nairobi early for Amboseli National Park, situated at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. Amboseli is renowned for its large elephant herds, stunning landscapes, and excellent photographic opportunities. Afternoon game drives begin immediately, exploring marshes, acacia woodlands, and open plains.

Day three features full-day game drives. Guides navigate the park’s varied terrain, focusing on wildlife hotspots, including elephant herds, lion prides, and cheetah sightings. Amboseli’s wetlands provide habitats for waterbucks, buffaloes, and diverse birdlife. Early morning drives offer spectacular sunrise photography with Kilimanjaro as a backdrop. Guests may also engage in cultural visits to Maasai villages, observing traditional practices such as beadwork, cattle herding, and local ceremonies.

• Animals to Spot: Elephants, lions, cheetahs, zebras, wildebeests, buffaloes.
• Birds to Spot: African fish eagles, crowned cranes, storks, kingfishers.
• Cultures to Experience: Maasai community interactions, traditional dancing, and beadwork.

Travel north to Samburu National Reserve, an arid landscape defined by the Ewaso Ng’iro River, which sustains diverse wildlife. Samburu is home to the “Samburu Special Five”: the Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, and gerenuk. Afternoon game drives commence upon arrival, exploring the dry-country habitats and spotting unique predators.

Day five includes full-day exploration with morning and late-afternoon drives. The dry terrain allows for excellent visibility, making wildlife observation and photography exceptional. Optional cultural visits offer insight into Samburu pastoralist life, traditional rituals, and local crafts. Samburu’s remote setting ensures an intimate safari experience, far from the crowded southern parks.

• Animals to Spot: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, oryx, gerenuk.
• Birds to Spot: Somali ostriches, vultures, hornbills, barbets.
• Cultures to Experience: Samburu pastoralist traditions, beadwork, and local storytelling.

Ol Pejeta Conservancy or Lake Nakuru National Park

After Samburu, transfer to Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia or Lake Nakuru National Park in the Rift Valley. Ol Pejeta hosts the last two northern white rhinos, black rhinos, lions, and a chimpanzee sanctuary at Sweetwaters. Activities include guided bush walks, rhino tracking, and game drives.

Alternatively, Lake Nakuru offers abundant flamingos, black and white rhinos, and diverse bird species along the lake shore. Afternoon game drives explore the rhino sanctuary, wooded ridges, and grasslands. Guests can enjoy photography, bird watching, and interpretive guides explaining conservation initiatives and the ecological significance of the area.

• Animals to Spot: Rhinos, lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras.
• Birds to Spot: Flamingos, fish eagles, pelicans, storks, cormorants.
• Cultures to Experience: Local Laikipia or Rift Valley community interactions.

Maasai Mara National Reserve – Big Five and Great Migration

Drive south to the Maasai Mara, Kenya’s most famous wildlife reserve. Afternoon game drives commence immediately. Over the next four days, morning and afternoon drives explore vast plains, riverine forests, and acacia savannahs. Guests may encounter lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, and buffaloes—the Big Five.

Optional experiences include a hot-air balloon safari at sunrise, providing aerial views of the plains and wildlife, followed by a bush breakfast. Visits to Maasai cultural villages allow guests to learn about traditions, beadwork, and community-based conservation initiatives. The Mara’s seasonal Great Migration offers a dramatic spectacle, with thousands of wildebeest and zebras crossing the Mara River while crocodiles and predators lie in wait. Photographers, families, and nature enthusiasts will find this segment exhilarating and deeply immersive.

• Animals to Spot: Lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hyenas.
• Birds to Spot: Secretary birds, vultures, eagles, lilac-breasted rollers, hornbills.
• Cultures to Experience: Maasai village life, traditional dances, community education programs.

Departure from Nairobi

After a final morning activity, return to Nairobi for your international flight. The 11 Days Kenya Ultimate Safari concludes with lasting memories of Kenya’s wildlife, landscapes, and cultural richness. Guests reflect on a journey that combines adventure, luxury, and conservation-focused travel, with opportunities to witness Africa’s most iconic animals in some of the continent’s most beautiful settings.