Arrival in Nairobi

Your adventure begins at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), where our professional safari guide will meet you for a seamless transfer to a city hotel. Nairobi, Kenya’s bustling capital, is the perfect introduction to East Africa, offering a blend of urban sophistication and wildlife encounters just outside the city. Upon arrival, guests can relax, recover from travel, and prepare for the exciting safari ahead.

For those with extra time, Nairobi offers iconic attractions such as the Giraffe Centre, where visitors interact with endangered Rothschild giraffes, and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a sanctuary for orphaned elephants learning to return to the wild. Another enriching option is a visit to the Bomas of Kenya, showcasing traditional homesteads, dances, and cultural performances from Kenya’s diverse ethnic groups. This provides travelers with a cultural foundation for understanding Kenya’s human heritage alongside its natural splendor.

Evening meals at the hotel provide an opportunity to sample authentic Kenyan cuisine, including nyama choma (grilled meat), sukuma wiki (collard greens), and ugali (maize porridge). Guests can also meet the safari team to review the itinerary, safety procedures, and conservation highlights they will encounter over the coming days. The night concludes with rest in preparation for the journey to Amboseli.

• Animals to Spot: Nairobi National Park – lions, giraffes, zebras
• Birds to Spot: African fish eagle, sunbirds, weavers
• Cultures to Experience: Urban culture, Bomas of Kenya, Maasai-inspired dances

Amboseli National Park – Giants of the Savannah

The journey continues south to Amboseli National Park, famed for its enormous elephant herds and the spectacular backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. Amboseli’s vast plains, swamps, and acacia woodlands make it one of Kenya’s most picturesque safari destinations. With two full days dedicated to exploration, travelers experience Amboseli at its finest, with multiple game drives scheduled to optimize sightings of elephants, lions, cheetahs, and other charismatic wildlife.

Amboseli is a photographer’s dream. Early morning drives reveal mist rising over the swamps while elephants bathe in shallow water, their reflections mirrored in the golden hues of the sunrise. Afternoon drives traverse open plains, where large herds of elephants, buffaloes, and zebras graze alongside Maasai settlements, offering vivid contrasts of wildlife and culture. Birdlife is abundant, including kori bustards, African fish eagles, and colorful bee-eaters, particularly around wetland areas.

Cultural encounters enrich the experience. A visit to a local Maasai village (Manyatta) provides insights into their semi-nomadic lifestyle, beadwork, and cattle-herding traditions. Guests learn how Maasai communities coexist with wildlife, manage grazing lands, and maintain their cultural heritage amid modern pressures. Optional walking safaris with knowledgeable guides reveal Amboseli’s smaller wonders: insects, medicinal plants, and footprints that tell stories of elusive predators.

• Animals to Spot: Elephants, lions, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, hyenas, warthogs
• Birds to Spot: Kori bustard, lilac-breasted roller, African fish eagle, hornbills, storks
• Cultures to Experience: Maasai village visit, beadwork demonstrations, warrior traditions

Lake Nakuru & Lake Naivasha – Birds, Rhinos, and Scenic Beauty

Departing Amboseli, the safari travels to Lake Nakuru National Park, located in the Great Rift Valley. Famous for its rhino sanctuary, Nakuru is a haven for black and white rhinos and offers dramatic photographic opportunities with flamingos that line the alkaline lake seasonally. The surrounding woodland and escarpments, such as Baboon Cliff, offer panoramic views of wildlife and scenic landscapes, while extensive game drives reveal lions, leopards, buffaloes, and giraffes. Birdwatchers delight in sightings of pelicans, cormorants, and African fish eagles.

The following day takes travelers to Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake surrounded by papyrus swamps and acacia woodlands. A boat safari on the lake provides close encounters with hippos, waterbucks, and Nile crocodiles. Crescent Island offers a unique guided walking safari where travelers walk among giraffes, impalas, and zebras without predator threats, allowing for exceptional photographic moments. Optional visits to local flower farms or Hell’s Gate National Park provide further scenic and cultural experiences, including cycling safaris among zebras and giraffes and interacting with local communities managing sustainable tourism projects.

• Animals to Spot: Rhinos, giraffes, zebras, hippos, lions, buffaloes
• Birds to Spot: Flamingos, African fish eagle, cormorants, pelicans, storks
• Cultures to Experience: Community-led conservancies, local flower farm visits, Maasai interaction

Northern Kenya – Samburu National Reserve

The safari moves north to Samburu National Reserve, a semi-arid ecosystem with dramatic landscapes along the Ewaso Ng’iro River. Samburu is home to the “Samburu Special Five”: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, Beisa oryx, and gerenuk—species not commonly found in southern parks. This region provides a rare opportunity to explore a distinct dry-country wildlife habitat.

Over two full days, morning and afternoon game drives allow travelers to track elusive predators such as leopards, lions, and cheetahs, as well as sightings of elephants and crocodiles along the river. Birding highlights include Somali ostriches, secretary birds, and colorful bee-eaters. Samburu’s dry terrain and riverine habitats offer excellent photographic backdrops and a sense of remoteness not found in southern parks.

Cultural engagement includes visits to local Samburu villages, where travelers learn about traditional warrior customs, pastoralist practices, and vibrant attire. Interactions provide a deeper understanding of how these communities sustainably live alongside wildlife, protecting grazing lands and water sources while maintaining their cultural identity. Optional guided bush walks reveal medicinal plants, animal tracking skills, and conservation insights.

• Animals to Spot: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, lions, leopards, elephants, crocodiles
• Birds to Spot: Somali ostrich, secretary bird, lilac-breasted roller, hornbills, vultures
• Cultures to Experience: Samburu village visits, traditional warrior demonstrations, beadwork

Maasai Mara National Reserve – Predator Kingdom and Migration Spectacle

Next, travelers journey to the world-renowned Maasai Mara National Reserve, a highlight of the 12 Days Kenya Grand Wildlife Safari. Over three days, guests enjoy extensive morning and afternoon game drives exploring the Mara’s vast plains, riverine forests, and hidden waterholes. The extended stay maximizes chances of witnessing predator-prey interactions, including lions hunting, cheetah chases, and leopard sightings, alongside the grazing herds of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles.

The Mara is also the stage for the Great Migration (July–October), where dramatic river crossings and mass animal movements create a spectacle celebrated worldwide. Birding is exceptional, with species such as martial eagles, grey-crowned cranes, and lilac-breasted rollers adding splashes of color to the landscape. Cultural interactions with Maasai communities enhance the experience, offering village tours, traditional song and dance performances, and lessons on sustainable coexistence with wildlife. Optional hot-air balloon safaris provide a panoramic aerial view of the reserve at sunrise, accompanied by a champagne breakfast on the savannah—a truly unforgettable experience.

• Animals to Spot: Lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, cheetahs, wildebeests, zebras, hippos
• Birds to Spot: Martial eagle, lilac-breasted roller, grey-crowned crane, hornbills, kingfishers
• Cultures to Experience: Maasai village visits, cultural dances, cattle-herding demonstrations

Tsavo West National Park or Ol Pejeta Conservancy – Scenic and Conservation Highlights

On day eleven, the safari visits either Tsavo West National Park or Ol Pejeta Conservancy, depending on the guest’s preference for dramatic scenery or conservation immersion. Tsavo West is a rugged landscape of volcanic hills, lava flows, and Mzima Springs, offering close views of hippos and crocodiles. Ol Pejeta, by contrast, focuses on endangered species conservation, hosting both black and white rhinos and the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, as well as community-led projects supporting local livelihoods.

Activities include game drives, guided conservation talks, and optional bush walks. Photographers are treated to vivid landscapes, from red-dust elephants in Tsavo to carefully monitored rhinos in Ol Pejeta. Both destinations highlight the importance of conservation and community involvement, a core theme throughout the 12 Days Kenya Grand Wildlife Safari.

• Animals to Spot: Rhinos, elephants, lions, hippos, leopards, buffaloes
• Birds to Spot: Fish eagles, vultures, kingfishers, storks
• Cultures to Experience: Community conservancy initiatives, local conservation projects

Departure from Nairobi

The safari concludes with a transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for onward international flights. Travelers depart Kenya having experienced a full spectrum of wildlife habitats, from Amboseli’s elephant herds to Nakuru’s flamingo lakes, Samburu’s dry landscapes, and the Mara’s predator-rich plains. Memories of cultural engagements, photographic opportunities, and conservation insights make the 12 Days Kenya Grand Wildlife Safari an extraordinary journey into East Africa’s heart.

• Animals to Spot: Nairobi National Park (optional): lions, giraffes, zebras
• Birds to Spot: African fish eagle, vultures, weavers
• Cultures to Experience: Final reflections on Kenyan culture and conservation