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A male lion resting in tall grass.

Wildlife safari · Kenya

9-Day Kenya Safari: Samburu · Nakuru · Baringo-Bogoria · Maasai Mara & Amboseli

Nine days from Kenya's dry north to its southern plains: Samburu's river and northern species, Lake Nakuru, the Rift Valley lakes of Baringo and Bogoria, the Maasai Mara and finally Amboseli.

  • 9 days
  • Kenya
  • Wildlife safari
  • Quoted to your dates
Get a free quoteAsk on WhatsApp
4.9/5 from 31 traveller reviews on SafariBookings (opens in a new tab)

The journey

A closer look at your trip.

Nine days from Kenya's dry north to its southern plains: Samburu's river and northern species, Lake Nakuru, the Rift Valley lakes of Baringo and Bogoria, the Maasai Mara and finally Amboseli.

Maasai MaraAmboseliSamburuBaringoBogoriaLake NakuruNairobi
Duration
9 days
Countries
Kenya
Trip style
Wildlife safari
Transport
4x4 Land Cruiser
Start
Samburu
End
Nairobi
Price
On Request

Choose your safari style

The same route, at the level you want to travel.

This journey follows the same wildlife route whichever style you choose. What changes is where you sleep, the level of service and how the trip is quoted.

Choose your safari style

Budget: where you stay

Suggested accommodation

Suggested accommodation is subject to availability. A property of a similar standard may be proposed where necessary.

What this style means

  • Practical camps and lodges, and public campsites inside the Tanzanian parks. The wildlife itinerary, the guiding and the 4x4 Land Cruiser are the same as on the upgraded styles of this route.
Price
On Request
Catalogue reference
Product 13
Enquire about the budget option

Midrange: where you stay

Suggested accommodation

Suggested accommodation is subject to availability. A property of a similar standard may be proposed where necessary.

What this style means

  • Upgraded rooms, dining and a higher service level throughout, with a 4x4 Land Cruiser for game drives.
Price
On Request
Catalogue reference
Product 70
Enquire about the midrange option

Trip highlights

The places that shape this journey.

  • 01

    Maasai Mara

  • 02

    Amboseli

  • 03

    Samburu

  • 04

    Baringo

  • 05

    Bogoria

  • 06

    Lake Nakuru

Your route

Across Kenya.

Samburu → Lake Nakuru → Bogoria → Maasai Mara → Amboseli → Nairobi

We will confirm the day-by-day sequence and overnight stops in your detailed proposal.

KENYATANZANIASamburuLake NakuruMaasai MaraAmboseliNairobi

Schematic route · See the day-by-day programme for travel details.

Day by day

9 days in East Africa.

  1. Day 1

    Samburu

    Depart Nairobi at 7:30am after breakfast and drive north, crossing the equator, as the landscape changes from farmland to the rugged semi-arid country of Samburu National Reserve. The reserve is known for species rarely found elsewhere, including reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Beisa oryx and gerenuk, and its birdlife is especially notable. Arrive in time for lunch, then take an afternoon game drive in the 4x4 Land Cruiser. Dinner and overnight at the Samburu campsite.

    Overnight
    Umoja Camp, SamburuAshnil Samburu Camp
    Meals
    Lunch and dinner

  2. Day 2

    Samburu

    A full day in Samburu with morning and afternoon game drives in the 4x4 Land Cruiser. The Ewaso Nyiro River is the focus: elephant come down to drink and bathe, leopard and lion use the riverine woodland, and the dry hills beyond hold the northern specialities such as gerenuk standing on their hind legs to browse. An optional visit to a Samburu village can be arranged to learn about the pastoral culture of the area. All meals are included, and there is time to settle in before the night.

    Overnight
    Umoja Camp, SamburuAshnil Samburu Camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  3. Day 3

    Samburu – Lake Nakuru

    Depart Samburu after breakfast and drive south and west through the central highlands, crossing back over the equator and skirting the Aberdare range, to Lake Nakuru, arriving in time for lunch. The afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park runs until late afternoon, taking in the alkaline lake and its flamingos, the rhino sanctuary and the wooded slopes above the shore where leopard and Rothschild's giraffe are found. Dinner and overnight at the guest house in Nakuru.

    Overnight
    Buraha Zenoni, Lake NakuruLake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  4. Day 4

    Lake Nakuru – Lake Baringo / Bogoria

    Leaving Lake Nakuru after breakfast, make the scenic drive north across the Laikipia plateau to Lake Baringo in time for lunch. In the afternoon take a day trip to neighbouring Lake Bogoria to see its geysers and hot springs steaming along the shore; on a good day greater kudu, other antelope and giraffe are seen along the way. Return to Baringo, where an optional boat ride on the freshwater lake is available to look for hippo, crocodile and fish eagle. The night is spent by the lake.

    Overnight
    Soi Safari Lodge, BaringoSoi Safari Lodge, Baringo
    Meals
    Breakfast and lunch
    Two rhinoceroses grazing in grassland beneath misty hills.
    Lake Nakuru National Park, a rhino sanctuary on this route.

  5. Day 5

    Lake Baringo – Maasai Mara

    Depart Lake Baringo after breakfast and head south through Nakuru and Narok to the Maasai Mara National Reserve, famous for its great herds of game. Every member of the Big Five found in Kenya lives here. Arrive in time for lunch at the camp, then take an afternoon game drive in the 4x4 Land Cruiser across the plains as the day cools and the animals move out from the shade to graze. Return after the afternoon game drive for dinner and the night.

    Overnight
    Miti Mingi Camp, Maasai MaraZebra Plains Mara Camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  6. Day 6

    Maasai Mara

    From camp, explore the Mara region, which holds elephant, zebra, rhino and every kind of plains game throughout the year, with the wildebeest migration arriving from the Serengeti mainly in July and August. It has been called the New York of the natural world for its sheer density of animals, and it offers the best chance on this itinerary of seeing all of the Big Five. Game drives morning and afternoon. Return for dinner and settle in for the evening.

    Overnight
    Miti Mingi Camp, Maasai MaraZebra Plains Mara Camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  7. Day 7

    Maasai Mara – Amboseli

    Depart the Mara after breakfast and drive to Amboseli, with lunch en route. The journey crosses the Rift Valley and passes Nairobi before turning south across the Maasai plains. On arrival a game drive en route to the camp introduces the park, which lies at the foot of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, just across the Tanzanian border. Dinner and overnight in Amboseli.

    Overnight
    Nyati Safari Camp, AmboseliKibo Safari Camp, Amboseli
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    A male lion and lioness resting in grass at sunset.
    The Maasai Mara — the heart of this journey.

  8. Day 8

    Amboseli

    A full day in Amboseli with two game drives, morning and afternoon, and a rest at camp in between during the hottest hours. The park's swamps draw large elephant herds, buffalo and hippo, while the dry plains around them hold zebra, wildebeest and gazelle, and cheetah are sometimes found on the open ground. Observation Hill gives a view over the whole system and, in clear weather, of Kilimanjaro. All meals are provided, and the day ends quietly.

    Overnight
    Nyati Safari Camp, AmboseliKibo Safari Camp, Amboseli
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    Elephants on open grassland with a snow-capped mountain behind them.
    Amboseli, and its elephant herds beneath Kilimanjaro.

  9. Day 9

    Amboseli – Nairobi – Departure

    Depart for Nairobi after breakfast with a game drive on the way out of the park, arriving in the city in the late afternoon. An optional dinner at Nairobi's well-known Carnivore restaurant can be arranged at extra cost for about 7pm, after which you are transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your flight home. Confirm your flight time when booking so the day's schedule is set correctly.

    Meals
    Breakfast

What is included

Your written quotation itemises every one of these for your dates, so you can compare it line by line with any other:

  • Park, reserve and conservancy entry fees
  • Accommodation for each night, named
  • Meals on each day
  • Game drives in the 4x4 Land Cruiser, with its seating
  • Driver-guide and fuel
  • Airport or hotel pick-up and drop-off
  • Whether the vehicle is private or shared

What to allow for

Most travellers also budget separately for the items below. Your quotation confirms which apply to this trip.

  • International flights
  • Kenya eTA and any Tanzania visa
  • Travel and medical insurance (Tanzania now requires inbound cover)
  • Optional activities such as a balloon flight
  • Drinks and tips for guides and camp staff
How safari prices and park fees work →

When to travel

Seasonal considerations.

Game viewing across Kenya is at its most reliable in the dry months, roughly June to October and again in January and February, when the grass is shorter and animals concentrate around permanent water. The long rains fall around April and May and the short rains in November; both bring green country, fewer vehicles and lower rates, at the cost of some unpredictability on the roads. There is no month in which this journey cannot run.

Read the full season guide →

Who it suits

Is this the right journey?

  • Travellers with time to spend and a wish to see the region properly rather than in outline.
  • Travellers at different budgets — this route is sold as Budget, Midrange, with the same wildlife itinerary throughout.
  • Parties who want the vehicle and the pace to themselves; this journey is arranged privately.

Pricing

Plan with the details in view.

On Request

Published catalogue reference rate. Confirm availability and the final quotation for your travel dates.

This itinerary can also be arranged privately in a 4x4 Land Cruiser on request. A private departure is quoted separately and confirmed with your dates and group size.

Request a quotation

Free quotation

Get a quote for this trip.

Tell us when and how many. We will reply with a written quotation for the 9-Day Kenya Safari: Samburu · Nakuru · Baringo-Bogoria · Maasai Mara & Amboseli in the style you selected above, and adjust the pace, parks or accommodation if you would like something different.

4.9/5 from 31 traveller reviews on SafariBookings (opens in a new tab)
  1. 01

    Tell us your dates

    Send the quick form or a WhatsApp message. It is free and commits you to nothing.

  2. 02

    Get a written quotation

    Our Nairobi team checks availability and sends a quotation stating the route, accommodation and exactly what is and is not included.

  3. 03

    Adjust it until it fits

    Change the pace, the style of accommodation or the parks. Ask anything before you decide.

  4. 04

    Book when you are ready

    Nothing is reserved or charged until you accept the quotation in writing.

Rather talk it through? Ask on WhatsApp

Free and without obligation. Nothing is booked or charged until you accept a written quotation.

Your questions, answered.

How do I request a quotation?

Send your travel dates, party size and accommodation preferences. We will confirm availability and send a written quotation before you book.

Can I customise this trip?

Ask our team about adjustments to the itinerary, accommodation and pace. We will explain what is practical for your dates and confirm any price changes.

What is the published price for this 9-day trip?

On Request. Ask us to confirm the quotation for your dates and group size.

What vehicle is used for game drives?

Safari game drives use a 4x4 Land Cruiser. Your quotation will confirm whether your trip is private or shared and specify any separate transfer arrangements.

Before you choose

Understand the places, stays and practical details.

Read the destination guides alongside this itinerary to compare access, wildlife habitat and accommodation position. The named comfort option and written quotation confirm the actual overnight stays, meals and activities.

Places on this route

Useful preparation

Keep exploring

Related journeys.

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