19 Days Kenya Wildlife Safari

Your 19 Days Kenya Wildlife Safari begins with arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. After completing immigration procedures and collecting your luggage, you will meet your safari representative and transfer to your hotel.

The remainder of the day is generally kept relaxed because international travelers often arrive after long overnight flights. Depending on the arrival time, you may simply check in, rest and prepare for the safari beginning the following morning. If your flight arrives early enough, optional Nairobi activities can be arranged, such as visits to wildlife conservation centers, museums, restaurants or other attractions depending on your interests and available time.

Your safari guide can also provide a short briefing covering the planned route, approximate driving times, park procedures and what to expect during game drives.

Destination: Nairobi

Accommodation: Nairobi hotel

Meal Plan: Depending on arrival arrangements

After breakfast, leave Nairobi and travel south toward Amboseli National Park, one of Kenya's most celebrated safari destinations. The journey passes through changing landscapes before reaching the Amboseli ecosystem close to the Kenya–Tanzania border. On clear days, the snow-capped summit of Mount Kilimanjaro provides one of the most recognizable safari backdrops in East Africa, although views cannot be guaranteed.

Arrive at your lodge or tented camp, have lunch depending on the arrival time and later depart for your first game drive. Amboseli is particularly famous for its elephants, and large family groups can frequently be seen moving across dusty plains, feeding in wetlands or crossing in front of Kilimanjaro. Other animals commonly encountered include zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, giraffes, warthogs, gazelles and various predators. Return to your accommodation in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Destination: Amboseli National Park

Activities: Transfer and afternoon game drive

Accommodation: Safari lodge or tented camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Spend the day exploring different sections of Amboseli National Park. An early morning game drive is strongly recommended because wildlife is often particularly active during the cooler hours. Sunrise can also provide excellent photographic opportunities, especially when Kilimanjaro is visible before clouds gather around the mountain later in the day.

Amboseli's permanent and seasonal wetlands attract large concentrations of animals. Elephants are often observed feeding in shallow marshes surrounded by waterbirds, and buffaloes, hippos and numerous plains animals also depend on these wetland systems. Predators such as lions, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and jackals may be encountered while searching for prey on the surrounding grasslands.

Birdlife is another major attraction. Depending on habitat and season, visitors may encounter raptors, herons, egrets, pelicans, kingfishers and numerous smaller species. You can either return to the lodge for lunch and rest before an afternoon drive or carry a packed lunch and spend much of the day exploring the park.

Destination: Amboseli National Park

Activities: Morning and afternoon game drives

Accommodation: Same lodge or camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

After breakfast, undertake a final game drive while leaving Amboseli and continue toward Tsavo West National Park. The scenery changes dramatically as you enter the wider Tsavo ecosystem, which is characterized by lava formations, rocky hills, woodland, open plains and volcanic landscapes.

After reaching your accommodation and having lunch, head out for an afternoon game drive. One of the well-known natural attractions in this region is Mzima Springs, where clear underground water emerging from the Chyulu Hills creates an important oasis within an otherwise relatively dry landscape.

Wildlife possibilities include elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, hippos and predators. Leopards occur here but can be difficult to locate because of the thicker vegetation. Return to your lodge or camp before nightfall.

Destination: Tsavo West National Park

Activities: Transfer and game drive

Accommodation: Safari lodge or tented camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Today is devoted to exploring Tsavo West National Park more thoroughly. Because Tsavo is enormous, spending an additional day provides a much better appreciation of its landscapes and wildlife than simply passing through.

Morning game drives may focus on open areas where herbivores and predators are easier to locate. Later, the route can include scenic viewpoints, volcanic formations and water sources where animals gather. Elephants are a major attraction throughout the Tsavo ecosystem, and their reddish appearance is caused by dust bathing in Tsavo's iron-rich soils.

Depending on the route and current wildlife movements, your guide may search for lions, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, hartebeests, impalas, waterbucks and smaller mammals. Return to your lodge between game drives or remain in the park with a packed lunch.

Destination: Tsavo West National Park

Activities: Extensive game viewing

Accommodation: Same lodge or camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

After breakfast, travel from Tsavo West toward Tsavo East National Park. Together, Tsavo East and Tsavo West form one of Africa's largest protected wildlife landscapes, and Tsavo East generally has more open terrain, making wildlife easier to see in many areas.

The Galana River and seasonal watercourses support large concentrations of animals. Elephants are particularly characteristic of the park, while lions, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes and numerous bird species may also be encountered. After arriving at your lodge and having lunch, embark on an afternoon game drive before returning for dinner.

Destination: Tsavo East National Park

Activities: Transfer and afternoon game drive

Accommodation: Safari lodge or tented camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Begin with an early morning game drive across the expansive plains of Tsavo East. Wildlife viewing can involve searching around rivers, seasonal waterholes and open plains where animals gather, and elephant herds may often be observed walking considerable distances between feeding and drinking areas.

Lions are among the park's most sought-after predators. Cheetahs, leopards, spotted hyenas and smaller carnivores are also present, although sightings depend on luck and local wildlife movements. The park is also rewarding for birdwatchers, with dry-country species, raptors and water-associated birds occurring in different habitats.

The long game-drive day gives photographers more time to wait for favorable animal behavior rather than moving rapidly between sightings.

Destination: Tsavo East National Park

Activities: Morning and afternoon game drives

Accommodation: Same lodge or camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

After an early breakfast and optional final game viewing, leave Tsavo and travel back toward Nairobi. This is primarily a transfer day designed to break the journey before continuing into northern Kenya.

Upon arrival in Nairobi, check into your hotel and enjoy a relaxed evening. Laundry services, shopping or additional city activities can sometimes be arranged if required. This overnight stop also makes the overall safari considerably more comfortable than attempting to drive directly from Tsavo to Samburu.

Destination: Nairobi

Activities: Road transfer

Accommodation: Nairobi hotel

Meal Plan: Breakfast and other meals depending on arrangement

Depart Nairobi after breakfast and travel north toward Samburu National Reserve. The journey passes through Kenya's central highlands before descending into the drier landscapes of northern Kenya.

Samburu offers a completely different safari environment from Amboseli and Tsavo. The reserve is centered around the Ewaso Nyiro River, an essential water source for wildlife during dry periods. After arrival, lunch and some relaxation, depart for an afternoon game drive.

Samburu is particularly famous for several species that are less commonly seen in southern Kenya. These include the reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich, and elephants are also frequently encountered around the river.

Destination: Samburu National Reserve

Activities: Transfer and afternoon game drive

Accommodation: Safari lodge or tented camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Spend a full day exploring Samburu. Morning game drives often concentrate around the river and nearby woodland where wildlife gathers to drink and feed. Elephants may be seen crossing the river, while giraffes browse among acacia trees. Grevy's zebras, gerenuks and Beisa oryx are among the reserve's distinctive dry-country mammals.

Predators include lions, leopards, cheetahs and spotted hyenas. Leopards are sometimes observed in trees or around riverine vegetation, although sightings can never be guaranteed. Birdwatching is excellent, particularly for species adapted to arid and semi-arid environments, and your guide will determine the day's game-drive route according to recent sightings and wildlife concentrations.

Destination: Samburu National Reserve

Activities: Full-day wildlife viewing

Accommodation: Same lodge or camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Enjoy breakfast and a final wildlife drive while leaving Samburu before traveling south toward Ol Pejeta Conservancy in the Laikipia region. Ol Pejeta offers a different safari experience because wildlife tourism and conservation initiatives are closely integrated. The conservancy supports significant populations of both black and white rhinos as well as lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes and other African wildlife.

After checking into your accommodation and having lunch, enjoy an afternoon game drive. The conservancy provides excellent opportunities for learning about wildlife conservation and the challenges involved in protecting endangered species.

Destination: Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Activities: Transfer, wildlife viewing and conservation experiences

Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Spend the day exploring Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Rhino viewing is one of the principal reasons for including Ol Pejeta in a long Kenya wildlife safari. The conservancy is an important sanctuary for endangered wildlife and offers a strong conservation dimension alongside traditional game drives.

Besides rhinos, you can search for elephants, lions, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras and numerous antelope species. The relatively diverse landscape can also make Ol Pejeta productive for photography and birdwatching. Certain conservation activities or specialist experiences may require advance booking and additional payment.

Destination: Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Activities: Game drives and conservation-oriented visits

Accommodation: Same lodge or camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

After breakfast, travel south toward the Great Rift Valley and continue to Lake Nakuru National Park. Lake Nakuru is relatively compact compared with Tsavo or the Masai Mara, making it possible to explore significant areas during a single game drive.

The park is particularly important for rhino conservation. Both black and white rhinos may be encountered, although actual sightings always depend on conditions and wildlife movement. Other animals can include buffaloes, Rothschild's giraffes, zebras, waterbucks, warthogs and baboons, and lion and leopard sightings are possible, with leopards occasionally seen resting in trees.

Birdlife varies according to lake conditions but can include pelicans, flamingos, storks, eagles and numerous other species.

Destination: Lake Nakuru National Park

Activities: Transfer and game drive

Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Enjoy an early game drive before breakfast or undertake a final drive while leaving the park. Continue to Lake Naivasha, another important freshwater ecosystem within the Great Rift Valley. The afternoon can be kept relatively relaxed after several consecutive days of game viewing.

One popular optional activity is a boat safari on Lake Naivasha, where hippos and aquatic birds can often be observed, and boat trips provide a different perspective from vehicle-based safari experiences. Another possible activity is a guided visit to areas where walking among plains wildlife may be permitted under established local arrangements. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Destination: Lake Naivasha

Activities: Scenic transfer; optional boat excursion

Accommodation: Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner depending on package

The Masai Mara Section of Your 19 Days Kenya Wildlife Safari

The final major wildlife destination of the itinerary is the Masai Mara National Reserve, one of the most productive big-game ecosystems in Africa. Several nights are included because the Mara deserves more than a single hurried day.

After breakfast, travel through the Rift Valley toward the Masai Mara National Reserve. As you approach the Mara ecosystem, cultivated highlands gradually give way to open savannah. After entering the reserve or surrounding conservancy area, begin wildlife viewing en route to your accommodation, and depending on arrival time, you may enjoy an extended afternoon game drive.

The Masai Mara supports impressive populations of lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, impalas, gazelles, topis and numerous other mammals. Leopards and cheetahs are major attractions but require patience and experienced guiding to locate.

Destination: Masai Mara National Reserve

Activities: Transfer and afternoon game drive

Accommodation: Safari lodge or tented camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Begin before or shortly after sunrise for a full day of wildlife exploration. Early morning is one of the best periods for predator activity: lions may still be feeding after nighttime hunts, while hyenas patrol open areas and cheetahs begin scanning the plains. Your guide will use experience, tracks, animal behavior and communication with other professional guides to locate wildlife, and a packed lunch can be carried so that you remain inside the reserve throughout the day rather than returning to camp.

The Mara's vast grasslands support huge numbers of herbivores, which in turn sustain a remarkable predator population. During the Great Wildebeest Migration season, parts of the ecosystem may contain enormous concentrations of wildebeest and zebras. River crossings are possible during portions of the migration period, but they are natural events and cannot be scheduled or guaranteed. Return to camp in the evening.

Destination: Masai Mara

Activities: Full-day game drive

Accommodation: Same lodge or camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

A second complete day in the Masai Mara significantly improves the wildlife experience. Rather than repeating the same route, your guide may explore another section of the reserve according to recent sightings and seasonal conditions. The focus may be on finding species not yet seen, spending longer with predator families or photographing animals in softer morning and evening light. Possible sightings include: Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, Spotted hyenas, Elephants, Buffaloes, Giraffes, Wildebeest, Zebras, Topis, Impalas, Thomson's gazelles, Hippos, Crocodiles, Jackals, Warthogs.

A hot-air balloon safari may be arranged as an optional activity, subject to availability and weather. Balloon flights usually depart very early in the morning and provide panoramic views of the Mara landscape. A cultural visit to a Maasai community may also be arranged for travelers who would like to learn more about local traditions and contemporary community life.

Destination: Masai Mara

Activities: Morning and afternoon game drives

Accommodation: Same lodge or camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 18 provides one final full day dedicated to wildlife photography and game viewing. By this stage of the journey, you will already have visited several dramatically different ecosystems, so the final Mara day can be tailored around particular interests. Travelers interested in cats may request additional time searching for lions, leopards and cheetahs, birdwatchers may concentrate on raptors and savannah species, and photographers may prioritize sunrise and sunset lighting. Where conditions permit, your guide may also explore areas around river systems where hippos, crocodiles and other wildlife can be seen.

One advantage of a long safari is that there is less pressure to rush from one animal sighting to another. If a lion pride, cheetah family or elephant herd is behaving particularly interestingly, you can often spend meaningful time simply observing. Return to your lodge or camp for your final safari dinner.

Destination: Masai Mara National Reserve

Activities: Extensive wildlife viewing

Accommodation: Same lodge or camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Enjoy an early breakfast and, depending on your schedule, a final game drive while leaving the Masai Mara. Continue by road toward Nairobi. Upon arrival, you may be transferred to your Nairobi hotel, a restaurant or directly to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, depending on your international departure time. Travelers wishing to reduce road travel can also request a scheduled or charter flight from an airstrip in the Masai Mara to Nairobi.

Your 19 Days Kenya Wildlife Safari ends after nearly three weeks exploring some of Kenya's most important wildlife habitats.

Destination: Nairobi

Activities: Final game drive and transfer

Meal Plan: Breakfast and other meals depending on departure arrangements

Safari Destinations Included

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli is one of the best-known elephant destinations in Kenya. The combination of open plains, wetlands and views toward Mount Kilimanjaro makes it exceptionally attractive for wildlife photography. Elephants are the principal attraction, but visitors can also see buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, gazelles, hippos and several predator species. Two nights provide much better opportunities than a short one-night visit, especially for travelers hoping to photograph Kilimanjaro during clear morning conditions.

Tsavo West National Park

Tsavo West offers dramatic scenery and an atmosphere of genuine wilderness. Volcanic hills, lava flows, woodland and natural springs create a landscape quite different from the open Mara. The vegetation can make certain wildlife harder to locate, but this is part of the appeal, and game viewing in Tsavo West often feels exploratory rather than predictable.

Tsavo East National Park

Tsavo East is famous for its enormous scale, open plains and dust-red elephants. Wildlife is distributed over a huge landscape, giving visitors a sense of space that is increasingly rare in many safari destinations. Elephants, lions, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras and antelopes are among the principal species.

Samburu National Reserve

Samburu is essential for travelers wanting to experience northern Kenya wildlife. The reserve contains species that are either absent or much less common in southern Kenya, including: Grevy's zebra, Reticulated giraffe, Gerenuk, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich.

These animals are sometimes collectively promoted as the Samburu Special Five.

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Ol Pejeta adds an important conservation dimension to the itinerary. It is particularly associated with rhino conservation and provides opportunities to understand the practical work required to protect threatened wildlife. Combining Ol Pejeta with national parks makes the safari more diverse than an itinerary focused only on conventional game reserves.

Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru is one of Kenya's important rhino destinations and offers excellent wildlife viewing within a relatively compact area. The lake, forest, grassland and rocky escarpment habitats support a diverse range of mammals and birds.

Lake Naivasha

Lake Naivasha introduces a slower, more relaxed element into the safari. Boat trips, birdwatching and scenic lakeside accommodation provide a useful break between intensive game-drive destinations.

Masai Mara National Reserve

The Masai Mara is one of Africa's great wildlife destinations. The reserve is famous for its lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes and enormous herds of plains animals. During the migration season, wildebeest and zebra arriving from Tanzania's Serengeti dramatically increase wildlife concentrations. However, the Mara remains an excellent safari destination throughout much of the year because its resident wildlife population is substantial.