8-Day Gems of Kenya Safari with Rally Route Highlights

After breakfast at the lodge, enjoy a full day exploring Samburu National Reserve with both morning and afternoon game drives.

Samburu is located in the southeastern corner of Samburu District in Kenya’s Rift Valley Province. The reserve is bordered to the south by the Ewaso Nyiro River, which separates it from Buffalo Springs National Reserve. Covering an area of 165 km², Samburu is approximately 345 km from Nairobi.

The reserve is renowned for its rich wildlife and is especially famous for the rare northern specialist species, also known as the "Samburu Special," including:

• Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, Reticulated giraffe, Gerenuk and Beisa oryx

You will also have excellent chances of spotting a variety of other wildlife, including a thriving population of elephants (minimum of 900), and large predators such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs. The reserve is home to the famous Kamunyak, the Miracle Lioness, known for adopting a baby oryx.

All meals and overnight accommodation will be at Samburu Sopa Lodge, allowing you to relax and enjoy the serene surroundings of this unique reserve.

After breakfast at Samburu Sopa Lodge, depart for Sweetwaters Game Reserve, arriving in time for lunch at the camp.

In the afternoon, embark on a game drive in this 24,000-acre private sanctuary, which offers stunning views of the snowcapped peaks of Mount Kenya. Sweetwaters is the closest reserve to Nairobi (approximately 2.5 hours’ drive) and is home to all the Big Five, boasting the highest game-to-area ratio of any reserve in Kenya.

A highlight of your visit will be the 200-acre Chimpanzee Sanctuary within Sweetwaters. The sanctuary, a collaborative project by Lonrho East Africa, Kenya Wildlife Services, and the Jane Goodall Institute, rehabilitates chimpanzees, allowing them to adapt to semi-natural conditions. Currently, over 35 chimps reside here. You can enjoy a visit to the sanctuary and a 30-minute boat ride along the river among the chimps at no extra charge.

Return to Comfort Sweetwaters Garden, Nanyuki for dinner and overnight stay, relaxing after a day filled with wildlife encounters and breathtaking scenery.

After breakfast, depart Nanyuki and travel to Nakuru, stopping en route at the scenic Thomson’s Falls. Arrive at the lodge in time for lunch.

In the afternoon, enjoy a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, one of Kenya’s premium and most visited parks. The park is a paradise for bird lovers, hosting over 400 species, including the famous flamingos that gather on the lake and across the savannah grasslands. Other notable birds include the African fish eagle, slender-billed greenbul, long-tailed widowbird, and shining sunbird.

Lake Nakuru is also a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. The park is home to over 100 endangered rhinos, both black and white, as well as the rare Rothschild’s giraffe, making it a perfect destination for animal lovers and wildlife photographers.

Return to Ziwa Bush Lodge for dinner and overnight stay, surrounded by the beautiful landscapes of Nakuru.

After an early breakfast, you will check out from Nakuru and proceed to Naivasha. Upon arrival, you will visit Hell's Gate National Park, where you can enjoy either a guided walking safari or cycling along the scenic safari rally route. A delicious lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, embark on a boat ride to Crescent Island, where you can observe the island’s diverse wildlife up close in their natural habitat. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation at Avina Cort.

After breakfast, you will depart Naivasha and travel to Amboseli National Park, renowned for its stunning landscapes framed by the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro. Located in southern Kenya, Amboseli is a celebrated wildlife conservation area, attracting visitors with its rich biodiversity, vast swamps, and wetlands that host countless bird species.

Amboseli is particularly famous for offering exceptional opportunities to observe free-roaming wildlife, including four of the Big Five. The park is home to large herds of African elephants, providing unique chances to witness up to fifty herds in a single safari – a paradise for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts alike.

Upon arrival, enjoy a short game drive before proceeding to Sentrim Amboseli Camp for lunch. In the afternoon, embark on a thrilling game drive in the park, returning to the camp for dinner and overnight accommodation.

After breakfast, you will embark on a full-day game drive, or you may opt to split it into early morning and evening drives. Amboseli at its best is simply magnificent. The park’s stunning mix of landscapes and habitats supports an incredible variety of wildlife.

Amboseli spans a vast basin with deep-green swamps at its heart, stands of acacia forest in the east, and expansive savannah grasslands stretching toward distant hills and mountains. To the south, Mt. Kilimanjaro (located in Tanzania) rises majestically, providing a breathtaking backdrop to your safari experience.

All meals and overnight accommodation will be at Sentrim Amboseli Camp.

Begin your day with an early morning game drive, enjoying the park’s wildlife in the soft morning light. Return to the lodge for breakfast, then check out and depart Amboseli for Nairobi. You will arrive in the afternoon and be transferred to the airport for your onward journey.