12 Days Kenya Safari – Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Aberdare National Parks

12 Days Kenya Safari Tour – SAFARI OVERVIEW

This fantastic 12 Days Kenya Safari Tour is a unique 12 days safari in Kenya tour that combines culture, dramatic landscapes, and fascinating wildlife viewing in Kenya’s top destinations; Masai Mara, Amboseli National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Lake Naivasha, & Aberdare National Park.

Your 12 days Kenya safari holiday begins in Amboseli, known for its substantial elephant population, including some of the last remaining “big tuskers”, with the backdrop of the iconic snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro just over the border.

Then visit Aberdare and tour Samburu Reserve, famed for its amazing wild scenery and rare wildlife, including the so-called ‘Samburu Special 5’.

Continue to Lake Nakuru a birder’s paradise and a great destination to see black and white rhinos, as well as Buffalos and rare Rothschild giraffes. Next, explore Lake Naivasha by boat and enjoy a nature walk on the crescent island – a peaceful wildlife sanctuary located in the middle of the lake.

End your 12 Days Safari to Kenya holiday in the world-famous Maasai Mara, to enjoy some truly exceptional wildlife encounters. You have an opportunity to spend your days here enjoying some of the greatest natural dramas on earth, the Great Migration. You’ll tour a Maasai village and get to know the Maasai people

Please note that this 12 days Kenya safari tour starts and ends in Nairobi.  You can book or customize it to your exact interests

12 Days Kenya Safari Tour – PRIME SAFARI ACTIVITIES

• Visit six of the finest safari destinations in Kenya
• Enjoy thrilling daily game drives
• Spot Big Five animals
• Visit a Masai village
• Witness the Great Migration (seasonal)
• See the Samburu Special Five
• Spot Big Cats, Lion, Leopard, and Cheetah
• Boat ride on Lake Naivasha
• Nature walk on the Crescent Island
• Watch both black and white rhinos at Lake Nakuru
• View the magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro
• Watch the big tusked elephants of Amboseli
• See Rothschild’s giraffes, reticulated giraffes, and Masai giraffes.
• Enjoy stunning Great Rift Valley scenery
• Optional hot-air balloon safari

12 Days Kenya Safari Tour – FEATURED SAFARI DESTINATIONS

Day 1, 2 & 3: Amboseli National Park.

Day 4: Aberdares National Park

Day 5 & 6: Samburu National Reserve

Day 7: Nakuru National Park

Day 8: Lake Naivasha

Day 9, 10, & 11: Masai Mara National Reserve

Day 12: Nairobi.

12 Days Kenya Safari Tour – SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS

Day 1: Drive from Nairobi to Amboseli National Park, afternoon game drive.

Day 2: Whole-day game drive in Amboseli National Park.

Day 3: Full-day safari in Amboseli National Park.

Day 4: Visit Aberdares National Park, for wildlife viewing & relaxation.

Day 5: Transfer to Samburu National Reserve, afternoon game drive.

Day 6: Full-day game drive in Samburu National Reserve.

Day 7: Tour Lake Nakuru National Park, Evening Game Drive.

Day 8: Morning Game Drive in Lake Nakuru NP. Transfer to Lake Naivasha, Boat Cruise & Nature Walk on The Crescent Island.

Day 9: Travel to Masai Mara National Reserve, afternoon game drive.

Day 10: Full-day game drive in Masai Mara National Reserve.

Day 11: Extensive game drive in Masai Mara. Evening Maasai Cultural experience.

Day 12: Sunrise game drive in Masai Mara. Transfer back to Nairobi.

12 Days Kenya Safari Tour – DETAILED SAFARI ITINERARY

Day 1: Drive to Amboseli National Park, Afternoon Game Drive

Your exciting 12 days Kenya safari tour starts today! Your safari driver guide will pick you up from your accommodation in Nairobi at around 7:30 am.

After a short tour briefing, you will be driven south for around 3-4 hours. You’ll pass through impressive Kenyan landscapes and quite rural villages before reaching Amboseli National Park, which is situated in the shadow of the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro. You’ll arrive at your lodge or tented camp in the park time for lunch.

After lunch, you’ll have some time to rest and then set out on an afternoon game drive. Amboseli is Kenya’s second most popular game park after Masai Mara National Reserve. The park is famous for being the best place in Africa to get up close with free-ranging elephants and the glorious views of Africa’s tallest mountain.

Amboseli is relatively arid with sparse vegetation, dusty volcanic soils, and a dry, Pleistocene lake basin. But, it has lush wetlands where majestic herds of African elephants gather with snow-capped Kili in the background! Besides elephants, Amboseli is home to herds of Zebras, Wildebeests, Giraffes, Buffalos, and Antelopes as well as their predators such as lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, and hyenas.

You’ll return to the lodge at sunset for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge/Tortilis Camp/Oltukai Lodge

Midrange: – Kibo Safari Camp/Satao Elerai Camp

Meal Plan: – Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & Time: – Approx. 233km/3-4 hours

Activities & Services: –

• Pick up from your Nairobi hotel
• Drive to Amboseli National Park
• Amboseli afternoon game drive

Day 2: Whole-Day Game Drive in Amboseli National Park

On day two of your 12 days Kenya safari, wake up and have a hearty breakfast at the lodge before heading out for the day.

You’ll carry packed picnic lunch for a full-day game drive. Despite having a wide range of wildlife, elephants are the most celebrated residents of Amboseli. They are present in high numbers and boast some of the biggest body and tusk sizes in Africa.

The Amboseli elephant population is one of very few in Africa that has been able to live a relatively undisturbed existence. In 1979, there were estimated to be 1.3 million elephants in Africa. By 2014 the Great Elephant Census estimated there were only around 352,000 elephants across Africa.

These original losses were largely driven by the ivory trade, but modern declines have also been compounded by growing human populations and habitat loss.

Amboseli’s elephants have been relatively increasing partly due to the presence of researchers. Many of elephant herds and bulls have been the subjects of the longest-running study of elephant behavior in the wild. The park is where biologists first observed some of the most amazing behaviors of these graceful giants.

It was in Amboseli that herds were first recognized as close-knit families, and where elephants were observed celebrating births, forming friendships, and grieving over the death of a family member.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge/Oltukai Lodge/Tortilis Camp

Midrange: – Kibo Safari Camp/Satao Elerai Camp

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services: –

• Amboseli – full-day game drive

Day 3: Full-Day Game Drive in Amboseli National Park

Today, have another full day to enjoy all that Amboseli has to offer. After breakfast, you go on a morning game drive and this early morning is one of the best times to see Mt Kilimanjaro and elephants. After a morning game drive, you return for a few hours of relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon you go out again for a game drive.

Of course, Amboseli isn’t home to elephants exclusively. Lions, leopards, Hyenas, and cheetahs hunt here, while Masai Giraffe and buffalo are frequently seen on game drives. There is abundant plains game, too, from Zebra and Wildebeest to common waterbuck, gazelle, and impala.

Look out for smaller mammals present in plentiful numbers, including black-faced Vervet monkeys and Yellow baboons, Black-backed jackals, and Bat-eared foxes. There are also over 420 bird species.

Optional Activity: Visit a Local Maasai Village: In the late afternoon, you can visit a local Masai Village before returning to the lodge for dinner. Learn about the culture and traditions of Maasai people from this part of Kenya and see how they are using conservation to their advantage.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge/Oltukai Lodge

Midrange: – Kibo Safari Camp/Satao Elerai Camp

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services: –

• Full-day game drive

Day 4: Visit Aberdares National Park, Wildlife Viewing

Day four of your 12 days Kenya safari starts with an early breakfast at the lodge. You will then begin a long but rewarding journey north. You will have a stopover at Aberdare Country Club for lunch.

After lunch, continue to Aberdare National Park in the Aberdare mountain range and one of distinctive Kenya’s national parks. The Kikuyu people believe that Aberdare is one of the homes of Ngai or God. The park was also home to Treetops Lodge, where a young English Princess, Elizabeth II found out she would be Queen of the United Kingdom in 1952 following her father’s death 1952.

While there is wildlife, Aberdare is a place to appreciate nature over wildlife in the cooler climes of the central highlands. The park is a landscape of dense forest, open moorland, steep ravines, and thundering waterfalls. It hosts Black rhinos, Elephants, Buffalos, Baboons, Colobus monkeys, Sykes monkeys, Leopard, Giant Forest hogs, Duikers, a variety of birds, and the rare Bongos antelopes.

You’ll spend the night at the Ark Tree Lodge, situated in the forest at an elevation of 2134m. The lodge provides amazing wildlife viewing opportunities. You can see animals from different places – from outside where you can observe, hear and smell everything and from inside where you can sit with a cup of tea and stay warm and comfortable.

Accommodation:-

Midrange: – The Ark

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & Time: – 370km/6-7 hours

Activities & Services: –

• Drive to Aberdares
• Wildlife viewing at the lodge

Day 5: Travel to Samburu National Reserve, Afternoon Game Drive

Your day five of the 12 days Kenya safari begins with a relaxed breakfast at your lodge. You then set off on a drive of about 3 to 4 hours north. Drive past snow-capped Mt Kenya, Africa’s second tallest mountain, before reaching Kenya’s Samburu County – an arid land steeped in culture and traditions, where people, livestock, and wildlife walk side by side, sharing precious resources.

Samburu marks the dramatic transition from the lush savannas of south Kenya and the vast deserts that extend through the Horn of Africa. The weather is usually hot, and rainfall levels are low. The resultant scenery is beautiful in a way unique to arid areas. The exception to this can be found on the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro River that flows through Samburu National Reserve.

The river has been key to the survival of wildlife and people here. Even during the driest times of the year, when the river dries out completely, the underground water sustains the groves of doum palms and dense riverine forests along its banks, attracting a plethora of wildlife. You’ll arrive in time for lunch at your camp or lodge.

Following a delicious lunch, there will be some time to relax before heading on an afternoon game drive in Samburu Reserve. This quiet reserve boasts an incredible wealth of African animals. The stars of the show, however, are the ‘Samburu Special 5’: Reticulated giraffe, Gerenuk, Somali ostrich, Grevy’s zebra, and Beisa oryx.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Ashnil Samburu Camp/Elephant Bedroom Camp

Midrange: – Samburu Simba Lodge/Sarova Shaba Lodge/Samburu Sopa Lodge

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & Time: – Approx. 215km/3-4 hours

Activities & Services: –

• Drive to Samburu
• Afternoon game drive

Day 6: Full-Day Game Drive in Samburu National Reserve

On day six of your 12 days Kenya safari, enjoy a traditional safari program of morning and afternoon game drives through the scenic, game-rich wilderness of the Samburu National Reserve.

In addition to the ‘Samburu Special 5’, the reserve is noted for its lion population.

In fact, Samburu is one of the places where Joy and George Adamson raised Elsa the lioness, of Born Free fame. It’s also one of the best places to see leopards and huge tusked elephants in Kenya. Crocodiles, Cheetahs, Wild dogs, Hyenas, Hippos, Giraffes, Gazelles, Dik-dik, Impalas, Waterbucks, and Kudus also live in the reserve.

There are also over 450 species, including the beautiful Vulturine Guineafowl, Taita falcon, Golden pipit, and Secretarybird.  If you would like any additional activities today, a visit to a local Samburu village or guided bush walks can also be arranged.

After another rewarding day in Samburu, you will return to your lodge for dinner and a relaxing evening under the stars.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Elephant Bedroom Camp/Ashnil Samburu Camp

Midrange: – Samburu Simba Lodge/ Sarova Shaba Lodge/Samburu Sopa Lodge

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services: –

• Drive to Samburu National Reserve
• Samburu afternoon game drive

Day 7: Tour Lake Nakuru National Park, Afternoon Game Drive

Day seven of your 12 days safari in Kenya vacation starts with a leisurely breakfast at the lodge/camp. After breakfast, you will be driven for about 5 hours south to one of the soda lakes in the Great Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru.

Your journey will include a stopover at a viewpoint over the Great Rift Valley for spectacular views of a series of contiguous geographic trenches.

This famous valley, filled with lakes and mountains, stretches about 7000 kilometers from Lebanon in Asia to Mozambique in Africa. You’ll arrive at your lodge at Lake Nakuru just in time for lunch. After delightful lunch, you will have some time to rest before heading on an afternoon game drive around Lake Nakuru.

This beautiful lake is protected by the 188km² Lake Nakuru National Park, an important sanctuary for the critically endangered Black rhinos and white rhinos, which are often seen at rest near the lake shore and under acacia trees.

You’ll also have an opportunity to see the rare Rothschild giraffe, Hippos, Zebras, Buffalo, prides of Lions, and possibly a lone Leopard. While exploring the park, you’ll also discover many different bird species, including spectacular flocks of pelicans and variable flocks of flamingos depending on weather conditions.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Sarova Woodlands/the Cliff

Midrange: – Lake Nakuru Lodge/Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge/Flamingo Hill Camp

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & Time: – About. 250km/5 hours

Activities & Services: –

• Drive to Lake Nakuru
• Afternoon game drive

Day 8: Morning Game Drive. Transfer to Lake Naivasha, Boat Cruise & Nature Walk on The Crescent Island

After a good breakfast on day eight of your 12 days Kenya safari vacation enjoys a morning game drive in Lake Nakuru Park as you transfer to Lake Naivasha (approximately 2 hours). You’ll arrive at your camp or lodge in time for lunch.

Spend the afternoon on a leisurely boat tour of the lake with close-up views of hippos, waterbuck (a kind of antelope), and countless water birds.

Step ashore at Crescent Island – a peaceful wildlife sanctuary located in the middle of the lake – and enjoy a guided stroll among giraffes, zebra, elands, impalas, and other peaceful, relaxed animals thanks to the absence of predators.

In the evening, relax at your lodge a campground on the lakefront. You can enjoy an evening on your private deck, taking in views of the lake as monkeys swing from the trees and wild animals emerge to graze.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Chui Lodge/Kiboko Luxury Camp/ Enashipai Resort

Midrange: – Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort/Lake Naivasha Crescent Camp

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & Time: – Approx.79km/2 hour drive

Activities & Services: –

• Drive to Lake Naivasha
• Boat cruise
• Nature walk

Day 9: Drive to Masai Mara Reserve, Afternoon Game Drive.

Your day 12 days safari in Kenya tour begins with a good breakfast at 7.30 am.

You then embark on a very African beautiful drive of about 4 hours south to the famed landscapes of the Maasai Mara, surely one of the best locations for an African safari holiday. The area is home to Maasai communities whose rituals and ancient traditions remain an integral part of their everyday life.

And then there are the wild animals… The Masai Mara is home to the Great Wildebeest Migration, which is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, and one of the ten wonders of the World. The reserve is also world-renowned for its exceptional populations of lion, African leopard, cheetah, and African bush elephant

On arrival, you will be driven to camp or lodge inside the reserve, where a sumptuous lunch will be waiting before a late afternoon game drive provides you your first chance to encounter some of the big games for which this reserve is so well known.

You will stay out in the park until sunset and hopefully, you will find some predators as they start to become more active at this time.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Mara Serena Lodge/Ashnil Mara Camp/Mara Leisure Camp

Midrange: – Mara Sopa Lodge/Jambo Mara Lodge/Basecamp Masai Mara

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & Time: – Approx. 237km/4 hours

Activities & Services: –

• Drive to Masai Mara
• Late afternoon game drive

Day 10: Full-Day Game Drives in Masai Mara National Reserve

On day ten of your 12 days Kenya safari tour, wake up early and enjoy a full-day drive in Masai Mara National Reserve with a bush picnic lunch. The Maasai Mara is home to some of the largest populations of big cats in Africa, as well as rhinos, hyenas, crocodiles, and more than 470 species of birds.

If you travel between July and October, then you’ll have a chance to see the dramatic Great Migration. Natural events occur all over the world, but few can rival the sheer size of the yearly animal migration through the Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem.

The numbers alone are hard to believe: up to 2 million White-bearded wildebeest, Gazelles, and Zebra – follow the rains and their ancient instincts on a death-defying, 3,000-kilometer (1,900-mile) journey.

The migrating herds undergo all manner of challenges and hardships as they move from region to region. They’re constantly under attack from predators, none more so than from Africa’s big cats – lion, leopard, and cheetah – and the massive crocodiles that lie in wait at various river crossing points.

Optional Activity: Hot Air Balloon safari:  You may also want to try one of Mara’s most iconic experiences, a hot air balloon flight over the savannah; it starts at sunrise and you’re rewarded with a well-deserved champagne bush breakfast.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Mara Leisure Camp/Mara Serena Lodge/ Ashnil Mara Camp

Midrange: – Mara Sopa Lodge/Basecamp Masai Mara/Jambo Mara Lodge

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services: –

• Masai Mara game drive

Day 11: Game Drive in Masai Mara & Maasai Cultural Experience

On your last full day of the 12 days Kenya safari tour, you’ll enjoy a morning game drive to discover more of what the wondrous Masai Mara Reserve offers. You will return to the lodge later in the afternoon for lunch and some downtime.

In the late afternoon, visit a traditional Maasai Manyatta to learn about the interesting culture of the famous Maasai People.

Your guide will lead you through the village as you discover their traditions and beliefs, and daily practices like demonstrations of how to make fire using sticks.  At the end of the tour, you can buy some gift items or curios made by the villagers – a chance to give back to the local community.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Mara Serena Lodge/Ashnil Mara Camp/Mara Leisure Camp

Midrange: – Mara Sopa Lodge/Jambo Mara Lodge/Basecamp Masai Mara

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services: –

• Masai Mara full day game drive

Day 12: Sunrise Game Drive & Transfer Back To Nairobi

Today, after breakfast, go on one more wildlife safari drive. Enjoy one final chance to see the “big five” before going on a 6-hour journey back to Nairobi, bringing this incredible 12-day Kenya safari tour to a close.

End of the 12 Days Kenya Safari Tour

12 Days Kenya Safari Tour − SAFARI INCLUSIONS

• Selected National Park and reserve entry fees
• Full Board Accommodation on Safari
• Transportation in 4X4 Safari Van/4×4 Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
• Fuel
• Professional English Speaking driver guide. Any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged on request.
• Activity fees of the tourist activities mentioned
• Flight from Mombasa to Nairobi
• Bottled water while on safari
• Airport Transfer

12 Days Kenya Safari − SAFARI EXCLUSIONS

• Tips and gratuities
• Laundry Services
• Other Beverages/drinks of personal nature like Alcohol
• International Flights
• Domestic Flights (Arranged on request)
• Visas
• Optional Activity fees
• Other extras not mentioned in the Itinerary
• Accommodation in Nairobi – Arranged on request