8 Days Kenya Safari Itinerary – Wildlife Viewing, Recreation Safaris In Kenya To Samburu, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, & Masai Mara

8 Days Kenya Safari Itinerary – SAFARI OVERVIEW

8 Days Kenya Safari Itinerary, Wildlife Viewing & Recreation Safari in Kenya The 8 Days Kenya Safari Itinerary is a wonderful 7 nights 8 days Kenya safari package offering amazing wildlife viewing & recreation in Masai Mara National Reserve, Samburu National Reserve, Lake Nakuru, and Lake Naivasha.

Your 8 Days Kenya Safari package starts with a scenic drive from Nairobi past Mount Kenya (5,199m) (Africa’s second highest mountain) to Samburu National Reserve. Go on game drives to explore this incredible wilderness, well known for its lion, Cheetah, and leopard sightings, as well as the unique Samburu Special 5 (Gerenuk, Grevy’s Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Beisa Oryx, and Reticulated Giraffe).

Next, travel through the mesmerizing Africa’s Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park. The park is home to prolific birdlife and has good populations of large mammals in a contained area, which means reliable sightings of Buffalo, Black Rhino, White Rhinos, and rare Rothschild Giraffes.

Continue to Lake Naivasha, a place of timeless beauty and wonder for relaxation.

Your final destination on this 8 Days Kenya Safari Itinerary is Masai Mara, one of Africa’s prime wildlife areas. Home to the Great Wildebeest Migration and some of the most prolific lion prides in Africa, it is a place safari dreams are made of.

You’ll enjoy thrilling game drives and visit a local village to get a fascinating insight into the traditional Maasai culture before driving back to Nairobi.

You can book or customize this 8 Days Kenya Safari Itinerary and experience the best of Kenya, from the magnificent scenery to breathtaking wildlife and unique cultures – at an affordable price!

8 Days Kenya Safari Itinerary – PRIME SAFARI ITINERARY

Enjoy daily game drives across the savanna
See Africa’s “big five” animals in their natural habitat.
Witness the Great Wildebeest Migration in season (between about July and October)
Spot African Big Cats like Lion, Leopard, and Cheetahs
See the Samburu Special Five – Gerenuk, Beisa Oryx, Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, and Somali ostrich.
Watch Black and white rhinos in the wild
Meet the Maasai People and learn about their culture
Relax on the beautiful shores of Lake Naivasha
Photograph over 400 bird species at Lake Nakuru
Optional visit to a traditional Samburu village
Optional boat tour on Lake Naivasha while observing hippos and birds
Optional Hot-air Balloon Safari over the Mara Plains

8 Days Kenya Safari Itinerary – FEATURED SAFARI DESTINATIONS

Day 1 & 2: Samburu National Park

Day 3: Lake Nakuru National Park

Day 4: Lake Naivasha

Day 5, 6 & 7: Maasai Mara National Reserve

Day 8: Nairobi

8 Days Kenya Safari Itinerary – SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS

Day 1: Transfer to Samburu National Park, Afternoon Game Drive.

Day 2: Full-day game drive in Samburu National Park

Day 3: Transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park for Bird Watching & Game Drive

Day 4: Transfer to Lake Naivasha & Whole Day Recreation

Day 5: Transfer To Maasai Mara National Reserve, afternoon game drive.

Day 6: Morning & Afternoon Game Drives In Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Day 7: Morning game drive in Masai Mara & afternoon Maasai Cultural experience

Day 8: Transfer Back To Nairobi

8 Days Kenya Safari Itinerary – DETAILED SAFARI ITINERARY

Day 1: Transfer to Samburu National Park, Afternoon Game Drive

Your 8 Days Kenya Safari package starts in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city. Your tour driver guide shall pick you up at your hotel early in the morning. After a short tour briefing, you’ll embark on a beautiful African drive of about 5 hours past Mt Kenya, Africa’s second highest mountain (5,199m) towards Samburu National Reserve in the north.

You’ll arrive at your lodge for the next two nights in time for lunch. After lunch, you’ll embark on an afternoon game drive to get your first real taste of Samburu. The 165km² Park is located on the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro River.

The river runs through the park and is its heartbeat; without its precious water, the animals would not survive in the park’s otherwise semi-arid environment.

Although it is a peaceful park that is much quieter than most of east Africa’s other reserves, it still boasts an incredible wealth of classic African safari big game species.

You’ll look for Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, Wild Dogs, Elephants, Buffalo, Hippos, Black Rhinos, and antelopes like lesser kudu, Waterbuck; Impalas, Grant’s Gazelles, and the adorable Kirk’s and Günther’s dik-diks.

Of special interest are the rare and localized species like the ultra-striped Grevy’s Zebra, the Reticulated Giraffe, regal Beisa Oryx, and long-necked Gerenuk. These four together with the blue-legged Somali Ostrich make up the so-called “Samburu Special Five”, and you will hopefully tick off all five easily.

After your first game drive, return to the lodge/camp to enjoy dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Ashnil Samburu Camp/Elephant Bedroom Camp

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

Meal Plan: – Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & Time: – Approx.300km/5½ hours

Activities & Services: –

Drive to Samburu National Reserve
Samburu Afternoon game drive

Optional Activity:-

Night game drive

Day 2: Full Day Game Drive In Samburu National Park

You have a full day in Samburu today. You’ll enjoy morning and afternoon game drives and return to the lodge for lunch and a short rest in the heat of the day. Samburu is an elephant and predator haven for the three Big Cats, African painted wolves, and even the rare and elusive striped hyena.

However, Samburu birdlife is also abundant with over 450 recorded species including several endemic and arid specialists. Some species to watch for include the charismatic Vulturine Guineafowl, Somali bee-eater, the Taita falcon, Golden pipit, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Secretarybird, Lilac-breasted Roller, Verreaux’s Eagle, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Northern red-billed Hornbill, and Palm-nut Vulture.

The Ewaso Ng’iro River also contains some massive Nile Crocodiles, and the Critically Endangered African Pancake Tortoise also calls the reserve home.

Samburu was also one of the 2 areas in which conservationists George and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the Lioness, made famous in the best-selling book and award-winning movie Born Free.

The reserve is also the home of Kamunyak, a lioness that was famous for adopting at least 6 Oryx calves in the early 2000s, and whose story was told in the film Heart of a Lioness. After a wonderful day in Samburu, you’ll return to your accommodation and once again for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Ashnil Samburu Camp/Elephant Bedroom 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

Optional Activity:-

Visit a Samburu a traditional village
Night game drive

Day 3: Transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park for Afternoon Game Drive and Bird Watching

On day four of your 8 days Kenya safari itinerary, you’ll start with an early breakfast and then you are off again! Today, you’ll drive south into Africa’s Great Rift Valley, to one of the lakes on the valley floor, Lake Nakuru.

Your scenic drive will take around 5 hours and you should reach your accommodation in Lake Nakuru National Park in time for lunch. Lake Nakuru (meaning “dusty place”) is one of the rift valley’s alkaline lakes and is protected by the 188km²Lake Nakuru National Park.

Flanked by rocky escarpments, pockets of dense forest, and waterfalls, the park itself is very pretty and you’ll get some great photographs here. The afternoon is free time to explore the park.

You might see why this great soda lake has been described as the world’s greatest ornithological spectacle; great seas of flamingos often turn the landscape a sweeping shade of pink.

Flooding in recent years has unfortunately caused a decline in birdlife, however, the park boasts substantial numbers of other species, including Black rhinos, White rhinos, Buffalos, and the endangered Rothschild giraffe.

You can also find Waterbucks, Warthogs, Baboons, Leopards, Hippos, Lions, and some huge African rock pythons! Lake Nakuru is also home to large flocks of pelicans, as well as African Fish Eagles, Little Grebes, Goliath Herons, Hamerkops, and Kingfishers – so there’s plenty to see!

You will return to camp in the early evening for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – The Cliff/ Sarova Woodlands

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

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

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

Activities & Services: –

Drive to Lake Nakuru National Park
Afternoon game drive

Day 4: Transfer to Lake Naivasha & Whole Day Recreation

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast on day four of your 8 days Kenya safari itinerary and then set off on another scenic drive of about 2 hours to Lake Naivasha, the highest of all lakes in the Great Rift Valley and home to many hippos.

You’ll be at leisure today, but you can opt for an afternoon boat cruise with close-up views of hippos, waterbucks, and countless species of birds. You can also join a walking safari on Crescent Island, as you stroll among giraffes, zebra, and other peaceful, relaxed animals thanks to the absence of predators.

From here, you can enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then visit local artisans for a demonstration on how to make handmade ceramic pieces and handwoven fabrics. If there’s time left in the day, you can go horseback riding while game viewing or visit a farmer’s home for tea while learning about subsistence farming.

You can also drive to the nearby Hells Gate National Park for game viewing. Without predatory animals, the park is safe for walking, cycling, rock climbing, bird watching, and trekking through the lower gorge among the geysers. After this adventurous day, you will settle your accommodations for the evening.

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 hours

Activities & Services: –

Drive to Lake Naivasha for relaxation

Day 5: Drive from Lake Naivasha to Maasai Mara National Reserve For An Afternoon Game Drive

This morning you’ll enjoy a good breakfast before setting off for the final, and very exciting, part of your fantastic 8 days Kenya safari package. You’ll drive across the vast floor of the Great Rift Valley, to the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve. You’ll arrive at your lodge or camp in time for lunch and a short relaxation.

Then, enjoy your first game drive in the “Mara”. Situated in the southwest of Kenya, the Maasai Mara is contiguous with the Serengeti to the south, in Tanzania. Spanning some 1,510km², the reserve is named in honor of the Maasai people, the ancestral inhabitants of the area, and their description of the area when looked at from afar.

“Mara,” which is Maa (Maasai language) for “spotted,” is an apt description for the circles of trees, scrub, savanna, and cloud shadows that mark the area.

The reserve is regarded as the jewel of Kenya’s wildlife viewing areas and one of the world’s greatest wildlife reserves. As in the Serengeti, the wildebeest are the dominant inhabitants of the Maasai Mara, and their numbers are estimated in the millions.

Nowhere in Africa is wildlife more abundant, and you are almost guaranteed to see the Big Five (buffalo, elephant, Leopard, Lion, and rhino).

Another 90 species of mammals have been recorded in the reserve, along with over 500 species of birds and many amphibians, reptiles, and other fascinating creatures.

Remember to bring extra batteries for your camera, because Masai Mara National Reserve is also a photographer’s paradise destination, with abundant wildlife, birds, incredible African landscapes, and excellent weather. The BBC Television show titled “Big Cat Diary” was filmed here. After your exciting first game drive, you will return to camp to freshen up, have dinner, and a good night’s sleep.

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
Afternoon game drive

Day 6: Morning & Afternoon Game Drives In Masai Mara

You have your first full day on safari in the wonderful Maasai Mara. You’ll enjoy a delicious breakfast, followed by a morning game drive. You’ll return to your lodge for lunch and a short siesta in the heat of the day.

You’ll go out on another game drive in the afternoon, hoping to see some more spectacular fauna and flora, along with some predator-prey interaction that the Mara is famous for.

Some of the many mammals you hope to see here include African Elephant, African Buffalo, Black rhinoceros, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Spotted Hyaena, Hippos, Giraffe, Eland, and of course hundreds of thousands of zebras, gazelles, and wildebeest if your timing is right for the Great Migration.

Around July of each year, these animals migrate north from the Serengeti plains towards the Maasai Mara in search of fresh grass to graze and return to the south again around October.

The Great Migration is one of the most impressive natural events worldwide, involving almost 2 million wildebeest, zebra, topi, eland, and Thomson’s gazelle. Astoundingly, about 250,000 wildebeest and other mammals die during the journey from Tanzania to the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Death is usually from thirst, hunger, exhaustion, or predation.

After another fantastic day in Mara, return to the lodge for your dinner and overnight.

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

Optional Activity:-

Hot air balloon safari

Day 7: Morning Game Drive In Masai Mara & Afternoon Maasai Cultural Experience

8 Days Kenya Safari Itinerary, Wildlife Viewing & Recreation Safari in Kenya On day 7 of your 8 days Kenya safari, wake early for a hearty breakfast and experience another game drive at sunrise.

The Mara is home to some of the largest hyena clans in Africa. And many visitors have found themselves delighted not only by the larger animals but also by courageous jackal, cheeky bat-eared foxes, and graceful serval, as well as the striking crowned cranes and the bizarre long-legged secretary birds.

Something else you can look out for is the absolutely monstrous Nile Crocodiles you’ll see in the Mara River. These ancient reptiles (some of them over 16 feet long!) lie in wait for the migrating mammals and seeing one of them catch a Zebra and consume it is a memorable experience.

After a game drive, return to your lodge for lunch and a short rest in the heat of the day.

In the afternoon, you will visit a local village visit local villages for a fascinating glimpse of traditional Maasai culture, lifestyle, and traditions.

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 morning game drive
Maasai village Cultural tour

Day 8: Transfer Back To Nairobi

And so an amazing 8 days Kenyan safari package, unfortunately, comes to an end. After breakfast, you will head to Nairobi city and stop for lunch or maybe some last-minute shopping, depending on your flight time. You will make your way to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your flights home. Safe travels!

Please Note: Extensions to Zanzibar, Mombasa Diani beach, Tanzania or Uganda, and/or Rwanda for mountain gorilla trekking and Chimpanzee tracking tours can easily be arranged. Please contact us for more information.

End of the 8 Days Kenya Safari Itinerary

8 Days Kenya Safari Itinerary − SAFARI INCLUSIONS

Kenya government taxes
Selected National Park and reserve entry fees
Full Board Accommodation on Safari
Transport and game drives in 4X4 Safari Van/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
Bottled water while on safari