Kenya 7 Day Itinerary: 5 Unique Routes (With Tips And Costs)

Welcome to Kenya, one of the best safari destinations IN THE WORLD!

If you’re planning a Kenya 7 day itinerary and wondering “Is one week in Kenya enough to see the Big Five and more?”, you’re in the right place.

In this guide, we highlight the five most popular 7 day Kenya safari routes that pack in amazing wildlife, landscapes, lakes and white sand powder.

SECRET: On all of our one-week itineraries, you have a great chance to spot the Big Five!

Let’s get started!

*These itineraries are based on our own safari experiences collected over the years. Laura grew up in Kenya, speaks Swahili, and has spent years exploring the country’s national parks and reserves, building trusted connections with local guides and lodges. It’s that knowledge you will find in this article.

Why should I go on a safari in Kenya?

Kenya is the land of the ORIGINAL SAFARI.

👉 DID YOU KNOW: The very word “safari” comes from Swahili meaning “journey.”

Kenya was one of the first countries in Africa to offer safari tourism, and it remains a top choice for safari lovers.

Here’s why 7 days in Kenya safari will be unforgettable:

• Incredible wildlife: Kenya is famous as a Big Five country and lives up to the reputation every time (we can confirm!). Lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo are present in its parks in large numbers.

• The Great Migration: Kenya hosts what we call “THE GREATEST WILDLIFE SHOW ON EARTH.” Each year in July and August, almost 2 million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles migrate from Tanzania’s Serengeti into Kenya’s Masai Mara. 

• Stunning landscapes & parks: Despite being a bit smaller than the size of Texas in the US (source), Kenya has 50+ national parks and reserves, from grassy plains to old forests. 

• Rich culture: Beyond the animals, Kenya has many cultural experiences. You can visit a Maasai village to learn about old traditions or see Samburu warriors dancing by a campfire. With 43+ ethnic groups, Kenya’s people are as diverse as its wildlife.

In short, going on safari in Kenya means epic wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, and real cultural experiences, all in one trip.

THAT IS THE REASON why Kenya ranks among the TOP safari destinations worldwide.

Recommended SAFARI ESSENTIALS we personally use and trust
🧳 Travel duffle bag	👕 Long shirt: Men | Women	👕 Short shirt: Men | Women
👖 Pants: Men | Women	🧥 Light fleece: Men | Women	🌧️ Rain jacket: Men | Women
🥾 Shoes: Men | Women	🧢 Safari sun hat	🕶️ Sunglasses
🔋 Power bank	🔭 Binoculars	🔌 Universal plug adapter
🦟 Insect repellent (DEET)	💧 Electrolyte tablets	🎒 Daypack

More information in our complete post about Kenya safari clothing.

How to book your Kenya safari

Planning a Kenya safari yourself is challenging, but it doesn’t have to be.

Here’s how to book the Kenya 7 day itinerary of your dreams:

Choose between local operator vs international agency

You can book through a specialist travel agent in your country or go directly with a Kenyan local tour operator.

Local operators often offer much better value, while international agents sometimes mark up safari packages by 30 – 300% over the local price.

WHY?

The overseas middleman adds their overhead and profit on top of what the local on-the-ground operator charges.

By contacting reliable local operators in Kenya, you cut out the middle layer and pay more directly for your actual safari (and arguably also a better experience).

That is why we work directly together with different local safari companies we have used in the past! We know the quality and experience these companies offer, and want to share it with you.

Private safari vs group tour

One of the most important budgets options you will have to make is if you want a private safari (just you and your partner with a guide) or to join a group tour.

Private safaris are tailored to your pace, destinations and interests, ideal for couples and families.

Group safaris (often 6–7 people per vehicle) are cheaper, but are less intimate and the itinerary is fixed.

Where group safaris start at around $200 (€185) per day per person, is that for a private safari at around 400 (€340) per day per person (all-inclusive).

Self-drive or DIY (not common for first-timers)

Some travelers look at self-driving as a way to cut costs compared to booking through a tour operator.

But once you add up the park entry fees, lodge stays, food, car rental (+ insurance), and fuel, the savings are actually very small.

What you really miss out on is the value of a driver/guide who knows the terrain and where to find wildlife.

Having a local tour operator plan all the logistics (permits, insurance, navigation…) saves you quite the hassle.

On Top of that, roads in many reserves and national parks are rough and confusing. The Masai Mara, for example, has a huge road network that is difficult to navigate (sometimes there is no roaming available so you are dependent on the road signs that are not present).

We’ve heard of many self-drivers getting lost and needing help from other vehicles to find their way back.

Another thing to consider is that you won’t have access to the radio network used by guides to share real-time wildlife sightings.

If you do want to try it, here are some options for self-drive safaris in Kenya: Amboseli National Park, Aberdare National Park, Chyulu Hills, Arabuko Sokoke, Hell’s Gate, Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Laikipia Plateau, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Tsavo West, and Tsavo East.

👉 INSIDER TIP: Self-driving works best in parks like Hell’s Gate (very small) or Amboseli (small-ish), where roads are easier and the risk of getting lost is low.

Book lodges in advance (peak season)

Kenya’s peak safari season (July–October) sees lodges in places like Masai Mara fill up months early due to the Great Migration crowds.

If you’re traveling in high season, try to book your key accommodations 6+ months in advance.

In shoulder or low seasons, you’ll have more flexibility and sometimes last-minute deals. Many tour operators will handle lodge bookings for you as part of a package.

If you have specific “bucket-list” camps (say, the iconic Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, or a luxury tented camp overlooking the Mara River, like the FAIRMONT), those might require booking even 1 year ahead.

Payment and money on safari

Most trusted Kenyan tour operators will ask for a 20 – 30% deposit to confirm your booking, with the balance due closer to your departure.

Once you’re in Kenya, the good news is that most expenses are already covered if you’ve booked through a local operator.

Your package will typically include park fees, transport, meals, and accommodations. What’s not included are your drinks at the lodge, personal expenses, and tips.

👉 ATMs and withdrawals: Visa cards are widely accepted, and you’ll find ATMs in all major towns. Expect a 400 KES ($3 / €2.75) fee per withdrawal. Both USD and Kenyan Shillings are accepted in stores.

👉 Tipping: Safari drivers and guides generally expect a tip of about $10 (€9) per person per day. This is best given in cash at the end of your trip. Lodge staff and porters also appreciate small tips in Kenyan Shillings (100 KES).

How much does a Kenya safari cost?

Safari costs can vary wildly, from BASIC camping tours to ULTRA-LUXURY fly-in safaris.

Here we break down typical costs so you can budget your Kenya 7 day itinerary realistically:

Mid-range private safari

For a comfortable mid-range lodge or tented camp safari (which is what we focus on in our itineraries), expect about $300 – $600 (€280 – €550) per person per day all-inclusive.

For a 7-day trip, that comes to roughly $2,100 – $4,200 (€1,950 – €3,900) per person.

What’s included?

A pop-top 4×4 Land Cruiser with a professional driver-guide, park entry fees, daily game drives, all meals at lodges, and transfers.

For example, a classic 7 day Mara & Amboseli safari with a beach finish starts at $360 (€335) per person per day.

Budget safaris

Budget group tours, usually in minibuses and with stays in basic camps, can be as low as $150–$250 (≈ €140–€230) per person per day.

For 7 days in Kenya, that’s about $1,000 – $1,750 (€930 – €1,630) per person.

These trips often exclude meals, drinks… Be cautious of extremely cheap offers, such as a week for $800.

They often cut corners with large groups crammed into one vehicle, very limited game drive time, or by leaving out park fees.

Remember, park fees alone are significant: $70 – $100 per day at most parks, and from 2024 the Masai Mara national reserve fee doubled to $200 (€185) per day in peak season.

If the price sounds too good, it probably is, as going on safari in Kenya is not cheap.

Luxury safaris

High-end safaris in Kenya, staying at top lodges like Angama Mara, Finch Hattons, or Lewa Wilderness, typically cost $600–$1,000+ (≈ €550–€930+) per person per day.

A 7-day luxury trip runs between $4,500 – $7,000+ (€4,200 – €6,500+) per person.

These packages usually cover everything: meals, drinks, laundry, and even bush flights between parks.

The experience is world-class, often in private conservancies with exclusive vehicles and highly personalized service.

A fly-in safari combining a Masai Mara conservancy with an Amboseli boutique camp could easily reach $7,000 per person.

Extra activities

On top of your package, you may want to add special activities.

A hot-air balloon safari in the Masai Mara costs about $450 – $550 (€415 – €510) per person and is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Cultural visits, like a Maasai village tour, usually cost $20 – $30 (€18 – €28).

Tipping is also customary. But you should budget about $10 – $15 (€9 – €14) per person per day for your guide (or $20–$30 per couple), plus a few dollars for lodge staff.

Flights and visas

International flights to Nairobi are (almost) never included in safari packages.

From the U.S. or Europe, round-trip economy fares usually range from $700 – $1,200 (€650–€1,100), depending on the season.

A Kenya single-entry e-visa costs $50 (€46) per adult, while children under 16 travel visa-free.

Don’t forget to factor in travel insurance (we recommend to get it from SafetyWing), which is about $80 for a month and any necessary vaccinations or malaria medication.

Saving money tips

If you’re flexible, traveling in the shoulder season will save you money.

Early June or late October are the best options for that, with lower lodge prices.

Mixing parks is another smart move as lesser-known parks like Samburu or Tsavo cost about $52 (€48) per day, compared to the Mara’s $200 in peak season.

Road safaris are also cheaper than fly-in trips, so where possible, choose to drive between parks.

👉 KEEP IN MIND: Kenya’s tourism is recovering fast, and demand (especially around the Great Migration) is high, so book early for best rates.

Best time to visit Kenya

Kenya is beautiful year-round, but the experience can vary with seasons (rainy vs dry season).

We have been during both rainy and dry season, so let us give you our honest opinion.

Here’s a rundown for the best time to visit Kenya during your one week in the country!

Dry Season in Kenya

Dry Season (June to October): This is the BEST TIME for safari.

We experienced virtually no rain, moderate temperatures (75°F/24°C daytime in savannahs), and thinning vegetation. This means that animals cluster around waterholes.

Not only is game viewing excellent, but the Great Migration river crossings in the Masai Mara occur during July and August. These months see the highest visitor numbers, so parks like Mara can be busy (and lodge rates highest).

October is a shoulder month, meaning that it is still mostly dry, with a bit fewer crowds as some migration herds start to move back to Tanzania.

Rainy season in Kenya

Kenya has two rainy seasons, and each comes with its own travel considerations.

The short rains arrive in November and last into mid-December.

These are usually brief afternoon showers that refresh the landscape, turning everything lush and green.

Wildlife remains in the parks, crowds are gone after the migration, lodges drop their rates, and game viewing is still strong. We’ve had some of our best elephant and big cat sightings during this time in Amboseli.

The long rains fall from March to May, with April being the wettest month. This is when you’ll see heavy downpours, sometimes making dirt roads impassable.

Many lodges in remote areas close for this reason, and game viewing is also more difficult, as animals spread out with water available everywhere.

Hence, we do not recommend the long rainy season, as you’ll still pay a lot of money for less value.

You can read a month-by-month comparison guide in our dedicated Kenya weather post!

How long to spend in Kenya

Based on our experience, you need AT LEAST 7 – 10 days, but we recommend spending at least two weeks in the country.

With 7 to 10 day kenya safaris, you can comfortably visit 3 safari areas (for example, Maasai Mara + Amboseli + a beach, or Samburu + Ol Pejeta + Lake Naivasha in our “northern” route).

As you’ll see in the itineraries below, a Kenya 7 day itinerary can pack in a lot.

If you have only 4 – 5 days, you’d likely focus on one region (for example, just the Maasai Mara and one other park).

In fact, we wrote a separate guide on the best 5 day Kenya safaris with sample routes.

It’s doable, but you’ll be limited to two parks.

Kenya 7 day itinerary overview

We’ve created 4 different 7-day itineraries in Kenya based on our experiences.

These itineraries feature our absolute favourite national parks and reserves in Kenya, where you are pretty much guaranteed to get amazing wildlife sightings.

Below is a quick comparison of these Kenya one-week safari plans: 

Itinerary name	Day by day breakdown
Classic Big Five & Beach	Day 1: Nairobi ➞ Masai Mara (fly or drive)Day 2: Masai Mara (full day safari)Day 3: Masai Mara ➞ Amboseli (morning flight via Nairobi, or very long drive) Day 4: Amboseli (game drives with Kilimanjaro views) Day 5: Amboseli ➞ Diani Beach (drive back to Nairobi and fly, or fly Amboseli via Nairobi) Day 6: Diani Beach (Indian Ocean paradise day) Day 7: Diani Beach ➞ Nairobi (fly back for departure)
Central Kenya Highlights	Day 1: Arrive Nairobi (explore city highlights)Day 2: Nairobi ➞ Aberdare National Park (afternoon forest wildlife at the Ark)Day 3: Aberdare ➞ Ol Pejeta Conservancy (rhino sanctuary) Day 4: Ol Pejeta ➞ Lake Nakuru National Park (big game and flamingos) Day 5: Lake Nakuru ➞ Masai Mara (evening game drive) Day 6: Masai Mara (full day safari) Day 7: Masai Mara ➞ Nairobi (drive back)
Eastern Kenya Adventure	Day 1: Nairobi ➞ Amboseli National Park (afternoon game drive)Day 2: Amboseli (morning and afternoon game drives)Day 3: Amboseli ➞ Tsavo East National Park (morning in West, afternoon in East) Day 4: Tsavo East ➞ Tsavo West National Park (game drive en route) Day 5: Tsavo West ➞ Diani Beach (drive to coast, evening by the beach) Day 6: Diani Beach (full day relaxation or activities) Day 7: Diani ➞ Nairobi (fly back)
Northern Kenya Circuit	Day 1: Nairobi ➞ Meru National Park (afternoon game drive)Day 2: Meru National Park (full day exploring wild Meru) Day 3: Meru ➞ Samburu National Reserve (afternoon game drive) Day 4: Samburu Reserve (full day safari and cultural visit) Day 5: Samburu ➞ Ol Pejeta Conservancy (evening game drive) Day 6: Ol Pejeta ➞ Lake Naivasha (boat ride) Day 7: Lake Naivasha ➞ Nairobi (Hell’s Gate park biking in the morning, return by afternoon)
All-in-One Kenya Highlights	Day 1: Nairobi ➞ Masai Mara (drive)Day 2: Masai Mara (full day safari)Day 3: Masai Mara ➞ Lake Nakuru National Park (drive, about 5–6 hours, 250 km / 155 miles) Day 4: Lake Nakuru ➞ Lake Naivasha (drive, about 1.5–2 hours, 80 km / 50 miles) Day 5: Lake Naivasha ➞ Amboseli National Park (drive, about 6–7 hours, 330 km / 205 miles) Day 6: Amboseli National Park (full day safari) Day 7: Amboseli ➞ Nairobi (drive back)

7 Day classic Kenya safari & beach itinerary

This is our favorite Kenya 7 day itinerary.

You’ll get to see two of Kenya’s most famous wildlife destinations, the Maasai Mara National Reserve and Amboseli National Park. On top of that, you’ll get to go to an Instagram-perfect WHITE-SAND BEACH on the Kenyan beach.

HOW TO GET AROUND: The parks in this itinerary are far apart; for example, driving from the Masai Mara to Amboseli is 9 hours by car. To make this work in 7 days, you’ll use a couple of domestic flights (which are common and safe in Kenya).

👉 COST ESTIMATION: For this classic 7-day safari & beach in Kenya, you can expect to pay around $3,000 – $3,500 per person (including internal flights). This includes: Masai Mara (3 days with flights), Amboseli (2 days), Diani (2 days) with nice lodges, food, park fees, and a flight back to Nairobi.

Recommended SAFARI ESSENTIALS we personally use and trust
🧳 Travel duffle bag	👕 Long shirt: Men | Women	👕 Short shirt: Men | Women
👖 Pants: Men | Women	🧥 Light fleece: Men | Women	🌧️ Rain jacket: Men | Women
🥾 Shoes: Men | Women	🧢 Safari sun hat	🕶️ Sunglasses
🔋 Power bank	🔭 Binoculars	🔌 Universal plug adapter
🦟 Insect repellent (DEET)	💧 Electrolyte tablets	🎒 Daypack

More information in our complete post about Kenya safari clothing.

Day 1: Nairobi ➞ Masai Mara

Morning: Leave Nairobi around 7 – 8 am for the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya’s most famous safari destination.

For convenience, many choose a morning flight from Wilson Airport (Nairobi) directly to the Mara’s airstrip (1-hour flight). These small plane flights (12 to 18 seater bush planes) are an experience in themselves. You’ll fly at LOW ALTITUDE over the Masai Mara so it feels like a mini safari!

If flying, book the roughly 10:00 a.m. flight so you reach the Mara by 11 a.m. 

Use our widget below to see the prices from local flight companies (like Skyward)!

If you’re driving, it’s about a 5 – 6 hour drive, with a possible stop at the RIFT VALLEY VIEWPOINT to enjoy the views of the Great Rift Valley.

Afternoon: Arrive at the Masai Mara in time for lunch at your lodge (around 2 pm). We recommend staying in one of the conservancies NEXT to the Mara reserve. Same wildlife, fewer people, and much cheaper lodges for the same comfort as inside the park.

For a mid-range stay, we recommend the Jambo Mara Safari Lodge or PrideInn Mara Camp & Cottages, both of which offer comfort near the Talek Gate at $300 (€250) per night.

👉 KEEP IN MIND: Lodges will often include dinner, breakfast, and lunch, as there are not many other places.

👉 IMPORTANT: The entry fees for the Masai Mara National Reserve:

Check the Masai Mara Reserve and Mara Triangle websites for the latest fees and rules.

That is why we recommend PRIVATE CONSERVANCIES, as they are a lot cheaper, and since the Masai Mara is NOT A GATED PARK, the animals are free to roam, meaning you can see everything from the national reserve also in the private conservancies that are right next to the reserve.

More information in our Kenya national parks entrance fees guide!

After good lunch, enjoy the lodge for a few hours and then, head out on your first game drive in the Mara by 4 pm. The late afternoon is perfect for wildlife, as temperatures cool down, making animals more active.

Drive across the savannah searching for lions in the grass, leopards in acacia branches, and herds of elephants and buffalo.

If your visit is between July and September, you may witness part of the GREAT WILDEBEEST MIGRATION, with thousands of wildebeest crossing the Mara River.

Additionally, between game drives, you can visit a local Maasai village.

Stay out until sunset for those classic safari sundowner moments (wine and popcorn at sundown) as the sky turns orange and pink for golden hour!

By 6 pm, exit the reserve as the PARK GATES CLOSE.

Evening: Enjoy dinner and a campfire, and enjoy your evening at your safari lodge just outside the reserve.

Day 2: Masai Mara

Morning: Rise before dawn for a full day of safari in the Masai Mara.

At first light, so around 6 am (yes, indeed 6 am), set out on an early morning game drive when predators like lions and cheetahs are still on the move after a night of hunting.

Make sure to have your breakfast packed so you can eat it in the park (this is called a bush breakfast)!

👉 KEEP IN MIND: You have to let your resort know a day in advance about your BUSH BREAKFAST so they can prepare it for you (mostly this is already included in your lodge price but make sure to check).

We recommend visiting the area of the Mara River and the Musiera Swamp in the morning!

👉 INSIDER TIP: If you want a truly special and different kind of morning safari, then the Masai Mara is the best place in Kenya for a HOT-AIR BALLOON SAFARI with a champagne breakfast, a magical sunrise we experienced, and it is worth its price. Read about our REVIEW! It’s pricey ($450 per person) but an unforgettable romantic experience!

 

Afternoon: Return to your lodge by late morning to relax and have lunch there.

Many people opt for an all-day game drive with a packed lunch, but we prefer a morning game drive and one evening game drive (starting at 4 pm).

Between 12h and 4pm, many animals are resting in the shades anyways to escape the midday heat.

What we recommend to do during those midday hours, is to visit a nearby MAASAU VILLAGE (many are right next to the reserve). For about $20–$30, they’ll show you their homes, how they start fire, and perform traditional dances (the jumping dance is amazing, but be prepared to jump with them).

If you head out at 4pm, then you have around 3 hours for lunch at the lodge and some time to enjoy the scenery. 

At 4 pm, resume your game drive. Keep your camera ready for elephants near watering holes, and for giraffes nibbling treetops, and if you’re lucky, the BIG CATS (lion, leopard, cheetah) waking up from their naps.

You’ll definintely see many wildebeest as there are about 1.5 million (!) in the Mara ecosystem, migration aside. 

By around 5 pm, the light is fantastic for photography (GOLDEN HOUR), and you might spot predators like hyenas and cheetahs becoming active again.

Evening: Exit the reserve by 6 pm and return to your lodge for dinner (make sure to try the chapati and the ugali).

Day 3: Masai Mara ➞ Amboseli National Park

Morning: After breakfast, it’s time to leave the Masai Mara and go to one of the other best elephant parks in the world: Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya.

It’s around 8 hours (!) by road, so leave by 7 am.

If you have the budget, you can FLY from the Mara to Nairobi and then to Amboseli (there are no direct flights). We recommend to catch a morning flight from a Mara airstrip back to Nairobi (about 1 hour), then connect to a flight from Nairobi to Amboseli (another 40 minutes).

Take a look at the widget below to discover your prices. 

Flights from Ol Kiombo Airstrip (the closest airstrip to Talek) run daily and take around 3.5 hours, including a layover in Nairobi.

Flights cost around $400 per person. Choose wisely from which airstrip in the Masai Mara you will fly, as there are multiple (some inside and some outside the park). 

Still, if you have the budget, we recommend flights as they are much more enjoyable than car rides (even in a comfortable 4×4 Land Cruiser).

Watch Kenya’s landscapes change from HIGHLANDS to the flat PLAINS around Mt. Kilimanjaro.

If the weather is clear, you can see Africa’s tallest mountain (which is located in Tanzania) as you approach Amboseli.

Afternoon: Arrive at Amboseli National Park by mid to late afternoon.

👉 IMPORTANT: The entry fees for Amboseli National Park:

Category	Entry fee	Notes
Adult (Non-Resident)	USD 90 (EUR 77)	Amboseli is classified as a Kenya Wildlife Service “premium park,” same tier as Lake Nakuru.
Child (3–17 years)	USD 50 (EUR 43)	Discounted child rate, flat all year long.
Child (0–2 years)	FREE	No entry fee.

*Amboseli only has one entry fee all year round (no high or low season), according to the Kenya Wildlife Service. More information here about Amboseli National Park entry fees. 

If time allows, you’ll go straight into the park for a short game drive.

The contrast from the Mara is amazing. Amboseli is all about open grass plains, with a view of Mount Kilimanjaro in the background.

Despite the travel fatigue, you’ll be rewarded by seeing Amboseli’s famous elephant herds (there are more than 1600 elephants in the park, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service), so you will definitely see them as the park is not that big! 

Around this time (about 5 pm), dozens of elephants trek across the plains (so across the main roads in the park) from the dry interior towards the marshes at the foot of Kilimanjaro.

👉  DID YOU KNOW: Amboseli is called the “LAND OF THE GIANTS”, not only for its giant tusked elephants, but because it has Africa’s tallest mountain right next door? Although the Kilimanjaro is actually in Tanzania, the best views of it are from the Kenyan side (Amboseli).

Evening: Exit the park at sunset and check in to your Amboseli accommodation, like Kibo Safari Camp (close to the entrance of Amboseli NP), where we stayed 3 nights during our 2 week Kenya safari trip.

At your hotel you can expect an extended buffet, Kibo Camp even offers you to make your own pizza. Afterwards, you can sit at the firepit with some wine and popcorn!

👉 INSIDER TIP: Always be insured when you’re traveling to Kenya! There’s a company called SafetyWing that we use for our own insurance. It covers you in over 180 countries, and it’s quite affordable, starting at $56.28 (ages 18-39) per month. It covers not just emergency situations, but you can, for example, visit a doctor if you have the flu, and it also includes the prescribed drugs. Visit their website here! 

Day 4: Amboseli National Park

Morning: Wake up to the sunrise over Kilimanjaro, the sky is usually clear (Kilimanjaro is often only visible at DAWN before the clouds come), and the animals are active.

Head out by 6.30 am to catch the big elephant families on their morning move.

Amboseli’s elephants are famous for their big size and long tusks, and at this hour you can watch them socializing and bathing (these are worthy Instagram pictures).

Apart from elephants, look for plains game like impala, Grant’s gazelle, and warthogs in the grasslands.

The cool morning also offers a chance to spot predators; lions and cheetahs (we saw one!) might still be patrolling for a hunt before the heat of the day. 

Afternoon: After a lunch and a siesta (or a dip in the pool) back at Kibo Safari Camp, go back on a game drive around 3 – 4 pm when the harsh sun disappears.

Visit OBSERVATION HILL, a viewpoint in the park, to stretch your legs.  It’s about 80 meters (260) feet above the surrounding plains).

From the top, you get a panoramic overlook of Amboseli’s wetlands and plains dotted with wildlife.

It’s common to see pods of hippos wallowing in the swamps and elephants grazing in the water, with many pelicans nearby.

Evening: Enjoy your final night on safari with dinner at the lodge.

👉 INSIDER TIP: Many lodges offer an OPTIONAL NIGHT GAME DRIVE at extra cost. Since Amboseli is a national park, night game drives are not allowed, so they have to be arranged on private conservancies nearby.

Day 5: Amboseli to the Beach (Diani)

Morning: It’s time to say farewell to Amboselis elephants and to catch a flight from the park to the coast (but you’ll have to pass by Nairobi again).

Check below for the actual prices of the flights from local operators!

The typical route is a small plane from Amboseli to Nairobi (about 1 hour), then connect to a flight from Nairobi Wilson Airport to Ukunda Airstrip in Diani (about 1.5 hours).

In total, you’ll be traveling for a few hours, but IT IS THE ONLY OPTION. Travelling by road would take around 9 (!) hours.

By midday, you’ll land at the palm-fringed airstrip (literally!) called Ukunda near Diani Beach.

Feel the warm, humid air and catch a scent of the Indian Ocean!

Afternoon: A short transfer (10–15 minutes) brings you to your beach resort on Diani Beach, the jewel of Kenya’s coastline.

For accommodations, we can recommend two hotels we have stayed at.

• Papillon Lagoon Reef Hotel (all-inclusive): From US $77 – $148 (€71–€137) per night, this beachfront Swahili-style hotel is in tropical gardens, right at the edge of the beach. Highlights include a large pool with a swim-up bar (order your drink from the pool), water sports, and huge buffets with local and international dishes.

• Diani Sea Lodge (all-inclusive): From US $110 – $180+ (€102–€167+) per night, this beachfront resort offers gardens, pool, spa, diving, and plenty of activities. Rooms are air-conditioned with garden views. Ideal for couples seeking a relaxed all-inclusive experience.

So once you have checked in, had lunch (fresh seafood, perhaps?), then it’s time to relax.

Kick off your shoes and walk on Diani’s white sand, ONE OF THE BEST BEACHES IN AFRICA.

The ocean here is crystal-clear and usually calm (especially in the morning, which makes it perfect for windsurfing), protected by an offshore reef 150 meters into the ocean.

Take a swim in the warm turquoise water, or snorkel straight from the beach to spot colorful fish.

If you’re feeling active, many resorts offer water sports. Some of the sports we recommend are diving, windsurfing, and jet skiing.

Alternatively, just relax under a coconut palm with a good book or enjoy a nap by the pool.

Believe us, after the past days of 5.30 am wake-up calls, an easy beach afternoon is just what you need.

Evening: As the sun sets over the Indian Ocean, take a stroll along the beach at golden hour, and you’ll see local fishermen pulling in their dhows.

Enjoy a Swahili-style dinner featuring local flavors (don’t miss the grilled jumbo prawns or coconut fish curry).

Day 6: Diani Beach

Morning: Wake up to the sound of the ocean and rustling palm fronds.

Today is a full free day to enjoy Diani Beach and its surroundings. After a leisurely breakfast with tropical fruits and Kenyan coffee, you can opt for a morning ocean adventure.

We recommend a snorkeling trip to the nearby Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park (often called the “Blue Safari”) OR spending a full day at Wassini Island.

You’ll take a dhow boat out to coral reefs teeming with marine life; if luck is on your side, you could spot dolphins en route.

Snorkel among neon-colored fish and perhaps sea turtles; the coral gardens are truly beautiful (make sure to take your underwater camera with you).

If snorkeling isn’t your thing, you can also arrange a scuba dive (Diani has many PADI centers at resorts). Diving sites like Galu Reef offer you the chance to also see underwater wildlife, such as moray eels, rays, and many beautiful corals.

The morning is also a nice time for a beach walk when the tide is low, revealing tidal pools with starfish and crabs.

Afternoon: After lunch, how about pampering yourself?

Many beach hotels have spa services, so you could enjoy a massage or spa treatment using local coconut oils.

By now, you have realized Diani feels like a different world compared to the savanna just a couple of days ago. That’s Kenya’s charm: safari na bahari (wildlife and beach), all combined in one trip.

For the active traveler, another option is visiting the COLOBUS MONKEY SANCTUARY in Diani’s forest inland. It’s a conservation center where you can see and learn about the endangered Angolan colobus monkeys that roam the area.

👉 INSIDER TIP: Come late afternoon, you can take a tuk-tuk to the Kongo River, where the sun sets over the water, specifically at the point where the river flows into the Indian Ocean.

if you have some time left over, you can also take a tuk-tuk and head into Diani town and pay a visit to Kazuri bead jewelry, amazing (yet slightly expensive) jewelry for women. 

Evening: Celebrate your last night in Kenya with a beachfront dinner like Nomad (right on the sand, they have amazing grilled fish and cocktails) OR at the very special and ONLY CAVE RESTAURANT IN KENYA. Ali Barbour restaurant is an open-air restaurant set in a natural coral cave lit by candles (the only cave restaurant in Kenya). 

Many resorts also host barbecue dinners on the beach or have live bands playing mellow tunes.

Day 7: Diani ➞ Nairobi

Morning: Enjoy the final morning of your 1 week in Kenya.

You might take one last early beach walk (especially as the sun comes up above the sea around 5.30 am).

Check-out is usually late morning. If you have time before departure, enjoy lunch with a view of Diani’s blue water, the fresh coconut water, or a pineapple mint smoothie is a must, one last time (we are addicted to that)!

Afternoon: Transfer to the Ukunda airstrip for your flight back to Nairobi (or directly to Nairobi’s international airport if your flight home is the same day).

Make sure to arrive one hour before your flight leaves to account for check-in and security checks.

The flight from Diani to Nairobi is about 1.5 hours.

You’ll be in Nairobi by afternoon, ending your 5 day Kenya safari and beach adventure.

👉 INSIDER TIP: If you extend your Kenya 7 day itinerary, then we recommend visiting Nairobi National Park.

Recommended SAFARI ESSENTIALS we personally use and trust
🧳 Travel duffle bag	👕 Long shirt: Men | Women	👕 Short shirt: Men | Women
👖 Pants: Men | Women	🧥 Light fleece: Men | Women	🌧️ Rain jacket: Men | Women
🥾 Shoes: Men | Women	🧢 Safari sun hat	🕶️ Sunglasses
🔋 Power bank	🔭 Binoculars	🔌 Universal plug adapter
🦟 Insect repellent (DEET)	💧 Electrolyte tablets	🎒 Daypack

More information in our complete post about Kenya safari clothing.

7 day central Kenya highlights itinerary

This 7 day Kenya safari itinerary shows Central Kenya’s HIGHLAND PARKS and CONSERVANCIES, offering a mix of unique overnight game viewing at Aberdare National Park’s The Ark, close encounters with rhinos and chimpanzees at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, bird watching at Lake Nakuru National Park and classic game drives at the Masai Mara.

Unlike the “Classic” itinerary, which focused on two main parks and the beach, the Central route touches more diverse places in one week.

It’s a road trip (so no domestic flights) through Kenya’s highlands with a mix of recommended lesser-known parks (we have been to each national park and you’ll get to read about our experience and insider tips for the best possible 7 day Kenya itinerary)!

👉  COST ESTIMATION: This Central Kenya 7-day itinerary is more cost-efficient than the fly-in ones. By doing more road transfers and staying in mid-range lodges, you might spend around $2,500 – $3,000 ( €2,300 – €2,800) per person. Park fees do add up (Aberdare $60, Ol Pejeta $110, Nakuru $60, Mara $80-100 avg per day), but some are shorter stays.  More information here about the cost of a Kenya safari. Discover the difference in price between a budget, mid-range, and luxury 7-day safari in Kenya!

Day 1: Nairobi City

Morning: Welcome to Nairobi!

You will land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and after clearing immigration (e-visa in hand), head to your hotel to drop off bags.

One of the best introductions is the David Sheldrick ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE, where rescued baby elephants are cared for before being released back into the wild.

The orphanage is located INSIDE Nairobi National Park, with access via Magadi Road through the Mbagathi Gate.

Make sure you arrive at the gate no later than 10:30 a.m., as entry requires a quick check of your booking confirmation and your eCitizen park payment receipt. From there, staff will guide you to a designated viewing area where you’ll wait for the elephants to appear.

At exactly 11:00 a.m., the babies arrive for their daily feeding and playtime. For one hour you’ll watch them down bottles of formula, splash in mud baths, roll in the dust, and play with each other.

A senior keeper introduces each elephant by name, sharing their rescue stories and how they’re prepared for release back into the wild.

Entry is by donation, which supports the trust’s conservation work: USD 20 (€18) per adult and USD 5  (€4.60) per child under 12.

Since it’s within Nairobi National Park, you’ll ALSO need to pay the park entry fee in advance via the official eCitizen platform.

Kenya national park entry fees for Nairobi National Park:

Category	Entry fee	Notes
Adult (Non-Resident)	USD 80 (EUR 70)	Nairobi National Park is unique for being so close to the capital, offering game drives just minutes from the city center.
Student / Child (3–17 years)	USD 40 (EUR 35)	Flat child rate, valid year-round.
Child (0–2 years)	FREE	No entry fee.

👉 INSIDER TIP: Tickets for the orphanage often sell out (book here) . Book as early as possible (max. 3 months in advance), and pair your visit with a game drive in Nairobi National Park, you might spot rhinos, giraffes, or even lions against the city skyline. The organization does not accept third-party bookings, so be cautious of any travel agencies or websites claiming to sell tickets.

Next, swing by the Giraffe Centre in the nearby Karen suburb (20 min away).

Here you can feed the endangered Rothschild’s giraffes pellets from a tall platform. They’ll lap them right out of your hand with their long tongues!

You can also read our review of Nairobi Giraffe Centre.

Afternoon: Time for a uniquely Nairobi lunch. We recommend the famous Carnivore Restaurant if you’re a meat lover; they serve an all-you-can-eat BBQ of exotic meats (in the past, even game like ostrich or crocodile).

It’s a bit touristy but worth a visit.

Alternatively, for a more modern foodie vibe, try Cultiva Farm or Talisman in Karen, trendy spots where Nairobi’s expats and young influencers dine on farm-to-table cuisine but expect European prices.

After lunch, you have options: If you’re not too jet-lagged, delve into history at the KAREN BLIXEN MUSEUM (former home of the author of Out of Africa).

Or visit the KAZURI BEADS WORKSHOP to see women artisans making beautiful ceramic beads and pottery (great souvenirs with a cause). 

Evening: Nairobi has a busy nightlife and restaurant scene.

Since we recommend to stay in the Karen neighborhood of Nairobi, we recommend to have dinner in the Talisman, a hip joint serving fancy Kenyan dishes.

Now, it’s time to head to your hotel. In Nairobi, we recommend these two hotels:

• The Residences at Karen: a lovely 4-star tucked in the Karen district. It feels serene and upscale without feeling stuffy. We love its garden setting and the morning breakfast. It’s just $70 – $110 per night, and its vibe is perfect for couples and families who want privacy, style, and easy access to Nairobi National Park adventures.

• The Social House Nairobi, a Preferred Lifestyle Hotel: in Westlands, this one is glossy, modern, and full of character. It has an Instagram-friendly rooftop bar and pool (a hit with influencers), plus well-designed rooms and spa access. Nights start from around $120 – $150.

Get a good night’s sleep in Nairobi. Tomorrow morning, your driver-guide will pick you up to begin the road safari!

Day 2: Nairobi ➞ Aberdare National Park

Morning: Leave from Nairobi around 8 am for the journey to Aberdare National Park, roughly a 3 – 4 hour drive (100 miles / 160 km) into Kenya’s central highlands.

As you leave the city, you’ll pass many Kikuyu farmlands used for rice, and you’ll gain elevation.

En route, your driver might take you for a quick stop to the Blue Post Falls in Thika (two pretty waterfalls you can view) or just stretch your legs at one of the highway shops for coffee.

The air cools as you climb towards the Aberdare Range (at around 8000 feet / 2600meters), a high mountain range just south of the Equator.

En route, you might catch glimpses of Mount Kenya on a clear day.

Arrive in the Aberdare region by midday.

The plan here is a bit unique: most travelers stay at one of the “TREE LODGES” inside the park (like The Ark or Treetops), which overlook waterholes for night-time wildlife viewing.

These lodges have a base hotel (Aberdare Country Club for The Ark, or Outspan Hotel for Treetops) where you have lunch and drop off excess luggage, then you transfer to the lodge in the park via their shuttle.

 

Afternoon: Have lunch at the Aberdare Country Club (or Outspan), a colonial farmhouse setting often with peacocks strutting on the lawns.

After lunch, around 2 pm, board the lodge’s SPECIAL BUS to enter Aberdare National Park and reach your tree lodge.

The drive into the park is an adventure itself: Aberdare is a misty montane forest and moorland ecosystem at 7,000 – 10,000 feet altitude.

You’ll gain elevation through thick bamboo forests and past moss-covered trees.

Keep your eyes peeled, even on the way, we saw many bushbucks, warthogs, and dick dicks.

The forest is dense, so animals are elusive, but the reward comes at the waterhole.

Arrive at The Ark Lodge (shaped like Noah’s Ark) or Treetops Lodge by mid/late afternoon. The Ark Lodge has multiple decks and balconies overlooking a floodlit waterhole.

When arriving, you’ll notice the waterhole and salt lick (for minerals) in front of the lodge, which attract animals from the surrounding forest.

Spend the late afternoon out on the viewing decks or in the lounge facing the waterhole.

Common visitors include elephants; big herds often emerge from the treeline to drink, bathe, and socialize (bringing calves along too).

It’s amazing to watch them interact at such close range (the lodge is just a few meters away).

You’re also likely to see Cape buffalo (huge black bulls with curved horns, often with red-billed oxpecker birds on their backs) and forest hogs or bushpigs.

 

Evening: Dinner is served at the Ark at 7 p.m., but they have picture windows in the dining room so you don’t miss any action at the waterhole.

After dark, the waterhole is floodlit, and the show often gets even better. This is one of the only chances in Kenya to comfortably watch nocturnal wildlife from your lodge.

There is a high chance you will see a pack of HYENAS hunting some buffalos or warthogs at the waterhole at night (we saw them two nights in a row)!

The staff will even ring a buzzer in your room (on request) if special animals come while you sleep (each buzzer code corresponds to a different animal – e.g., 1 buzzer for elephants, 3 for leopard!).

Likely night visitors include black rhinos. Aberdare NP has some rhinos, and they occasionally appear ghostlike in the night, their horns silhouetted in the floodlight.

👉 INSIDER TIP: Aberdare is COLD AT NIGHT (it can drop to 5°C/40°F). In the lodge, they provide blankets and a HOT WATER BOTTLE but do pack warm clothes like a fleece and some warm socks. Also, bring binoculars for better viewing at distances.

Day 3: Aberdare ➞ Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Morning: Wake up in the very cold mountain air of Aberdare.

Enjoy a warm beverage as you enjoy any final sightings (sometimes the morning brings out troops of baboons or Sykes’ monkeys around the clearing).

After breakfast, you’ll leave the lodge (typically by 8.30 or 9am) and transfer back down to the base hotel. From the Aberdare Country Club, collect any stored luggage and say farewell to the Aberdare Range’s forested slopes.

Your driver meets you there and you set off for Ol Pejeta Conservancy, which is about a 2-hour drive (roughly 56 miles / 90 km) north across the Equator near Nanyuki (you are essentially skirting around Mount Kenya’s west side).

In Nanyuki, you can take a quick stop to take a photo at the EQUATOR LINE MARKER. Locals will do the water swirl CORIOLIS EFFECT for a small tip.

Arrive at Ol Pejeta around noon. Your driver will normally take care of the entry fees that need to be paid.

👉 IMPORTANT: The entry fees for the Ol Pejeta Conservancy:

More information here about the Ol Pejeta Conservancy entry fees. 

Afternoon: Enter Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a leading model of conservation.

After registration at the gate (Ol Pejeta is privately managed, so there’s a bit of paperwork), drive to your camp for lunch.

We recommend staying at Sweetwaters Serena Camp, the main mid-range camp in Ol Pejeta, set around a watering hole that has much wildlife.

Post-lunch, start your afternoon game drive in the conservancy.

Ol Pejeta offers a dense concentration of animals on its savannahs, and you’ll notice it feels like classic East African bush, but with the awesome backdrop of Mount Kenya visible on clear days.

Start by seeking out some of the Big 5 here: elephants, Lions, and Buffalo appear in large herds.

But the biggest stars are the RHINOS.  It has over 100 (!) black rhinos and 20+ southern white rhinos, plus it’s home to the WORLD’S LAST TWO NORTHER WHITE RHINO’S Najin and Fatu (they are kept in a special sanctuary). Booking via the conservation website in advance is mandatory to visit them.

Black rhinos are a bit more shy; your guide might take you near thick bush where one might be browsing.

Don’t forget to enjoy the plains game here too: zebra, Thomson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, impala, Ol Pejeta has them all.

Keep an eye out for the endangered hartebeest (a reddish antelope with a long face and lyrate horns).

Also unique are the reticulated giraffes; here’s your chance to see these northern beauties with their net-like coat patterns (Ol Pejeta is one of the southernmost ranges of reticulated giraffe).

As the afternoon stretches on, visit the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary along the Ewaso Ng’iro River in Ol Pejeta.

Spend some time walking the boardwalk and viewing the chimps. Typically, you can see them being fed or lounging.

After the chimps, perhaps as the sun starts to set, your guide might take you to the Morani Center (if time permits before closing), a small education center where the tame rhino “Baraka” resides.

Baraka is a BLIND RHINO that lives in an enclosure.

You can safely feed him greens from a platform and feel the rough skin of a rhino, a very hands-on experience connecting with a usually dangerous animal on the other side of the fence.

As sunset nears, enjoy a final game drive.

Evening: Head back to camp for the night.

At Sweetwaters Camp, the watering hole often has activity 24/7. You could see elephants or buffalo come while you dine, or black rhinos after dark (there’s a spotlight).

Relax with a drink by the bonfire.

Dinner is served under the stars or in an open-air dining hall.

Ol Pejeta, being at the equator, has almost equal day and night lengths year-round. You can expect roughly 12 hours of dark, so the night begins early (7 pm).

Recommended SAFARI ESSENTIALS we personally use and trust
🧳 Travel duffle bag	👕 Long shirt: Men | Women	👕 Short shirt: Men | Women
👖 Pants: Men | Women	🧥 Light fleece: Men | Women	🌧️ Rain jacket: Men | Women
🥾 Shoes: Men | Women	🧢 Safari sun hat	🕶️ Sunglasses
🔋 Power bank	🔭 Binoculars	🔌 Universal plug adapter
🦟 Insect repellent (DEET)	💧 Electrolyte tablets	🎒 Daypack

More information in our complete post about Kenya safari clothing.

Day 4: Ol Pejeta ➞ Lake Nakuru National Park

Morning: Wake up to a beautiful sunrise at Ol Pejeta, perhaps Mount Kenya’s snowcap is tinged pink by the sun.

Enjoy one more short morning game drive after a quick tea/coffee. This could be your last chance to spot anything you missed.

Say farewell to the conservancy’s wildlife and leave by mid-morning for Lake Nakuru National Park, about a 3.5-hour drive (93 miles / 150 km) west.

The road takes you across the Equator again near Thomson Falls (Nyahururu).

Optionally, you can stop at Thomson Falls around midday. It’s an Instagram-worthy waterfall plunging 243 feet (74m) into a gorge.

Afternoon: Enter Lake Nakuru National Park, known for its alkaline lake that attracts massive amounts of flamingos (in the past around 1.5 million).

👉 IMPORTANT: The entry fees for Lake Nakuru National Park:

Category	Entry fee	Notes
Adult (Non-Resident)	USD 90 (EUR 77)	Lake Nakuru is a Kenya Wildlife Service premium park, famous for rhinos and seasonal flamingos.
Child (3–17 years)	USD 45 (EUR 39)	Flat child rate, valid year-round.
Child (0–2 years)	FREE	No entry fee.

*Nakuru National Park only has one entry fee all year round (no high or low season), according to the Kenya Wildlife Service. More information here about the Lake Nakuru National Park entry fees. 

Have a packed lunch or stop at your lodge inside (at Lake Nakuru Lodge or Sarova Lion Hill are our recommend mid-range choices) for lunch.

After a bite, set off on an afternoon game drive in the park.

Head straight for the lake shore, and the sight of thousands of pink flamingos to greet you.

👉 HOWEVER: In recent years, flamingo concentrations have sometimes shifted to other Rift lakes depending on algae conditions and water levels, but you’ll surely see some.

Also along the shore, watch for pelicans (Lake Nakuru often has great white pelicans), storks, and other waterbirds like avocets and plovers.

👉 KEEP IN MIND: Lake Nakuru is fenced and relatively small, but it’s filledd with wildlife, especially since rhinos were introduced here as a sanctuary.

Drive through the acacia woodlands along the shore, you’re almost guaranteed to spot the park’s white rhinos grazing openly.

Their presence is due to successful breeding in this first rhino sanctuary in Kenya.

They often move in small family groups, cropping grass with their wide mouths.

The black rhino (browsers) are also here, but usually stick to thicker cover, so you should consider yourself lucky if you glimpse a solitary black rhino in the bush.

Continue to the Baboon Cliff overlook, step out (careful with your belongings; baboons here are notorious thieves!), and take in a panoramic view of the entire lake.

It’s stunning, with the forest, blue-green lake, and pink fringe of flamingos (seasonal) laid out below.

Descend and drive through the southern marsh; often you’ll find some buffalo wallowing or reedbuck hiding in the reeds.

Lake Nakuru NP also has the Rothschild giraffe, an endangered giraffe subspecies with white lower legs; they were introduced here for safety.

As the day cools towards evening, you have a chance to spot predators: Nakuru is home to lions (often found resting under bushes or on fallen logs) and a good number of leopards.

👉 DID YOU KNOW: Nakuru National Park was once nicknamed “the leopard park” for frequent sightings?

There’s also a LION Hill area where lions are sometimes seen on rocks.

Given the park’s small size, it’s possible on a single afternoon in Nakuru to see rhinos, lions, giraffes, buffalo, flamingos, etc., a mini-safari jackpot.

Evening: Exit by 6.30 pm as the park closes and head to your lodge.

Unwind after an exciting day. At Lake Nakuru Lodge, you might enjoy a sundowner with views of the lake from the ridge, or at Sarova Lion Hill, watch the sunset over the lake from their terrace.

👉 INSIDER TIP: Lake Nakuru is in a MALARIA ZONE, as are most lower altitude areas on this itinerary (like the Mara, Naivasha, etc.). Be sure you’re taking malaria prophylaxis, and use repellent especially around dusk. Most lodges will have mosquito nets so please use them!

Day 5: Lake Nakuru ➞ Masai Mara National Reserve

Morning: After breakfast, it’s off to the world-famous safari destination: the Maasai Mara.

We recommeld to leave Lake Nakuru by 8 a.m. so you have enough time to do an afternoon game drive.

The drive to Masai Mara is longish, about 5 to 6 hours (160 miles / 260 km), partly on dirt roads for the last stretch.

You’ll drive out of the Rift Valley, possibly pass through Narok (last major town) for a quick break or to top up fuel, and then proceed along bumpy roads to the Mara.

Afternoon: Arrive at the Masai Mara in time for lunch at your lodge (around 2 to 3 pm). We recommend staying in one of the conservancies NEXT to the Mara reserve. Same wildlife, fewer people, and much cheaper lodges for the same comfort as inside the park.

For a mid-range stay, we recommend the Jambo Mara Safari Lodge or PrideInn Mara Camp & Cottages, both of which offer comfort near the Talek Gate at $300 (€250) per night.

👉 KEEP IN MIND: Lodges will often include dinner, breakfast, and lunch, as there are no restaurants in the park.

👉 IMPORTANT: The entry fees for the Masai Mara National Reserve:

Check the Masai Mara Reserve and Mara Triangle websites for the latest fees and rules.

That is why we recommend PRIVATE CONSERVANCIES, as they are a lot cheaper, and since the Masai Mara is NOT A GATED PARK, the animals are free to roam, meaning you can see everything from the national reserve also in the private conservancies that are right next to the reserve.

More information in our Kenya national parks entrance fees guide!

After good lunch, enjoy the lodge for a few hours and then, head out on your first game drive in the Mara by 4 pm. The late afternoon is perfect for wildlife, as temperatures cool down, making animals more active.

Drive across the savannah searching for lions in the grass, leopards in acacia branches, and herds of elephants and buffalo.

If your visit is between July and September, you may witness part of the GREAT WILDEBEEST MIGRATION, with thousands of wildebeest crossing the Mara River.

Stay out until sunset for those classic safari sundowner moments (wine and popcorn at sundown) as the sky turns orange and pink for golden hour!

By 6 pm, exit the reserve as the PARK GATES CLOSE.

Evening: Enjoy dinner and a campfire, and enjoy your evening at your safari lodge just outside the reserve.

Day 6: Masai Mara

Morning: Rise before dawn for a full day of safari in the Masai Mara.

At first light, so around 6 am (yes, indeed 6 am), set out on an early morning game drive when predators like lions and cheetahs are still on the move after a night of hunting.

Make sure to have your breakfast packed so you can eat it in the park (this is called a bush breakfast)!

👉 KEEP IN MIND: You have to let your resort know a day in advance about your BUSH BREAKFAST so they can prepare it for you (mostly this is already included in your lodge price but make sure to check).

We recommend visiting the area of the Mara River and the Musiera Swamp in the morning!

👉 INSIDER TIP: If you want a truly special and different kind of morning safari, then the Masai Mara is the best place in Kenya for a HOT-AIR BALLOON SAFARI with a champagne breakfast, a magical sunrise we experienced, and it is worth its price. Read about our REVIEW! It’s pricey ($450 per person) but an unforgettable romantic experience!

 

Afternoon: Return to your lodge by late morning to relax and have lunch there.

Many people opt for an all-day game drive with a packed lunch, but we prefer a morning game drive and one evening game drive (starting at 4 pm).

Between 12h and 4 pm, many animals are resting in the shade anyway to escape the midday heat.

What we recommend doing during those midday hours is to visit a nearby MAASAI VILLAGE (many are right next to the reserve). For about $20–$30, they’ll show you their homes, how they start fires, and perform traditional dances (the jumping dance is amazing, but be prepared to jump with them).

At 4 pm, resume your game drive. Keep your camera ready for elephants near watering holes, and for giraffes nibbling treetops, and if you’re lucky, the BIG CATS (lion, leopard, cheetah) waking up from their naps.

You’ll definitely see many wildebeest, as there are hundreds of thousands (!) in the Mara ecosystem, migration aside. 

By around 5 pm, the light is fantastic for photography (GOLDEN HOUR), and you might spot predators like hyenas and cheetahs becoming active again.

Evening: Exit the reserve by 6 pm and return to your lodge for dinner (make sure to try the chapati and the ugali).

Day 7: Masai Mara ➞ Nairobi

Morning: Your safari adventure comes to an end today.

Depending on your departure flight from Nairobi, you have two options to get back:

• Option 1 is to fly to Nairobi: Easiest and most comfortable. Schedule a mid-morning or afternoon flight from the Mara’s airstrip to Wilson Airport (Nairobi). You’ll land in Nairobi in about 45 to 60 minutes. Typically, you’d be there by early afternoon, then transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International for your evening flight home (many international flights depart at night).

• Option 2 is to drive to Nairobi: If flights are not an option, then we recommend to leave the Mara after breakfast for the 6+ hour drive to Nairobi. It’s a quite scenic drive up through the Rift Valley (a stop at Mai Mahiu viewpoint is nice to see the valley one last time). You’d reach Nairobi late afternoon. 

7 day eastern Kenya safari & beach itinerary

Kenya’s Eastern Circuit is perfect if you’re up for an adventure and if you dare to shy away from the famous Masai Mara but are eager to discover new, equally amazing Kenyan national parks.  

This Kenya 7 day itinerary covers the expansive twin parks of Tsavo East and Tsavo West (separated by a highway).

Together, they are one of the WORLD’S LARGEST WILDLIFE REGIONS.

You’ll start with Amboseli’s unbelievable elephant herds, experience red-dust elephants of Tsavo, and end with a beach holiday.

It’s an amazing road trip adventure through Kenya’s southeastern wilds.

👉 COST ESTIMATION: For this 7-day mid-budget eastern Kenya safari with a private vehicle and guide, you’re looking at roughly $2,200 – $2,700 (€2,000 – €2,500) per person as this itinerary is road-based, it avoids the higher costs of domestic flights. That helps keep transport more budget-friendly, though park entry fees do add up with several days in Amboseli, Tsavo West, and Tsavo East. Lodges in Tsavo are generally cheaper than those in the Mara, so overall costs balance out. 

Day 1: Nairobi ➞ Amboseli National Park

Morning: After breakfast, it’s time to leave Nairobi and go to one of the other best elephant parks in the world: Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya.

It’s around 4 – 5 hours by car, covering 140 miles (225 km) via the main Mombasa Road and Emali route.

As this is a roadtrip 7 day Kenya safari trip, we do not recommend flights as this will make logistics a lot more difficult.

Watch Kenya’s landscapes change from HIGHLANDS to the flat PLAINS around Mt. Kilimanjaro.

If the weather is clear, you can see Africa’s tallest mountain (which is located in Tanzania) as you get closer to Amboseli.

Afternoon: Arrive at Amboseli National Park by mid-afternoon.

👉 IMPORTANT: The entry fees for Amboseli National Park:

Category	Entry fee	Notes
Adult (Non-Resident)	USD 90 (EUR 77)	Amboseli is classified as a Kenya Wildlife Service “premium park,” same tier as Lake Nakuru.
Child (3–17 years)	USD 50 (EUR 43)	Discounted child rate, flat all year long.
Child (0–2 years)	FREE	No entry fee.

*Amboseli only has one entry fee all year round (no high or low season), according to the Kenya Wildlife Service. More information here about Amboseli National Park entry fees. 

If time allows, you’ll go straight into the park for a short game drive.

Amboseli is all about open grass plains, with a view of Mount Kilimanjaro in the background.

Despite the travel fatigue, you’ll be rewarded by seeing Amboseli’s famous elephant herds (there are more than 1600 elephants in the park, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service), so you will definitely see them as the park is not that big! 

Around this time (about 5 pm), dozens of elephants trek across the plains (so across the main roads in the park) from the dry interior towards the marshes at the foot of Kilimanjaro.

👉  DID YOU KNOW: Amboseli is called the “LAND OF THE GIANTS”, not only for its giant tusked elephants, but because it has Africa’s tallest mountain right next door? Although the Kilimanjaro is actually in Tanzania, the best views of it are from the Kenyan side (Amboseli).

Evening: Exit the park at sunset and check in to your Amboseli accommodation, like Kibo Safari Camp (close to the entrance of Amboseli NP), where we stayed 3 nights during our 2 week Kenya safari trip.

At your hotel you can expect an extended buffet, Kibo Camp even offers you to make your own pizza. Afterwards, you can sit at the firepit with some wine and popcorn!

👉 INSIDER TIP: Always be insured when you’re traveling to Kenya! There’s a company called SafetyWing that we use for our own insurance. It covers you in over 180 countries, and it’s quite affordable, starting at $56.28 (ages 18-39) per month. It covers not just emergency situations, but you can, for example, visit a doctor if you have the flu, and it also includes the prescribed drugs. Visit their website here! 

Day 2: Amboseli National Park

Morning: Wake up to the sunrise over Kilimanjaro, the sky is usually clear (Kilimanjaro is often only visible at DAWN before the clouds come), and the animals are active.

Head out by 6.30 am to catch the big elephant families on their morning move.

Amboseli’s elephants are famous for their big size and long tusks, and at this hour you can watch them socializing and bathing (these are worthy Instagram pictures).

Apart from elephants, look for plains game like impala, Grant’s gazelle, and warthogs in the grasslands.

The cool morning also offers a chance to spot predators; lions and cheetahs (we saw one!) might still be patrolling for a hunt before the heat of the day.

Afternoon: After a lunch and a siesta (or a dip in the pool) back at Kibo Safari Camp, go back on a game drive around 3 – 4 pm when the harsh sun disappears.

Visit OBSERVATION HILL, a viewpoint in the park, to stretch your legs.  It’s about 80 meters (260) feet above the surrounding plains).

From the top, you get a panoramic overlook of Amboseli’s wetlands and plains dotted with wildlife.

It’s common to see pods of hippos wallowing in the swamps and elephants grazing in the water, with many pelicans nearby.

Then it’s time to head to the KITIRUA AREA (southwest Amboseli). There are fewer tourists there, meaning more chance to spot some cats (like lions, cheetahs…) or big herds of giraffe and zebra. 

Evening: Enjoy your final night on safari with dinner at the lodge.

👉 INSIDER TIP: Many lodges offer an OPTIONAL NIGHT GAME DRIVE at extra cost. Since Amboseli is a national park, night game are not allowed, so they have to be arranged on private conservancies nearby.

Day 3: Amboseli → Tsavo East National Park

Morning: Leave Amboseli early (by 7 am) for the journey to Tsavo East National Park.

Normally, your driver (often in a Landcruiser Jeep) will come to pick you up at your accommodation.

The drive from Amboseli to Tsavo East National Park takes about 6 – 7 hours by car, covering roughly 200 miles (320 km).

Arrive in the Tsavo East area around midday and enter through one of the main gates (Manyani or Voi Gate).

👉 IMPORTANT: The entry fees for Tsavo East & Tsavo West National Parks:

Category	Entry fee	Notes
Adult (Non-Resident)	USD 80 (EUR 69)	Both Tsavo East and Tsavo West have identical pricing structures, set by the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Child (3–17 years)	USD 40 (EUR 35)	Flat child rate, valid year-round.
Child (0–2 years)	FREE	No entry fee.

*Tsavos only have one entry fee all year round (no high or low season), according to the Kenya Wildlife Service for Tsavo East and Tsavo West. More information here about the Tsavo’s National Parks entry fees. 

Afternoon: After a lunch break (either picnic or at a lodge near the gate), begin your first game drive inside Tsavo East, often called “THE THEATER OF THE WILD.”

Tsavo East is immense. It’s flat, open, and semi-arid, bisected by the Galana River (a must-visit stop on one of your game drives). 

Another must-see: the LUGARD FALLS (more rapids than big falls) on the Galana, where water has carved bizarre shapes in the rock. If you have the time, we recommend to make a quick stop here for a 5-minute break from the car. 

One of the first things you’ll notice is the rich reddish soil, which the elephants famously dust-bathe in, giving them a red-coated look.

WHY do they do that?

• Natural sunscreen: Elephants spray mud and dust over their skin to protect themselves from the sun.

• Insect repellent & skin care: The dust coating helps repel biting insects and soothes irritation.

• Behavioral habit: Elephants just love wallowing in mud and then covering themselves in dust—it’s part of their daily routine.

Tsavo is home to over 10,000 (!) of these “RED ELEPHANTS”, sometimes in groups of 50 or more.

You’ll also see zebras, impalas, ostriches, and giraffes crossing the plains.

Tsavo East is not as crowded with tourists, so you might not see many other vehicles. For us, it felt like true wilderness.

Visit the ARUBA DAM, a watering hole that attracts waterbucks, baboons, and thirsty elephants.

Keep your eyes open for predators too: Tsavo’s lions are known historically as the “man-eaters” (don’t worry, that was back in 1898!) and have a reputation for often lacking manes.

Also watch for the geraĉuk (long-necked) gerenuk antelope standing on two legs to browse, and the fringe-eared oryx with its long spear-like horns.

In the late afternoon, the lighting turns beautiful on Tsavo’s horizon.

By 6 pm, head out of the park (or to your lodge inside if staying in the park).

Evening: Overnight near Tsavo East. If you’re staying inside the park, Ashnil Aruba Lodge is our recommended mid-range option by the Aruba Dam ($180 / €160 per night).

Enjoy dinner overlooking the wilderness; many lodges here have waterholes where elephants and other animals wander in as you dine, which is an incredible sight at night.

Tomorrow, you’ll explore Tsavo West.

Day 4: Tsavo East → Tsavo West National Park

Morning: Before leaving Tsavo East, you have the option of a brief morning game drive to see any wildlife that is active early.

Afterwards, around 8 am, leave for Tsavo West National Park.

The two Tsavo parks are separated by the Nairobi-Mombasa road and railway.

It’s roughly a 3-hour journey to cross over to Tsavo West (less if exiting at Manyani gate and entering Tsavo West at Tsavo Gate).

On the way, enjoy views of the Yatta Plateau (one of the WORLD’S LONGEST LAVA FLOWS) stretching along the horizon in Tsavo East.

Afternoon: Enter Tsavo West, which offers a more hilly terrain than East.

The park is known for its volcanic hills, dense bush, and lava fields.

After lunch at a lodge or picnic site, go on an afternoon game drive in Tsavo West.

Start with a visit to MZIMA SPRINGS, one of the park’s highlights.

Mzima is a series of lush springs that produce millions (!) of liters of fresh water a day, feeding the Tsavo River. These crystal-clear pools are fed by underground springs and filtered through volcanic rock.

Take the short walking trail to the springs (with a ranger escort).

There’s an UNDERWATER VIEWING TANK where you can often see hippos and giant Nile crocodiles swimming! You might also see fish and turtles through the glass.

Next, drive through the Rhino Sanctuary area if time permits (the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary is a 70 km² fenced zone in Tsavo West protecting about 80 black rhinos).

We cannot guarantee seeing any rhinos due to thick vegetation, but you might get lucky near dusk as rhinos become active.

Continue game driving through Tsavo West’s rugged landscape. You’ll notice it’s greener (in season) and more forested in parts than Tsavo East, making wildlife spotting a challenge.

Still, plenty of animals are here: giraffes nibbling leaves, herds of buffalo, and elephants (slightly fewer than East, but still common) browsing or bathing in mud.

Look out for the famous MANE-LESS LIONS of Tsavo and perhaps leopards around rocky outcrops (Tsavo West has a good leopard population, but they’re shy).

As you cross the park, you might cross the ancient lava flows of SHETANI LAVA FLOW, a black lava field from an ERUPTION just 200 years ago, an almost lunar landscape near the road. 

👉 DID YOU KNOW: The name “Shetani” means “Devil” in Swahili, as locals thought it was the devil’s work when it erupted.

By sunset, climb to a viewpoint or just enjoy the sunset from the bush.

 

Evening: Check in to your Tsavo West lodge for dinner and overnight.

Two excellent mid-range options we can recommend: Severin Safari Camp, a tented camp with views of Mt. Kilimanjaro and a waterhole (around $200 / €180 per night), or Voyager Ziwani Camp on the park’s edge (also $200, offering tents by the dam).

Enjoy a night under Tsavo’s sky; without city lights, the Milky Way shines bright.

Recommended SAFARI ESSENTIALS we personally use and trust
🧳 Travel duffle bag	👕 Long shirt: Men | Women	👕 Short shirt: Men | Women
👖 Pants: Men | Women	🧥 Light fleece: Men | Women	🌧️ Rain jacket: Men | Women
🥾 Shoes: Men | Women	🧢 Safari sun hat	🕶️ Sunglasses
🔋 Power bank	🔭 Binoculars	🔌 Universal plug adapter
🦟 Insect repellent (DEET)	💧 Electrolyte tablets	🎒 Daypack

More information in our complete post about Kenya safari clothing.

Day 5: Tsavo West to the Beach (Diani)

Morning: It’s time to say farewell to Tsavo’s elephants and fly to the coast.

The drive from Tsavo West National Park to Diani Beach takes about 6 – 7 hours by car, covering around 210 miles (340 km) via Voi, Mombasa, and the Likoni Ferry crossing.

Afternoon: Your driver will bring you straight to your beach resort on Diani Beach, the jewel of Kenya’s coastline.

For accommodations, we can recommend two hotels we have stayed at.

• Papillon Lagoon Reef Hotel (all-inclusive): From US $77 – $148 (€71–€137) per night, this beachfront Swahili-style hotel is in tropical gardens, right at the edge of the beach. Highlights include a large pool with a swim-up bar (order your drink from the pool), water sports, and huge buffets with local and international dishes.

• Diani Sea Lodge (all-inclusive): From US $110 – $180+ (€102–€167+) per night, this beachfront resort offers gardens, pool, spa, diving, and plenty of activities. Rooms are air-conditioned with garden views. Ideal for couples seeking a relaxed all-inclusive experience.

So once you have checked in, had lunch (fresh seafood, perhaps?), then it’s time to relax.

Kick off your shoes and walk on Diani’s white sand, ONE OF THE BEST BEACHES IN AFRICA.

The ocean here is crystal-clear and usually calm (especially in the morning, which makes it perfect for windsurfing), protected by an offshore reef 150 meters into the ocean.

Take a swim in the warm turquoise water, or snorkel straight from the beach to spot colorful fish.

If you’re feeling active, many resorts offer water sports. Some of the sports we recommend are diving, windsurfing, and jet skiing.

Alternatively, just relax under a coconut palm with a good book or enjoy a nap by the pool.

Believe us, after the past days of 5.30 am wake-up calls, an easy beach afternoon is just what you need.

Evening: As the sun sets over the Indian Ocean, take a stroll along the beach at golden hour, and you’ll see local fishermen pulling in their dhows.

Enjoy a Swahili-style dinner featuring local flavors (don’t miss the grilled jumbo prawns or coconut fish curry).

Day 6: Diani Beach

Morning: Wake up to the sound of the ocean and rustling palm fronds.

Today is a full free day to enjoy Diani Beach and its surroundings. After a leisurely breakfast with tropical fruits and Kenyan coffee, you can opt for a morning ocean adventure.

We recommend a snorkeling trip to the nearby Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park (often called the “Blue Safari”) OR spending a full day at Wassini Island.

You’ll take a dhow boat out to coral reefs teeming with marine life; if luck is on your side, you could spot dolphins en route.

Snorkel among neon-colored fish and perhaps sea turtles; the coral gardens are truly beautiful (make sure to take your underwater camera with you).

If snorkeling isn’t your thing, you can also arrange a scuba dive (Diani has many PADI centers at resorts). Diving sites like Galu Reef offer you the chance to also see underwater wildlife, such as moray eels, rays, and many beautiful corals.

The morning is also a nice time for a beach walk when the tide is low, revealing tidal pools with starfish and crabs.

Afternoon: After lunch, how about pampering yourself?

Many beach hotels have spa services, so you could enjoy a massage or spa treatment using local coconut oils.

By now, you have realized Diani feels like a different world compared to the savanna just a couple of days ago. That’s Kenya’s charm: safari na bahari (wildlife and beach), all combined in one trip.

For the active traveler, another option is visiting the COLOBUS MONKEY SANCTUARY in Diani’s forest inland. It’s a conservation center where you can see and learn about the endangered Angolan colobus monkeys that roam the area.

👉 INSIDER TIP: Come late afternoon, you can take a tuk-tuk to the Kongo River, where the sun sets over the water, specifically at the point where the river flows into the Indian Ocean.

If you have some time left over, you can also take a tuk-tuk and head into Diani town and pay a visit to Kazuri bead jewelry, amazing (yet slightly expensive) jewelry for women. 

Evening: Celebrate your last night in Kenya with a beachfront dinner like Nomad (right on the sand, they have amazing grilled fish and cocktails) OR at the very special and ONLY CAVE RESTAURANT IN KENYA. It’s an open-air restaurant set in a natural coral cave lit by candles (the only cave restaurant in Kenya)

Many resorts also host barbecue dinners on the beach or have live bands playing mellow tunes.

Day 7: Diani ➞ Nairobi

Morning: Savor your final morning of your 1 week in Kenya.

You might take one last early beach walk (especially as the sun comes up above the sea around 5.30 am).

Check-out is usually late morning. If you have time before departure, enjoy lunch with a view of Diani’s blue water, the fresh coconut water, or a pineapple mint smoothie is a must, one last time (we are addicted to that)!

Afternoon: Transfer to the Ukunda airstrip for your flight back to Nairobi (or directly to Nairobi’s international airport if your flight home is the same day).

Make sure to arrive one hour before your flight leaves to account for check-in and security checks.

The flight from Diani to Nairobi is about 1.5 hours.

You’ll be in Nairobi by afternoon, ending your 7 day Kenya safari and beach adventure.

👉 INSIDER TIP: If you extend your Kenya 7 day itinerary, then we recommend visiting Nairobi National Park.

 7 day northern Kenya safari itinerary

If you’re looking for off-the-beaten-path magic, this 7 day Northern Kenya Safari is for you.

It shines a light on four lesser-visited parks in northern Kenya: Meru National Park, a remote wilderness known as the setting for “Born Free” (where Elsa the lioness was released), Samburu National Reserve, a dryland paradise of unique wildlife, Ol Pejeta (famous for rhinos) and Hell’s Gate national park where there are enormous gorges for hiking.

We visited all of them and were blown away by how beautiful they were and how much wildlife we were able to see! For us, they belong on the SAME LEVEL AS MASAI MARA AND AMBOSELI.

During your 7 days in Kenya, you’ll discover amazing landscapes, crazy game drives with fewer crowds, and authentic cultural encounters.

It’s the perfect adventure if you want to skip the classic safari parks, but are open to trying something new that will blow your mind.

Recommended SAFARI ESSENTIALS we personally use and trust
🧳 Travel duffle bag	👕 Long shirt: Men | Women	👕 Short shirt: Men | Women
👖 Pants: Men | Women	🧥 Light fleece: Men | Women	🌧️ Rain jacket: Men | Women
🥾 Shoes: Men | Women	🧢 Safari sun hat	🕶️ Sunglasses
🔋 Power bank	🔭 Binoculars	🔌 Universal plug adapter
🦟 Insect repellent (DEET)	💧 Electrolyte tablets	🎒 Daypack

More information in our complete post about Kenya safari clothing.

Day 1: Nairobi → Meru National Park

Morning: Begin your journey early, leaving Nairobi around 7 am for the ride to Meru National Park.

It’s about 6 hours by road (217 miles / 350 km), a long drive but through good roads (except for the last 18 miles / 30 km).

Head north past Mount Kenya’s slopes and through the towns of Embu and Meru. Passing these towns, you’ll see many farmers working on Kenya’s ricefields!

You will reach the national park by early afternoon.

👉 IMPORTANT: The entry fees for Meru National Park:

Category	Entry fee	Notes
Adult (Non-Resident)	USD 70 (EUR 60)	Meru is categorized by the Kenya Wildlife Service as a wilderness park, so its entrance fees are lower than premium parks like Amboseli or Lake Nakuru.
Child (3–17 years)	USD 35 (EUR 30)	Consistent child rate, valid year-round.
Child (0–2 years)	FREE	No entry fee.

*Meru only has one entry fee all year round (no high or low season), according to the Kenya Wildlife Service. More information here.

Afternoon: After a picnic lunch or quick bite at the park entrance, go into Meru National Park on an afternoon game drive en route to your camp.

First impressions: Meru is green with tall grasslands, swaying palms along numerous rivers (13 rivers flow through Meru!), and rich red soil.

Start spotting wildlife: Meru is home to all Big Five (rhinos especially, though they’re in a protected sanctuary area within the park).

You will see elephants and giraffes.

Scan the grass for herds of buffalo and the oryx, which thrive here.

Meru is perhaps best known for its diversity of herbivores: you’ll see zebras (both common Burchell’s and the larger Grevy’s zebra occasionally towards the north), Grant’s gazelles, lesser kudus darting in the thickets, and possibly the Gerenuk (those peculiar long-necked antelopes) standing on hind legs to browse.

As you drive deeper, you might cross the Bwatherongi River with its palm-fringed banks – check for hippos and giant Nile crocodiles lurking (Meru’s rivers have plenty). The park’s remoteness means animals aren’t as accustomed to vehicles, so they may be a bit shy – but the upside is you often have sightings all to yourself.

By late afternoon, arrive at your accommodation, perhaps the lovely Ikweta Safari Camp just outside the park (mid-range tented camp $120 / €110 per night) or one of the few inside, like Rhino River Camp (more upscale).

 

Evening: Settle in and enjoy the sounds of the wild. Meru has very clear night skies due to minimal light pollution.

As night falls, you’ll see a blanket of stars and maybe the outline of jagged Nyambene Hills in the distance.

Dinner is served under the open sky or in a dining area.

At night, Meru comes alive with sound: listen for the sound of hyenas, the grunts of hippos from the rivers, or even the far roar of a lion pride announcing territory.

Meru’s lions are increasingly confident; they were once heavily poached out in the ’80s but have rebounded.

Before bed, your guide might take you on a short night game drive (if the camp/park allows, sometimes possible along the park boundary): you could glimpse nocturnal creatures like aardwolf, African civet, or genets.

👉 INSIDER TIP: Always be insured when you’re traveling! There’s a company called SafetyWing that we swear by. It’s insurance designed with digital nomads in mind. It covers you in over 180 countries, and it’s quite affordable, starting at $56.28 (ages 18-39) per month. It covers not just emergency situations, but you can, for example, visit a doctor if you have the flu, and it also includes the prescribed drugs. Visit their website! 

Day 2: Meru National Park

Morning: Rise with the sun over Meru. The camp staff brings hot coffee to get you going (very welcome, as Meru can be warm but mornings are pleasantly cold).

Set out on an early morning game drive while the air is cool and animals are most active.

Drive to areas where lions might hunt: maybe the KINNA PLAIN or along riverine thickets where prey congregate.

👉 INSIDER TIP: If you hear baboons barking alarm calls, follow that. It could be a lion or leopard nearby!

Meru’s cheetahs also favor the open plains in the eastern sector.

Along the way, enjoy the abundance of other wildlife: troops of olive baboons trotting across the track, skittish warblers and guinea fowl fluttering off, and birdlife galore.

👉 DID YOU KNOW: Meru has 300+ species; watch for the vivid superb starlings, Lilac-breasted rollers, and perhaps the endemic Buffalo Weaver?

One special stop could be Elsa’s Kopje, a rocky hill that was George Adamson’s base and now a lodge (even if not staying, some game drives pass by it). It’s surreal to be in the area where Elsa the lioness was released and later buried, a touching moment for fans of the “Born Free” story.

Late morning, you might choose to return to camp for a hearty brunch and some rest during the midday heat.

Take a dip in the pool or a short guided nature walk near camp to see the little things (tracks, plants, insects).

Afternoon: After a siesta, head out by 4 pm for another game drive.

Perhaps explore a different part of Meru National Park, the park is divided by many streams and rivers, making each section like its own micro-ecosystem.

You could drive toward the Rhino Sanctuary in the western part, a fenced (80 km²) secure area where 80 black and white rhinos have been reintroduced

Chances of seeing rhinos here are quite high; rangers patrol and sometimes know where they like to graze (they told us).

Exiting the sanctuary, perhaps climb Mughwango Hill for a viewpoint, you can see the expanse of Meru’s wilderness stretch out, with rivers glinting below and possibly large herds of elephants moving like grey blobs in the distance.

As sunlight fades, consider parking near Hippo Pool at dusk, watching hippos emerge for their nocturnal forays is always fun (they lumber out of the water, honking and snorting).

Evening: Enjoy your final night in Meru with dinner under an African sky.

Day 3: Meru → Samburu National Reserve

Morning: After a quick breakfast, bid farewell to Meru National Park.

You’ll leave for Samburu National Reserve, heading northwest.

The drive is roughly 4–5 hours (about 150 miles / 240 km) via Isiolo.

Arrive at Samburu around midday. Perhaps you’ll stop at your lodge first (e.g., Samburu Sopa Lodge or Ashnil Samburu Camp, both mid-range around $200/€180 per night) to have lunch and a short rest from the drive.

👉 IMPORTANT: The entry fees for the Samburu National Reserve:

*Samburu only has one entry fee all year round (no high or low season). More information here about Samburu National Reserve entry fees. 

Afternoon: Now delve into Samburu National Reserve on a late-afternoon game drive.

Samburu, along the Ewaso Ng’iro River, is a dramatic contrast to Meru: think golden savannah and rugged outcrops meeting a life-giving river lined with palm groves.

It’s also hotter and dustier, so keep your water bottle handy. Begin exploring the riverine zone: often the first sightings include groups of impalas and Grant’s gazelles, and plenty of olive baboons near the river.

Then, the special treat – Samburu is known for its unique “Special Five” not found further south.

You’ll be on the lookout for:

1. Grevy’s zebra: The largest zebra, with thin pinstripe stripes and huge, round ears, giving it an ancient, almost prehistoric look.
2. Reticulated giraffe: Features the most striking white-lined coat pattern, elegant and common in the region, often seen browsing on thorny acacias.
3. Beisa oryx: A gray antelope with long, straight spear-like horns and a bold black-and-white facial mask, sometimes spotted strolling in the distance.
4. Gerenuk: A unique antelope with a giraffe-like long neck that often stands upright on two legs to browse leaves.
5. Somali ostrich: Males are distinctive with their bluish neck and legs, setting them apart from the common ostrich.

Drive along the Ewaso Ng’iro River itself, you might see elephants coming to drink and spray themselves (Samburu elephants often appear reddish, dusted in mud).

On the sandy banks, look for Nile crocodiles and hippos in calmer bends.

Cross to the open plains: here you might spot cheetahs.

As sunset approaches, the reserve’s colors are magnificent. The red earth, the doum palm silhouettes, and maybe a dust devil swirling in the distance.

Evening: Head back to the lodge as darkness falls.

Enjoy a well-earned meal (maybe try local grilled goat if offered, a staple meat of the region).

Tonight, the stars shine bright over Samburu, the Milky Way across an ink-black sky.

DID YOU KNOW: Samburu Sopa Lodge offers an immersive sky show session at their planetarium, telescope viewing, and constellation tracing.

Day 4: Samburu National Reserve

Morning: Another early start in the African bush.

Today you have a full day in Samburu, so you can explore deeper into its 3 reserves (Samburu, Buffalo Springs, and possibly Shaba if time permits).

Start with a morning game drive in the crisp dawn air.

During your late morning, perhaps arrange a cultural visit to a nearby Samburu village (many lodges can coordinate this).

It’s an educational experience: you’ll see traditional Samburu homes (manyattas) made of sticks and cow dung, and be greeted by warriors and women in their colorful attire.

They’ll show you dances (the men jump impressively high) and you can learn about their semi-nomadic lifestyle, how they survive with livestock in this harsh land, and their beadwork.

It’s polite to support by buying some souvenirs or giving a tip for the performance. By midday, return to your lodge for lunch and maybe a quick cool-down in the pool (Samburu can get hot – often 30°C+ at noon).

Afternoon: Head out again around 4 pm when the sun’s intensity wanes.

If keen on a viewpoint, drive up Koitogor Hill in the reserve’s center for a spectacular panoramic view at sunset.

As dusk falls, perhaps your guide will do a slow drive back with a spotlight (if permitted).

Evening: Back at the lodge, enjoy your last dinner and night on safari.

Day 5: Samburu → Ol Pejeta

Morning: After breakfast in Samburu, it’s time to leave and head south to Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

Leave by 8 am for the drive (3.5 – 4 hours, 137 miles / 220 km).

Arrive in the Nanyuki area around midday.

Before entering Ol Pejeta, you might stop in Nanyuki town for a quick lunch or to browse the famous Equator markers (if you have not yet done so).

Then proceed to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a 360 km² private wildlife reserve and ranch that’s one of Kenya’s great conservation success stories.

Check in at the conservancy gate, where they’ll brief you on rules (this is a Big 5 area with both black and white rhinos).

👉 IMPORTANT: The entry fees for the Ol Pejeta Conservancy:

More information here about the Ol Pejeta Conservancy entry fees. 

Afternoon: Enjoy lunch at your lodge inside Ol Pejeta (or have a packed lunch if arriving later).

Afterward, head out on an afternoon game drive in Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

This conservancy offers a rich variety of wildlife in a relatively small area, so you can often see a lot in a short time.

Start by visiting the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, which Ol Pejeta uniquely hosts.

It’s the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees (rescued from poaching and the pet trade in West and Central Africa).

Stroll along the boardwalk as a guide tells you the chimps’ stories, and you’ll see them from viewing platforms as they laze, climb, and interact in their forested enclosures.

It’s a heartwarming project co-founded by the Jane Goodall Institute and a chance to see these intelligent primates up close.

Next, game drive across the open plains of Ol Pejeta.

Contrasting with Samburu, here you have lusher grasslands and acacia thickets. You’ll likely encounter plenty of plains game: zebras (common Burchell’s zebra here), Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles, Jackson’s hartebeest, and large herds of Cape buffalo.

Ol Pejeta is also home to the Big Five, including a strong population of predators – you might see lions relaxing under a tree or even a pack of endangered African wild dogs if extremely lucky.

In the late afternoon, focus on Ol Pejeta’s star attraction: RHINOS.

This conservancy is East Africa’s LARGEST black rhino sanctuary (over 140 black rhinos) and also has about 40 southern white rhinos, according to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

White rhinos are easily spottable as they graze out in the open (black rhinos are shyer, preferring thick bush, but rangers can sometimes track them for you).

Ol Pejeta is famously home to the last two remaining northern white rhinos on the planet, kept in a special enclosure with 24/7 armed guards.

You can ask your guide about visiting their enclosure (it requires prior arrangement and an extra fee for a behind-the-scenes tour, where you can learn about efforts to save the subspecies).

As the sun sets, perhaps drive to Pelican Dam or another waterhole.

Evening: Head to your accommodation in Ol Pejeta.

A classic mid-range choice is Sweetwaters Serena Camp, a tented camp overlooking a waterhole that attracts rhinos, elephants, and giraffes (around $300 / €270 per night due to the exclusive experience).

The night skies here are also brilliant. Now that you’re near the Equator at high altitude, you can see constellations from both hemispheres.

In Ol Pejeta, rangers sometimes do night game drives (an optional activity), which could be arranged if you desire an after-dark adventure to spot nocturnal animals like aardvarks or bushbabies.

Day 6: Ol Pejeta → Lake Naivasha & Hell’s Gate

Morning: Make sure to have an early morning GAME DRIVE in Ol Pejeta before leaving. 

Late Morning: Around 8 am, leave Ol Pejeta and drive to Lake Naivasha, about 5 – 6 hours by car, covering 170 miles (275 km) on mostly paved roads.

Arrive at Lake Naivasha by 2pm.

Afternoon (Hell’s Gate National Park): After lunch in the Naivasha area at your new lodge or a lakeside restaurant, set off for Hell’s Gate National Park, a short drive from Lake Naivasha.

👉 IMPORTANT: The entry fees for Hell’s Gate National Park:

Category	Entry fee	Notes
Adult (Non-Resident)	USD 50 (EUR 43)	One of the most affordable Kenya Wildlife Service national parks, known for walking and cycling safaris.
Child (3–17 years)	USD 25 (EUR 21)	Flat rate year-round.
Child (0–2 years)	FREE	No entry fee.

More information here about Hell’s Gate National Park entry fees.

Hell’s Gate is a small park known for its scenery. Imagine red cliffs, gorges, and geothermal steam vents, and no large predators, which means you can safely explore it on foot or bicycle.

Rent a bike at the park gate (or drive in if you prefer) and cycle along the dirt roads through the savannah (for about 4 miles / 7km to the start of the gorge hike).

It’s an amazing experience to pedal past herds of zebra, gazelle, and giraffe. You might also see warthogs and buffalo grazing (keep a respectful distance from buffalo; they can be cranky).

The park’s name comes from its geothermal activity; you’ll notice hot springs and steam vents, especially in areas like OL NJOROWA GORGE (which you can walk into with a local guide, if open; be cautious as some parts of the gorge can be prone to flash floods after rains).

👉 INSIDER TIP: Ol Njorowa Gorge has three lengths; short, middle, and long. For short and middle, there are emergency stairs in case of a flash flood. The long part does not, hence the reason why it’s become forbidden to hike there. However, the guides will still take you there.

Hell’s Gate’s landscapes were said to inspire parts of “The Lion King”, including Pride Rock.

By around 4 – 5 pm, wrap up your Hell’s Gate adventure (the park closes by 6 pm).

Evening: Proceed to your lodge by Lake Naivasha to relax.

This freshwater lake is beautiful and serene, often with hippos grazing on the lawns at night. For a comfortable mid-range stay, you could choose Sanctuary Farm, an amazing mini national park with only a few accommodations.

We saw hippo’s at night from our campfire, zebras, and gazelles.

Enjoy dinner at their amazing restaurant, perhaps some grilled tilapia (a local lake fish).

As night falls, listen for the snorts of hippos; many come ashore to feed after dark.

Day 7: Lake Naivasha → Nairobi

Morning: Today, you have a relaxed start at Lake Naivasha.

One highly recommended activity here is a boat ride on Lake Naivasha before you leave.

So, take a guided boat safari on the lake in the morning (usually about 1 hour around Crescent Island).

The waters of Naivasha are home to many hippos; you’ll see their ears and eyes peeking out from the water and hear their grunts.

Glide past pods of hippos (at a safe distance) and watch African fish eagles swoop down to catch fish (quite cool to see!).

You’ll also see countless waterbirds: cormorants drying their wings, pelicans paddling in flotillas, kingfishers darting about, and maybe a pink-backed pelican taking flight.

If you have time and interest, you could stop at CRESCENT ISLAND (a mini island on the lake).

👉 HOWEVER, if you are doing safaris, then it’s not worth stopping at Crescent Island. We did a boat tour around it, which was more than enough, as you can see the whole island anyway!

The island used to be part of the mainland, but due to floods in 2023, the water level of Naivasha Lake has risen, creating the island.

👉 FUN FACT: There are many animals ‘stuck’ on the island, such as the giraffes and gazelles (as they cannot swim).

Afternoon: By late morning, leave Naivasha for Nairobi.

The drive is about 1.5 hours (56 miles / 90km) on the highway ascending out of the Rift Valley.

When in Nairobi, and you have some time left, you can visit Nairobi’s giraffe centre!

Your 7 day Kenya safari ends now.

You’ve experienced an incredible variety: the predator-rich Mara, the rhinos and flamingos of Nakuru, the hippos and birds of Naivasha, and the unique hiking/biking among wildlife at Hell’s Gate.

We love this Kenya 7 day itinerary as it mixes safari and soft adventure, which we recommend for a first-time traveler in Kenya!

7 Day all-in-one Kenya safari 

This is our favorite Kenya 7 day itinerary.

You’ll get to see two of Kenya’s most famous wildlife destinations, the MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE and AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK. On top of that, you’ll get to go to two of the most famous and amazing lakes in Kenya. This is an all-in-one trip in Kenya. 

HOW TO GET AROUND: For this itinerary, you’ll need a car and a (private) driver who can take you to these four different locations. As there are no internal flights involved, you are saving a few hundred USD per person. 

👉 COST ESTIMATION: For this classic 7-day all-in-one safari, you can expect to pay around $3,000 per person. This includes: Masai Mara (3 days), Lake Nakuru (one day), Lake Naivasha (one day) and Amboseli (2 days), with nice lodges, food, park fees, and the drive back to Nairobi.

Day 1: Nairobi ➞ Masai Mara

Morning: Leave Nairobi around 7 – 8 am for the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya’s most famous safari destination.

It’s about a 5 – 6 hour drive, with a possible stop at the RIFT VALLEY VIEWPOINT to enjoy the views of the Great Rift Valley.

Afternoon: Arrive at the Masai Mara in time for lunch at your lodge (around 2 pm). We recommend staying in one of the conservancies NEXT to the Mara reserve. Same wildlife, fewer people, and much cheaper lodges for the same comfort as inside the park.

For a mid-range stay, we recommend the Jambo Mara Safari Lodge or PrideInn Mara Camp & Cottages, both of which offer comfort near the Talek Gate at $300 (€250) per night.

👉 KEEP IN MIND: Lodges will often include dinner, breakfast, and lunch, as there are not many other places.

👉 IMPORTANT: The entry fees for the Masai Mara National Reserve:

Check the Masai Mara Reserve and Mara Triangle websites for the latest fees and rules.

That is why we recommend PRIVATE CONSERVANCIES, as they are a lot cheaper, and since the Masai Mara is NOT A GATED PARK, the animals are free to roam, meaning you can see everything from the national reserve also in the private conservancies that are right next to the reserve.

More information in our Kenya national parks entrance fees guide!

After a good lunch, enjoy the lodge for a few hours and then head out on your first game drive in the Mara by 4 pm. The late afternoon is perfect for wildlife, as temperatures cool down, making animals more active.

Drive across the savannah searching for lions in the grass, leopards in branches, and herds of elephants and buffalo.

If your visit is between July and September, you may witness part of the GREAT WILDEBEEST MIGRATION, with thousands of wildebeest crossing the Mara River.

Additionally, between game drives, you can visit a local Maasai village.

Stay out until sunset for those classic safari sundowner moments (wine and popcorn at sundown) as the sky turns orange and pink for golden hour!

By 6 pm, exit the reserve as the PARK GATES CLOSE.

Evening: Enjoy dinner and a campfire, and enjoy your evening at your safari lodge just outside the reserve.

Day 2: Masai Mara

Morning: Rise before dawn for a full day of safari in the Masai Mara.

At first light, so around 6 am (yes, indeed 6 am), set out on an early morning game drive when predators like lions and cheetahs are still on the move after a night of hunting.

Make sure to have your breakfast packed so you can eat it in the park (this is called a bush breakfast)!

👉 KEEP IN MIND: You have to let your resort know a day in advance about your BUSH BREAKFAST so they can prepare it for you (mostly this is already included in your lodge price but make sure to check).

We recommend visiting the area of the Mara River and the Musiera Swamp in the morning!

👉 INSIDER TIP: If you want a truly special and different kind of morning safari, then the Masai Mara is the best place in Kenya for a HOT-AIR BALLOON SAFARI with a champagne breakfast, a magical sunrise we experienced, and it is worth its price. Read about our REVIEW! It’s pricey ($450 per person) but an unforgettable romantic experience!

 

Afternoon: Return to your lodge by late morning to relax and have lunch there.

Many people opt for an all-day game drive with a packed lunch, but we prefer a morning game drive and one evening game drive (starting at 4 pm).

Between 12h and 4 pm, many animals are resting in the shade anyway to escape the midday heat.

What we recommend doing during those midday hours is to visit a nearby MAASAI VILLAGE (many are right next to the reserve). For about $20–$30, they’ll show you their homes, how they start a fire, and perform traditional dances (the jumping dance is amazing, but be prepared to jump with them).

If you head out at 4 pm, then you have around 3 hours for lunch at the lodge and some time to enjoy the scenery. 

At 4 pm, resume your game drive. Keep your camera ready for elephants near watering holes, and for giraffes nibbling treetops, and if you’re lucky, the BIG CATS (lion, leopard, cheetah) waking up from their naps.

You’ll definitely see many wildebeest as there are about 1.5 million (!) in the Mara ecosystem, migration aside. 

By around 5 pm, the light is fantastic for photography (GOLDEN HOUR), and you might spot predators like hyenas and cheetahs becoming active again.

Evening: Exit the reserve by 6 pm and return to your lodge for dinner (make sure to try the chapati and the ugali).

Day 3: Masai Mara ➞ Lake Nakuru National Park

Morning: Wake up to a beautiful sunrise at the Masai Mara.

Enjoy one more short morning game drive after a quick tea/coffee. This could be your last chance to spot anything you missed.

The drive from Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru National Park takes 5 to 6 hours and covers 250 kilometers (155 miles).

 

Afternoon: Enter Lake Nakuru National Park, known for its alkaline lake that attracts massive amounts of flamingos (in the past around 1.5 million).

👉 IMPORTANT: The entry fees for Lake Nakuru National Park:

Category	Entry fee	Notes
Adult (Non-Resident)	USD 90 (EUR 77)	Lake Nakuru is a Kenya Wildlife Service premium park, famous for rhinos and seasonal flamingos.
Child (3–17 years)	USD 45 (EUR 39)	Flat child rate, valid year-round.
Child (0–2 years)	FREE	No entry fee.

*Nakuru National Park only has one entry fee all year round (no high or low season), according to the Kenya Wildlife Service. More information here about the Lake Nakuru National Park entry fees. 

Have a packed lunch or stop at your lodge inside (at Lake Nakuru Lodge or Sarova Lion Hill are our recommend mid-range choices) for lunch.

After a bite, set off on an afternoon game drive in the park.

Head straight for the lake shore, and the sight of thousands of pink flamingos to greet you.

👉 HOWEVER: In recent years, flamingo concentrations have sometimes shifted to other Rift lakes depending on algae conditions and water levels, but you’ll surely see some.

Also along the shore, watch for pelicans (Lake Nakuru often has great white pelicans), storks, and other waterbirds like avocets and plovers.

👉 KEEP IN MIND: Lake Nakuru is fenced and relatively small, but it’s filledd with wildlife, especially since rhinos were introduced here as a sanctuary.

Drive through the acacia woodlands along the shore and you’re almost guaranteed to spot the park’s white rhinos grazing openly.

Their presence is due to successful breeding in this FIRST RHINO SANCTUARY in Kenya.

They often move in small family groups, cropping grass with their wide mouths.

The black rhino (browsers) are also here, but usually stick to thicker cover, so you should consider yourself lucky if you glimpse a solitary black rhino in the bush.

Continue to the Baboon Cliff overlook, step out (careful with your belongings; baboons here are notorious thieves!), and take in a panoramic view of the entire lake.

It’s stunning, with the forest, blue-green lake, and pink fringe of flamingos (seasonal) laid out below.

Descend and drive through the southern marsh; often you’ll find some buffalo wallowing or reedbuck hiding in the reeds.

Lake Nakuru NP also has the Rothschild giraffe, an endangered giraffe subspecies with white lower legs; they were introduced here for safety.

As the day cools towards evening, you have a chance to spot predators: Nakuru is home to lions (often found resting under bushes or on fallen logs) and a good number of leopards.

👉 DID YOU KNOW: Nakuru National Park was once nicknamed “the leopard park” for frequent sightings?

There’s also a LION Hill area where lions are sometimes seen on rocks.

Given the park’s small size, it’s possible on a single afternoon in Nakuru to see rhinos, lions, giraffes, buffalo, flamingos, etc., a mini-safari jackpot.

Evening: Exit by 6.30 pm as the park closes and head to your lodge.

Unwind after an exciting day. At Lake Nakuru Lodge, you might enjoy a sundowner with views of the lake from the ridge, or at Sarova Lion Hill, watch the sunset over the lake from their terrace.

👉 INSIDER TIP: Lake Nakuru is in a MALARIA ZONE, as are most lower altitude areas on this itinerary (like the Mara, Naivasha, etc.). Be sure you’re taking malaria prophylaxis, and use repellent especially around dusk. Most lodges will have mosquito nets so please use them!

Day 4: Lake Nakuru → Lake Naivasha

Morning: Make sure to have an early morning GAME DRIVE in Lake Nakuru before leaving.

Late Morning: Leave by 8 am to Lake Naivasha, which takes 1.5 to 2 hours and covers 80 kilometers (50 miles).

Arrive at Lake Naivasha by 10 am.

One highly recommended activity here is a boat ride on Lake Naivasha before you leave.

So, take a guided boat safari on the lake in the morning (usually about 1 hour around Crescent Island).

The waters of Naivasha are home to many hippos; you’ll see their ears and eyes peeking out from the water and hear their grunts.

Glide past pods of hippos (at a safe distance) and watch African fish eagles swoop down to catch fish (quite cool to see!).

You’ll also see countless waterbirds: cormorants drying their wings, pelicans paddling in flotillas, kingfishers darting about, and maybe a pink-backed pelican taking flight.

If you have time and interest, you could stop at CRESCENT ISLAND (a mini island on the lake).

👉 HOWEVER, if you are doing safaris, then it’s not worth stopping at Crescent Island. We did a boat tour around it, which was more than enough, as you can see the whole island anyway!

The island used to be part of the mainland, but due to floods in 2023, the water level of Naivasha Lake has risen, creating the island.

👉 FUN FACT: There are many animals ‘stuck’ on the island, such as the giraffes and gazelles (as they cannot swim).

Afternoon (Hell’s Gate National Park): After lunch in the Naivasha area at your new lodge, set off for Hell’s Gate National Park, a short drive from Lake Naivasha.

👉 IMPORTANT: The entry fees for Hell’s Gate National Park:

Category	Entry fee	Notes
Adult (Non-Resident)	USD 50 (EUR 43)	One of the most affordable Kenya Wildlife Service national parks, known for walking and cycling safaris.
Child (3–17 years)	USD 25 (EUR 21)	Flat rate year-round.
Child (0–2 years)	FREE	No entry fee.

More information here about Hell’s Gate National Park entry fees.

Hell’s Gate is a small park known for its scenery. You can expect red cliffs, gorges, geothermal steam vents, and no large predators, which means you can safely explore it on foot or by bicycle.

Rent a bike at the park gate (or drive in if you prefer) and cycle along the dirt roads through the savannah (for about 4 miles / 7km to the start of the gorge hike).

It’s an amazing experience to pedal past herds of zebra, gazelle, and giraffe. You might also see warthogs and buffalo grazing (keep a respectful distance from buffalo; they can be cranky).

The park’s name comes from its geothermal activity; you’ll notice hot springs and steam vents, especially in areas like Ol Njorowa Gorge (which you can walk into with a local guide, if open; be cautious as some parts of the gorge can be prone to flash floods after rains).

👉 INSIDER TIP: Ol Njorowa Gorge has three lengths. Short, middle, and long. For short and middle, there are emergency stairs in case of a flash flood. The long part does not, hence the reason why it’s become forbidden to hike there. However, the guides will still take you there.

Hell’s Gate’s landscapes were said to inspire parts of “The Lion King”, including Pride Rock.

By around 4 – 5 pm, wrap up your Hell’s Gate adventure (the park closes by 6 pm).

Evening: Proceed to your lodge by Lake Naivasha to relax.

For a comfortable mid-range stay, we recommend Sanctuary Farm, an amazing mini national park with only a few accommodations.

We saw hippo’s at night from our campfire, zebras, and gazelles.

Enjoy dinner at their amazing restaurant, perhaps some grilled tilapia (a local lake fish).

As night falls, listen for the snorts of hippos; many come ashore to feed after dark.

Recommended SAFARI ESSENTIALS we personally use and trust
🧳 Travel duffle bag	👕 Long shirt: Men | Women	👕 Short shirt: Men | Women
👖 Pants: Men | Women	🧥 Light fleece: Men | Women	🌧️ Rain jacket: Men | Women
🥾 Shoes: Men | Women	🧢 Safari sun hat	🕶️ Sunglasses
🔋 Power bank	🔭 Binoculars	🔌 Universal plug adapter
🦟 Insect repellent (DEET)	💧 Electrolyte tablets	🎒 Daypack

More information in our complete post about Kenya safari clothing.

Day 5: Lake Naivasha ➞ Amboseli National Park

Morning: After breakfast, it’s time to leave Naivasha and go to one of the other best elephant parks in the world: Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya.

It’s around 7 hours (!) by road (330kms or 205 miles), so leave by 7 am.

Afternoon: Arrive at Amboseli National Park by mid to late afternoon.

👉 IMPORTANT: The entry fees for Amboseli National Park:

Category	Entry fee	Notes
Adult (Non-Resident)	USD 90 (EUR 77)	Amboseli is classified as a Kenya Wildlife Service “premium park,” same tier as Lake Nakuru.
Child (3–17 years)	USD 50 (EUR 43)	Discounted child rate, flat all year long.
Child (0–2 years)	FREE	No entry fee.

*Amboseli only has one entry fee all year round (no high or low season), according to the Kenya Wildlife Service. More information here about Amboseli National Park entry fees. 

If time allows, you’ll go straight into the park for a short game drive.

The contrast from the Mara is amazing. Amboseli is all about open grass plains, with a view of Mount Kilimanjaro in the background.

Despite the travel fatigue, you’ll be rewarded by seeing Amboseli’s famous elephant herds (there are more than 1600 elephants in the park, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service), so you will definitely see them as the park is not that big! 

Around this time (about 5 pm), dozens of elephants trek across the plains (so across the main roads in the park) from the dry interior towards the marshes at the foot of Kilimanjaro.

👉  DID YOU KNOW: Amboseli is called the “LAND OF THE GIANTS”, not only for its giant tusked elephants, but because it has Africa’s tallest mountain right next door? Although the Kilimanjaro is actually in Tanzania, the best views of it are from the Kenyan side (Amboseli).

Evening: Exit the park at sunset and check in to your Amboseli accommodation, like Kibo Safari Camp (close to the entrance of Amboseli NP), where we stayed 3 nights during our 2-week Kenya safari trip.

At your hotel, you can expect an extended buffet, Kibo Camp even offers you to make your own pizza. Afterwards, you can sit at the firepit with some wine and popcorn!

👉 INSIDER TIP: Always be insured when you’re traveling to Kenya! There’s a company called SafetyWing that we use for our own insurance. It covers you in over 180 countries, and it’s quite affordable, starting at $56.28 (ages 18-39) per month. It covers not just emergency situations, but you can, for example, visit a doctor if you have the flu, and it also includes the prescribed drugs. Visit their website here! 

Day 6: Amboseli National Park

Morning: Wake up to the sunrise over Kilimanjaro, the sky is usually clear (Kilimanjaro is often only visible at DAWN before the clouds come), and the animals are active.

Head out by 6.30 am to catch the big elephant families on their morning move.

Amboseli’s elephants are famous for their big size and long tusks, and at this hour you can watch them socializing and bathing (these are worthy Instagram pictures).

Apart from elephants, look for plains game like impala, Grant’s gazelle, and warthogs in the grasslands.

The cool morning also offers a chance to spot predators; lions and cheetahs (we saw one!) might still be patrolling for a hunt before the heat of the day.

Afternoon: After a lunch and a siesta (or a dip in the pool) back at Kibo Safari Camp, go back on a game drive around 3 – 4 pm when the harsh sun disappears.

Visit OBSERVATION HILL, a viewpoint in the park, to stretch your legs.  It’s 80 meters (260 feet above the surrounding plains).

From the top, you get a panoramic overlook of Amboseli’s wetlands and plains dotted with wildlife.

It’s common to see pods of hippos wallowing in the swamps and elephants grazing in the water, with many pelicans nearby.

Evening: Enjoy your final night on safari with dinner at the lodge.

👉 INSIDER TIP: Many lodges offer an OPTIONAL NIGHT GAME DRIVE at extra cost. Since Amboseli is a national park, night game drives are not allowed, so they have to be arranged on private conservancies nearby.

Day 7: Amboseli → Nairobi

Morning: Take a leisurely breakfast while enjoying your last views of Kilimanjaro (hopefully unveiled from clouds).

You have the option for a short final game drive in the early morning if time allows, a chance to say goodbye to Amboseli’s elephants, and perhaps see a few more animals on the way out.

Around mid-morning, leave Amboseli for the drive back to Nairobi (4 – 5 hours via the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway).

Afternoon: Arrive back in Nairobi by mid to late afternoon.

Your 7-day all-in-one Kenya safari ends with a drop-off at your hotel or the airport.

The travel items you’ll wish you had in Kenya

One often-overlooked “cost” of safari is what you WEAR AND PACK.

You don’t need to spend a fortune on SPECIALIZED SAFARI GEAR, but depending on what you have already, you might need to budget for a few clothing items or accessories to be comfortable in KENYA’S CLIMATE.

Here’s a QUICK SUMMARY:

• 🧥 Mornings and evenings in Kenya can get surprisingly chilly, bring a lightweight FLEECE (Link for men) (Link for women) so you can stay warm without overpacking.
• 🦟 Don’t let bugs ruin your safari. Grab this OFF MOSQUITO SPRAY for long-lasting protection in the bush!
• 🚰 Tap water isn’t safe to drink in Kenya, so pack a Vapur Insulated WATER BOTTLE and avoid the cost (and waste) of buying plastic daily.
• 🔌 Kenya uses UK-style outlets. This UNIVERSAL ADAPTER will keep your gear charged without any surprises.
• 🔋 Long drives and power cuts happen this Belkin POWER BANK keeps your phone and camera ready for anything.
• 🦓 Want to actually see that leopard in the distance? These travel-friendly BINOCULARS make your game drives way more exciting.
• 🧴 The equator sun hits hard, bring a reef-safe SPF 50+ SUNSCREEN so you don’t spend your trip nursing a burn.
• 👟 For walking safaris or climbing Mt.Kenya, good WALKING SHOES (Link for men) (Link for women) are non-negotiable in Kenya. Trust your feet, you’ll be glad you did.
• 🎒 Safari days start early and last long. This 24L Vaude backpack is perfect for snacks, layers, and your camera gear.
• 🩹 The closest pharmacy might be hours away. A compact travel FIRST AID KIT is worth its weight in peace of mind.

Conclusion

Each of these 7-day Kenya itineraries offers a completely different rhythm of travel.

Whether you choose the classic Big Five safari and beach combo, a road-trip through central highlands and Rift lakes, an epic southeastern adventure to the coast, or an off-track northern circuit safari, you’ve a personalized 7 day Kenya itinerary to suit your interests.

Kenya truly has something for everyone:

In one week, you can tick off the Big Five and witness world wonders like the Great Migration or discover the far-flung parks like Meru or Tsavo, where wilderness reigns and tourist convoys are nonexistent.

And to end the adventure, some Kenya 7 day itineraries even have lazy beach days included on famous white sand beach in Diani.

Whichever path you choose, a 7 day Kenya safari is more than a holiday. It’s an immersion into landscapes, cultures, and wildlife you’ll never forget.

And remember: we personally use and trust the lodges and routes we recommend. Get in touch for a FREE SAFARI QUOTE, and within 48 HOURS, we’ll help you plan the journey that fits you best.

Written by Laura and Alexander, an experienced travel couple specializing in Kenya safari itineraries, with personal experience on over 20 Kenyan national parks.