Southern Kenya Family Big Five & Special Five Safari
Safari Overview
A 9-day family safari covering Samburu National Reserve and its Special Five species, Lake Nakuru National Park (famous for rhino sightings), the Maasai Mara (renowned for the Big Five and the Great Migration), Lake Naivasha with activities on Crescent Island, and Amboseli National Park, where elephant herds roam beneath Mount Kilimanjaro.
Gallery
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Nairobi to Samburu National Reserve
On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport you meet your driver-guide for a safari briefing and drive to Samburu National Reserve (you may alternatively be picked up from your Nairobi hotel). Check in and have lunch at your lodge, followed by afternoon game drives. You spend two nights here on a full-board basis.
Full day in Samburu
Spend a full day in Samburu National Reserve with morning and afternoon game drives. Samburu boasts a diverse array of wildlife, including the rare northern species known as the Samburu Special Five: gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Somali ostrich and Beisa oryx. Cheetahs, lions and leopards also live here, and around 450 bird species have been recorded, including the lesser kestrel and the Taita falcon.
Samburu to Lake Nakuru National Park
After breakfast, check out and drive to Lake Nakuru National Park. Arrive in time for lunch at your lodge, which overlooks Lake Nakuru and its surrounding national park, a paradise for bird watchers and wildlife lovers alike. Spend the afternoon at leisure with a game drive in the park later in the day.
Lake Nakuru to the Maasai Mara
After breakfast, check out and depart for the Maasai Mara, arriving in time for lunch and check-in. Spend the afternoon at leisure before a private game drive later in the day, then return to the lodge for dinner.
Full day in the Maasai Mara
Spend a full day in the Maasai Mara with morning and afternoon game drives. Elephant and buffalo abound in the riverine forests, while out on the grasslands impala and Thomson's gazelle can be seen together with their attendant predators such as lion, cheetah, hyena and jackal. The Mara is the northern part of the Serengeti ecosystem and hosts vast herds of migratory wildebeest and zebra from July to October. Lesser-known species such as topi, hartebeest, waterbuck, eland and many small mammals complete a kaleidoscopic picture of wildlife. Your overnight stay is at the lodge.
Maasai Mara to Lake Naivasha
After breakfast, transfer to Lake Naivasha, arriving in time for lunch and check-in. Enjoy leisure time at the lodge before an afternoon boat ride to Crescent Island. Dinner and your overnight stay are at the lodge.
Lake Naivasha to Amboseli National Park
After breakfast, check out and depart for Amboseli National Park, arriving in time for lunch with views of Mount Kilimanjaro from the restaurant. Spend the afternoon at leisure, followed by a game drive until sunset.
Full day in Amboseli
Spend a full day in the park on game drives, with picnic lunch boxes or a hot lunch at the lodge. Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya is known for its large elephant herds and its views of Mount Kilimanjaro, across the border in Tanzania. Observation Hill offers panoramas of the peak and the park's plains and swamps. Varied wildlife includes giraffes, zebras, cheetahs and hundreds of bird species, and the western section is dominated by Lake Amboseli, which is dry outside the rainy season. Dinner and your overnight stay are at the lodge.
Amboseli to Nairobi
After breakfast, check out and visit a Maasai village, where you can experience the culture and traditions of the Maasai people, including traditional singing and dancing. Depart for Nairobi, arriving in time for a farewell lunch, then be dropped at your hotel in Nairobi or at the airport in time for your flight home.
Hotels & Camps Used
Samburu Sopa Lodge
Samburu National Reserve
Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
Lake Nakuru National Park
Masai Mara Sopa Lodge
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Sawela Lodges
Lake Naivasha
Amboseli Sopa Lodge
Amboseli National Park
Included
- Park entry fees (for non-residents)
- All activities, unless marked as optional
- All accommodation as listed
- A professional driver-guide
- All transportation during the tour
- All taxes and VAT
- Meals as specified in the day-by-day itinerary
- Roundtrip airport transfer
Not Included
- International flights (to and from your home country)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips (guideline US$10 per person per day)
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government-imposed increases in taxes and/or park fees
- Some meals, as specified in the day-by-day itinerary
- Drinks
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Southern Kenya Family Big Five & Special Five Safari cost?+
The 9 Days / 8 Nights Southern Kenya Family Big Five & Special Five Safari starts from $3,120. The final price depends on your travel dates, group size and room category, so please enquire for an exact quote.
What is the itinerary for the Southern Kenya Family Big Five & Special Five Safari?+
Day 1: Nairobi to Samburu National Reserve. Day 2: Full day in Samburu. Day 3: Samburu to Lake Nakuru National Park. Day 4: Lake Nakuru to the Maasai Mara. Day 5: Full day in the Maasai Mara. Day 6: Maasai Mara to Lake Naivasha. Day 7: Lake Naivasha to Amboseli National Park. Day 8: Full day in Amboseli. Day 9: Amboseli to Nairobi.
Where will we stay on this trip?+
Samburu Sopa Lodge (Samburu National Reserve); Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge (Lake Nakuru National Park); Masai Mara Sopa Lodge (Maasai Mara National Reserve); Sawela Lodges (Lake Naivasha); Amboseli Sopa Lodge (Amboseli National Park).
What is included in the price?+
Park entry fees (for non-residents); All activities, unless marked as optional; All accommodation as listed; A professional driver-guide; All transportation during the tour; All taxes and VAT; Meals as specified in the day-by-day itinerary; Roundtrip airport transfer.
What is not included?+
International flights (to and from your home country); Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour; Tips (guideline US$10 per person per day); Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.); Government-imposed increases in taxes and/or park fees; Some meals, as specified in the day-by-day itinerary; Drinks.
Good to Know
- Rates are per person, based on two travellers sharing, and vary with travel dates, group size and room category. Please enquire for an exact quote.
- Minimum two travellers.
- If a listed property is fully booked, we will offer a comparable alternative. Rates may change if you request modifications to the tour.
- We recommend comprehensive travel insurance for the full duration of your trip.
- Errors and omissions are excluded.
