7-Day Kenya Safari | Amboseli, Lake Nakuru & Maasai Mara

Overview

Kenya's essential safari, from Kilimanjaro to the Mara

This classic safari experience in Kenya features some of the country’s most rewarding wildlife destinations. It begins in Amboseli, known for its large elephant families that roam across open plains, with the stunning backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro on clear days, one of the most recognisable safari views in Africa.

From Amboseli, the journey continues to Lake Nakuru, with an optional lunch stop at Lake Naivasha along the way. Here, you can enjoy a boat ride on the lake, which was once a filming location for “Out of Africa,” and take a walk among giraffes at Crescent Island. Lake Nakuru itself hosts one of Kenya’s most important rhino sanctuaries, featuring both black and white rhinos alongside lions, leopards, buffalo, and, depending on water levels, large flocks of flamingos.

The safari then progresses to the iconic Maasai Mara, where you will spend two full days experiencing some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. There’s a genuine chance to see the Big Five and, depending on the season, witness the spectacular wildebeest migration. Optional activities include a sunrise hot air balloon ride, guided nature walks, and cultural visits to a nearby Maasai community. Domestic flights link each destination, minimising travel time and maximising your safari experience.

Activities

Some activities which can be added to this circuit, tell us which interest you.

Domestic flights between stops

Shared game drives

Optional Lake Naivasha boat ride

Optional Crescent Island giraffe walk

Optional hot air balloon ride, Maasai Mara

Optional Maasai cultural visit

Moments to note

Standout moments

The parts of this route past travellers mention most

Elephant families with Kilimanjaro as backdrop

Amboseli is home to some of Kenya's largest and most habituated elephant herds, often seen with Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop on a clear morning.

Lake Nakuru's rhino sanctuary

One of Kenya's most reliable places to see both black and white rhino in the same park, alongside lion, leopard, and, when water levels allow, large flocks of flamingo.

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An optional stop at Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island

A relaxed lunch stop with the option of a boat ride on waters once used in Out of Africa, and a walk among giraffes on Crescent Island.

Two full days in the Maasai Mara

Genuine time to explore one of Africa's most concentrated wildlife areas, with a real chance at the Big Five and, in season, the wildebeest migration.

A sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Mara

An optional early-morning add-on that turns a single sunrise into one of the most talked-about moments of the whole trip.

Domestic flights

Short scheduled flights link Amboseli, Nakuru, and the Mara, so more of your seven days are spent on safari and less of it on the road.

Day by day

How the days break down

A starting shape: pace, order and length of each stage are all adjustable.

Day

Amboseli National Park

Nairobi → Amboseli National Park

Touching down at the foot of Kilimanjaro

After breakfast you'll be transferred to the domestic airport for a short flight to Amboseli, often called the home of Kilimanjaro thanks to its unmatched views of Africa's highest mountain. On arrival you'll be met and transferred to Serena Amboseli Lodge, and after lunch you'll head out for an afternoon shared game drive across Amboseli's dusty plains, home to some of Kenya's largest elephant families and hundreds of species of water birds.

Where you rest

Serena Amboseli Lodge · Dinner and overnight, with a full day back in the park tomorrow.

Day

Amboseli National Park

Full day, Amboseli National Park

Kilimanjaro on a clear morning, and a birdwatcher's paradise.

On a clear day, Amboseli offers some of the most spectacular views of Kilimanjaro anywhere in Kenya, and the park's varied habitats make it a genuine birdwatcher's paradise alongside its larger residents. Expect sightings of lion, buffalo, wildebeest, impala, and cheetah, with the occasional bonus of flamingos gathering in the park's water pans when conditions allow.

Where you rest

Second night at Serena Amboseli Lodge · Dinner and overnight.

Day

Lake Nakuru National Park

Amboseli National Park → Lake Nakuru National Park, via Lake Naivasha

Rhino country, with a lakeside detour on the way.

Today's drive to Lake Nakuru includes a stopover at Lake Naivasha for lunch, with the option of a boat ride on waters once used as a filming location for Out of Africa, or a walk among giraffes and zebra at Crescent Island. On arrival at Lake Nakuru National Park, you'll head straight into a game drive before checking into your lodge. Lake Nakuru is one of Kenya's most important rhino sanctuaries, home to both black and white rhino, alongside lion, leopard, baboon, hippopotamus, and, depending on water levels, large flocks of flamingo along the shoreline. Keep an eye on the surrounding cliffs too, home to pythons that are occasionally spotted moving between the rocks.

Where you rest

A lodge at Lake Nakuru · Dinner and overnight.

Day

Maasai Mara National Reserve

Lake Nakuru National Park → Maasai Mara National Reserve

Arriving in Africa's most spectacular wildlife arena.

Today you'll travel to the Maasai Mara, widely regarded as one of the most spectacular wildlife destinations in Africa, arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon you'll head out for your first game drive across the Mara's open plains, and as the sun begins to set, predators typically become more active, with Mara sunsets themselves considered one of the highlights of any Kenyan safari.

Where you rest

Enkakenya Camp · Dinner and overnight, with two full days ahead to explore the Mara.

Day

05-06

Maasai Mara National Reserve

Full days, Maasai Mara National Reserve

Two full days among the Mara's big five.

The next two days are dedicated entirely to exploring the Mara's savannah plains. From the search for the elusive leopard to Africa's "small five," the Mara rarely lets a game drive pass without something new to see. The Mara is home to the Big Five, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, and elephant, alongside herbivores including hartebeest, topi, waterbuck, eland, impala, and gazelle. For travellers wanting more, a sunrise hot air balloon ride, guided nature walks, and cultural visits can all be added, and the Mara's raptor population makes it a rewarding stop for birdwatchers too.

Where you rest

Enkakenya Camp · Dinner and overnight, on both nights.

Day

Nairobi

Maasai Mara National Reserve → Nairobi

One last sunrise, before the journey home.

An early morning game drive rounds off the safari before breakfast back at camp. You'll check out in time for your scheduled flight back to Nairobi, where you'll be transferred onward to the international airport for your outbound flight.

Where you rest

Your safari concludes in Nairobi · Onward international flight, or additional accommodation in Nairobi arranged at extra cost.

The details

What's included

Private guided safari with a professional safari ranger
Family-friendly camps and lodges
Full-board accommodation: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof for game drives
Mineral water throughout the safari
Evacuation insurance in case of emergency
Park fees for all parks and reserves visited
Domestic flights between Nairobi, Amboseli, and the Maasai Mara
Airport pickup and drop-off

What's not included

International and domestic airfares to and from Kenya
Optional excursions (Lake Naivasha boat ride, Crescent Island walk, hot air balloon ride, nature walks, cultural visits)
Tips and gratuities
Items of a personal nature
Laundry services
Drinks at hotels and lodges, unless stated otherwise
Visas
Personal travel insurance

Notes about this trip

This safari starts and ends in Nairobi, with domestic flights linking each stop.
Enjoy private and extensive game drives in Kenya's most rewarding wildlife destinations.
Additional accommodation before or after the safari can be arranged at extra cost.
Comfortable and well thought accommodation option across Kenya

Responsible travel

Responsible Travel

Every park fee on this route contributes directly to conservation and wildlife management across Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, and the Maasai Mara, including the rhino conservation work that makes Lake Nakuru's sanctuary possible.

Conservation fees at work

Park entrance and conservation fees paid on this safari go directly toward habitat protection and, at Lake Nakuru specifically, rhino sanctuary management.

Community-linked travel

Optional cultural visits to Maasai communities near the Mara offer a direct, respectful way to support the people who share this landscape with its wildlife

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Low-impact by design

Domestic flights between stops reduce time spent on long road transfers, while established lodges and camps help keep this safari's footprint light.

Respectful, low-disruption game viewing

Guides on this route follow designated park tracks and keep a respectful distance at sightings, particularly important around Lake Nakuru's rhino population.

Common questions

Before you enquire

Game drives on this route are typically shared with other travellers, which helps keep the price accessible. If you’d prefer a fully private vehicle throughout, let your specialist know when you enquire and we’ll adjust the itinerary accordingly.

The migration moves through the Mara on a rough annual cycle, but exact timing varies year to year and can’t be guaranteed for any specific date. Let us know if seeing the migration is a priority when you enquire, and we’ll advise on the best window for your travel dates.

Most visitors need a Kenyan visa or eTA, arranged in advance online. Requirements vary by nationality, so confirm with your specialist when you enquire and we’ll point you to the right process.

Yes. A sunrise balloon ride is one of the most popular optional add-ons on this route and can be booked for either of your two full days in the Mara.

Yes. Lake Nakuru National Park is one of Kenya’s most important rhino sanctuaries, with a genuinely good chance of seeing both black and white rhino in the same park.

A safari ranger guide, 4×4 transport, park fees, domestic flights between stops, full-board accommodation, and airport transfers are all included. International flights, visas, tips, and optional excursions are not. A full breakdown is available when you enquire.

7 Days Best of Kenya Safari

Kenya's essential safari, from Kilimanjaro to the Mara

At a glance

Activities

Standout moments

Elephant families with Kilimanjaro as backdrop

Lake Nakuru's rhino sanctuary

An optional stop at Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island

Two full days in the Maasai Mara

A sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Mara

Domestic flights

How the days break down

Touching down at the foot of Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro on a clear morning, and a birdwatcher's paradise.

Rhino country, with a lakeside detour on the way.

Arriving in Africa's most spectacular wildlife arena.

Two full days among the Mara's big five.

One last sunrise, before the journey home.

Key species on this route

The route, in photographs

What's included

What's included

What's not included

Notes about this trip

Responsible Travel

Conservation fees at work

Community-linked travel

Low-impact by design

Respectful, low-disruption game viewing

Make it mine

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Before you enquire

Ask about 7 Days Best of Kenya Safari