KENYA // MIGRATION AND BEYOND
10 Days Kenya Safari With the Wildebeest Migration
Samburu in the north, Lake Nakuru, three nights in the Masai Mara for the migration, Lake Naivasha and two nights in Amboseli beneath Kilimanjaro.
10 Days / 9 Nights
DURATION
$2,030
FROM, PER PERSON
Samburu, Nakuru, Mara, Naivasha, Amboseli
DESTINATIONS
2 to 6
GROUP SIZE
ABOUT THIS SAFARI
About This 10 Day Kenya Migration Safari
This 10 day Kenya safari is built around three nights in the Masai Mara National Reserve for the wildebeest migration, with Kenya’s other great regions on either side. You start in the dry north at the Samburu National Reserve, pass through Lake Nakuru National Park and finish at Lake Naivasha and Amboseli National Park.
Two full days in the Mara give your guide time to follow the herds and wait at the Mara River for a crossing. Samburu adds the Special Five, Nakuru adds rhino and Amboseli ends the trip with elephant herds and Kilimanjaro views on clear mornings.
You travel in a private 4×4 Land Cruiser with your own driver guide, with full board, park fees and the Lake Naivasha boat trip included. With less time, the 7 Days Wildebeest Migration Safari keeps the three Mara nights.
AT A GLANCE
Trip Summary
| Detail | This safari |
|---|---|
| Price from | USD 2,030 per person |
| Duration | 10 days / 9 nights |
| Safari style | Migration and Wildlife |
| Countries | Kenya |
| Parks visited | Samburu, Lake Nakuru, the Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha and Amboseli |
| Starts | Nairobi |
| Ends | Nairobi |
| Group size | Private departure. Typically 2 to 6 guests per vehicle |
| Best time to go | Jul to Oct for the migration |
| Difficulty | Easy |
ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
Your Route, Day By Day
| Day | Route | Overnight | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nairobi to Samburu | Lodge, Samburu | L, D |
| 2 | Full Day in Samburu | Lodge, Samburu | B, L, D |
| 3 | Samburu to Lake Nakuru | Lodge, Lake Nakuru | B, L, D |
| 4 | Lake Nakuru to the Masai Mara | Lodge, Masai Mara | B, L, D |
| 5 | Full Day in the Masai Mara | Lodge, Masai Mara | B, L, D |
| 6 | Second Full Day in the Masai Mara | Lodge, Masai Mara | B, L, D |
| 7 | Masai Mara to Lake Naivasha | Resort, Lake Naivasha | B, L, D |
| 8 | Lake Naivasha to Amboseli | Lodge, Amboseli | B, L, D |
| 9 | Full Day in Amboseli | Lodge, Amboseli | B, L, D |
| 10 | Amboseli to Nairobi | Departure | B |
B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner. Accommodation is shown by type and area. We confirm the exact camp or lodge in writing with your quote.
DAY BY DAY
The Full Itinerary
Your driver guide collects you from your Nairobi hotel or the airport early in the morning. You drive north past Mount Kenya and Isiolo to the Samburu National Reserve, about six hours, arriving for lunch.
The afternoon drive follows the Ewaso Ng’iro river, where elephant herds drink and leopard rest in the riverine trees.
Activities: Drive to Samburu, afternoon river game drive
Meals: Lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Samburu
Morning and afternoon game drives in search of the Special Five: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and beisa oryx.
In the heat of the day most animals come down to the river, and you rest at the lodge before heading out again. A Samburu village visit can be added.
Activities: Morning and afternoon game drives, optional Samburu village visit
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Samburu
After breakfast you drive south through Nyahururu, stopping at the equator, and descend into the Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park, about six hours.
Your afternoon game drive looks for black and white rhino, Rothschild’s giraffe and the water birds on the lake shore.
Activities: Equator stop, drive to Lake Nakuru, afternoon game drive
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Lake Nakuru
After breakfast you drive through Narok to the Masai Mara National Reserve, about five hours, arriving for lunch.
Your evening game drive heads out as the predators wake. In migration season the plains may already be full of wildebeest and zebra.
Activities: Drive to the Masai Mara, evening game drive
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Masai Mara
A full day in the Mara with a picnic lunch, following the migration herds towards the Mara River, where crocodiles and hippo wait.
You can start the day with a hot air balloon flight at sunrise at an extra cost.
Activities: Full day game drive with picnic lunch, Mara River, optional balloon flight
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Masai Mara
A second full day to look for river crossings and the lion, cheetah and leopard that follow the herds.
In the late afternoon you can visit a Maasai village to learn about the community’s way of life.
Activities: Full day game drive, optional Maasai village visit
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Masai Mara
After breakfast you drive back through Narok to Lake Naivasha, about four hours, arriving for lunch.
In the afternoon a boat trip takes you among hippo pods, pelicans and fish eagles on the freshwater lake.
Activities: Drive to Lake Naivasha, afternoon boat trip
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Resort, Lake Naivasha
An early start for the drive south past Nairobi to Amboseli National Park, about six hours, arriving for a late lunch.
Your evening game drive heads to the swamps, where elephant families drink and bathe beneath Kilimanjaro.
Activities: Drive to Amboseli, evening game drive to the swamps
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Amboseli
A full day in Amboseli with a picnic lunch. On clear mornings Kilimanjaro rises above the elephant herds, and your guide looks for lion, cheetah and hyena.
You climb Observation Hill for a wide view over the swamps and plains.
Activities: Full day game drive with picnic lunch, Observation Hill walk
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Amboseli
A final early game drive, then breakfast and check out.
The drive back to Nairobi takes four to five hours, arriving in the afternoon at your hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Activities: Early morning game drive, drive back to Nairobi
Meals: Breakfast · Overnight: Departure
THE ROUTE
Where This Safari Takes You
Nairobi → Samburu → Lake Nakuru → Masai Mara → Lake Naivasha → Amboseli → Nairobi. Roughly 1,500 km of driving in total.
How To Get There
This safari starts and ends in Nairobi. Fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) and we collect you from the airport or your hotel on day 1.
All travel is by road in a private 4×4 Land Cruiser. Nairobi to Samburu takes about six hours, Samburu to Lake Nakuru about six hours, Nakuru to the Mara about five hours, the Mara to Naivasha about four hours, Naivasha to Amboseli about six hours and Amboseli back to Nairobi four to five hours. The total is roughly 1,500 km.
You can replace a long drive with a domestic flight, for example Nairobi to Samburu. Ask us to add flights to your free quote.
WHAT IS COVERED
Included and Not Included
Included
- All park and reserve entrance fees
- Professional English speaking driver guide
- 4×4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- Full board accommodation as specified
- Lake Naivasha boat trip
- Bottled drinking water throughout
- Airport or hotel transfers
Not included
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Soft and alcoholic drinks
- Balloon flight and village visits
- Tips and gratuities
GOOD TO KNOW
10 Day Kenya Migration Safari FAQs
July to October, when the herds are in the Masai Mara. August and September usually bring the most river crossings. See the best time to visit Kenya.
Three nights, with two full days on the plains. That gives your guide the time to follow the herds and wait for a crossing.
Four of the travel days are five to six hours, broken up by stops. Each one ends with a game drive, and you stay two or three nights in the main parks.
This safari starts from $2,030 per person. The price depends on the season, the lodges and your group size. Use our Kenya safari cost calculator or request a free quote.
Yes. Many guests fly to Diani Beach or Zanzibar after Amboseli for a few days by the sea.
NO OBLIGATION
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