12 Days Kenya Safari Overview

This is the best of 12 Days Kenya Safari itinerary, a tour that will take you visit most of the natural attractions of Kenya and conservation areas of Kenya starting from Tsavo West national park with its herds of elephants, amboseli national park under its view of mount Kilimanjaro, lake navaisha, masai mara reserve, lake nakuru national park, abardares national park, ending with the top tsavo like lake samburu. This itinerary is well recommended for those who wish to spend 12 Days Holiday and have the most complete experience of nature, landscapes and culture of Kenya. You can choose your accommodation between comfort lodges or simple tented camps.

12 Days Kenya Safari Highlights

Day 1 : Nairobi

Day 2 : Nairobi – Tsavo West

Day 3 : Tsavo – Amboseli National Park

Day 4 : Amboseli National Park

Day 5 : Amboseli – Naivasha

Day 6 : Naivasha – Mara

Day 7 : Maasai Mara National Reserve

Day 8 : Maasai Mara – Nakuru

Day 9 : Lake Nakuru – Aberdares

Day 10 : Samburu National Reserve

Day 11 : Samburu National Reserve

Day 12 : Samburu – Nairobi

Detailed 12 Days Kenya Safari

Day 1 : Nairobi

On arrival at Nairobi International Airport our representative will transfer you to the hotel for overnight in a bed and breakfast basis, Eka Hotel (C) or Boulevard Hotel (E). BB

Overnight at: Boulevard Hotel

Day 2 : Nairobi – Tsavo West

After breakfast, drive eastwards of Nairobi via the main Nairobi – Mombasa highway to Tsavo West National Reserve to arrive in time for lunch. In the afternoon game you will see Tsavo’s famous elephants. There is also abundant bird life and crocodiles common in the Tsavo River. See the interesting natural features – stark lava fields and Mzima Springs (crystal-clear water discharged daily from below the lava ridge, in sharp contrast to the surrounding valley of arid area).

Dinner and overnight at Ngulia Safari Lodge (C) or camping site (E). Full board

Overnight at: Ngulia Safari Lodge

Day 3 : Tsavo – Amboseli National Park

After breakfast leave for Amboseli National Park arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon go for game drive and explorations of this park, which is so famous for the numerous herds of elephants as well as the spectacular view of Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania. Other animals present in the park are the giraffes, the zebras, wildebeest, impala, caracal, lions, leopards, cheetah and buffaloes to say some of them. Dinner and overnight at Amboseli Sopa Lodge (C) or camping (E). Full board

Overnight at: Amboseli Sopa Lodge

Day 4 : Amboseli National Park

Today you enjoy the full day of game drives in the national park, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Full board and overnight at Amboseli Sopa Lodge (C) or camping site (E). Full board

Overnight at: Amboseli Sopa Lodge

Day 5 : Amboseli – Naivasha

Early morning game drives returning to the lodge for breakfast. Leave with lunch boxes and proceed to Lake Naivasha, the only fresh water lake within Africa’s Great Rift Valley. The lake is amidst bathing hippo and teams with fresh water both for fishing and sport. Optional: Guided tour, bird watching and boat ride to Crescent Island are available at an extra cost. Dinner and overnight at Lake Naivasha Resort (C) or camping (E). Full board

Overnight at: Lake Naivasha Resort

Day 6 : Naivasha – Mara

Set off after breakfast for Maasai Mara game reserve, stopping at the viewpoint of the Great Rift Valley which is 8000ft above the sea level. Arrive in time for lunch followed by afternoon game drive in this park, which is essentially the northern extension of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park as an artificial border only separates the two.

Upon arrival if we are lucky we shall encounter the big five as they hunt a lot mostly in the early morning late afternoon and in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge (C) or camping site (E). Full board

Overnight at: Mara Sopa Lodge

Day 7 : Maasai Mara National Reserve

A full day in the Mara with game drive early morning and late afternoon, each of about 3 hours. This is where millions of wildebeest cross the Mara River from the Serengeti National Park of Tanzania to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve of Kenya – an annual spectacular event, which brings along thousands of plains game and predators to the Mara.

From June to October the migration is from Kenya to Tanzania, while from November to May is from Serengeti to Masaai Mara. However, the phenomenon is more linket to the actual changes of weather. In the late afternoon optional at an extra cost: go for optional activities like having a nature walk, visiting Maasai villages to see the nomadic lifestyle. All meals and overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge (C) or camping site (E). Full board

Overnight at: Mara Sopa Lodge

Day 8 : Maasai Mara – Nakuru

After breakfast, continue the journey past the Maasai town of Narok to Lake Nakuru National Park. Lunch. Enjoy an afternoon game drive in this small game and bird-filled park, famous for its population of flamingoes, rhinos, leopards, lions, giraffes. As you drive to the hills surrounding the park, you can enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the lake. Return to your lodge or camping at dusk for dinner and overnight, Sarova Lion Hill Lodge – Lake Nakuru Lodge (C) or town hotel (E). Full board

Overnight at: Sarova Lion Hill Lodge

Day 9 : Lake Nakuru – Aberdares

After breakfast, leave Nakuru via Thompson Falls and reach the small national park of Aberdares, in the Western region of Mount Kenya. Lunch will be served at the hotel before transferring to Tree Hotel (in the Hotel’s lodge-based transfer vehicle) for the rest of the afternoon and evening viewing game from your Hotel’s balconies as they frequent the floodlit waterholes. Dinner and overnight at The Ark, Treetops Lodge or Mountain Lodge. Full board

Overnight at: Treetops Lodge

Day 10 : Samburu National Reserve

After breakfast, proceed further North across the Equator to the edge of the Northern Frontier district of Samburu – The Samburu National Reserve. Arrival will be in time for lunch and thereafter, enjoy an afternoon game drive in this reserve famous the ‘Big Cats’ – the Leopard, Cheetah and the Lion. Dinner and overnight at Samburu Sopa Lodge (C) or Camping site (E). Full board

Overnight at: Samburu Sopa Lodge

Day 11 : Samburu National Reserve

Today you will have game drives viewing along the tracks of Samburu National Reserve, one in the morning and one long in the evening. Return to the lodge for lunch and for dinner, overnight at Samburu Sopa Lodge (C) or Camping site (E). Full board

Overnight at: Samburu Sopa Lodge

Day 12 : Samburu – Nairobi

An early morning game drive is followed by breakfast and thereafter, return to Nairobi to arrive by midafternoon. Lunch en-route. Transfer to the airport for your flight connection. Half Board

The price includes:

Water on board
Game park entrance fees
Services of an English-speaking driver/tour guide
Transport by special safari vehicle 4×4
Full board accommodation excluding drinks
Airport transfers