10-Day Kenya Safari Itinerary: Amboseli, Samburu & Masai Mara

Day 1: Nairobi to Amboseli National Park 

Your safari begins with a morning departure from Nairobi, heading south toward Amboseli National Park. Arrive around midday, settle into your lodge or camp, and enjoy lunch before heading out for an afternoon game drive. Amboseli’s open plains allow for excellent visibility, especially of its famous elephant herds, often seen moving beneath Mount Kilimanjaro. 
Overnight: Mid-range lodge or camp in Amboseli 
Meals: Lunch, Dinner 

Day 2: Exploring Amboseli’s Plains and Swamps 

Spend the full day on safari in Amboseli. Morning game drives cover dry lake beds and grasslands, while afternoon drives focus on swamp areas that attract elephants, buffalo, and hippos. Kilimanjaro dominates the skyline on clear days, creating one of Kenya’s most striking safari settings. 
Overnight: Same lodge or camp 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Day 3: Amboseli to Aberdare Highlands 

After breakfast and a short game drive, depart Amboseli with picnic lunches and travel north through Nairobi toward the Aberdare region. In the afternoon, transfer to a forest lodge overlooking a floodlit waterhole. Wildlife viewing here is done from elevated decks, with animals visiting throughout the day and night. 
Overnight: Tree-style lodge in Aberdares 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Day 4: Aberdares to Samburu National Reserve 

Leave the cool highlands behind and head north into the semi-arid landscapes of Samburu. Arrive in time for lunch, followed by an afternoon game drive along the Ewaso Nyiro River. Samburu is known for its rugged beauty and wildlife species rarely found elsewhere in Kenya. 
Overnight: Lodge or camp in Samburu 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Day 5: Full-Day Safari in Samburu & Buffalo Springs 

Dedicate the day to exploring Samburu and the neighboring Buffalo Springs Reserve. Look out for Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, and gerenuk, alongside elephants and predators drawn to the river. Birdlife is abundant, and leopards are frequently sighted here. 
Overnight: Same lodge or camp 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Day 6: Samburu to Ol Pejeta Conservancy 

After breakfast, drive south into the Laikipia Plateau to Ol Pejeta Conservancy. This private reserve offers a different safari experience, combining strong wildlife populations with leading conservation initiatives. Afternoon activities include a game drive and a visit to the chimpanzee sanctuary. 
Overnight: Tented camp in Ol Pejeta 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Day 7: Ol Pejeta to Lake Nakuru National Park 

Depart Ol Pejeta and travel toward the Great Rift Valley, stopping at scenic viewpoints en route. Arrive at Lake Nakuru National Park by midday. Afternoon game drives focus on rhinos, forest-dwelling lions, and the lake’s prolific birdlife. 
Overnight: Lodge or camp overlooking Lake Nakuru 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Day 8: Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara National Reserve 

After breakfast, continue southwest through the Rift Valley floor toward the Masai Mara. Arrive in time for lunch before heading out on your first Mara game drive. The reserve’s open grasslands support one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. 
Overnight: Safari lodge or camp in the Mara 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Day 9: Full-Day Masai Mara Safari 

Spend the day exploring different sections of the Masai Mara with morning and afternoon game drives. Lions, cheetahs, elephants, and hyenas are frequently seen. During migration season, massive herds of wildebeest and zebra dominate the landscape. A picnic lunch allows for extended time in the reserve. 
Overnight: Same lodge or camp 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Day 10: Masai Mara to Nairobi 

Enjoy breakfast before a final game drive as you exit the reserve. Drive back to Nairobi, arriving in the early afternoon for hotel drop-off or airport transfer. 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch