7 days
Overview
The Kenya Classic Safari Circuit is the most geographically comprehensive single itinerary available in Kenya, connecting four of the countrys most iconic wildlife destinations in a continuous seven day journey that traverses the full range of Kenyan ecosystems from the semi arid north to the open savanna south. Beginning in Samburu National Reserve in the remote Northern Frontier District, the circuit then visits the flamingo spectacle and rhino sanctuary of Lake Nakuru before concluding with two full days of intensive Big Five game viewing in the Maasai Mara. This itinerary is designed to deliver maximum ecological and wildlife diversity within a single journey, ensuring that every day presents a fundamentally different landscape and a new cast of wildlife species. The Special Five of Samburu, the million flamingos of Nakuru, the lions and cheetahs of the Mara and the wildebeest crossing drama of the Migration season all combine to create a safari of unmatched variety and consistent excellence. The circuit has been refined over decades of professional guiding to deliver the optimal sequence of destinations, beginning in the more remote north when energy and anticipation are at their peak and building to the magnificent finale of the Maasai Mara, widely regarded as the greatest wildlife sanctuary on earth.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1
Nairobi to Samburu National Reserve
The circuit begins with a morning flight from Nairobi north across the equatorial highlands to Samburu airstrip. The transition from green highland to semi arid acacia scrub below the aircraft is one of the most dramatic landscape transitions in Kenya. An afternoon game drive along the Ewaso Nyiro River introduces the Special Five species and the distinctive northern Kenya atmosphere of solitude, raw wilderness and spectacular light.
Morning flight to Samburu, afternoon Ewaso Nyiro drive, Special Five introduction, reticulated giraffe, crocodile on the river banks, sundowner in the reserve
Day 2
Full Day Samburu National Reserve
A dedicated full day in Samburu maximises Special Five encounters across the full range of the reserve including both the main Samburu area and the adjacent Buffalo Springs National Reserve. Your guide has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the locations and habits of the resident reticulated giraffe, Grevy zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich, and the full day format allows observation of natural behaviours including gerenuk standing bipedally to browse, Grevy zebra stallions at territorial boundaries and enormous elephant herds at the river.
Full day Special Five safari, reticulated giraffe family groups, Grevy zebra territorial behaviour, gerenuk bipedal browsing, Beisa oryx on open plains, Buffalo Springs Reserve afternoon, predator tracking
Day 3
Samburu to Lake Nakuru National Park
Departing Samburu by scheduled light aircraft south to Nairobi and connecting by road to Lake Nakuru, or by direct road transfer for guests preferring the ground route through the central highlands. Afternoon entry into Lake Nakuru National Park delivers the immediate impact of the flamingo lake with the Baboon Cliff viewpoint providing a panoramic introduction to the soda lake landscape.
Samburu departure, transfer to Lake Nakuru, afternoon lake shore entry, Baboon Cliff panoramic view, flamingo shore circuit, first rhino sightings, lake woodland game drive
Day 4
Full Day Lake Nakuru Including Rhino Sanctuary
A sunrise drive along the pink flamingo shore begins the full day at Nakuru, with the early morning light creating the finest photographic conditions at the lake edge. The black and white rhino sanctuary is explored with a dedicated ranger escort for the best possible rhino encounters in the dense thorn scrub around the lake margins. Leopard are regularly sighted in the yellow fever trees along the shore and waterbuck are ubiquitous throughout the park. Rothschild giraffe, one of the most endangered giraffe subspecies, feed in the acacia woodland on the park slopes.
Sunrise flamingo shore circuit, full day Nakuru rhino sanctuary, black and white rhino close encounters, leopard in yellow fever woodland, Rothschild giraffe, Makalia Falls picnic, Baboon Cliff sunset
Day 5
Lake Nakuru to Maasai Mara
The road southwest from Nakuru descends through the Mara ecosystem to the Maasai Mara, a journey of approximately five hours through increasingly wild and open country. The final hour of the drive is through Maasai community conservancies where elephant, giraffe and zebra graze alongside Maasai cattle in the traditional shared land use that has defined this landscape for centuries. Afternoon entry into the Maasai Mara delivers the first experience of the vast open savanna.
Final Nakuru morning drive, road transfer to Maasai Mara through Maasai country, afternoon Mara entry drive, first Big Five encounter, Mara plains introduction, evening game drive
Day 6
Full Day Maasai Mara
A full day in the Maasai Mara from dawn to dusk is the most productive single day of game viewing available in Kenya. Beginning before sunrise for the extraordinary golden light over the plains, the full day allows the vehicle to cover the river circuit, the central plains, the Mara North Conservancy and the woodland margins in sequence. Lion, cheetah, leopard, elephant and buffalo are all regularly encountered within a single full day in the Mara, and the wildebeest and zebra herds that occupy the plains provide a constant backdrop of wildlife abundance.
Full day dawn to dusk Maasai Mara game drive, Mara River hippo and crocodile, lion pride morning hunt, cheetah at midday, leopard in evening woodland, wildebeest and zebra herds, bush breakfast
Day 7
Final Maasai Mara Morning and Return to Nairobi
The final morning safari in the Maasai Mara takes full advantage of the dawn predator activity before a midday departure by light aircraft or road to Nairobi. The aircraft route over the Rift Valley provides a final aerial perspective on the extraordinary landscape traversed over seven days of the classic circuit, from the northern semi arid scrub of Samburu to the open golden plains of the Mara.
Final dawn Mara game drive, lion and cheetah morning activity, midday departure by aircraft or road, Rift Valley aerial views, private Nairobi transfer to hotel or airport
What's Included
Included
- Return airport transfers in a private safari vehicle
- All game drives in a customised 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with a pop up roof
- Full board accommodation throughout (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Professional English speaking Kenya Wildlife Service certified safari guide
- All national park and conservation area entry fees
- Bottled mineral water throughout the safari
- Flight between destinations where indicated in the itinerary
- Complimentary airport meet and greet service
- All government taxes and levies
Not Included
- International flights to and from Nairobi
- Visa fees (available on arrival for most nationalities at USD 51 per adult)
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Optional hot air balloon safari at the Maasai Mara (USD 480 per adult)
- Alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages beyond water
- Personal shopping and laundry
- Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers and lodge staff
- Any activities not specified in the itinerary
- Single supplement surcharge where applicable
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