14 Day Kenya Safari: Northern Kenya, Rift Valley and Mara

Safari Overview

Duration: 14 days / 13 nights

Main route: Nairobi → Ol Pejeta Conservancy → Samburu National Reserve → Mount Kenya Safari Club → Lake Nakuru National Park →

Lake Naivasha → Maasai Mara → Nairobi

Extension option 1: Amboseli National Park for 2 extra safari days

Extension option 2: Diani Chale Island / Swahili Beach / Diamond Leisure for 3 nights instead of the Amboseli extension

Pricing: The cost of this 14-day Kenya Safari is determined by the number of persons and the travel season.

Why Choose This 14 Day Kenya Safari

This 14 day Kenya Safari is strong because it combines conservation, northern dry-country game viewing, classic Rift Valley scenery, freshwater lake experiences, and the Mara’s open plains.

Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi

Arrive in Nairobi and transfer from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for check-in and overnight at Argyle Grand Hotel on a bed and breakfast basis.

Nairobi is East Africa’s most cosmopolitan city and a practical safari gateway. It offers museums, nightlife, good restaurants, and access to wildlife just outside the city. This 14 day Kenya Safari begins here so guests can rest before moving north.

Day 2: Nairobi Excursions

After breakfast, check out and meet your guide for a full-day Nairobi excursion.

Visit Daphne Sheldrick’s elephant orphanage, Karen Blixen, and Giraffe Centre. Lunch is included. Overnight is again at Argyle Grand Hotel.

Day 3: Nairobi to Ol Pejeta Conservancy

After breakfast, depart for Ol Pejeta Conservancy for a morning game drive. Ol Pejeta is home to the only chimpanzee sanctuary in Kenya. Lunch follows, then an afternoon game drive at the sanctuary.

Dinner and overnight are at Sweetwaters Serena Camp on full board.

Day 4: Full Day in Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Wake early for a morning game drive, then return to the lodge for breakfast. Spend the rest of the morning at leisure. Lunch is at the lodge, followed by an afternoon game viewing drive.

Dinner and overnight are at Sweetwaters Serena Camp.

Optional night game drive: this can add a different side of the conservancy. With a spotlight and an Ol Pejeta guide, guests may see aardvark, zorilla, bat-eared fox, leopard, and lion activity after dark.

Day 5: Ol Pejeta to Samburu National Reserve

At 0800 hrs, drive north via Nanyuki and Mount Kenya to Samburu National Reserve. Samburu is rugged and remote, yet it offers some of Kenya’s best dry-country game viewing.

Lunch is at Larsen’s Camp. In the afternoon, head out on a game drive. Dinner and overnight are at Larsen’s Camp.

Day 6: Full Day in Samburu

Spend the day in Samburu with morning and afternoon game drives.

This 14 day Kenya Safari uses Samburu to add species that many first-time visitors miss in the south. Look out for Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, elephants, and predators near the river. All meals and overnight are at Larsen’s Camp.

Day 7: Mount Kenya Safari Club

After breakfast, drive to the world-famous Mount Kenya Safari Club, founded by William Holden.

On a clear day, the mountain appears in full view. The club offers forest and mountain views, gardens, a 9-hole golf course, and a colonial setting with log fires. Arrive for lunch. The afternoon is at leisure, with optional excursions at extra cost.

Meals and overnight are at the Mount Kenya Safari Club on full board.

Day 8: Mount Kenya to Lake Nakuru National Park

After breakfast, drive toward Lake Nakuru and descend to the floor of the Great Rift Valley.

Lake Nakuru is surrounded by wooded and bushy grassland. Its habitats range from the lake itself to the surrounding escarpment and ridges. The park supports 56 mammal species, including rhinos and Rothschild’s giraffe, and it is well known for birdlife.

Arrive in time for lunch. Later, enjoy an afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight are at Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge on full board.

Day 9: Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha

After breakfast, drive to Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake on the Rift Valley floor.

Birdlife is rich here, with more than 460 species recorded. Cormorants breed here year-round. Pelicans, spoonbills, and African fish eagles are common sightings. The lake also supports black bass and tilapia.

Lunch is at the resort. In the afternoon, enjoy a complimentary boat ride for close-up views of hippos. Dinner and overnight are at Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort on full board.

Day 10: Lake Naivasha to Maasai Mara

After an early breakfast, depart for Maasai Mara through the scenic Rift Valley.

Arrive at camp in time for lunch. After lunch, depart for an afternoon game drive. Maasai Mara offers big skies, strong game density, and classic savannah views. It remains one of the few places in Kenya where wildlife numbers still feel vast.

Meals and overnight are at Zebra River Camp, Maasai Mara.

Day 11: Full Day in Maasai Mara

Spend the day in camp activities and game viewing.

A pre-breakfast game drive offers a strong chance to explore the reserve before the heat builds. Guests may also pre-book an optional hot air balloon flight. After the morning drive, return for a late breakfast. Lunch follows, then a late afternoon game drive.

Optional full-day game drive: take picnic lunch boxes and visit Mara River, the Kenya–Tanzania border post, and key wildlife areas with strong chances of seeing the Big Five. Lunch is at Hippo Pool.

A Maasai village visit is also available as an optional excursion. Dinner and overnight are at Zebra Plains Camp.

Day 12: Return to Nairobi

After breakfast, drive back to Nairobi with a stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint.

Lunch can be arranged at Carnivore, Mama Nyama Restaurant in Westlands, or another Nairobi restaurant. Transfer later to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your evening departure.

Day 13: Amboseli Extension

For guests extending this 14 day Kenya Safari, transfer in the morning to Wilson Airport for the scheduled Safarilink flight to Amboseli.

Departure is at 1000 hrs. Arrival is at 1100 hrs. On arrival at Amboseli airstrip, meet your driver-guide and transfer to camp for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a safari drive.

Amboseli is famous for elephant herds and views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Clouds may open and reveal the snow-capped peak. Dinner and overnight are at Zebra Prado Camp or Kilima Safari Camp.

Day 14: Full Day in Amboseli

Spend a full day exploring Amboseli National Park.

This final stretch of the 14 day Kenya Safari focuses on elephants, open plains, marshes, and Kilimanjaro views. All meals and overnight are at Zebra Prado Camp or Kilima Safari Camp.

Alternative Beach Extension

Instead of the Amboseli extension, guests can take a 3-night Diani option from the 13th to the 16th.

Recommended stays include Diani Chale Island, Swahili Beach, or Diamond Leisure. Activities can include ocean sports, snorkeling, and a visit to Wasini Island.

What Is Included in This 14 Day Kenya Safari

• Pick up and drop off at JKIA
• Bed and breakfast in Nairobi hotels
• Full board on safari
• Transport in a designed Safari Jeep 4x4 Land Cruiser for private use
• Pop-up roof for game viewing
• Professional English-speaking driver-guide
• All park entrance fees
• Carnivore restaurant lunch or dinner
• Nairobi activities where indicated
• Internal or domestic flights where indicated
• Visit to a Maasai village
• Boat ride and Crescent Island nature walk at Lake Naivasha
• Meet and greet services at JKIA
• Complimentary mineral water during the Kenyan safari section
• Emergency evacuation service only, with no medical bills included

What Is Not Included

• Kenya visa
• Laundry, beverages, bar bill, telephone, mineral water, tips, and porterage
• International flights
• Travel and medical insurance
• All personal expenses
• Any item not mentioned under included services

Important Notes

• Non-air-conditioned vehicles are used for transfers in Nairobi and on safari in Kenya
• Luggage is limited to one soft bag per person during travel in Kenya
• Hard cases should be avoided because they do not fit well in safari vehicles