Kenya Birding & Big Five Safari

Welcome to Kenya, and enjoy an exhilarating journey! As soon as you arrive at Nairobi International Airport, our local safari representative will transfer you to the hotel in downtown Nairobi. The rest time will be at your disposal, and you're advised to have a good rest at the hotel to restore energy for the following exciting tours in Kenya.

► Receive a Yellow Fever Vaccination
We recommend that all tourists to Kenya receive a yellow fever vaccination 15 days before departure. Travelers who have stopped in countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission, such as Argentina, Columbia, Panama, etc., or consider Tanzania, Australia, West Africa, India, etc., as the next destination must obtain a yellow fever vaccination certificate, as customs will check.

► SIM Card
As the largest mobile operator in Kenya, Safaricom provides the best network which is ok for light use in national parks and reserves while other operators’ SIM cards may have no signal. You can buy its SIM card at the airport or the official retail store in Nairobi's downtown area, which usually costs $7 to get 7GB of data valid for 30 days. The price may be higher at the airport.

Free Time Suggestion:
If you arrive early and want to hang out on your own, the National Museum of Kenya is a good choice, which is only a 15-minute drive from the hotel and takes about 2-3 hours to visit. The museum not only introduces the history and traditions of different tribes of Kenya but also exhibits hundreds of specimens of birds and fossils of various animals, including the skeleton of Lucy, a southern ape from Afar. There is a snake park in the museum where you can closely look at various serpents and interact with pythons if you are bold. Sometimes, you can also watch human and snake shows. We recommend you buy a ticket package online, which includes the museum and the snake park, and pay with M-Pesa or e-citizen for Ksh1500 ($11.58).
► Tips:
1. We suggest you return to the hotel before 4 p.m. as most stores will close then. And you’d better not hang out at night because it is not as safe as during the daytime.
2. It is better not to carry too much cash with you, and please keep your valuables safe when leaving the hotel to avoid being stolen.
3. Hailing a car on Uber or Bolt is convenient. The latter is cheaper and provides women-only car services. We suggest you pay online because the driver may overcharge if you pay with cash. Avoid watching the phone near the opened window in the car or sticking it out of the window to take pictures, as you may encounter a biker gang.

Accommodation: Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Hurlingham (4 stars) or similar

After having a substantial breakfast, we will drive for around 5 hours to the Samburu National Reserve, one of the three dreamlands for wildlife photographers. Upon your arrival in the national park, you will be guided to check into the camp and enjoy a hearty lunch.

In the late afternoon, you are about to embark on your first adventurous game drive in Samburu National Reserve. Although only for a short time, it will be exciting to seek the Special Five, including gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebras, Somali ostrich, and Beisa oryx. Do you remember the superstar Gazelle in Zootopia? Yes, she’s a gerenuk! With a spindly neck and legs, round and big eyes, and long ears, gerenuks are like spirits of the African savanna. Want to attend a fan meeting with Gazelle? Samburu can achieve it. It is suggested that you keep calm when seeing them, or these timid stars may be scared off.

★ Our Strength: Pop-up Roof Safari Land Cruiser
Compared to mini-vans and open-sided land cruisers offered by other tour operators, we will provide you with a 4x4 land cruiser with a pop-up roof in this 7-day Kenya safari. Compared with open-sided land cruisers, it is safer when driving at a high speed. The openable windows and roof are dustproof and convenient for viewing and taking photos. Its seats are more comfortable than mini-vans, and the big wheels can easily tackle complex road conditions. In addition, it is equipped with a drinking device, which will provide you with clean drinking water during safari.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ashnil Samburu Camp (4 stars)

After a big breakfast, you will be guided to enjoy a full-day game drive in Samburu National Reserve. Not as barbaric as Amboseli or as wild as Masai Mara, Samburu is a relatively quiet grassland but no less diverse in its wildlife than the other two. During the dry season (Dec-Mar & Jun-Oct), you will see animals such as antelopes and elephants drinking water by the side of the Ewaso Ng'iro River. In addition, Samburu is home to more than 400 kinds of birds, including endangered species such as the African dart, great egret, white-headed bald eagle, etc. Green Season (November-April) is the best time to take a bird viewing, as the gentle rain makes bushes lusher, which provides excellent habitat for birds.

Tips for Game Drive:
1. It is suggested that you do not wear clothes in bright or dark colors. Khaki, jasper, or colors that can help you hide in nature are the best. And remember to bring long sleeves or a coat to keep warm as the temperature will fall on the savanna in the afternoon.
2. We advise you to bring some Dramamine if you have motion sickness because the road is bumpy, and most of your time will be spent in the car. Mosquito repellent is necessary as well. It can protect you from being bitten, thus decreasing the risk of yellow fever transmission.
3. Remember to take a telephoto lens if you want to take clear and beautiful pictures of the wildlife. A telescope is advised because it can give you a clear view when admiring animals.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ashnil Samburu Camp (4 stars)

In the early morning, we will drive for 4.5 hours to Nyahururu, enjoying the spectacular view of Thompson Falls, Kenya's second-largest waterfall. It's also the world's famous equatorial waterfall, and you can experience the fun of having one foot in the southern hemisphere and the other in the northern hemisphere. The fall is in a river valley, home to various birds and endangered animals. You may hear the jabber of baboons climbing up to the top of the fall along the steps. Some of them even come out of the forest, and you can spot them. Feeding is not allowed here. In addition, you are advised not to shout or wave your arms as they may be scared off.

Then, we will continue to drive for 2 hours to Lake Nakuru National Park, which boasts various bird species. Nakuru was once the habitation of hundreds and thousands of flamingoes. However, because of the deterioration of the environment, most of these pink birds have migrated to other places. So, it is difficult to see the spectacular scenery of the pink-covered lake now. Nevertheless, you don’t need to feel upset because Nakuru is also home to the endangered white rhinoceros, the second-largest land mammal. The white rhinoceros have the same grey skin as black rhinos, but the white ones have a square upper lip, which is why they are also called square-lipped rhinoceros. In addition, you can also see leopards, giraffes, black and white colobus monkeys, otters, and other wild animals inside the lake reserve. Finishing the guided safari, we will return to the lodge and have a good dinner.
► Note: During the wet season (Mar.-May. & Oct.-Nov.), the water will be rampant sometimes due to the rainfall, which will inundate parts of the savanna. During this period, not only flamingoes but other animals disperse when the rain comes. So, the game drive experience will not be as good as during the dry season (Jun.-Sept.).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Lake Nakuru Lodge - one of the best lodges in Lake Nakuru

After breakfast, we will drive for around 4.5 hours to Masai Mara National Reserve, the most favorable safari paradise bordering the Serengeti Reserve in Tanzania. First, we will check in the lodge inside the reserve and enjoy a good lunch. In the afternoon, you will be escorted on a short safari to look for rare animals and feel the charm of Africa.

★ Experience the Great Migration
It is highly recommended that you visit Masai Mara from July to August when the great migration occurs. Millions of wildebeests, zebras, antelopes, elephants, and giraffes migrate from Tanzania, crossing the Mara River. Zebras always act as scouts to reconnoiter the situation of the Mara River. Once they have reached the shore of Masai Mara, it is the turn of the wildebeests. As the main force of the migration, 1.5 million wildebeests step into the Mara River, where crocodiles lurk. These Mara killers will eat many old and little wildebeests, while those who narrowly cross the river will continue their journey to find a bigger grassland waiting for the next migration. However, not everyone who comes to Masai Mara is lucky enough to witness the magnificent scene of the wildebeests crossing the Mara River, as it has a lot to do with the timing and route of the migration. But don’t worry; other animals, such as lions, leopards, etc., are also worth discovering.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ashnil Mara Camp (4 stars)

The whole day will be devoted to exploring the Masai Mara, home to over 90 species of mammals and 400 species of birds, making it one of the best wildlife reserves in the world. Under the company of our guide, you will enjoy a morning game drive and a late afternoon safari as it's very hot in the middle of the day, and all the animals are sunburned and drowsy.

Our experienced guide will drive you to find the Big Five: lions, leopards, rhinoceros, elephants, and cape buffalos. You may meet the Black Rock boys, a coalition of three male lions. They prefer to rest in the car's shade. Sometimes, you may even have a chance to witness them hunt using the four-wheel drive as the blindage in a short distance. You may also find Timon, a mongoose (Simba’s friend in The Lion King), posting a lookout on the stone to his friend Pumbaa, a warthog.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ashnil Mara Camp (4 stars)

Your 7-day best Kenya tour package will end today. Our guide will drive you for the last safari in the morning if you want. Then, after a hearty breakfast at the lodge, we will drive for around 5 hours back to Nairobi International Airport and see you off. Since the airport security check is slow, we recommend you book the flight in the afternoon or evening so you will have enough time.

If you want to discover the African savanna deeply, you can stay in Masai Mara for more days or head to the bordering Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, where you will have more chances to admire the Great Migration. Consult our travel consultants for more detailed information if you are interested. We will be delighted to serve you with a perfect tailor-made itinerary.

Meal: Breakfast