6 Days Kenya Big Five and Great Rift Valley Safari

Day 1: Nairobi to Lake Nakuru National Park, Great Rift Valley Exploration and Game Drive

Your safari begins with an early morning departure from Nairobi towards the Great Rift Valley, one of Kenya’s most spectacular geographical features. As you leave the capital, you will travel through changing landscapes of farmland, escarpments and rolling countryside before reaching a scenic viewpoint overlooking the Rift Valley. You will have time to stop for photographs and appreciate the vast landscape before continuing towards Lake Nakuru National Park. After arrival, you will enjoy lunch and prepare for your first wildlife experience of the safari. An afternoon game drive will take you through the park’s diverse habitats, including grasslands, woodland and areas surrounding the lake. Lake Nakuru is an important rhino sanctuary and supports both black and white rhinos, together with giraffes, buffaloes, lions, zebras and a wide variety of birdlife. You will continue exploring until late afternoon before returning to your lodge for dinner and relaxation.

Accommodation options around Lake Nakuru:

• Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge
• Lake Nakuru Lodge
• Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 2: Lake Nakuru to Maasai Mara National Reserve and Big Five Game Drive

After breakfast, you will depart Lake Nakuru and continue towards the legendary Maasai Mara National Reserve. The journey takes you through the Great Rift Valley region and rural Kenyan landscapes, with opportunities to see farms, villages and local communities along the route. You will arrive in the Mara region in time for lunch at your lodge or camp before preparing for your first game drive. In the afternoon, you will enter the reserve and begin exploring its expansive grasslands in search of the Big Five and other wildlife. Kenya’s national tourism service identifies the Maasai Mara as one of the country’s iconic wildlife destinations and highlights its association with the Big Five and the Great Migration. You may encounter elephants, buffaloes, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and numerous antelope species. Your guide will help you interpret animal behaviour and identify the different species encountered along the route. As the sun begins to set over the savannah, you will return to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation options in Maasai Mara:

• Mara Serena Safari Lodge
• Sentrim Mara Camp
• Zebra Plains Mara Camp

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: Full-Day Maasai Mara Big Five Wildlife Safari

Today is dedicated entirely to exploring the Maasai Mara and maximising your opportunities for wildlife viewing. You will start with an early morning game drive when the savannah is cooler and many animals are active. Your guide will explore different parts of the reserve, following wildlife tracks and checking productive areas where predators and herbivores are commonly seen. You may encounter lions resting after an early hunt, cheetahs scanning the grasslands, elephants moving between feeding areas and large herds of wildebeest and zebra. The Mara is part of the greater Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, making it one of Kenya’s most important landscapes for large-scale wildlife movements and predator-prey interactions. You will enjoy a picnic lunch in a designated location or return to the lodge, depending on the day’s programme and your preferred safari style. In the afternoon, you will continue exploring the reserve before returning to camp in the evening. Dinner and a relaxed evening will follow, giving you time to reflect on the day’s wildlife encounters.

Accommodation options in Maasai Mara:

• Mara Serena Safari Lodge
• Sentrim Mara Camp
• Zebra Plains Mara Camp

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4: Maasai Mara to Amboseli National Park via the Great Rift Valley

After breakfast, you will leave the Maasai Mara and begin the scenic journey towards Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya. The route provides an opportunity to experience the changing geography of the country, from the rolling savannahs of the Mara to the drier landscapes surrounding Amboseli. You will travel through rural settlements and local communities while enjoying views of Kenya’s countryside along the way. Depending on the route and timing, you will have a lunch stop before continuing towards Amboseli. As you approach the park, the landscape changes to open plains, seasonal wetlands and acacia woodland, with Mount Kilimanjaro potentially appearing on the horizon in clear weather. Amboseli is particularly recognised for its large elephant herds, diverse wildlife and iconic mountain backdrop. After checking into your accommodation, you will have time to relax before an optional late afternoon game drive, subject to arrival time and park regulations. You will return to your lodge or camp for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation options in Amboseli:

• Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
• Ol Tukai Lodge
• Kibo Safari Camp

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5: Full-Day Amboseli Big Five and Elephant Safari

You will begin the day with an early breakfast before setting out for a full-day safari in Amboseli National Park. The morning game drive will take you across open plains and wetland areas where wildlife gathers, particularly around sources of water. Amboseli is famous for its large elephant herds and provides excellent opportunities to observe these animals in their natural habitat. You may also encounter lions, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, antelopes and numerous bird species during your exploration. You will visit suitable wildlife-viewing areas and may climb or visit Observation Hill, subject to park regulations, for panoramic views across the ecosystem. The mountain scenery around Mount Kilimanjaro can provide spectacular photography opportunities when the skies are clear. After a picnic or lodge lunch, you will continue with an afternoon game drive through different sections of the park. Later, you will return to your accommodation for dinner and your final overnight stay in the Amboseli region.

Accommodation options in Amboseli:

• Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
• Ol Tukai Lodge
• Kibo Safari Camp

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6: Amboseli to Nairobi and Departure

Your final day is reserved for departure from Kenya. You will begin with breakfast at your accommodation, followed by a short early morning game drive if your flight schedule allows. This final drive gives you one last opportunity to see elephants, giraffes, zebras and other wildlife while enjoying the peaceful morning atmosphere of Amboseli. You will then leave the park and begin your journey back towards Nairobi, passing through rural landscapes and communities along the way. A lunch stop can be arranged depending on your departure time, allowing you to complete the journey comfortably. Upon arrival in Nairobi, you will be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or another agreed drop-off point for your onward journey. Your Verdant Safaris representative will assist you with the final arrangements and ensure that you arrive in good time for your departure. This marks the end of your 6 Days Kenya Big Five and Great Rift Valley Safari, concluding an itinerary that has combined Kenya’s dramatic Rift Valley landscapes with some of its most renowned wildlife destinations.

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch)