11-Day Grand Circuit: Maasai Mara, Rift Valley Lakes, Samburu & Amboseli
Kenya's top four safari ecosystems in one seamless route — Big Five in the Mara, Rift Valley lakes, Samburu's rare northern wildlife, and Amboseli's elephants beneath Kilimanjaro.
Masai Mara National Reserve · Lake Naivasha · Lake Nakuru National Park · Samburu National Reserve · Amboseli National Park
Our most complete circuit, covering four of Kenya’s most rewarding ecosystems in one continuous route with no backtracking — the Masai Mara’s Big Five, the Rift Valley’s lake country, Samburu’s rare northern wildlife, and Amboseli’s elephant herds beneath Kilimanjaro. It’s a well-paced, comprehensive option for couples, honeymooners and solo travelers who want to see the full range of what Kenya offers on a single trip.
Why this route
This itinerary is built to avoid the wasted driving time that comes with a poorly sequenced multi-region trip — each leg follows naturally from the last. It balances the Big Five game viewing travelers ask for most with landscapes and wildlife most first-time visitors never see, including Samburu’s “Special Five” species found only in Kenya’s arid north. Photographers in particular tend to rate this as the most rewarding of our circuits, given the range of light, landscape and wildlife across eleven days.
Day by day
Days 1-3 — Masai Mara. Drive from Nairobi through the Great Rift Valley, with photo stops en route, arriving at the Mara in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive. Full days of game drives across the reserve’s plains tracking lion, elephant, cheetah, buffalo and giraffe, with strong odds of Big Five sightings and, in season, the wildebeest river crossing. An optional guided nature walk or Maasai village visit is available. Overnight at the camp, full board.
Day 4 — Masai Mara to Lake Naivasha. Drive to Lake Naivasha, arriving for lunch and an afternoon at leisure. Optional activities include a boat ride to see hippos and birdlife, or a visit to Hell’s Gate National Park for cycling and walking safaris among its geothermal scenery. Overnight at the lodge, full board.
Day 5 — Lake Naivasha to Lake Nakuru. Morning at leisure or an optional boat ride, then drive to Lake Nakuru National Park, known for flamingos, Rothschild giraffe and both black and white rhino. Afternoon game drive inside the park. Overnight at the lodge, full board.
Days 6-7 — Samburu. Drive north into Samburu’s semi-arid landscape, arriving for lunch and a relaxed afternoon game drive along the Ewaso Nyiro River. A full day follows, tracking the Samburu Special Five — Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich and gerenuk — alongside elephant and resident predators. Overnight at the camp, full board.
Day 8 — Samburu to Nairobi. Morning game drive, then drive back to Nairobi, arriving in the afternoon with time to rest or explore the city before continuing south. Overnight in Nairobi.
Days 9-10 — Amboseli. Drive to Amboseli National Park, arriving for lunch and an afternoon game drive among its large elephant herds, with Mt Kilimanjaro as a backdrop on clear days. A full day of morning and afternoon game drives follows, with an optional Maasai village visit available in between. Overnight at the camp, full board.
Day 11 — Amboseli to Nairobi. An early-morning game drive for sunrise photography, then breakfast and the drive back to Nairobi, arriving in the afternoon — marking the end of the safari.
What’s included
Private safari vehicle with pop-up roof, English-speaking driver-guide, park entry fees, full-board accommodation throughout, and airport transfers.
Optional add-ons
Maasai and Samburu village visits, a hot air balloon safari over the Mara, and upgrades to more luxurious lodges are all available on request.