Kenya Sunset Game Drive2 — 16 Days Ultimate Adventure of the Kenya

Overview

Embark on the ultimate Kenyan safari with this 16 Days Ultimate Safari Adventure of the Magical Kenya. This comprehensive journey takes you across Kenya’s most iconic national parks, game reserves, lakes, and coastal landscapes. Experience the breathtaking beauty of Amboseli National Park, the birdlife of Lake Naivasha, the rhino sanctuary of Lake Nakuru National Park, the wildlife-rich plains of the Masai Mara, the rugged wilderness of Samburu National Reserve, the rolling hills of Aberdare National Park, the giant tuskers of Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks, and conclude your adventure with relaxation on the pristine white beaches of Diani.

This safari offers an exceptional opportunity to witness the Big Five, the Samburu Special Five, diverse birdlife, spectacular landscapes, and authentic Kenyan culture while exploring the country’s most remarkable destinations.

Safari Highlights

wildlife viewing
Game Drive
Hiking
Nature walks
Wildebeest migration

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be welcomed by your safari guide and transferred to your hotel.

Relax after your journey and attend a safari briefing.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Ibis Styles Nairobi

Mid-range: Tamarind Tree Hotel

Luxury: Eka Hotel

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Nairobi to Amboseli National Park

Depart after breakfast for Amboseli National Park.

Arrive in time for lunch before enjoying an afternoon game drive beneath the magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Kimana Camp

Mid-range: Amboseli Sopa Lodge

Luxury: Ol Tukai Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Full Day Safari in Amboseli

Spend the day exploring Amboseli’s swamps, open plains, and woodlands while searching for elephants, lions, cheetahs, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, and numerous bird species.

Accommodation

As Above

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Amboseli to Lake Naivasha

Drive through Nairobi to Lake Naivasha.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat safari and a guided walking safari on Crescent Island.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Taphe Guest Resort

Mid-range: Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort

Luxury: Enashipai Resort and Spa

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Lake Naivasha to Lake Nakuru National Park

Explore Lake Nakuru National Park during morning and afternoon game drives.

Search for rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, lions, leopards, zebras, buffaloes, and numerous bird species.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Citymax Hotel Nakuru

Mid-range: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge

Luxury: Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara National Reserve

Travel through Narok to the Masai Mara.

Enjoy an afternoon game drive upon arrival.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Enchoro Wildlife Camp

Mid-range: Zebra Plains Mara Camp

Luxury: Mara Serena Safari Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Full Day Safari in Masai Mara

Spend the day exploring the reserve in search of the Big Five, visiting the Mara River and enjoying exceptional wildlife viewing.

Accommodation

As Above

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8: Second Full Day in Masai Mara

Explore different sections of the reserve, increasing your chances of spotting leopards, cheetahs, and other elusive wildlife.

An optional visit to a Maasai village can be arranged.

Accommodation

As Above

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 9: Masai Mara to Aberdare National Park

After breakfast, drive to Aberdare National Park through the central highlands.

Spend the evening watching wildlife from the lodge overlooking a floodlit waterhole where elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks, and giant forest hogs frequently visit.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Aberdare Country Club

Mid-range: The Ark Lodge

Luxury: Treetops Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10: Aberdare to Samburu National Reserve

Depart for Samburu National Reserve in northern Kenya.

Enjoy an afternoon game drive searching for the unique wildlife species found only in this region.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Samburu Riverside Camp

Mid-range: Samburu Sopa Lodge

Luxury: Elephant Bedroom Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 11: Full Day Safari in Samburu

Spend the day searching for the Samburu Special Five, including the Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, and gerenuk.

You may also encounter elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, crocodiles, and over 450 bird species.

Accommodation

As Above

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 12: Samburu to Tsavo West National Park

Drive south to Tsavo West National Park.

Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive before visiting the famous Mzima Springs, where crystal-clear waters attract hippos, crocodiles, and numerous bird species.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Ngulia Safari Lodge

Mid-range: Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge

Luxury: Finch Hattons Luxury Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 13: Tsavo West to Tsavo East National Park

Enjoy a morning game drive before visiting the Shetani Lava Flow.

Continue into Tsavo East National Park for an afternoon game drive in search of the famous red elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, and buffaloes.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Voi Wildlife Lodge

Mid-range: Ashnil Aruba Lodge

Luxury: Satao Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 14: Tsavo East to Diani Beach

After breakfast, depart Tsavo East and travel to Kenya’s beautiful coastline.

Arrive at Diani Beach in the afternoon and relax at your beach resort.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Diani Backpackers

Mid-range: Diani Sea Resort

Luxury: Baobab Beach Resort and Spa

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 15: Full Day at Diani Beach

Spend the day relaxing on the white sandy beaches or enjoy optional water sports and marine excursions.

Take in the beauty of the Indian Ocean and experience the laid-back atmosphere of Kenya’s coast.

Accommodation

As Above

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 16: Departure

Enjoy breakfast before checking out.

Depending on your departure schedule, transfer to Ukunda Airstrip for a domestic flight to Nairobi or travel to Moi International Airport in Mombasa for your onward flight.

Meals: Breakfast

Optional Activities

Hot air balloon safari in Masai Mara
Champagne bush breakfast
Maasai village cultural visit
Samburu cultural village tour
Night game drive in a private conservancy
Guided nature walks
Horse riding at Lake Naivasha
Cycling in Hell’s Gate National Park
Wildlife photography safari
Bush dinner under the stars
Sundowner experience
Scuba diving at Diani Beach
Snorkelling excursion
Deep sea fishing
Wasini Island and Kisite Marine Park excursion
Glass-bottom boat ride
Colobus Conservation Centre visit
Spa and wellness treatments

Tour Includes(magical Kenya Safari)

Travel in a 4×4 car
Professional guide
Park fees
Accommodation
Meals
All Activities In Itinerary

Tour Excludes

Alcoholic drinks
Laundry
Tips
Shopping
Insurance
Anything not included per itinerary

Kenya’s Most Comprehensive Itinerary

At sixteen days, this is one of our most complete single-country Kenya itineraries, giving genuine time to virtually every major destination: the Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli, Samburu’s arid northern wildlife, and typically a closing coastal stay, covering the country’s full range of savannah, Rift Valley and coastal environments.

This length suits travelers who have the time and interest to see Kenya in full depth rather than a highlights-only circuit, with deliberate rest points built in between the trip’s more active game-drive days.

Practical Notes

Most nationalities can apply for a Kenya e-visa online before travel, and Kenya participates in the East Africa Tourist Visa alongside Uganda and Rwanda. A yellow fever certificate is required for entry if arriving from a country with risk of transmission. Travel insurance covering wildlife activities and medical evacuation is strongly recommended.

Kenyan shillings are useful for everyday purchases, tips and markets, while US dollars printed after 2009 are widely accepted for park fees and lodge bills. Most lodges also accept card payments for incidentals.

Because lodge availability tightens considerably during the June to October peak migration season, we recommend booking this itinerary at least three to four months in advance for travel during that window.

Tipping is customary though not compulsory. Your driver-guide is typically tipped at the end of the full trip, scaled to group size and length of stay, and we’re glad to advise on typical ranges when you book.

A private 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof and an experienced English-speaking driver-guide accompanies you throughout this itinerary.

Pacing a Sixteen Day Trip

Given the distances involved in covering Kenya’s full range of destinations, this itinerary mixes road transfers with domestic flights where useful, keeping travel days manageable without sacrificing the range of parks covered. Rest days and lower-intensity travel days are built in deliberately between the trip’s more active game-drive days.

Because this itinerary spans over two weeks, booking well in advance matters considerably, both to secure lodge availability across multiple parks and to lock in accommodation before rates and availability tighten closer to your travel dates.

The Great Migration in the Masai Mara

The Masai Mara National Reserve, an extension of Tanzania’s Serengeti ecosystem across the Kenyan border, is best known for the Great Migration, when over a million wildebeest along with hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle cross into the Mara between roughly July and October in search of fresh grazing. The dramatic river crossings at the Mara and Talek rivers, where crocodiles lie in wait and the herds must overcome both the current and steep banks, are among the most sought-after wildlife spectacles on the continent. Outside migration season, the Mara remains one of Africa’s most productive game-viewing areas year-round, with resident populations of lion, leopard, cheetah and elephant supported by its open, rolling grassland.

Elephants and Kilimanjaro Views at Amboseli

Amboseli National Park is defined by two things: its large, easily observable elephant herds, some of which include research subjects that have been studied continuously since the 1970s, and its position directly beneath Mount Kilimanjaro across the Tanzanian border. On clear mornings, particularly at sunrise before cloud builds around the peak later in the day, the sight of elephants moving across the park’s open plains with Kilimanjaro’s snow-capped summit as a backdrop is one of the most photographed scenes in African safari travel. The park’s seasonal swamps, fed by underground rivers originating on Kilimanjaro itself, keep the area green even in dry periods, drawing large concentrations of wildlife to their margins.

Rhinos and Flamingos at Lake Nakuru

Lake Nakuru National Park, centred on a soda lake within Kenya’s Rift Valley, was established originally to protect the lake’s birdlife, particularly the flocks of lesser and greater flamingo that periodically gather along its shores in numbers that can turn the water’s edge pink. Beyond the lake itself, the surrounding park has developed into an important rhino sanctuary, protecting both black and white rhino populations within a fenced, closely monitored area that offers some of the most reliable rhino sightings in East Africa. Rothschild’s giraffe, also introduced to the park as part of a conservation programme, and healthy numbers of lion and leopard round out what is a compact but consistently rewarding park to visit.

Nairobi City and Wildlife Highlights

Nairobi is one of the few capital cities in the world with a national park inside its boundaries, and a morning game drive in Nairobi National Park, with the city’s skyline visible behind grazing giraffe and rhino, is a genuinely unusual way to begin a Kenya safari. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Elephant Orphanage, where visitors can watch orphaned elephant calves being cared for and readied for eventual release back into the wild, and the Giraffe Centre, which lets visitors hand-feed endangered Rothschild’s giraffe at eye level, are both popular half-day additions for travellers with time before or after their safari.