9-Day Ultimate Kenya Safari: Maasai Mara, Amboseli & Rift Valley Wildlife Adventure

• Arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

• Meet & greet by your Polmans Holiday Tours representative.

• Transfer to your hotel and relax after your journey.

• Optional half-day city tour:

  • Giraffe Centre: Feed endangered Rothschild giraffes.

  • David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage: See baby elephants being cared for before release into the wild.

  • Karen Blixen Museum: Learn about Kenya’s colonial and cultural history.

• Dinner and overnight stay in Nairobi.

Accommodation: Tamarind Tree Hotel / Sarova Panafric / Similar
Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast

Distance: Approx. 350 km / 6–7 hrs

• Early breakfast and departure northward through scenic landscapes.

• Stop en route for refreshments and photo opportunities.

• Arrival at Samburu National Reserve for lunch.

• Afternoon game drive in this unique semi-arid ecosystem:

  • Look for Samburu Special Species: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk.

  • Common wildlife: elephants, lions, cheetahs, leopards, and a variety of bird species.

• Sunset over the northern plains – perfect photo opportunity.

• Dinner and overnight at lodge/camp.

Accommodation: Samburu Intrepids Safari Lodge / Samburu Sopa Lodge / Similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Distance: Approx. 200 km / 4–5 hrs

• Optional morning game drive in Samburu to catch early predators or wildlife activity.

• Breakfast at the lodge before departure.

• Drive to Solio Rhino Sanctuary, one of the most successful private rhino conservation projects in Kenya.

• Afternoon game drive in the sanctuary:

  • View both black and white rhinos, along with elephants, buffalo, and bird species.

• Learn about rhino conservation efforts and the sanctuary’s breeding programs.

• Dinner and overnight stay at the sanctuary lodge.

Accommodation: Solio Lodge / Solio Rhino Sanctuary Camp / Similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Distance: Approx. 60 km / 1–2 hrs

• Breakfast at the lodge.

• Short drive to Lake Nakuru National Park, a birdwatcher’s paradise in the Great Rift Valley.

• Lunch at your lodge with views of the lake.

• Afternoon game drive:

  • Thousands of flamingos on the lake (seasonal).

  • Black and white rhinos grazing in the park.

  • Lions, leopards, buffalo, giraffes, waterbucks, and diverse birdlife.

• Sunset photography over the Rift Valley escarpment.

• Dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Lake Nakuru Lodge / Sarova Lion Hill / Similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Distance: Approx. 230 km / 5–6 hrs

• Early breakfast before departure to Maasai Mara.

• Drive through the scenic Rift Valley floor.

• Lunch at your lodge or camp upon arrival.

• Afternoon game drive:

  • Spot Big Five wildlife: lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, rhinos.

  • Other possible sightings: cheetahs, hyenas, hippos, and diverse plains game.

• Dinner and overnight at the lodge/camp.

Accommodation: Mara Serena Safari Lodge / Sarova Mara Game Camp / Similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Early morning game drive to catch predators at their most active.

• Return to lodge for breakfast.

• Optional hot air balloon safari at dawn (extra cost):

  • Float over the Mara plains and enjoy a champagne breakfast in the bush.

• Mid-morning relaxation at the lodge or optional visit a Maasai village to learn about traditional culture and beadwork.

• Afternoon game drive across different areas of the Mara:

  • Witness wildlife interactions and river crossings (seasonal migration times).

• Sunset over the Mara savannah.

• Dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Mara Serena Safari Lodge / Sarova Mara Game Camp / Similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Distance: Approx. 280 km / 5–6 hrs

• Breakfast at the lodge before departure.

• Drive via the Great Rift Valley escarpments.

• Lunch at your lakeside lodge.

• Afternoon activities at Lake Naivasha:

  • Boat ride to see hippos, fish eagles, and other water birds.

  • Optional Crescent Island walking safari to spot giraffes, zebras, and antelopes up close.

• Sunset over the lake with views of flamingos and lush papyrus islands.

• Dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge / Enashipai Resort / Similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Distance: Approx. 320 km / 6–7 hrs

• Breakfast at the lodge before departure.

• Drive south via Nairobi to Amboseli National Park, famous for elephants against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro.

• Lunch at the lodge.

• Afternoon game drive:

  • Large elephant herds, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeests.

  • Photography opportunities with the iconic snow-capped Kilimanjaro in the background.

• Dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge / Ol Tukai Lodge / Similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Distance: Approx. 250 km / 5 hrs

• Breakfast at the lodge.

• Drive back to Nairobi.

• Drop-off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or Nairobi hotel for onward travel.

Meal Plan: Breakfast