Kenya Wildlife Safari

  • Nairobi, Kenya
  • Duration: 8 Days
  • Start: Nairobi, Kenya
  • Finish: Nairobi, Kenya
  • Destination: Nairobi, Kenya
  • Group size: 1-22
  • Operator: Intrepid
Immerse yourself in the animal kingdom on this eight-day trip through Kenya. Veer off the beaten track to seek out elephants, hippos, leopards and lions against the impressive backdrop of the Great Rift Valley and Lake Naivasha.

Share:

Highlights

Spot the Big Five on an overland journey and spend a night with the Maasai Warriors

Immerse yourself in the animal kingdom on this eight-day trip through Kenya. Veer off the beaten track to seek out elephants, hippos, leopards and lions against the impressive backdrop of the Great Rift Valley and Lake Naivasha. Then, staying in the world-famous Maasai Mara, deepen your understanding of Kenyan culture by experiencing tribal life in Loita Hills as you’re welcomed into the homes of the Maasai warriors and their proud village community. Take early morning game drives, optional hot air balloon rides and join a cooking class to learn how to make some traditional fare. Join this perspective-shifting journey of unforgettable moments and memorable wildlife encounters.

 


Why you’ll love this trip

  • Venture into the incredible Maasai Mara National Reserve for a full-day game drive in an open-top 4WD, looking for lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes and more.
  • Cruise along Lake Naivasha on a boat ride with an experienced local guide. This lake is home to hundreds of protected hippos and you might also spot some giraffes, zebras and the many species of birds that call this lake home.
  • An early morning game drive through Lake Nakuru National Park might be your best chance of seeing black and white rhinoceroses in the flesh.
  • Spend the night in a Maasai village to learn about life from community elders, visit a widows’ community and maybe even learn to throw a spear.
  • Take a cooking class in a small village and learn some Kenyan recipes, then share your creations at a camp dinner under the stars.

 


Is this trip right for you?

  • This is an overland trip. That means you’ll be travelling with a group in a purpose-built vehicle, visiting remote communities, setting up your own tent and getting the best possible views of the Big Five. While the trucks don’t have air conditioning, they do have drop-down windows, which let in the breeze and make it even easier to take spectacular snaps of the local wildlife. The drive days can be long, but it’s as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie. For more info on this style of travel, see our Africa overland page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/africa/overland
  • In Loita Hills, you’ll be staying in a secure bush camp with basic facilities, heated bucket showers in the morning, and no WiFi, but the rewards of experiencing Maasai culture should more than make up for the lack of creature comforts.
  • As the early bird catches the worm, the early camper sights the animals. There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or beat the morning traffic on long travel days.

 


 

Inclusions and activities

*Destination: Kenya
*Meals: 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners
*Transport: Overland vehicle, 4×4 safari vehicle
*Camping (with facilities) (5 nights), Hotel (1 night), Camping (with basic facilities) (1 night)

 

Included activities

*Lake Nakuru – Village Walk & Cooking Class
*Lake Nakuru – Overland Vehicle Game Drive
*Lake Naivasha – Boat trip
*Loita Hills – Cultural talk and village visit
*Maasai Mara – 4WD Safari

 


 

Important notes

1.A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

2. This trip finishes upon arrival in Nairobi on Day 8. Please do not book any flights until after 6pm this evening.

3. An optional sunrise balloon ride over the Maasai Mara is possible on this itinerary. Please see Days 6-7 for full details of this activity. As the balloon only holds 16 people, places are limited and we recommend that you book in advance. Please inquire when booking your trip to book this optional activity.

 


 

Booking terms & conditions

Before you book a trip with Intrepid, please take the time to read and understand what terms and conditions apply to your booking. For most of our trips, you will be booking directly with Intrepid so our Standard Booking Conditions and any applicable Special Conditions will apply. Please note that there are three versions of the Standard Booking Conditions depending on what location you are booking from.

Lock in your trip with a $400 flexible deposit if it departs 56+ days from now. Terms and conditions

 

 

Itinerary

Day 1 • Nairobi

Jambo! Welcome to Kenya. Your trip begins in Nairobi with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive with time to spare, consider getting to know the city on an Urban Adventure like the ‘Nairobi Experience’. This optional 4-hour tour is a great way to get a feel for Nairobi and includes lunch at a local restaurant. After the meeting, maybe join your new travel companions for an optional group dinner and get to know each other better.

Special information

It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Unfortunately, petty crime has become common in Nairobi and recently arrived visitors to the capital can often make for tempting targets. Your trip leader will verse you in a few worthwhile precautions at the welcome meeting, but generally, you should get local advice on where to walk and keep valuables in a neck wallet or money belt at all times. Stay aware even when inside, as thieves and pickpockets have been known to operate indoors. There’s no need to be paranoid, but appearing vigilant is a great deterrent to would-be thieves.

Day 2 • Lake Nakuru National Park

Drive north-west past splendid views of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Naivasha and Elementaita to Lake Nakuru National Park. Situated in the heart of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru National Park is a great location for spotting wildlife, which you’ll get a chance to do on an early morning game drive tomorrow. For now, head to a nearby village with your leader. This is a fantastic opportunity to interact with the local folk and get a feel for everyday life here. Take a cooking class and return later in the evening to share the results for dinner.

Special information

Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

Your camp outside the park, is well-situated and has flush toilets and showers. Accommodation upgrades and wi-fi are not available.

Day 3 • Lake Naivasha

Wake early for a light breakfast this morning and head into the Lake Nakuru National Park for a game drive in the overland vehicle. Lake Nakuru is home to rhinos, and there will be a good chance of spotting and photographing one of these magnificent beasts. Return to camp for lunch, then drive to Lake Naivasha. One of the few freshwater lakes in the Great Rift Valley, Lake Naivasha has floating islands of papyrus reeds and a border of flat-topped acacias. It’s also home to a healthy population of hippos and a huge variety of birds.

Special information

Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.

There will be an opportunity to access an ATM and visit a market today to stock up on items for the remainder of the trip. Your campsite tonight is basic, with showers and flush toilets. There are no upgrades available at our campsite this evening. Wi-fi is available at the bar.

Day 4 • Lake Naivasha

Today, you’ll head out for a boat trip across Lake Naivasha – the best way to take in the atmosphere of this lush area. With your experienced guide, look out for the numerous hippo that live here, as well as kingfishers, fish eagles, herons, giraffes, zebras and waterbucks. Set against a backdrop of the Eburru volcanic mountain range and lined by acacia trees, this lake is one of the most renowned in the area. After, you have a free day to choose from a variety of optional activities. Maybe opt for a trip to Hell’s Gate National Park, which boasts beautiful cliffs, gorges, rock towers, volcanoes and a range of geothermal phenomena, or hire a bike for the day and make some of your own discoveries, venturing beyond the cacti and olive trees.

Special information

The Crater Lake game walk, Hell’s Gate National Park and bike hire optional activities will also incur a USD 50 transport fee per vehicle.

The Lake Naivasha crater lake game sanctuary walk will also incur a guide fee of USD 25 per guide.

Day 5 • Loita Hills Maasai Village

Depart Lake Naivasha, making a short stop in Narok for food shopping. Continue to Loita Hills, home of the Maasai people, stopping for lunch on the way. You’ll be camping at Tepesua Village, which is known for championing Maasai women’s health and education. When you arrive, be welcomed by traditional Maasai warrior song and dance, then your host will explain the details of Maasai warrior training. Take a walk to the community village, founded to alleviate the poverty of Maasai widows, who traditionally are not allowed to inherit property. The village offers support, safety and economic growth through the Tepesua Widows Income Project. Spend the evening around a campfire and learn more about their age-old culture and traditions as you share stories with Maasai warriors into the night.

Special information

Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.

Hot bucket showers are available in the morning. Wi-fi is not available and only minimal upgrades are on offer at tonight’s bush camp.

Day 6 • Maasai Mara National Reserve

Today, you’ll travel from Loita Hills to Maasai Mara. Most of the road there is tarmacked, but the final 5 km is dusty when dry and muddy when wet. The Maasai Mara, with its sparse open plains, dramatic skies and some of the world’s most tremendous animals, is the quintessential African experience. After setting up camp, sit down for some lunch. Then, it’s time to jump in 4WDs and go for a game drive through the wilderness of the Mara, looking out for all your wildlife favourites form the Lion King – think wildebeest, lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffalo, elephants and rhino.

Special information

Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.

Your camp tonight does not have wi-fi. Room upgrades are possible, subject to availability, and should be paid for in Kenyan Shilling. Please speak to your leader for more information.

Day 7 • Maasai Mara National Reserve

This morning, maybe take an optional balloon ride over the Mara at sunrise. If you’ve pre-booked this activity, you’ll be picked up before dawn and driven to the launch site for a safety briefing from your pilot. You’ll then glide through the skies, sometimes at tree height, for some amazing photo opportunities. After landing, you’ll be treated to a bush breakfast before meeting up with the rest of the group. Today you’ll venture into the Maasai Mara National Reserve with expert local driver guides for a day-long 4WD game drive. You’ll explore this diverse environment and most likely see a multitude of wildlife.

Special information

An optional balloon ride over the Mara at sunrise is offered as a pre-booked service, which guarantees you a place. If you would rather wait and try to get a better price by booking this locally on the ground, you are welcome to—but keep in mind that this is a popular activity, and places are limited.

You’ll be picked up before dawn and taken to the launch site for a safety briefing with your pilot. As the sun rises, you’ll drift through the sky, sometimes floating at tree level, offering incredible photo opportunities. At other times, you’ll soar higher, taking in sweeping views of the vast plains and the early morning movements of the wildlife below. After landing, enjoy a bush breakfast before returning to camp to rejoin your group.

Day 8 • Nairobi

Say goodbye to the open expanses of the African bush and return to the bustling metropolis of Nairobi. When you arrive, you’ll be dropped at a centrally located hotel and you’re free to leave at any time. If you would like to extend your stay in Nairobi, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

Special information

Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.

It’s important not to book any outgoing international flights for earlier than 6 pm today.

Dates and prices

From AUD $2,465 per person, twin share · 8 Days

December 2026 3 departures
January 2027 3 departures
February 2027 1 departure
April 2027 1 departure
May 2027 1 departure
June 2027 4 departures
July 2027 5 departures
August 2027 4 departures
September 2027 5 departures
October 2027 3 departures
November 2027 2 departures
December 2027 3 departures
January 2028 3 departures
February 2028 1 departure
April 2028 1 departure
May 2028 1 departure
June 2028 4 departures
July 2028 5 departures
August 2028 4 departures
September 2028 6 departures
October 2028 2 departures
November 2028 2 departures
December 2028 4 departures

Prices are per person, twin share, in AUD and can change at any time. Tap a departure to enquire.

Enquire Online

Tell us what suits you and our Australian travel team will take care of the rest.

Travel Details

Your Details

No payment now — a friendly Australian travel specialist will get back to you, usually within one business day.

FAQ's
  • Refund policies vary by operator and depend on how far in advance you cancel. Many offer partial refunds, while others may charge cancellation fees.

  • Date changes depend on the tour operator’s policy and availability. Fees may apply for last-minute changes.

  • Most tours include accommodations, transportation, a guide, and select meals or activities. Check the itinerary for specific inclusions and exclusions.

  • Extras like airfare, optional activities, meals not listed in the itinerary, personal expenses, and tips are usually not included.

  • There are group tours, private tours, self-guided tours, luxury tours, adventure tours, cultural tours, and more. Choose one that matches your interests and budget.

  • Book 3–6 months in advance for popular destinations or peak seasons. Last-minute bookings are possible, but availability may be limited.

  • Group Tour: You travel with other participants on a fixed itinerary. Private Tour: The tour is tailored for you and your companions, offering more flexibility and personalized attention.

  • This depends on the tour operator’s policies. Some allow it with prior arrangements, but you may still need to pay the full tour price.

  • Day Tour: A single-day excursion focusing on one or a few attractions. Multi-Day Tour: Covers multiple destinations over several days and includes accommodations.

  • Tips are usually not included. Check the operator’s policy and be prepared to tip guides, drivers, and other staff if not covered.

  • Yes, many operators offer accessible tours with accommodations for mobility aids. Check with the company for specifics.

  • Pack according to the tour type and destination. Essentials often include comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, travel documents, and personal items.

  • Some meals are usually included, especially breakfasts. Check the itinerary to know which meals are provided and which are not.

From $2,465.00

    Fill up the form below to tell us what you're looking for

    From $2,465.00

    Write a review