10-Day Great Migration Safari
A lodge-based circuit of Kenya's classic parks: Amboseli, a night at The Ark in the Aberdares, Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha, and two nights in the Maasai Mara, with hotel nights in Nairobi at each end.
10 days · 9 nights · Year-round · best Jul – Oct (migration)
About this experience
This trip starts with an airport welcome and a night in Nairobi, then heads south to Amboseli for two nights of elephant and Kilimanjaro views. From there you go north to The Ark in the Aberdares, where wildlife comes to a floodlit waterhole after dark, before dropping into the Rift Valley for Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha. The last two safari nights are in the Maasai Mara, with a full day in the reserve and a picnic lunch at the Hippo Pool. Between July and October the Mara is where the wildebeest migration usually is, and you travel throughout in a private 4x4 with a pop-up roof.
Best for
- Migration (Jul – Oct)
- First-time safari
- Lodge comfort
Trip features
- Private vehicleYour own 4x4 and driver-guide
- Starts any dayPick your own date, 7+ days ahead
- Can be tailoredChange lodges, add days or parks
- Children welcomeAges 3–12 at half price
- Pickup in NairobiAirport or your hotel
- EnglishGuide language
Signature experiences
Optional extras we can add to this trip. Prices are per person and confirmed when you book.
Lift off at dawn over the plains, drift silently above the herds, and land to a champagne bush breakfast. The definitive Mara morning.
Spend an hour in a working manyatta — the jumping dance, fire-making, and a look at daily Maasai life, hosted by the community itself.
A lantern-lit table set out under the stars, your own chef and a crackling fire — the safari dinner people remember for years.
After dark on a private conservancy, a spotlight picks out leopard, aardvark, bushbaby and the animals you never see by day.
Day by day
What each day looks like, from pickup in Nairobi to drop-off.
We meet you at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and take you to your hotel, where you'll be briefed on the trip ahead. The evening is yours, with dinner on your own.
Ole Sereni Hotel · Bed & breakfast
After breakfast your guide collects you for the drive south to Amboseli, arriving at camp for lunch. Your first game drive goes out in the late afternoon and runs until sunset, with elephant set against Mount Kilimanjaro.
Amboseli Kibo Safari Camp · Full-board
A full day in the park with a picnic lunch out in the bush, tracking elephant, lion, zebra and other plains game. A stop at Observation Hill gives you a wide view across the park towards Kilimanjaro.
Amboseli Kibo Safari Camp · Full-board
A day of driving north through Nairobi and the farmland of central Kenya to the Aberdare Country Club for a hot lunch. You then transfer to The Ark, inside Aberdare National Park, and spend the evening watching animals come to the waterhole after dark.
The Ark · Full-board
After breakfast you set off for the Rift Valley, crossing the Equator and passing Thomson's Falls, to reach Lake Nakuru Lodge for lunch. An afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park looks for rhino, flamingos, giraffe and much more.
Lake Nakuru Lodge · Full-board
An early game drive in the park before a full breakfast back at the lodge, then a short drive through the Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha in time for lunch. The afternoon is free, and you can add a boat trip on the lake to see hippo, fish eagles and other birds.
Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge · Full-board
After an early breakfast you drive across open grassland to the Maasai Mara, arriving at your lodge for lunch and a rest. Your first game drive in the reserve follows in the afternoon.
Mara Sopa Lodge · Full-board
A full day out in the reserve, with a picnic lunch at the Hippo Pool. Your guide spends the day looking for lion, leopard, elephant, giraffe, zebra and, in season, the migration herds, returning to the lodge in the evening.
Mara Sopa Lodge · Full-board
A final early game drive, then breakfast and the road back to Nairobi, arriving in the middle of the afternoon. You check in to a Nairobi hotel on bed and breakfast, with the evening free. Dinner at the Carnivore restaurant is a popular option at your own cost.
Where you'll stay
Lodges we book on this trip. If one is full on your dates, we'll offer a comparable property before you pay anything.
What's included
Included
- Airport meet and transfer to your Nairobi hotel on arrival
- Nairobi hotel nights on bed and breakfast
- Full-board lodges on safari (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- All national park and reserve entry fees
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof and driver-guide
- All game drives as per the itinerary
- 24/7 WhatsApp support from the Bookara team
Not included
- International and domestic flights
- Kenya eTA (government fee — we help you apply)
- Travel insurance
- Tips for your guide and lodge staff
- Dinners in Nairobi
- Optional activities such as the Lake Naivasha boat trip
- Drinks and personal expenses
Route & pickup
Where the trip goes, and where we meet you.
- 01 NairobiDay 1 · City
- 02 AmboseliDay 2 · National park & reserve
- 03 AberdareDay 4 · Mountain region
- 04 Lake NakuruDay 5 · Lake
- 05 Lake NaivashaDay 6 · Lake
- 06 Maasai MaraDay 7 · National park & reserve
- 07 NairobiDay 9 · City
Good to know
A 30% deposit holds your dates, and the balance is due 45 days before you travel (book closer than that and you pay in full). Cancel 90+ days before departure for a full refund, 60–89 days before for 50% back. Full terms.
Common questions
Will we see the wildebeest migration?+
The herds are usually in the Maasai Mara from about July to October, so travelling then gives you the best chance. Their movements change from year to year, so sightings and river crossings can never be promised.
What is The Ark like?+
It's a lodge inside Aberdare National Park built over a floodlit waterhole. Rather than going out on a drive, you watch from the lodge as elephant, buffalo and other animals come in to drink through the evening and night.
Is it private, and can we change the lodges?+
Yes, the 4x4 and driver-guide are yours alone and nobody else joins. You can also pick a different lodge standard above, or ask us to adjust the route or stays and we'll quote it.
Book on WhatsApp
Your chat opens with the trip pre-filled — no payment needed now. Our team replies between 7am–10pm EAT.
Request saved
WhatsApp is opening with your details pre-filled — just hit send.
- 1 Send the pre-filled messageYour trip details are already written for you.
- 2 Confirm in chat — or pay the deposit onlineSame reference either way. Our team replies 7am–10pm EAT.
- 3 Instant confirmationWhatsApp message + email receipt the moment your deposit lands.
Your request ref becomes your booking reference once the deposit is paid.
Book direct with the operator
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Licensed & certified
Kenya-registered operator in Nairobi with experienced driver-guides.
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Run from Nairobi
We plan and run your trip ourselves, with driver-guides we know, and stay reachable on WhatsApp throughout.
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Secure payment
Card or Apple Pay through Paystack (USD). Taxes and park fees are in the price you see.
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Flexible cancellation
Full refund up to 90 days before departure; a 30% deposit holds your dates.
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