Kenya: five parks · 10 days · 9 nights · Year-round · best Jul – Oct (migration)
10-Day Great Migration Safari
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.
From $4,468 per person
Specimen itinerary for planning purposes only — not a confirmed booking document.
Logistics & transport
- Pickup
- Confirmed 24 hours before departure on WhatsApp
- Guide language
- As selected at booking
- Group
- Private / small group · max 12 guests
Where you'll stay
Lodging varies by trip — tented camp, safari lodge, beach hotel, or city hotel as your package requires. The property for this package is confirmed in writing after you book — ask us on WhatsApp if you want options before paying.
Included in your package price — exact camp, lodge, or hotel confirmed after booking.
Indicative schedule — day by day
Planned rhythm for your trip — your guide may adjust on the day for conditions, light and wildlife.
Day 1: Arrive in Nairobi
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.
Day 2: Nairobi → Amboseli
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.
Day 3: Full day in Amboseli
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.
Day 4: Amboseli → Nairobi → Aberdares
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.
Day 5: Aberdares → Lake Nakuru
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.
Day 6: Lake Nakuru → Lake Naivasha
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.
Day 7: Lake Naivasha → Maasai Mara
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.
Day 8: Full day in the Maasai Mara
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.
Day 9: Maasai Mara → Nairobi
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.
Trip inclusions
- 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
Trip exclusions
- 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
Preparation & packing
Before you go
- This section is general Kenya travel guidance — not a substitute for official advice or your doctor.
- We confirm trip-specific details (property, pickup times, park rules) with you on WhatsApp before departure.
- Questions about 10-Day Great Migration Safari? Message us anytime — we'd rather you ask than guess.
Visa & entry
- Most visitors need a Kenya eTA before travel — apply at etakenya.go.ke and check the current fee and rules.
- Passport usually needs 6+ months' validity and blank pages — verify with your airline and immigration.
- Keep a printed copy of this itinerary and your eTA approval for border control.
Health
- Yellow fever certificate may be required depending on where you are travelling from — check Kenya's latest entry rules.
- Malaria prevention is commonly recommended for safari areas — ask your doctor well before you fly.
- Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is strongly recommended.
- Bring personal medication in original packaging.
Weather & clothing
- Safari mornings and evenings are often cooler than midday — layers work better than one heavy coat.
- Neutral colours (khaki, olive, beige) are standard for game drives.
- Rain can appear in any season — a light waterproof layer is worth packing.
- We send a short weather note for your dates once your trip is confirmed.
Packing list
- Comfortable closed shoes for walking + sandals for camp or lodge
- Sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
- Binoculars if you have a pair (optional — ask us if you'd like a recommendation)
- Power bank + travel adaptor (Kenya commonly uses Type G plugs, 240V)
- Soft bag often works better than a hard suitcase if your trip includes light-aircraft legs — we'll confirm luggage limits for your routing
- Some cash in USD (clean, newer bills) or KES for tips and small purchases
- Insect repellent
Money & connectivity
- Cards work in Nairobi and at many properties; cash is still useful for tips and markets.
- M-Pesa is widely used in Kenya — we can walk you through it on arrival if helpful.
- Wi‑Fi varies by property (lodge, camp, or hotel) — signal on game drives is usually limited.
- Tipping customs vary by property and guide — we share current guidelines for your trip before you travel.