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9 Day Kenya Northern Reserves and Mara Circuit
Kenya • 9 Days

9 Day Kenya Northern Reserves and Mara Circuit

Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru, the Masai Mara and Lake Naivasha on a nine-day road circuit.

PricingTailor-made
Safari Summary

Go beyond the expected.

A classic Kenyan circuit. Samburu's river oasis, the chimpanzee sanctuary at Ol Pejeta, flamingos at Lake Nakuru, two nights in the Masai Mara and a lakeside night at Naivasha.

Safari Highlights
  • Samburu's special species
  • Ol Pejeta Conservancy and chimpanzee sanctuary
  • Lake Nakuru flamingos
  • Masai Mara game drives
  • Lake Naivasha
At a glance

What's included

✓ Included

  • Airport transfers
  • Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle with driver-guide
  • Accommodation and meals as specified
  • Park and reserve entrance fees for the activities listed

× Not included

  • International flights
  • Visa fees
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Personal expenses
  • Alcoholic beverages
Good to know

Confirm current park fees, permit availability, accommodation and pricing before booking, since these can change with season and demand. Access to remote areas should be confirmed before travel.

Safari Details

Day by day

Day 1 Arrival in Nairobi

Nairobi

Arrive and transfer to your hotel.

AccommodationHotel in Nairobi
MealsDinner at your own expense
TransportAirport transfer
Day 2 To Samburu

Samburu National Reserve

Drive north past Mount Kenya to Samburu for an afternoon game drive.

AccommodationLodge in Samburu
MealsBreakfast, lunch, dinner
TransportPrivate 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
Day 3 Samburu and Buffalo Springs

Samburu and Buffalo Springs

A full day of game drives and birdwatching, looking for wild dogs and the northern specials.

AccommodationLodge in Samburu
MealsBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
TransportPrivate 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
Day 4 Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Morning and afternoon game drives and a visit to the chimpanzee sanctuary.

AccommodationLodge at Ol Pejeta
MealsBreakfast, lunch, dinner
TransportPrivate 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
Day 5 Lake Nakuru

Lake Nakuru National Park

Cross the equator and stop at Thomson's Falls, then take an afternoon game drive among the flamingos.

AccommodationLodge near Lake Nakuru
MealsBreakfast, lunch, dinner
TransportPrivate 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
Day 6 To the Masai Mara

Masai Mara

Drive to the Mara for a welcome drink and an afternoon game drive.

AccommodationLodge in the Mara
MealsBreakfast, lunch, dinner
TransportPrivate 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
Day 7 Masai Mara full day

Masai Mara

Morning and afternoon game drives for lion, cheetah, elephant, giraffe and zebra.

AccommodationLodge in the Mara
MealsBreakfast, lunch, dinner
TransportPrivate 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
Day 8 Lake Naivasha

Lake Naivasha

Drive to Lake Naivasha with a free afternoon for lakeside activities.

AccommodationLodge at Lake Naivasha
MealsBreakfast, lunch, dinner
TransportPrivate 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
OptionalBoat trip or walk on Crescent Island
Day 9 Return to Nairobi

Nairobi

Drive to Nairobi with a shopping stop and transfer to the airport.

AccommodationNot needed
MealsBreakfast
TransportPrivate 4x4 safari vehicle and airport transfer

Travel Guide

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Need to know?

Questions about 9 Day Kenya Northern Reserves and Mara Circuit

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Can I combine a Kenya safari with the coast?

Yes. Pairing a Maasai Mara or Amboseli safari with a few days on the Kenyan coast (Diani, Watamu or Lamu) is a well-established combination, giving a wildlife-then-beach structure to the safari.

Do I need a visa to visit Kenya?

Most nationalities need an eTA (electronic travel authorisation) for Kenya, applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so confirm current guidance for your passport ahead of your safari.

How many days do I need for a Kenya safari?

A focused Maasai Mara safari can work in 3–4 days, while combining the Mara with Amboseli, another park or the coast generally calls for 7–10 days. We shape the length around what you want to include.

How many national parks does Kenya have?

Kenya protects its wildlife across more than sixty national parks and reserves, an unusually extensive network for a single country: from the Maasai Mara and Amboseli in the south to Samburu and the arid northern reserves, each holding a somewhat different range of species.

What wildlife can I expect to see in Kenya beyond the migration?

Kenya’s parks hold resident wildlife year-round regardless of migration timing; the Maasai Mara and Amboseli both offer strong odds of the Big Five, along with healthy cheetah populations and, in Amboseli, some of Africa’s most reliable large elephant herds.

When is the best time to see the wildebeest migration in Kenya?

The migration’s presence in Kenya’s Maasai Mara is most likely from around July to October, when large herds typically cross from Tanzania’s Serengeti, though exact timing shifts year to year with rainfall patterns.