NAIROBI, SAMBURU, LAKE NAKURU, MASAI MARA
Take a walk on the wild side with this small-group Kenya tour including airfare from the U.S.! Begin your adventure in Nairobi, before venturing out to explore captivating scenery and spot exotic animals. Visit the home of Karen Blixen, author of Out of Africa, and have the amazing opportunity to feed and admire giraffes. Then, witness exciting wildlife on safari in the Samburu National Reserve, Lake Nakuru, and Masai Mara National Reserve. Game drives flourish with animals, both fierce and docile—from noble lions and fleet-footed cheetahs to strong, but peaceful elephants. At Lake Nakuru National Park, you’ll also find a rhino sanctuary and pink flamingos huddling around the lake. Enjoy the chance to unwind with tranquil surroundings after adventurous game drives during the day.
Extend Your Trip! Enjoy our 17-day Kenya Wildlife Safari with Tanzania & the Serengeti tour which includes visits to three game reserves in Tanzania and two nights in Serengeti National Park.
Did you know you can make this tour private? Find out about pricing and options
for groups of 15 or more travelers.
Itinerary at
a Glance
Tour Itinerary:
- 2 nights in Nairobi
- 2 nights Samburu – Buffalo Springs
- 2 nights in Lake Nakuru
- 3 nights in Masai Mara
Tour Highlights
- Safari game drives at all National Parks
- Afew Giraffe Centre to feed rare Rothschild's giraffes
- Sandstorm Kenya, family-owned leather goods maker (2024 departures)
- Visit home of Karen Blixen, famed author of "Out of Africa"
- Mt. Kenya
- Samburu–Buffalo Springs
- Nanyuki Weavers & Spinners, Women's Self-Help Project (2024 departures)
- Lake Nakuru National Park
- Masai Mara National Reserve
- Masai Village
- Opportunity to see The Big 5
Your Tour Includes
- Optional round-trip airfare from the New York area (varies by departure) including taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
- Airfare taxes, fees, and fuel surcharges
- Accommodations at first class hotels & safari lodges
- 26 meals: 9 buffet breakfasts, 8 lunches, 9 dinners
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours and game-viewing drives
- Guaranteed window seat and access to pop-up roof hatch, 4 X 4 Vehicles, maximum 6 guests per safari vehicle
- Experienced English-speaking safari driver-guide/game spotter
Max Group Size: 17 travelers
Activity Level: Level 1
Expect most included touring to require walking and standing periods up to 3 hours at a time (up to 2 times per day) on easy terrain with some light stairs. Learn More
Pacing Level: Moderate
Expect full-day tours most days with some limited free time at specific sites, for meals, and/or in the evenings. You can expect several early mornings and/or long travel days by bus (don’t worry—there are always comfort stops!), and you may expect to stay in most accommodations for 2+ nights (with limited 1-night stays). Learn More
Additional Entry Requirements for U.S. Passport Holders
A valid passport is required for international tours. There are entry requirements for U.S. passport holders. Please visit our Passports & Visas page to learn more about any required actions, next steps, and additional costs.
Travel point to point in safari vehicles and on bumpy and uneven roads. Safari vehicles have high ground clearance and require agility to embark and disembark. As this is a driving program, the average safari drives are 4-5 hours long per day. Generally, the drives depart in the morning and arrive at the next destination for lunch, before continuing on the afternoon game drive. The Driver-Guides may suggest switching to full-day game drives to maximize game viewing.
On safari, many lodges are powered by generators or solar panels. These are often turned off during parts of the day and night to reduce noise and fuel consumption.
For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit
our Before You Depart section.
Passengers who purchase flights will depart 1 day before the tour starts and return 1 day after the tour ends.
For flight details, see Before You Depart.
Arrive in Nairobi today, Kenya's vibrant capital. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive program will be met and transferred to the hotel. This evening, a safari briefer will host an orientation followed by a welcome dinner.
Accommodations: Ole Sereni or similar
Meals: Dinner
This morning, we'll visit the Afew Giraffe Centre where we can admire and feed the gentle and rare Rothschild’s giraffes. Next, we'll enjoy lunch at Karen Blixen Coffee Garden followed by a visit to the home of Karen Blixen, coffee farmer and famed author of “Out of Africa”. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure.
Note: 2024 departures will make an additional visit to Sandstorm Kenya, a family-owned company that started off making safari tents and expanded into other leather bags.
Accommodations: Ole Sereni Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Over the next week, we'll venture into Kenya's most captivating wildlife sanctuaries, set amid the beauty of the surrounding wilderness. This morning we'll travel northward to the Central Highlands where we'll cross the Equator as we approach majestic Mt. Kenya, a dormant volcano with a glittering cap of snow and ice. After a stop for lunch, we'll continue our drive to Samburu National Reserve - Buffalo Springs in Kenya's semi-desert, rugged northern frontier. En route to our lodge, we'll enjoy your first game-viewing drive. We'll have time to settle into our comfortable lodge in the heart of the reserve in time for dinner. Later continue to Samburu, arriving late afternoon.
Accommodations: Samburu Sopa Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Set in an extraordinary region along the Ewaso Ngiro River, Samburu–Buffalo Springs is home to some of Africa's rarest game species. The river's permanent waters abound with crocodiles and hippos, and attract plenty of wildlife including the Grevy's zebra, the long-necked gerenuk antelope, the shy oryx beisa, and the Somali ostrich. Leopards, cheetahs, and lions are also found in the reserve. Our full day of game viewing starts with an early morning safari when the animals are most active. We'll need to keep our cameras ready, our game spotter will lead us in search of the animals and we'll have plenty of opportunities to photograph our sightings. We'll return to the lodge for breakfast and relax by the pool. This afternoon, we'll venture out on additional game viewing.
Accommodations: Samburu Sopa Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we'll travel southwest towards the central highlands. We'll stop for lunch before continuing to Lake Nakuru National Park, one of Kenya's finest rhino sanctuaries. Here, we'll admire the flamingos and other abundant birds dancing along the lake's shoreline. We'll experience a short game drive en route to our lodge this afternoon.
Note: 2024 departures will make an additional morning stop at Nanyuki Weavers & Spinners, a women's self-help project. This project was started to train poor, widowed and single women living near Nanyuki the craft of spinning, knitting and weaving in order to be self-reliant.
Accommodations: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, we'll enjoy two game drives to explore Lake Nakuru National Park's extraordinary beauty and uniqueness. We may manage to spot some cape buffalo, African wild dogs, waterbuck, lions, and zebra along the way!
Accommodations: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we'll drive to the fabled Masai Mara National Reserve, rich with wildlife, birds, natural flora, and stunning scenic beauty. The Masai Mara is the northern extension of Tanzania's famous Serengeti Plains and is Kenya's premier location for wildlife viewing as it's home to a thriving population of lion, cheetah, hippo, crocodile, zebra, giraffe, elephant, wildebeest, and impala. This afternoon we'll enjoy a thrilling game-viewing drive in this photographer's paradise.
Accommodations: Mara Sopa Lodge or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Early this morning, we may join an exhilarating optional hot-air balloon safari above the Masai Mara's plains. Included in today's program are additional morning and late afternoon safaris led by our game spotter who will take us in search of the Big Five: elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard, and the much rarer rhino. In between game drives, we can relax at our comfortable lodge, take a dip in the pool, and enjoy the delicious food served.
Accommodations: Mara Sopa Lodge or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is our last full day to bask in our beautiful surroundings with two game drives plus a visit to a Masai village. One of the most iconic tribal groups in all of Africa, the Maasai are the dominant ethnic group surrounding the Masai Mara. This nomadic warrior tribe once held vast swathes of pre-colonial Kenya and still retains many of their traditions as they live largely untouched by modern-day civilizations in areas surrounding Masai Mara. This evening, we'll enjoy a farewell dinner together.
Accommodations: Mara Sopa Lodge or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, we'll drive back to Nairobi, arriving mid-afternoon. The balance of the day is free to explore Nairobi independently or pick up our last gifts and souvenirs. This evening, we'll transfer to the airport for our return flight.
Note: 2023 departures on Emirates flights will include a day room and dinner. The Kenya Airways flight schedule does not accommodate a day room and dinner and these services are forfeited.
Accommodations: Ole Sereni† or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Instant Savings of up to $400 per person for a handful of spots on select dates. While supplies lasts, ends Sep 29.
Prices listed as “with flights” below include round-trip
airfare from one or more airports in the USA.
Travelers may choose to purchase the tour only,
and arrange their own arrival in destination.
Please note this may change your tour start date.
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$4,449 |
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$3,399 |
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$5,099 |
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Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a
date above to see the rates for that specific departure.
For more information on this tour, please
contact us here
or call us during business hours (Monday-Friday from 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Eastern)
at 1.800.337.7773.
Reservations and Payments
Reservations can be made online or by phone
(1.800.337.7773)
and will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable,
non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the
time of reservation.
Deposits are $300 per person.
Full payment is due 125 days prior to departure.
Space and prices subject to availability.
Please see the
smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete
booking information.
Optional Tours
Customize your trip with these optional tours.
Enhance your trip with our recommended optional tours.
Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book
when you reserve your trip and can be added to your
reservation up to final payment. This is the best option
to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour!
Optional tours require a minimum number of participants.
Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.
Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and
may cost extra. The payment methods and currency
information to purchase tours in-destination will be
provided on final documentation.
Take to the sky over herds of wildlife in the Masai Mara game reserve, flying in a hot air balloon. The balloon can soar over the most inaccessible and undisturbed parts of the reserve and offers a bird’s eye view of the plains below. At the conclusion of your incredible flight, you’ll be treated to a champagne breakfast in the bush. Before returning to your lodge, your balloon pilot will present you with a Balloon Flight Certificate. This is certain to become a once-in-a-lifetime experience you will remember long after returning from Kenya! (Please be advised that flight may not operate if weather conditions are not suitable for balloon flying).
Note: Participants must be of reasonable fitness and not appropriate for women who are pregnant or people with osteoporosis, etc. You must be at least 4'6' in height and passengers over 265 lbs must book 2 seats.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
Featured Accommodations
P. O Box 18187 – 00500,
Nairobi, Kenya
Website
Samburu National ReserveKenya
Website
Lake Nakuru National Park. 165 Km from Nairobi.
Website
C14, Keekorok, Oloolaimutia Valley
Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Website
Cindy A
This was the trip of a lifetime to Kenya. The accommodations were top notch and our guide was extremely knowledgeable. There were just 15 people in our group and our shared experiences were fantastic. We saw all the big 5: Lion, elephant, leopard, rhino and cape buffalo. So many zebras that we stopped taking photos! A few even showed up on our doorstep at Mara Sopa! Even the flights on Emirates Airlines were great. I can’t say enough about how wonderful this trip was and what a great price.
J. M
This was a truly fabulous tour. We had very knowledgeable guide/drivers who had an answer for every question. They knew just where to look to see the elusive leopard, and we had the best luck locating lions, rhinos, hyenas, jackals, elephants, cheetah's and so many antelope! The accommodations each night were wonderful and the staff was very attentive to our needs. The food was delicious and varied from hotel to hotel. This was my first experience with SmarTours and I was very impressed. Will definitely consider them for our upcoming trip to Egypt. This trip was a great way to see everything on your list when going on Safari.
James E
Overall this was an awesome experience. I would recommend smartours to family and friends
Ute A
Our Kenya Safari was a fabulous experience. This was my third SmarTours trip and they never disappoint. Hotels and drivers were excellent, food was designed to meet all dietary standards and the wildlife experience was absolutely spectacular. Our safety was always a priority and we were well taken care of. You really can’t find a better value for such an extraordinary experience! I already booked my fourth tour to India and expect to do many more.
Linda F
I enjoyed my African Safari to Kenya & Tanzania. The guides were experts, the lodges were superb, we saw the Big 5, loved the lakes Manyara & Nakuru I visited, also stopped on the Equator, the climate was wonderful, & visited some of the local tribes too. This was a very well rounded trip!
Kathryn H
This trip was in the top 3 of my whole life! It was so fabulous from the organization to the safari drives to the hotels and all of the staff-especially our driver Ahmed! Smartours is the best tour company ever and they did not disappoint! The hot air balloon ride was the icing on the cake!! We’ll worth the money spent!
Jill C
Great experience! Saw a lot more animals than I expected!
James P
Fantastic trip! I just did not care for The Ark, because my room smelled bad and the bed was too small.
K. B
SmarTours is a great company to use for international travel. The accommodations are four star. The tour directors are extremely informative and the sites chosen are wonderful.
Laurie H
Excellent value for the cost of the trip! Our guide, Abi, has to be the best game guide in all of Kenya! We saw every animal (and more) than expected. The hotels were wonderful, especially in Masai Mara which was the highlight of the trip. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.. I would do it again in a minute! Our group was 7 people.. a perfect number, as we were not crowed in the jeeps, and were treated so well. Unforgettable!
CM H
Oh my goodness, What a fabulous trip. We enjoyed the diversity of areas visited and the numbers and close proximity of the wildlife viewed. Our guides were fantastic, accommodations good especially considering that we were out in the middle of nowhere, the lodges beautiful and when you consider the cost vs what we received it was an excellent value. This trip was not for someone who grows weary of driving as there is a lot of that, but because we traveled to 4 different preserves/areas all across Kenya, driving is a part of it. I feel like we saw more, did more and experienced a greater variety of wildlife than we would have with a trip that only features 1 or 2 areas. The added experiences of visiting the Samburu and Masai tribes and the amazing hot air balloon ride were valuable and not to be missed. I will cherish this trip forever.
Marc
Just returned from my Kenyan Safari; a 'once-in-a-lifetime' must. Special thanks, and compliments, to both Ferdinand and Francis- both excellent, professional and personable guides- for their help in making this trip so informative and memorable.
RG f
I just returned from my Kenyan Safari.
The experience exceeded my expectations.
Our guide Ferdinand was amazing. He was a true professional, knowledgeable and accommodating. Considering you will be traveling several days with your guide having the right personality is very important.
Most important he shielded us and advised us on how to work with the Kenyans especially when shopping.
He actively pursued a refund when we were over charged by a local hot air baloon company. He brought us our refunds personally to insure our satisfaction
I will definitely request him next time.
Hotels were located inside the game reserve. Very clean and comfortable.
Food was above average considering you are in the middle of the savannah
We saw all the favorite animals and more.
Another great expietence checked off my bucket list.
Gong to be hard to top this trip.
Pamela
Not quite clear in description of Kenya Safari. I was not aware of the arduous ride daily in a ATV for many hours. It was quite uncomfortable. The staff was great, the hotels and food were amazing, and the schedule was OK. A bit coerced into visiting the Maasai , price varied from tour to tour as we discussed with others. Great size of group , we had 11. Good thongs to say, just need more info on the difficulty of the terrain. Animals were fantastic! trip of a lifetime!
Patricia
Kenya/Tanzania tour was great. We saw lots of amazing wildlife and our jeep drivers/ guides were knowledgeable and experienced. Accommodation was varied and some was above expectations. All were unique. Food was very good.
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