Kenya · Safari

9-Day Kenya Safari from Nairobi with Shaba, Nakuru and Masai Mara

9 Days Round trip from Nairobi Easy pace

Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge: Kenya Safari Lodge in Lake Nakuru National Park

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Stay at Sarova Shaba Game Lodge, Sarova Lion Hill, and Sarova Mara Game Camp
02 Explore Shaba's dramatic dry grasslands, woodlands, and volcanic desert by safari vehicle
03 Discover Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for its flamingos and rich birdlife
04 Spend two full days on game drives across the open plains of the Masai Mara
05 Enjoy a Boma dinner in a traditional Masai Manyatta under star-studded African skies

Embark on a 9-day safari through Kenya's iconic wildlife landscapes, from Nairobi to Shaba Game Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, and the legendary Masai Mara. Travel in a custom-made 4x4 WD Safari Land Cruiser with a professional driver guide, and enjoy immersive game drives across dramatic dry grasslands, bird-rich lakeshores, and the Mara's open plains. Along the way, stay at Sarova's renowned safari lodges and experience a memorable Boma dinner in a traditional Masai Manyatta under star-studded African skies.

Enjoy a sumptuous meal while listening to the sounds of the African wild under the light of Roman stars and safari lanterns.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 9 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Cities Nanyuki, Nairobi, Masai Mara, Mount Kenya, Lake Nakuru National Park, Samburu

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival in Nairobi and Journey Toward Shaba

Check for flights arriving in the evening for an overnight stay in Nairobi ahead of your planned safari itinerary.
You will be met on arrival by our team at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
After a short briefing, depart and drive to Sarova Panafric Hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Sarova Panafric

6:30 hrs - Early morning breakfast followed by a pre-safari briefing from your designated driver guide and our team.
At 7:30 am, depart for Sarova Shaba Game Lodge on a picturesque 5-hour drive along the curving roads around Mt. Kenya, crossing the equator at Nanyuki and arriving in time for lunch or a late lunch.

Day 02

Afternoon Game Drive in Shaba National Reserve

Set within Shaba's dramatic scenery of dry grasslands, woodlands, and volcanic desert, and overlooking the Ewaso Nyiro River just east of Samburu, this is also the "Born Free Country" that Joy and George Adamson called home for many years.
16:00 hrs: Enjoy an afternoon game viewing drive in the Shaba National Reserve.
Return to camp in time to refresh for dinner.

All meals and overnight at Sarova Shaba Game Lodge.

Day 03

Full-Day Safari in Shaba Reserve

A full day in the reserve with morning and afternoon game viewing drives.

All meals and overnight at Sarova Shaba Game Lodge.

Day 04

Drive to Lake Nakuru and Afternoon Game Viewing

Early breakfast at the lodge. 08:00 hrs: Depart and drive to Sarova Lion Hill to arrive in time for lunch or a late lunch.

Lake Nakuru National Park

The park, coloured by a shimmering flamingo pink from thousands of beautiful birds lining its shores, is a popular place with visitors as well as locals.

Sarova Lion Hill

This is one of the few lodges within Lake Nakuru National Park.
16:00 hrs: Enjoy an afternoon game viewing drive in Lake Nakuru National Park.
Return to the lodge in time to refresh for dinner.

All meals and overnight at Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge.

Day 05

Full-Day Wildlife Experience at Lake Nakuru

A full day in the park with morning and afternoon game viewing drives.

All meals and overnight at Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge.

Day 06

Journey to the Masai Mara

After breakfast, at 07:30 hrs depart and drive to Masai Mara Game Reserve to arrive in time for lunch or a late lunch.

Sarova Mara Game Camp

The Sarova Mara Game Camp epitomizes the all-time classic luxury safari accommodation, incorporating game viewing, safari walks, sport fishing, and other adventurous activities with superb tented safari accommodation.

Dinner and overnight at Sarova Mara Game Camp.

Day 07

Masai Mara Game Drives and Boma Dining

Two full days in the Mara with morning and afternoon game drives in the reserve at 06:30 hrs and 16:00 hrs respectively.
Certainly the most frequented game reserve in Kenya, Maasai Mara is a magnificent landscape of open plains bisected by the Mara River and its tributaries and punctuated by marshes and forests.

Boma Dining

A real-life experience of dinner in a traditional Masai Manyatta (homestead).
Enjoy this exotic dining experience under the majesty of star-studded African skies, accentuated by a log bonfire and laced with cultural dances and lively entertainment.
Enjoy a sumptuous meal while listening to the sounds of the African wild under the light of Roman stars and safari lanterns. You will live to remember this remarkable experience. This should be a definite "must do".

All meals and overnight at Sarova Mara Game Camp.

Day 08

Departure from Masai Mara to Nairobi

Early morning breakfast at the camp and thereafter check out and depart for Nairobi.
9:30 hrs: Depart for Nairobi to arrive at around 17:00 hrs.
Be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your scheduled flight departing late at night.

Where this trip takes you

Masai Mara open plains, Lake Nakuru National Park flamingo shores, Ewaso Nyiro River and Shaba woodlands

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Nairobi 6 cities · 9 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Airport transfers and meet-and-greet services
Pre- and post-safari briefing
1 night stay at Sarova Panafric Hotel
2 nights on a full-board basis at Sarova Shaba Game Lodge
2 nights stay at Sarova Lion Hill - Lake Nakuru National Park
3 nights stay at Sarova Mara Game Camp
Game drives in a custom-made 4x4 WD Safari Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof for maximum game viewing, and everyone is guaranteed a window seat
Services of a professional driver guide
Daily safari and wildlife briefing

What's Not Included

International flights and visa entry services to Kenya
Park entry fees for Shaba Game Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, and Mara Game Reserve
All items of personal use, such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls, tips, gratuities, and personal insurance

What to bring

Carry some warm clothes.

Know before you go

Child policy rate will apply on request.
Depending on your flight departure timings, we can book you a hotel in Nairobi for refreshing and relaxing and later transfer you to the airport to catch your international flight back home, or you can extend your stay with an extension to the coastal region, either Mombasa or Diani.
This 650 sq kilometer Mara reserve supports the highest density of game to be seen anywhere considering its size.
It is on this very terrain that the annual migration takes place, when millions of zebra, wildebeest, and gazelle cross the plains below on their way to the rich new grasses of the Serengeti - a spectacle that should be witnessed in one's lifetime.
A remarkable feature of Lake Nakuru National Park is that it hosts over 450 species of birds, one of the world's highest bird diversities, including a large gathering of long-legged, long-necked pink flamingos.
Besides the greater and lesser flamingos, Lake Nakuru National Park is home to many other species including the Great-crested Grebe, black-necked Grebe, Little Grebe, Pelicans, Cormorant, African Darter, Egyptian Geese, night Heron, Fish Eagle, Grey Heron, Marabou stork, Sacred and Hadada Ibis.
This park is coloured by a shimmering flamingo pink from thousands of beautiful birds lining its shores, making it a popular place with visitors as well as locals.
The reserve boasts fame for its abundance of rare northern specialist species such as the Grevy Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk, and the Beisa Oryx (also referred to as Samburu Special).
The Shaba National Game Reserve is also popular with elephants; large predators such as the Lion, Leopard, and Cheetah are an important attraction. Kamunyak, the Miracle Lioness that adapted the baby Oryx, is a resident in the reserve.
Wild dog sightings are also a common attraction in this unique protected area.
Rated among the best hotels in Nairobi, Sarova Panafric is located only 5 minutes' drive from the Central Business District (CBD) and 18 km from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Sarova Panafric has been styled to provide you with high and modern standards of comfort while maintaining its African heritage.