10 Day Kenya Safari: The Grand Sopa Circuit

Our 10 day Kenya safari is the ultimate way to experience the country's greatest wildlife destinations in one seamless journey. From Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you travel to the elephants of Amboseli beneath Mount Kilimanjaro, cruise Lake Naivasha, spend three nights in the Masai Mara, track rhinos at Lake Nakuru and finish among the rare Special Five of Samburu, before returning to the airport.

This 10 day Kenya safari is designed for travellers who want to see it all: savannah, swamps, Rift Valley lakes and the dry north, five Sopa lodges and every member of the Big Five. Prices for 2, 4 and 6 guests sharing a double room are shown in the table above for low, mid and peak season.

In This Guide

• Safari at a Glance
• Day-by-Day Itinerary
• Where You Stay
• The Five Destinations
• Wildlife You Can Expect
• What Is Included
• Seasons and When to Go
• Tips for Your Safari
• Frequently Asked Questions

10 Day Kenya Safari at a Glance

• Duration: 10 days, 9 nights
• Route: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Amboseli (2 nights), Lake Naivasha (1 night), Masai Mara (3 nights), Lake Nakuru (1 night), Samburu (2 nights), JKIA
• Accommodation: Amboseli Sopa Lodge, Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort, Masai Mara Sopa Lodge, Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge and Samburu Sopa Lodge, all on full board
• Vehicle: private 4x4 pop-up roof Land Cruiser with a professional English-speaking driver-guide
• Highlights: elephants and Kilimanjaro, a Lake Naivasha boat ride and Crescent Island walk, three nights in the Mara, a Maasai village visit, rhinos at Nakuru and the Samburu Special Five
• Group sizes priced: 2, 4 or 6 guests sharing double rooms
• Best for: wildlife lovers, photographers, families and anyone who wants the complete Kenya experience

This 10 day Kenya safari is planned as a grand circuit. You begin in the south at Amboseli, cross the Rift Valley to the Mara, then travel north through Lake Nakuru to Samburu, before returning to Nairobi. Each long drive is broken up by a stop at a lake or park, so you see something new every day without spending too long on the road.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi (JKIA) to Amboseli

Your driver-guide meets you at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and drives south towards the Tanzanian border, where Kilimanjaro's snowy summit rises above the plains on clear days. You arrive at Amboseli Sopa Lodge for lunch, then set out on your first game drive in Amboseli National Park as elephant families walk to the swamps. Return to the lodge for dinner.

Meals: lunch and dinner. Overnight: Amboseli Sopa Lodge.

Day 2: A Full Day in Amboseli

Set out early to see Kilimanjaro at its clearest, then spend the day exploring the swamps and plains of Amboseli. Elephants wade through the water, hippos wallow and lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and wildebeest roam the grasslands. Climb Observation Hill for a panoramic view, enjoy lunch in the park or at the lodge, and continue with an afternoon game drive. Return to the lodge for dinner.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight: Amboseli Sopa Lodge.

Day 3: Amboseli to Lake Naivasha

After an early breakfast, you drive north past Nairobi into the Great Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha, arriving at Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort for lunch. In the afternoon, a boat carries you past hippos and fish eagles to Crescent Island, where you walk with a guide among giraffes, zebras and wildebeest. Dinner and overnight at the resort.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight: Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort.

Day 4: Lake Naivasha to the Masai Mara

After breakfast, you drive south-west through Narok to the Masai Mara, arriving at Masai Mara Sopa Lodge for lunch. Your first game drive in the reserve follows in the afternoon, with lions, elephants and herds of zebra and topi in the golden light. Return to the lodge for dinner.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight: Masai Mara Sopa Lodge.

Day 5: A Full Day in the Masai Mara

Spend the whole day exploring the Mara with a picnic lunch, travelling across the plains towards the Mara River. Your guide follows the latest sightings of lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants and buffaloes. Between July and October, you may witness a wildebeest crossing during the Great Migration. Return to the lodge for dinner.

Meals: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner. Overnight: Masai Mara Sopa Lodge.

Day 6: Masai Mara Game Drives and a Maasai Village Visit

A morning game drive is followed by lunch at the lodge and time to relax. In the afternoon you visit a Maasai village, where your hosts share their songs, the famous jumping dance and their traditions, then continue with a sunset game drive. Return to the lodge for dinner.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight: Masai Mara Sopa Lodge.

Day 7: Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru

After breakfast, you drive north into the Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park, checking in at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge for lunch. The afternoon game drive searches for white and black rhinos, Rothschild's giraffes and buffaloes, with pelicans along the shore and a stop at Baboon Cliff for the view. Return to the lodge for dinner.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge.

Day 8: Lake Nakuru to Samburu

After breakfast, you travel north, crossing the Equator and passing Mount Kenya before descending into the dry country of Samburu National Reserve. You check in at Samburu Sopa Lodge for lunch, then set out on an afternoon game drive in search of reticulated giraffes, Grevy's zebras and elephants. Return to the lodge for dinner.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight: Samburu Sopa Lodge.

Day 9: A Full Day in Samburu

Explore Samburu on morning and afternoon game drives or a full day with a picnic lunch, searching for the Special Five: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich. Elephants bathe in the Ewaso Ng'iro River, and lions and leopards rest in the shade. Your final evening of this 10 day Kenya safari ends with dinner under the northern stars.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight: Samburu Sopa Lodge.

Day 10: Samburu to Nairobi (JKIA)

After breakfast, you drive south past Mount Kenya to Nairobi, stopping for lunch en route. Your 10 day Kenya safari ends with a drop-off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Meals: breakfast and lunch en route.

Where You Stay

This 10 day Kenya safari uses five Sopa Lodges, all on full board:

• Amboseli Sopa Lodge (2 nights): cottages in gardens and acacia woodland with views towards Kilimanjaro. The lodge is outside the park, so park fees are charged for each day of game drives and are included.
• Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort (1 night): lakeside cottages beneath yellow fever trees, with lawns where hippos graze at night.
• Masai Mara Sopa Lodge (3 nights): thatched round cottages near the Oloolaimutia gate. The reserve management treats the lodge as part of the reserve, so reserve fees apply for each night and are included.
• Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge (1 night): inside the national park on the western escarpment, with views over the lake. Park fees for the night are included.
• Samburu Sopa Lodge (2 nights): inside Samburu National Reserve, with earthy cottages and a waterhole. Reserve fees for each night are included.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are covered throughout your 10 day Kenya safari, with a picnic lunch on the full Mara game-drive day and an en route lunch on the final day.

The Five Destinations

Amboseli National Park

Managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service, Amboseli covers about 392 square kilometres at the foot of Kilimanjaro, famous for its elephants. Read our guide to attractions in Amboseli National Park.

Lake Naivasha

A freshwater Rift Valley lake with hippos and more than 400 bird species. Crescent Island is reached by boat on this package, and both the boat ride and island entry are included. Read our guide to Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island.

The Masai Mara National Reserve

About 1,510 square kilometres of savannah managed by Narok County Government, with the Mara Triangle run by the Mara Conservancy. Read our Masai Mara safari guide.

Lake Nakuru National Park

A fenced rhino sanctuary managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service, part of the Kenya Lake System UNESCO World Heritage Site. Read our guide to flamingos in Lake Nakuru National Park.

Samburu National Reserve

About 165 square kilometres of semi-arid country along the Ewaso Ng'iro River, managed by the Samburu County Government. Read our guide to Samburu National Reserve and the Special Five.

Wildlife You Can Expect on a 10 Day Kenya Safari

• The Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos, with rhinos most reliably seen at Lake Nakuru.
• The Samburu Special Five: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich.
• Cheetahs: on the open plains of Amboseli, the Mara and Samburu.
• Elephants: large herds in Amboseli, along the Ewaso Ng'iro River and across the Mara.
• Giraffes: Masai, Rothschild's and reticulated giraffes, plus giraffes on foot at Crescent Island.
• Hippos and crocodiles: in the lakes, swamps and rivers.
• Birds: more than 500 species across the circuit, from pelicans and flamingos to vulturine guineafowl and secretary birds.

Few itineraries give you a better chance of seeing all of the Big Five and the Special Five in one trip. See our guide to the Big Five in Kenya and our guide to birdwatching in Kenya.

What Is Included in Your 10 Day Kenya Safari

Included

• Airport pick-up and drop-off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
• All accommodation at five Sopa lodges for 9 nights, sharing a double room
• Full board meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner, including a picnic lunch on the full Mara game-drive day
• En route lunch on the last day before your airport drop-off
• All park and reserve entry fees for Amboseli, the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Samburu
• Activity fees: Lake Naivasha boat ride, Crescent Island walking safari and Maasai village visit
• Transport in a private 4x4 pop-up roof Land Cruiser
• Services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide
• Drinking water in the vehicle during the safari

Not Included

• International and domestic flights
• Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) and travel insurance
• Drinks at the lodges, tips and items of a personal nature
• Optional activities such as a hot air balloon safari
• Room upgrades, suites and festive or Easter season supplements

Before you travel, apply for your Kenya eTA and read our Kenya visa guide.

Seasons and When to Go

The price table at the top of this page shows rates for three seasons, based on the dates used by the lodges:

• Low season: 1 April to 31 May, the green season during the long rains.
• Mid season: 2 January to 31 March, 1 to 30 June and 1 November to 21 December.
• Peak season: 1 July to 31 October and 22 December to 1 January.

Masai Mara reserve fees are higher from July to December, so guests travelling between 1 November and 21 December pay a small supplement per person, shown in the note under the price table. July to October is the most popular time for a 10 day Kenya safari, combining the Great Migration with dry conditions in Amboseli and Samburu. January to March is also excellent, while April and May offer lush scenery, fewer visitors and the lowest prices.

See our guide to the best time to visit Kenya month by month.

Tips for Your 10 Day Kenya Safari

• Arrive in the morning: so you reach Amboseli in time for the first afternoon game drive.
• Pack for different climates: hot days in Samburu and Amboseli, cool mornings at the lakes and in the Mara.
• Bring laundry-friendly clothes: most lodges offer a laundry service, so you can pack light.
• Wear closed shoes: for the walk on Crescent Island.
• Bring binoculars and a zoom lens: for birds and distant animals.
• Use soft luggage: it fits more easily into the Land Cruiser.

For a complete checklist, read our Kenya safari packing list and our complete Kenya safari planning guide.

Why Choose This 10 Day Kenya Safari

This 10 day Kenya safari is the most complete journey in our collection. You stay at five Sopa lodges in five very different destinations, from the foot of Kilimanjaro to the semi-desert of the north, with three nights in the Mara at the heart of the trip. The circuit is carefully planned to avoid backtracking and to break up longer drives with stops at lakes and parks.

On this 10 day Kenya safari, your private Land Cruiser and driver-guide stay with you for all ten days, so you build a real rapport and your guide learns exactly what you most want to see. The pop-up roof gives everyone a clear view and excellent photo opportunities.

With game drives, a boat ride, a walking safari and a cultural visit, the trip offers far more variety than a single-park safari, and the chance to see both the Big Five and the Special Five.

Driving Times on the Grand Circuit

Typical driving times on this 10 day Kenya safari are about four to five hours from the airport to Amboseli, five to six hours from Amboseli to Naivasha, four to five hours from Naivasha to the Mara, five to six hours from the Mara to Lake Nakuru, five to six hours from Nakuru to Samburu, and about six hours from Samburu back to the airport. Your guide stops for comfort breaks, viewpoints, the Equator and curio shops, and drinking water is always on hand.

If you would like to shorten any transfer, scheduled flights can replace some of the longer drives at extra cost. Ask us when you book.

A Journey Through Kenya's Cultures

Beyond the wildlife, a 10 day Kenya safari takes you through the homelands of several of Kenya's peoples. Around Amboseli and the Mara, you meet the Maasai, famous for their red shukas, beadwork and cattle culture. In the north, the Samburu share many Maasai traditions but have their own distinctive dress and customs. Along the way you pass the farms of central Kenya and the bustling towns of the Rift Valley, giving you a real sense of everyday life in the country.

The Maasai village visit in the Mara is included, and your guide can arrange a Samburu village visit on request. Always ask before photographing people, and buying crafts directly from the communities you meet is a wonderful way to support them.

Perfect for Families and Special Occasions

Many families choose this 10 day Kenya safari for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday, and a 10 day Kenya safari gives children time to settle in and enjoy every destination. It is equally popular for honeymoons, anniversaries and milestone birthdays. All five lodges have swimming pools, the variety of activities keeps every age engaged, and the lodges offer reduced rates for children sharing with adults. For couples, we can arrange room upgrades, special dinners or a beach extension at the end. Read our Kenya honeymoon safari guide and our guide to the best adventures for families with kids.

Extend Your Safari

• Finish on the beach using our Kenya safari and beach holiday guide
• Add a sunrise hot air balloon safari over the Mara
• Visit Ol Pejeta Conservancy on the way north
• Prefer something shorter? Try our 7 Day Kenya Safari: Amboseli to Masai Mara

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 10 day Kenya safari too long? Not at all. Ten days allows five destinations, three nights in the Mara and a relaxed pace, with plenty of rest at the lodges.

Is the boat ride included? Yes. Crescent Island is reached by boat on this package, and both the boat and island entry are included.

Can children join this 10 day Kenya safari? Yes. The lodges offer reduced rates for children sharing with adults. Contact us for a family quote.

Will we see the Big Five? Lions, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos are seen on most trips, and with three nights in the Mara and two in Samburu you have good chances of leopards too.

Is the vehicle private? Yes. Your group has its own 4x4 pop-up roof Land Cruiser and driver-guide throughout.

Can I tailor the 10 day Kenya safari? Yes. We can adjust the order, add nights or upgrade rooms.

Book Your 10 Day Kenya Safari

Ready for the complete Kenya experience? Check the price table above for your travel dates and group size, then send us a booking request using the form below, or contact us with any questions. You can also browse more Kenya safari packages.