7 Day Kenya Safari: Amboseli to Masai Mara

Our 7 day Kenya safari is a classic journey through the country's most celebrated landscapes. Starting and ending at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you see elephants beneath Mount Kilimanjaro in Amboseli, cruise Lake Naivasha and walk on Crescent Island, track rhinos at Lake Nakuru and spend two nights among the big cats of the Masai Mara.

This 7 day Kenya safari is ideal for first-time visitors who want a complete picture of Kenya in one week, as well as families, couples and photographers looking for variety at a comfortable pace. 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 Four Destinations
• Wildlife You Can Expect
• What Is Included
• Seasons and When to Go
• Tips for Your Safari
• Frequently Asked Questions

7 Day Kenya Safari at a Glance

• Duration: 7 days, 6 nights
• Route: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Amboseli (2 nights), Lake Naivasha (1 night), Lake Nakuru (1 night), Masai Mara (2 nights), JKIA
• Accommodation: Amboseli Sopa Lodge, Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort, Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge and Masai Mara 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, rhinos at Lake Nakuru, big cats in the Mara and a Maasai village visit
• Group sizes priced: 2, 4 or 6 guests sharing double rooms
• Best for: first-time visitors, families, couples and photographers

This 7 day Kenya safari follows a natural loop. After Amboseli in the south, you travel through Nairobi to the Rift Valley lakes, where two short stays break up the journey and add very different experiences, before finishing in the Masai Mara. Every destination is a highlight in its own right, so there are no wasted days on the road.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi (JKIA) to Amboseli

Your 7 day Kenya safari begins when your driver-guide meets you at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. After loading your luggage into the Land Cruiser, you head south towards the Tanzanian border through dry bush and Maasai grazing land. On a clear day, Kilimanjaro's snowy summit appears on the horizon long before you arrive.

You reach Amboseli Sopa Lodge in time for lunch. In the afternoon you drive into Amboseli National Park for your first game drive, watching elephant families walk across the plains towards the swamps as the mountain emerges from the clouds. Return to the lodge for dinner.

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

Day 2: A Full Day in Amboseli

Set out early, when Kilimanjaro is usually at its clearest, for a full day in Amboseli. Your guide explores the swamps of Enkongo Narok and Longinye, where elephants wade and hippos wallow, and the open plains where lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and wildebeest roam. A climb up Observation Hill offers a panoramic view of the park. Lunch can be taken as a picnic or at the lodge, followed by 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 and down into the Great Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha, arriving at Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort for lunch. In the afternoon, a boat takes you across the lake past hippos, fish eagles and drowned acacia trees to Crescent Island, where you walk with a guide among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and waterbuck. Dinner and overnight at the resort.

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

Day 4: Lake Naivasha to Lake Nakuru

After a relaxed breakfast by the lake, a short drive takes you to Lake Nakuru National Park, where you check in at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge for lunch. In the afternoon you explore the park on a game drive, one of Kenya's best places to see both white and black rhinos. Rothschild's giraffes, buffaloes and waterbucks graze in the grasslands, pelicans gather along the shore, and Baboon Cliff offers a sweeping view of the lake. Return to the lodge for dinner.

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

Day 5: Lake Nakuru to the Masai Mara

After breakfast, you drive south through Narok into Maasai country and on to the Masai Mara, arriving at Masai Mara Sopa Lodge for lunch. In the afternoon you set out on your first game drive in the reserve, searching for lions, elephants and herds of zebra, topi and gazelle as the light turns golden. Return to the lodge at sunset for dinner.

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

Day 6: A Full Day in the Masai Mara and a Maasai Village Visit

The highlight of your 7 day Kenya safari is a full day in the Masai Mara with a picnic lunch. Your guide follows the latest sightings in search of lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants and buffaloes. Between July and October, you may head to the Mara River hoping to witness a wildebeest crossing. In the late afternoon you visit a Maasai village, where your hosts share their songs, dances and traditions. Return to the lodge for dinner.

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

Day 7: Masai Mara to Nairobi (JKIA)

After breakfast, you drive back to Nairobi, stopping for lunch en route. Your 7 day Kenya safari ends with a drop-off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in time for your onward flight.

Meals: breakfast and lunch en route.

Where You Stay

Amboseli Sopa Lodge (2 nights)

Amboseli Sopa Lodge sits in gardens and acacia woodland on the eastern side of the Amboseli ecosystem, with cottages, a swimming pool and views towards Kilimanjaro. The lodge is outside the park, so park fees are charged for each day you enter on game drives, and both days are included in your price.

Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort (1 night)

Set on the lake shore beneath yellow fever trees, the resort has spacious cottages, a swimming pool and lawns where hippos graze at night.

Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge (1 night)

Inside Lake Nakuru National Park on the western escarpment, the lodge offers rooms with balconies overlooking the lake. Park fees for the night you stay are included.

Masai Mara Sopa Lodge (2 nights)

Thatched round cottages on a hillside near the Oloolaimutia gate, with a pool and terraces. The reserve management treats the lodge as part of the reserve, so reserve fees apply for each night, and these are included.

All meals on your 7 day Kenya safari are on a full board basis, so breakfast, lunch and dinner are covered throughout.

The Four Destinations

Amboseli National Park

Managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service, Amboseli covers about 392 square kilometres at the foot of Kilimanjaro. Springs fed by the mountain create swamps that attract large elephant herds. 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.

Lake Nakuru National Park

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

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. Famous for big cats and the Great Migration. Read our Masai Mara safari guide.

Wildlife You Can Expect on a 7 Day Kenya Safari

• Elephants: large herds in Amboseli, often with Kilimanjaro behind them, and family groups in the Mara.
• Rhinos: white and black rhinos at Lake Nakuru.
• Big cats: lions and cheetahs in Amboseli and the Mara, with leopards possible at Nakuru and in the Mara.
• Buffaloes and hippos: in the swamps, lakes and rivers.
• Giraffes: Masai giraffes in Amboseli and the Mara, Rothschild's giraffes at Nakuru and giraffes on foot at Crescent Island.
• Birds: fish eagles, pelicans, flamingos, crowned cranes, kingfishers and hundreds more.

With four very different ecosystems, a 7 day Kenya safari on this route gives you an excellent chance of seeing all of the Big Five. See our guide to the Big Five in Kenya.

What Is Included in Your 7 Day Kenya Safari

Included

• Airport pick-up and drop-off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
• All accommodation: 2 nights at Amboseli Sopa Lodge, 1 night at Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort, 1 night at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge and 2 nights at Masai Mara Sopa Lodge, 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, Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara
• 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. A 7 day Kenya safari on this route is excellent all year: July to October for the migration, January to March for warm, dry weather, and April to May for green landscapes and quiet parks.

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

Tips for Your 7 Day Kenya Safari

• Arrive in the morning: so you reach Amboseli in time for the afternoon game drive.
• Pack layers: early mornings are cool in every park, while afternoons can be hot.
• Wear closed shoes: for the walk on Crescent Island.
• Protect your camera: from dust in Amboseli and the Mara.
• Bring binoculars: for birds on the lakes and distant animals on the plains.
• Use soft luggage: it fits more easily into the Land Cruiser.

For a complete checklist, read our Kenya safari packing list, and if this is your first visit, our guide for first-time visitors.

Why Choose This 7 Day Kenya Safari

A week is the perfect length for a first visit to Kenya, and this 7 day Kenya safari makes the most of it. You see four of the country's most famous destinations without rushing, with two nights in each of the main parks and short, scenic stays at the Rift Valley lakes in between.

The variety of experiences is a major strength: game drives, a boat ride, a walking safari, a cultural visit and spectacular viewpoints. A private Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof and an experienced driver-guide make each day comfortable and flexible.

The route also flows logically, so the longest transfers are broken up and every travel day ends with an afternoon activity.

Driving Times and Comfort

On this 7 day Kenya safari, typical driving times are about four to five hours from the airport to Amboseli, five to six hours from Amboseli to Naivasha, about one and a half hours from Naivasha to Nakuru, five to six hours from Nakuru to the Mara, and five to six hours from the Mara back to the airport. Your guide stops for comfort breaks, viewpoints and curio shops, and drinking water is always available.

The short hop from Naivasha to Nakuru gives you a slower morning in the middle of the trip, a welcome rest before the final days in the Mara. If you prefer to reduce driving at the end, a scheduled flight from the Mara to Nairobi can be added at extra cost.

Travelling With Children

Families love this 7 day Kenya safari for its variety. Children can see elephants up close in Amboseli, walk among giraffes on Crescent Island, spot rhinos at Lake Nakuru and meet Maasai families in the Mara. All four lodges have swimming pools, perfect for a break in the heat of the day, and the lodges offer reduced rates for children sharing with adults. Read our guide to the best adventures for families with kids.

Photography on This Route

The scenery changes every day on a 7 day Kenya safari, giving photographers a wide range of subjects. Elephants beneath Kilimanjaro, drowned trees reflected in Lake Naivasha, rhinos grazing in Nakuru's fever tree forest and big cats on the Mara plains make for a varied portfolio. A zoom lens of 100 to 400 millimetres covers most situations, and the pop-up roof lets you shoot from a steady, elevated position. Read our Kenya photography safari tips.

Extend Your Safari

• Add the wild north with our 10 Day Kenya Safari: The Grand Sopa Circuit
• Finish on the beach using our Kenya safari and beach holiday guide
• Add a sunrise hot air balloon safari over the Mara
• Continue into Tanzania with our guide to Kenya vs Tanzania safaris

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 7 day Kenya safari long enough? Yes. A week allows you to visit four destinations with two full days of game viewing in Amboseli and the Mara.

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 7 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, while leopards are shy and sightings depend on luck.

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

Can I tailor the 7 day Kenya safari? Yes. We can change the order, upgrade rooms or add a beach extension.

Book Your 7 Day Kenya Safari

Ready for a week of elephants, rhinos, big cats and Rift Valley lakes? 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.