Discover Your Safari
A private 11-day Kenya safari covering six destinations from Nairobi: Amboseli (Kilimanjaro and elephants), Lake Naivasha (boat ride), Samburu (northern endemic species), Sweetwaters/Ol Pejeta (northern white rhinos and chimpanzees), Lake Nakuru (rhino sanctuary), and the Masai Mara (big cats and open savannah). Fully private throughout. Returns to Nairobi.
Tour at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Duration | 11 days / 10 nights |
| Tour Type | Private |
| Departure | Nairobi, Kenya |
| End Point | Nairobi, Kenya |
| Destinations | Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Samburu, Sweetwaters (Ol Pejeta), Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara |
| Unique Elements | Last northern white rhinos (Ol Pejeta), Kenya's only chimpanzee sanctuary, Samburu Special Five |
| Meals | Full board throughout |
| Available | Year-round, any departure date |
Who Is This Safari For?
Ideal for: Travellers who want a comprehensive Kenya circuit without the 14-day full commitment
Ideal for: First-time Kenya visitors with 11 days who want southern savannah, northern endemic species, and conservation destinations
Ideal for: Wildlife enthusiasts specifically interested in seeing the last northern white rhinos
Ideal for: Families and groups wanting private vehicle flexibility across six different environments
Not ideal: those wanting the Aberdare tree lodge night experience; that is included in the 14-day version
Not ideal: those with fewer than 11 days; this route needs the full duration
Why This Safari
Eleven days gives Kenya's most essential wildlife combination in a single private circuit. Amboseli for the Kilimanjaro and elephant experience. Naivasha for the freshwater lake and boat safari. Samburu for the northern endemic species that no southern Kenya park offers. Sweetwaters for the conservation experiences that cannot be replicated anywhere else in Kenya: the last two northern white rhinos and the chimpanzee sanctuary. Lake Nakuru for the rhino sanctuary and flamingos. And the Masai Mara as the closing act of the circuit.
The difference between this 11-day itinerary and the 14-day grand circuit is Meru National Park and the Aberdare tree lodge, which add three days and bring two genuinely unique experiences. If those are priorities for you, the 14-day is the right choice. If you want the most comprehensive circuit achievable in 11 days, this itinerary delivers it.
Katulu advantage: Private travel across all six destinations means your guide adapts every drive to what the previous day's intelligence revealed. By day 7 in Samburu, your guide has been tracking specific animals for two days and applies that knowledge to the morning drive routing. This accumulation of knowledge is what private guiding delivers over group travel.
Tipping Guide (per person): Guide: USD 10-20/day x 10 days = approx. USD 100-200 total
Camp and lodge staff (shared): USD 5-10/day x 10 days = approx. USD 50-100 total
Suggested total tip budget per person: USD 150-300
Tips are discretionary and appreciated, not mandatory.
Medical and health note: General guidance only. This is not medical advice. Consult a travel health clinic before departure.
Kenya is a malarial zone throughout all parks on this itinerary. Antimalarial medication and DEET-based repellent are recommended.
Travel insurance with emergency medical evacuation cover is required as a condition of booking with us.
Emergency medical evacuation services operate across East Africa.
Best Time to Visit
| Season | Months | Key Experience | Overall |
| Long Dry | Jun to Oct | Migration possible in Mara; Samburu predators active; Ol Pejeta and Nakuru excellent | Best across all parks. Book well ahead. |
| Short Dry | Jan to Mar | Best Kilimanjaro visibility; Mara predators at peak; Samburu and Ol Pejeta productive | Outstanding value. Quieter. Highly recommended. |
| Short Rains | Nov to Dec | Green landscapes; Naivasha birding excellent; all parks accessible | Good conditions. Lower rates. |
| Long Rains | Apr to May | Some Mara challenges; Samburu and Ol Pejeta accessible | Low season. Experienced travellers only. |
How to Book
| Step | What Happens |
| 1 | You send your preferred date, departure time, group size, and pickup location |
| 2 | We check vehicle and driver-guide availability |
| 3 | We confirm the final safari-service quote for your group |
| 4 | You receive payment instructions to confirm the booking |
| 5 | Once payment is received, your private safari vehicle is reserved |
| 6 | We send your booking confirmation and later share driver-guide details before the tour |
Common Safari Planning Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Not planning the Naivasha boat ride as part of the day structure
Fix: The boat ride takes one to one and a half hours and operates most effectively in the afternoon when hippos are more active on the lake surface. Plan to arrive at Naivasha by early afternoon so the boat ride fits into the day without rushing the sunset.
Mistake 2: Expecting the Masai Mara on day 11 to deliver a full day
Fix: Day 11 gives one morning game drive and then the Nairobi drive. This is a productive final session but not a full Mara day. If you want more Mara time, consider the 7-day private Mara, Nakuru, Amboseli, Tsavo East itinerary which dedicates three nights to the reserve.
Mistake 3: Not confirming chimpanzee sanctuary timing on day 7
Fix: The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary has specific visiting hours. Confirm the current visiting window with your guide on arrival at Ol Pejeta so the day 7 schedule can be built around it.
Mistake 4: Underestimating how different Samburu is from the Mara
Fix: Guests who arrive at Samburu expecting it to be a smaller or quieter version of the Masai Mara are consistently surprised. Samburu is a completely different ecosystem with completely different species. Arrive with fresh expectations and the reserve consistently over-delivers.
Safari Highlights & Experiences
Included Services & Amenities
- 10 nights private accommodation across all six destinations
- All meals full board throughout
- All game drives with private guide and vehicle
- All national park, reserve, and conservancy entry fees
- Ol Pejeta northern white rhino enclosure access
- Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary visit
- Lake Naivasha afternoon boat ride
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Nairobi hotel or airport pickup and return drop-off
- Drinking water in the vehicle throughout
- International flights
- Kenya electronic travel authorisation (eTA) if applicable
- Travel insurance with emergency evacuation cover, required as a condition of booking with us
- Tips for guide and camp or lodge staff
- Optional Crescent Island walk at Naivasha (supplementary cost)
- Optional hot air balloon safari over Masai Mara (pricing varies by operator and season)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal purchases
Day-by-Day Safari Itinerary
Expand allCollapse allNairobi to Amboseli
Morning departure from Nairobi. Four-hour drive south to Amboseli National Park. Check in and afternoon game drive. Kilimanjaro positioning for the clearest late-afternoon visibility window.
Accommodation Options:
- Budget: Sentrim Amboseli Camp / OlTukai Lodge (standard rooms)
- Mid-range: Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge / Kibo Safari Camp / Tortilis Camp (standard)
- Luxury: Tortilis Camp / Elewana Tortilis Camp / andBeyond Ol Donyo Lodge / ol Donyo Lodge
Full Day Amboseli
Full game drive in the morning. Elephant families at the swamp systems. Kilimanjaro most clear before nine o'clock. The afternoon is free for rest or optional activities.
Accommodation Options:
- Budget: Sentrim Amboseli Camp / OlTukai Lodge (standard rooms)
- Mid-range: Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge / Kibo Safari Camp / Tortilis Camp (standard)
- Luxury: Tortilis Camp / Elewana Tortilis Camp / andBeyond Ol Donyo Lodge / ol Donyo Lodge
Amboseli to Lake Naivasha
Depart after breakfast. Three to four hours north to Lake Naivasha. Afternoon boat ride on the lake with hippo sightings and fish eagle encounters. Optional Crescent Island walk adds on-foot wildlife among zebra, giraffe, and wildebeest.
Accommodation Options:
- Budget: Crayfish Camp / Camp Carnelley's
- Mid-range: Enashipai Resort (standard) / Sawela Lodge / Naivasha Sopa Lodge
- Luxury: Enashipai Resort (luxury suites) / Great Rift Valley Lodge / Hippo Point Estate
Naivasha to Samburu
Early departure north. Optional Thomson's Falls stop at Nyahururu, approximately five to six hours total drive time. Afternoon game drive along the Ewaso Nyiro River on arrival at Samburu.
Accommodation Options:
- Budget: Samburu Sopa Lodge (standard)
- Mid-range: Samburu Serena Safari Lodge / Samburu Game Lodge / Sentrim Samburu
- Luxury: Saruni Samburu / Elephant Bedroom Camp / Sasaab Lodge
Full Day Samburu
Two game drives. Morning focuses on the river corridor for leopard, elephant, and lion. Afternoon covers the open scrubland for the Samburu Special Five. The gerenuk feeding upright, the reticulated giraffe's distinctive mosaic coat, and the Grevy's zebra's narrow stripes are all species behaviours and appearances that differentiate Samburu from every southern park.
Accommodation Options:
- Budget: Samburu Sopa Lodge (standard)
- Mid-range: Samburu Serena Safari Lodge / Samburu Game Lodge / Sentrim Samburu
- Luxury: Saruni Samburu / Elephant Bedroom Camp / Sasaab Lodge
Samburu to Sweetwaters (Ol Pejeta)
Depart Samburu and drive west to Ol Pejeta Conservancy via Nanyuki, approximately three to four hours. Cross the equator at Nanyuki. Check in at Sweetwaters and afternoon game drive through the conservancy's main wildlife circuits.
Accommodation Options:
- Budget: Ol Pejeta Bush Camp (budget rooms) / Sweetwaters Tented Camp (standard)
- Mid-range: Sweetwaters Serena Tented Camp / Ol Pejeta Bush Camp / Ol Pejeta Tented Camp
- Luxury: Sweetwaters Serena Camp (deluxe) / Kicheche Bush Camp
Full Day Sweetwaters
Morning game drive including the Endangered Species Enclosure for the last two northern white rhinos. Afternoon Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary visit and full afternoon drive for black rhino tracking, lion, elephant, and the conservancy's rich general wildlife. Ol Pejeta is one of Kenya's most consistently rewarding wildlife destinations for those who approach it with genuine conservation curiosity.
Accommodation Options:
- Budget: Ol Pejeta Bush Camp (budget rooms) / Sweetwaters Tented Camp (standard)
- Mid-range: Sweetwaters Serena Tented Camp / Ol Pejeta Bush Camp / Ol Pejeta Tented Camp
- Luxury: Sweetwaters Serena Camp (deluxe) / Kicheche Bush Camp
Sweetwaters to Lake Nakuru
Depart Ol Pejeta after breakfast and drive south to Lake Nakuru National Park, approximately two hours through the central highlands. Afternoon game drive inside the fully fenced sanctuary park.
Accommodation Options:
- Budget: Milimani Guest House Nakuru / KWS Naishi Bandas (Lake Nakuru NP)
- Mid-range: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge / Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge / Lake Nakuru Lodge
- Luxury: Mbweha Camp / Flamingo Hill Tented Camp
Full Day Lake Nakuru
Two game drives. Morning for white and black rhino on the open grassland. Afternoon through the euphorbia forest and escarpment woodland for lions, leopards, and Rothschild giraffe. The lake shore birdlife and flamingo concentration add value to every drive.
Accommodation Options:
- Budget: Milimani Guest House Nakuru / KWS Naishi Bandas (Lake Nakuru NP)
- Mid-range: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge / Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge / Lake Nakuru Lodge
- Luxury: Mbweha Camp / Flamingo Hill Tented Camp
Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara
Depart Lake Nakuru and drive southwest to the Masai Mara, approximately five to six hours. Afternoon game drive. The Mara is the final destination and the safari's climax.
Accommodation Options:
- Budget: Mara Explorers Camp / Basecamp Masai Mara (budget option)
- Mid-range: Tipilikwani Mara Camp / Fig Tree Camp / Mara Sopa Lodge
- Luxury: Angama Mara / Mahali Mzuri / Elewana Elephant Pepper Camp / andBeyond Bateleur Camp
Masai Mara Morning Drive and Return to Nairobi
Final morning game drive in the Masai Mara before breakfast and departure for Nairobi, five to six hours. Drop-off at hotel, airport, or any Nairobi address. Safari ends.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does this compare to the 14-day grand Kenya safari?
Why is the Masai Mara placed at the end rather than the beginning?
Can the Sweetwaters visit include the northern white rhino encounter?
Is two nights enough in Samburu?
What accommodation is available inside Ol Pejeta Conservancy?
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