Discover Your Safari
This private 14-day grand Kenya safari covers eight destinations from Nairobi: Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Samburu, Meru National Park, Sweetwaters (Ol Pejeta), Aberdare, Lake Nakuru, and the Masai Mara. Kenya's most comprehensive single road circuit, covering southern savannah, highland forest, the dry north, Born Free country, and the Rift Valley in one private itinerary.
Tour at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Duration | 14 days / 13 nights |
| Tour Type | Private (your vehicle and guide throughout) |
| Departure | Nairobi, Kenya |
| End Point | Nairobi, Kenya |
| Destinations | Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Samburu, Meru NP, Sweetwaters, Aberdare, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara |
| Unique Elements | Born Free country (Meru), last northern white rhinos (Ol Pejeta), Aberdare night tree lodge viewing |
| Meals | Full board throughout |
| Best For | Comprehensive Kenya safari, serious wildlife photographers, repeat Kenya visitors |
Who Is This Safari For?
Ideal for: Travellers who want the most complete Kenya safari available in a single itinerary
Ideal for: Serious wildlife photographers wanting diverse ecosystems and species across two weeks
Ideal for: Repeat Kenya visitors who have done the Mara and want to add Meru, Aberdare, and Sweetwaters
Ideal for: Families celebrating significant occasions with a once-in-a-decade Kenya experience
Not ideal: those with fewer than 14 days; every park needs its allocation to deliver properly
Not ideal: those primarily focused on one park; this itinerary is designed for breadth across eight destinations
Why This Safari
Most Kenya safari itineraries cover the southern circuit. This one covers Kenya in its entirety. Meru National Park is Born Free country: Joy and George Adamson raised Elsa the lioness here, and the park's lush river systems, palm-lined valleys, and Rojewero River landscape represent a side of Kenya that most international visitors never see. Aberdare National Park at 7,000 feet delivers night game viewing from a tree lodge above a floodlit waterhole in montane forest. Sweetwaters adds the last two northern white rhinos and Kenya's only chimpanzee sanctuary. Add Amboseli's Kilimanjaro elephants, Samburu's endemic northern species, Lake Nakuru's rhino sanctuary, Lake Naivasha's boat safari, and the Masai Mara as the closing act, and this itinerary covers more of Kenya's wildlife story than any other single itinerary can.
This is not a rushed itinerary. Fourteen days gives every destination two nights except the transit stops, which gives two game drives per park plus genuine immersion time in each ecosystem.
Katulu advantage: Meru and the Aberdare are destinations that most operators visit infrequently. Our guides have consistent operating experience in both. Meru requires knowledge of the Rojewero River circuit, the rhino sanctuary protocols, and the best approach to the Born Free sites. The Aberdare requires knowing the tree lodge night viewing system and the forest tracks around The Ark.
Tipping Guide (per person): Guide: USD 10-20/day x 13 days = approx. USD 130-260 total
Camp and lodge staff (shared): USD 5-10/day x 13 days = approx. USD 65-130 total
Suggested total tip budget per person: USD 195-390
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
This 14-day itinerary covers Kenya's full geographic range from south to north. Different seasons favour different parks. The dry seasons from June to October and January to March deliver the best simultaneous conditions across all eight destinations.
| Season | Months | Highlight Experience | Overall |
| Long Dry | Jun to Oct | Masai Mara Migration possible; Samburu predators at river; Meru elephants concentrated; Nakuru excellent | Best across all parks. Peak rates. Book 6 months ahead. |
| Short Dry | Jan to Mar | Best Kilimanjaro views at Amboseli; Meru excellent; Samburu productive; Mara predators at peak | Outstanding value. Quieter parks. Highly recommended. |
| Short Rains | Nov to Dec | Green landscapes; Naivasha birding excellent; Samburu productive year-round | Good shoulder option. Lower rates. Most parks accessible. |
| Long Rains | Apr to May | Some parks challenging; Meru and Samburu most accessible | Budget season. Not recommended for first-time visitors. |
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 submitting a wake-up species priority list at the Aberdare tree lodge
Fix: The night staff check the waterhole continuously but only alert guests who have submitted a species priority list. Go to the front desk on arrival and name your priority species for night alerts. This is the single most important thing to do on arrival at The Ark.
Mistake 2: Underestimating the Meru drive from Samburu
Fix: The Samburu to Meru drive is approximately two and a half to three hours. It is not a long transit but the road quality in parts of the route requires careful driving. Departure after breakfast gives a comfortable arrival in Meru for lunch and an afternoon drive.
Mistake 3: Treating the 14-day safari as one long event rather than eight distinct experiences
Fix: Each park on this itinerary is a separate wildlife world with its own character. Guests who carry expectations from one park into the next tend to be surprised by how different each one is. Go into each new destination with fresh expectations and the circuit consistently over-delivers.
Mistake 4: Not planning for the Kilimanjaro morning window at Amboseli
Fix: Days 1 and 2 both offer Kilimanjaro visibility windows. The clearest is typically day 2 morning. Tell your guide from the first day that Kilimanjaro positioning is a specific priority so they plan both drives with the mountain viewing window in mind.
Safari Highlights & Experiences
- Explore Kenya's iconic wildlife destinations: Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, and Amboseli National Parks.
- Enjoy excellent chances to spot the Big Five, including lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and rhinos.
- Witness the Great Wildebeest Migration in Maasai Mara (July–October, seasonal).
- Visit one of Kenya's leading rhino sanctuaries at Lake Nakuru National Park.
- Capture stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro from Amboseli National Park.
- Travel in a shared 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for game viewing.
- Enjoy an affordable group joining safari with exceptional wildlife experiences.
Included Services & Amenities
- 13 nights private accommodation across all eight 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
- Aberdare tree lodge transfer and night viewing
- 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, camp staff, and lodge staff throughout
- Optional Crescent Island walk at Naivasha (supplementary cost)
- Optional Elsa's grave visit at Meru (included in full-day drive but requires confirmed guide routing)
- Optional hot air balloon safari over Masai Mara (pricing varies by operator and season)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal purchases and laundry
Day-by-Day Safari Itinerary
Expand allCollapse allNairobi to Amboseli
Morning departure from Nairobi. Four-hour drive to Amboseli National Park. Check in and afternoon game drive. Kilimanjaro positioning for the evening light.
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 covering the swamp systems where elephant families concentrate. Kilimanjaro most clear before nine o'clock. Afternoon free.
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 Amboseli after breakfast. Three to four hours north to Lake Naivasha. Afternoon boat ride on the freshwater lake with hippo sightings, fish eagles, and waterbirds. Optional Crescent Island walk.
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. The route passes through Nyahururu with optional Thomson's Falls stop, then descends into the arid Samburu lowlands. Approximately five to six hours. Afternoon game drive along the Ewaso Nyiro River.
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 full game drives. Morning focuses on the river corridor for leopard, elephant, and predators. Afternoon covers the open scrubland for the Samburu Special Five: reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, and Somali ostrich.
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 Meru National Park
Depart Samburu and drive approximately two and a half to three hours southeast to Meru National Park. Enter through the Murera Gate (northwest entrance). Arrive in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive through Meru's distinctive palm-lined river corridors. Meru holds all of the Big Five plus the northern endemic species: reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, and gerenuk.
Accommodation Options:
- Budget: iKweta Safari Camp / Bwatherongi Public Campsite
- Mid-range: Rhino River Camp / Offbeat Meru Camp / Meru Mulika Lodge
- Luxury: Elsa's Kopje Lodge / Rhino River Camp (luxury tents)
Full Day Meru National Park
A full day exploring Meru's river circuit. Morning game drive along the Rojewero River where leopards hunt along the riverine vegetation and hippos occupy the deep pools. The rhino sanctuary in the park's northwest holds a growing black and white rhino population and sightings inside the sanctuary are among Kenya's most reliable. An optional visit to Elsa the Lioness's grave in the park's south brings the Born Free story to its geographical origin. Meru's 870 square kilometres and very low visitor density mean your guide can spend extended time at any sighting.
Accommodation Options:
- Budget: iKweta Safari Camp / Bwatherongi Public Campsite
- Mid-range: Rhino River Camp / Offbeat Meru Camp / Meru Mulika Lodge
- Luxury: Elsa's Kopje Lodge / Rhino River Camp (luxury tents)
Meru to Sweetwaters (Ol Pejeta Conservancy)
Depart Meru after breakfast and drive west to Ol Pejeta Conservancy via Nanyuki, approximately three to four hours. The equator crossing marker at Nanyuki is a standard stop on this transit. Arrive at Sweetwaters for lunch 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 (Ol Pejeta)
Morning game drive includes a visit to the Endangered Species Enclosure for the last two northern white rhinos. Afternoon includes the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary visit, the only chimpanzee sanctuary in Kenya. Full afternoon game drive through the conservancy for black rhino tracking, lion, elephant, and the general wildlife that make Ol Pejeta's 110,000 acres one of Kenya's most consistently rewarding conservation experiences.
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 Aberdare National Park
Depart Ol Pejeta and drive south through the central highlands to the Aberdare Country Club at Mweiga Hill. After lunch, transfer by lodge vehicle into the Aberdare National Park to The Ark, a tree lodge built above a floodlit waterhole and salt lick in the montane forest at 7,000 feet. Once inside The Ark, you do not leave until morning. The buzzer system alerts you when significant species arrive. Submit your wake-up priority species at the front desk on arrival.
Accommodation Options:
- Budget: Outspan Hotel (budget rooms)
- Mid-range: Aberdare Country Club / The Ark (standard)
- Luxury: The Ark (luxury rooms) / Treetops Lodge / Serena Mountain Lodge
Aberdare to Lake Nakuru
Morning at The Ark, then transfer back to the Aberdare Country Club and departure south for Lake Nakuru National Park. Approximately two hours. Afternoon game drive inside the fully fenced sanctuary park covering the lake shore for flamingo and rhino, and the forested escarpment for lions and leopards.
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 at Lake Nakuru. Morning drive for rhino on the open grassland and flamingo on the lake shore. Afternoon drive through the euphorbia forest and the escarpment woodland. Rothschild giraffe, lion, leopard, waterbuck, and the abundant birdlife that makes Lake Nakuru one of Kenya's most diverse parks by species count.
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. Arrive for an afternoon game drive. The Masai Mara is the grand finale of a 13-day circuit that has covered Kenya from south to north to east and back through the Rift Valley. The guide's full knowledge of the circuit feeds into the Mara approach.
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, then departure for Nairobi, five to six hours. Drop-off at hotel, JKIA, or any Nairobi address. The grand Kenya circuit is complete.
Similar Safari Adventures
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Meru National Park's connection to Born Free?
Is 14 days too long for Kenya?
Why is Meru included but Tsavo is not?
How does the Aberdare tree lodge experience work?
Is this the right safari for first-time Kenya visitors?
Customer Reviews
Book This Safari
Last Minute Deals
