7-Day Kenya Big Five Wildlife Safari

The 7-Day Kenya Big Five Wildlife Safari starts from $2,539 per person sharing. The net cost is the final amount you pay after your accommodation level, travel dates, and group size are confirmed. The price covers private 4×4 safari transport with an experienced driver-guide, game drives, park and reserve entrance fees, meals and accommodation as listed in the itinerary, bottled drinking water, and government taxes. International flights, visas or travel authorisations, travel insurance, tips, drinks, souvenirs, and optional activities such as the hot air balloon ride and Maasai cultural visit are not included. Travelling solo adds a single supplement, and peak-season dates cost more, so your final quotation confirms exactly what applies to you.

Yes. The 7-day itinerary is a starting point, and we can adjust it to suit your plans. You can upgrade or change your lodges or camps, add extra nights in the parks you enjoy most, extend the trip with a beach stay on the coast, or choose flights between parks instead of long road transfers. We can also arrange private departures, family-friendly schedules, and special occasions such as honeymoons. Tell us your dates, interests, and budget, and we will prepare a tailored quotation.

You can travel as a solo traveller, a couple, a family, or a group, as the safari runs as a private tour in your own vehicle. Each 4×4 safari vehicle seats up to five guests with a guaranteed window seat, which keeps game viewing and photography comfortable. Larger groups travel in several vehicles, each with its own driver-guide, so everyone enjoys the same experience. Please share your group size when you enquire so we can confirm the right vehicles and rooms.

Driving times vary with the route, traffic, road conditions, and stops. As a guide, Nairobi to Lake Nakuru takes about three to four hours, Nairobi to the Maasai Mara about five to six hours, and Nairobi to Amboseli about four to five hours. Some stretches near the reserves are rough and bumpy, so your driver-guide makes comfort stops along the way. On a week-long trip, a flight between parks can save a full day of driving, and we can arrange this if you prefer. Your driver-guide times each leg around your flight schedule.

No operator can guarantee this, because the animals are wild and free to roam. Spending seven days across several parks gives you a much better chance than a short trip, since lions, elephants, buffalo, and leopards are regularly seen in Kenya’s main reserves. Rhinos are the hardest of the five to find, as numbers are small and they often stay hidden in thick bush, but protected sanctuaries such as Lake Nakuru National Park improve the odds. Our driver-guides work closely with other guides and rangers to track animals, and the extra days give you the best practical chance of a rewarding sighting.

Kenya can be visited all year, but the dry seasons from June to October and from January to February are generally the best for game viewing, as animals gather near water and the grass is shorter. The wildebeest and zebra herds are usually in the Maasai Mara from July to October, with dramatic Mara River crossings often seen between August and September. Exact timing changes every year with the rains, so no date can be promised. The long rains from March to May bring fewer visitors and lower prices, but some roads become muddy. Migration season is also peak season, so book your lodges several months ahead.

Yes, both are optional extras and neither is included in the starting price. The hot air balloon ride takes place at sunrise in the Maasai Mara, floats over the plains, and usually ends with a champagne breakfast in the bush. It needs to be booked in advance because spaces are limited. The Maasai cultural visit lets you meet community members, see traditional dances, and learn about village life, and it usually fits into a free afternoon. Let us know which you would like and we will add them to your quotation.

You stay in lodges and tented camps in or near each park, chosen to match your budget. Options range from comfortable mid-range properties to luxury lodges with private verandas and views over the plains. Accommodation is subject to availability at the time of booking, and we may suggest comparable alternatives if your first choice is full. Your final quotation lists the confirmed lodges before you pay, so you always know where you will sleep.

Follow your driver-guide’s instructions at all times. Stay seated in the vehicle, keep your voice low, and never get out of the vehicle unless your guide says it is safe. Do not feed or touch any animal, and do not litter. Vehicles must stay on designated tracks, and your guide keeps a respectful distance so the animals are not disturbed. Please also do not use drones, as they are restricted in Kenya’s parks and reserves.

Entry requirements depend on your nationality, so check the current rules before you travel. Most visitors need to apply online for a Kenya electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before departure, while some nationalities are exempt. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months, and ask your doctor about recommended vaccinations, malaria prevention, and any yellow fever certificate requirements for your route. We can guide you through the process.

No special fitness is needed, as most of the safari is spent in a vehicle, with short walks around your lodge or camp. Long days of driving can be tiring, and some roads are bumpy, so travellers with back problems or limited mobility should tell us before booking. Children are generally welcome, though some lodges and activities have age limits, and a week with long drives suits older children best. Share the ages of everyone in your group when you enquire so we can plan a comfortable schedule.

Pack lightweight clothing in neutral colours such as beige, khaki, or olive, along with a warm layer for cool early mornings and evenings. Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, comfortable walking shoes, binoculars, and a camera with spare batteries. Use a soft bag rather than a hard suitcase, since space in the vehicle is limited. Kenya has banned single-use plastic bags, so do not pack them in your luggage, as officials may confiscate them at the airport.

Tips are not included in the safari price, but they are a customary way to thank the people who look after you. Many travellers tip their driver-guide at the end of the trip and leave a shared tip for lodge or camp staff at each stop. There is no fixed amount, so tip according to the service you receive and what feels comfortable.

We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical care, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation, and interruption. Carry some US dollars in recent, undamaged notes, and bring a card for lodge extras where accepted. Kenyan shillings are useful for small purchases such as souvenirs and tips, and mobile money is widely used locally.

Send us your preferred travel dates, number of travellers, and accommodation level. We first check lodge and vehicle availability, then prepare a detailed quotation with your lodges, inclusions, and total cost. Once you approve the itinerary and agree the payment terms, we confirm your lodge and transport reservations. Booking several months ahead is wise, especially for the migration season from July to October and for holiday periods.