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18-Day Grand Kenya Safari: Big 5 Game and Wild Cats Adventure

This 18 Days Kenya Big 5 Game Animals & Wild Cats Safari Holiday features all the big five African animals and big cats from various places. You will easily see the big five wild animals in Kenya and wild cats in top Kenya safari destinations with this package.

There’s a whole lot of different adventures you can have in Kenya. This 18 days Kenya Wildlife Safari will take you to Kenya’s most famous, most visited, largest and most vibrant parks to exhaust your chances of spotting the different animal and bird species that traverse the wild Kenya.

The best place to see the big five animals in Kenya are Maasai Mara National Reserve (best place to see the Kenya big 5 animals), Amboseli National Park, Tsavo National Parks, Lake Nakuru National Park and Lewa Conservancy. The big five animals found in Kenya include Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Rhinoceros and the African Cape Buffalo.

So why are they called the big 5 animals? This is because they are the hardest animals to hunt or poach. See detailed Kenya Big 5 safari itinerary below.

Detailed Big Five Safari Kenya Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Aberdare National Park

You will be picked by our company driver / guide from the airport or your hotel in Nairobi. He will give you a small briefing of your safari trip and thereafter, proceed to Aberdare National park arriving in time for lunch and later go for a late afternoon game drive or nature walk. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge / camp.

Day 2: Full day in Aberdare National Park

Second day enjoy a full day game drive at the Aberdares National Park with a visit to the water falls. You will do an early morning game drive in Aberdare National park. The park provides a habitat for elephants, black rhinos, leopards, spotted hyenas, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, buffalos, warthogs and bushbucks among others. You will leave the lodge with a packed lunch. Enjoy the whole day out in the beautiful park. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge / camp.

Day 3: Transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park

After breakfast and a mid-morning game drive, you will depart the park and hit the road to Lake Nakuru National Park. The spectacular alkaline Lake is famously known as the feeding ground of both lesser and greater flamingos though their population has reduced over the past years. Nevertheless, the park still beams with many other different bird species and animal species. Arrive in time for lunch, which will be followed by an afternoon game drive in this small but animal filled park. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge / camp.

Day 4: Game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park

Full day game drive in Lake Nakuru NP. The lake and the surrounding Lake Nakuru National park hosts a rhino sanctuary and over 450 bird species. It is home to thousands of flamingos depending on the season, 56 species of mammals, pythons, and a lot more. It is a park that never disappoints its visitors. Wildlife to look out for in the park includes the hippos, waterbucks, warthogs, impalas, buffalo, Rothschild giraffes, elands, endangered black rhinos, white rhinos and, occasionally, leopards. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge / camp.

Day 5: Transfer to the Masai Mara National Reserve

After a delicious breakfast at your lodge / camp in Lake Nakuru NP, you will check out and drive to the wildlife dotted Masai Mara Game Reserve an extension of the Serengeti National park across the border in Tanzania. Home to the great wildebeest migration in the months of July – October when two million Wildebeest make their way northwards from the Serengeti in Tanzania. On arrival, you will have lunch and then you will go for a late afternoon game drive to spot elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, hippos and crocodiles in the Mara River. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge or camp.

Days 6, 7 and 8: Thrilling adventure in Masai Mara National Reserve

There is never time enough to explore this magnificent National Reserve, one of Africa’s great wonders. Can be visited any time throughout the year.  In these 3 days, you will enjoy morning, afternoon and full day game drives. Game drives at different times of the day, present to you higher chances of spotting different animal species including the resident predators, elephants, buffalos, antelopes, gazelles, zebras, giraffes, warthogs among others across the parks different corners. With or without the famous wildebeest migration the game drives are still thrilling and rewarding. All meals and overnight stay at your lodge / camp.

Optional activities on these days: Hot air balloon safari over the Masai Mara and or a visit to the Maasai Village at an extra cost.

Days 9 and 10: In Lake Naivasha National Park

Your safari continues with a transfer to the fresh water Lake Naivasha. You will take a boat safari and explore the lake as you view crocodiles, hippos and different exotic bird species. Lake Naivasha is a great place to unwind, relax and enjoy the available activities which include a visit to the Crescent Island for a guided nature walk where you will have the chance to spot buffalos, waterbucks, giraffes, and zebra among others.

You will also visit the neighboring Hell’s Gate National Park. You can explore the park on foot or opt to explore it while riding bikes. Activities search as rock climbing and hiking are also available and can be arranged on request for the more adventurous. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge / camp.

Day 11: Transfer to Amboseli National Park

After your breakfast, proceed to Amboseli National park. The view of the backdrop of the majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro makes up for the dusty safari through the magnificent landscapes of the park. Amboseli’s rich ecosystem displays an impressive wildlife variety. The park is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants among other wildlife species like giraffes, gazelles, buffalos, warthogs, impalas, water buck among others. You will arrive in the afternoon, have your lunch and relax at your lodge / camp. Dinner and overnight stay.

Days 12 and 13: Full day Adventure in Amboseli National Park

Wake up and prepare to be amazed by the thrill that the picturesque Amboseli National Park has to offer in these 2 days. The park is home to vast herds of Elephants. Early morning game drives give you a chance to see the elephants in big numbers going to the river for their breakfast.

Drive around to the different sections of the park for chances of spotting different animal species from large herds of the African elephants, lions, wildebeests, zebras, giraffes, buffalos, gazelles, leopards and cheetahs. Marvel at the beautiful backdrop of Mt. Kilimanjaro further at the border of Tanzania. You will have game drives at different times of the day to increase your chances of spotting a variety of wildlife. A visit to the local school and the villages give you a chance to connect you with the community. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge / camp.

Day 14: Transfer to Tsavo West

After breakfast, embark on a mid-morning game drive as you head out of Amboseli National Park and drive to Tsavo West National Park. The second largest national park in Kenya. Arrive in time for a fresh hot lunch. After lunch, you will go on an afternoon game drive in search for lion, cheetah, elephant, zebra, ostrich, buffalo and so much more. You will also visit the park’s Rhino Sanctuary – Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary for a chance to see the critically endangered black rhinos. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge / camp.

Day 15: Full day in Tsavo West

Wake up in this large and beautiful park and end out for a pre-breakfast game drive for a chance to catch up with the big cats and other predators or night hunters. This large park is known for its share of lion, elephant, giraffe, zebra, ostrich, and others. Drive back to your lodge / camp for a delicious breakfast before you head out for ultimate game drives around the park.  

You can choose to carry packed lunch with you or drive back to the lodge for a hot lunch and some little relaxation before you head back out in the wild for another game drive. Going for game drives at different times of the day gives you higher chances of spotting different animal species as they all have their active and passive moments. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge / camp.

Day 16: Transfer to Tsavo East

A brand new morning in the wilderness. Wake up to a delicious breakfast at your lodge / camp after which you will check out and hit the road to the largest national park in Kenya, Tsavo East National Park. On your way out, you will have one more game drive with a stopover at the Mzima springs which provides a living habitat for aquatic and land creatures. You can have a guided nature walk there after continue your journey to Tsavo East NP. Arriving in the afternoon, you will have your lunch before heading out for an afternoon game drive in Tsavo East. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge / camp.

Day 17: Game drive – Tsavo East

You are in the largest national park in the country. Home to the famous Tsavo lions (man-eaters) and red-dust elephants. The park is dry which makes it easier to spot the game. Look for lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, plus giraffes nibbling at the treetops.

The park has endless grasslands and savanna, and because of its large size, the game drives are long and very rewarding. Enjoy your whole day viewing the wildlife and different habitants in Tsavo East NP. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge / camp.

Day 18: Drive back to Nairobi

Rise and shine and take it all in. The morning breeze, beautiful sunrise and scenic views because it is time to go back home. Wake up to an early morning breakfast and thereafter drive out of the park to Nairobi where our drive / guide will drop you at the airport for your flight back home or drop you at your city hotel in Nairobi. Lunch en-route. End of 18 Days Kenya Big 5 Game Animals & Wild Cats Safari Holiday.

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