10 Days Kenya Safari: Mara, Nakuru, Naivasha, Amboseli & Tsavo

The 10 days Kenya safari is the most comprehensive single-country Kenya circuit Blue Lilac Tours & Travel offers — a grand loop through seven iconic destinations that reveals every face of Kenya’s extraordinary wildlife landscape. From the lion-saturated grasslands of the Masai Mara to the flamingo-lined shores of Lake Nakuru, the hippo pools of Naivasha, the elephant herds of Amboseli beneath Kilimanjaro, and finally the vast red-dust wilderness of Tsavo with a magical night at Salt Lick Lodge, this itinerary delivers a Kenya experience that is genuinely, wonderfully exhaustive. Ten days. Seven destinations. One of Africa’s great wildlife journeys.

Why the 10-Day Kenya Circuit Is the Ultimate Kenya Safari

Most Kenya safaris focus on the famous trio of Amboseli, Nakuru, and the Masai Mara. The 10-day circuit goes further — adding Lake Naivasha’s freshwater paradise and, crucially, the Taita Hills and Tsavo ecosystem that most visitors never reach. Salt Lick Lodge’s floodlit waterhole, where you watch elephants and buffalos come to drink from your room’s private deck after dark, is one of Kenya’s most theatrical wildlife encounters. Tsavo East’s vast open savannah and its uniquely large, red-dusted elephant herds complete a picture of Kenya that simply cannot be seen in a shorter itinerary.

10-Day Kenya Safari — Complete Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Nairobi

Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Transfer to your Nairobi hotel. Optional afternoon visit to the Nairobi Giraffe Centre or a game drive at Nairobi National Park Day Trip. Safari briefing with your Blue Lilac guide. Overnight Nairobi.

Day 2: Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve

Early departure south-west via Narok. Cross the Great Rift Valley escarpment and descend into the Mara ecosystem. Arrive at your Mara camp/lodge early afternoon. After check-in, afternoon game drive. First sightings of the Mara’s legendary lion prides, elephant herds, and vast wildebeest plains. Dinner and overnight Masai Mara.

Day 3: Full Day in the Masai Mara

Pre-dawn departure for the signature 06:00 Mara game drive — peak predator hour. Spend the morning tracking lion prides, cheetah families, and leopards in riverine fig trees. The afternoon drive takes full advantage of the golden light. Option to visit a Maasai village. Dinner and overnight in the Mara.

Day 4: Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru National Park

Morning game drive (06:00–08:30). Check out, drive north to Lake Nakuru (approx. 3.5 hours via Narok). Arrive mid-afternoon. Afternoon game drive: flamingo shoreline, Baboon Cliff, and rhino sanctuary. Search for Kenya’s rarest residents — the black and white rhino. Dinner and overnight Lake Nakuru.

Day 5: Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha

Morning game drive at Lake Nakuru (06:30–09:30). Check out and drive south to Lake Naivasha (approx. 1 hour). Arrive mid-morning. Afternoon guided boat ride on Lake Naivasha — hippo pods at close range, African fish eagles, and spectacular waterbird colonies. Optional Crescent Island bush walk (walking among zebras and giraffes). Dinner and overnight Lake Naivasha.

Day 6: Lake Naivasha to Amboseli National Park

Optional morning Crescent Island walk or second boat ride. Check out after breakfast and drive south-east to Amboseli (approx. 4–5 hours via Nairobi). Arrive mid-afternoon. Late afternoon game drive — first Kilimanjaro views and elephant family encounters at the swamps. Dinner and overnight Amboseli.

Day 7: Full Day in Amboseli National Park

Pre-dawn 06:00 game drive for the Kilimanjaro sunrise shot. Spend the morning with elephant herds, track lions and cheetahs on the open plains, and photograph hippos in Enkongo Narok swamp. Full breakfast and midday rest. Afternoon drive (14:00–18:30) in golden light. Dinner and overnight Amboseli.

Day 8: Amboseli to Taita Hills / Salt Lick Lodge

Morning game drive in Amboseli (06:00–08:30). Check out and drive east towards Tsavo West and the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary (approx. 2.5 hours). Arrive at Salt Lick Lodge mid-afternoon. This extraordinary lodge on stilts overlooks a busy waterhole. Afternoon game drive in the Sanctuary. After dinner, watch from your room or the lodge’s underground hide as elephants, buffalos, lions, and other nocturnal visitors come to the floodlit waterhole. Overnight Salt Lick.

Day 9: Taita Hills to Tsavo East National Park

Morning game drive in Taita Hills Sanctuary. Check out and drive east into Tsavo East National Park (approx. 1.5 hours). Tsavo East is one of Africa’s largest protected areas, famous for its massive herds of “red elephants” — so named because they roll in Tsavo’s distinctive red laterite dust. Afternoon game drive covering the Galana River, Mudanda Rock (a natural waterhole where hundreds of elephants gather), and the open red plains. Dinner and overnight at your Tsavo East lodge/camp.

Day 10: Tsavo East to Nairobi

Final morning game drive in Tsavo East (06:00–09:00). Return to your lodge for breakfast and check-out. Drive west back to Nairobi (approx. 4–5 hours). Arrive in Nairobi by mid-afternoon. Transfer to your hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Wildlife Highlights Across the 10-Day Circuit

• Masai Mara — Lions, cheetahs, leopards, Great Migration (seasonal), elephants, buffalos
• Lake Nakuru — White & black rhinos, flamingos, Rothschild’s giraffes, leopards
• Lake Naivasha — Hippos, African fish eagle, boat safaris, Crescent Island bush walks
• Amboseli — Elephant mega-herds, Kilimanjaro views, lions, cheetahs, hippos
• Salt Lick / Taita Hills — Floodlit waterhole night viewing, elephants, lions, buffalos
• Tsavo East — Red elephants of Tsavo, vast open plains, Galana River, Mudanda Rock

Shorter Kenya Safari Alternatives

If ten days is more than your schedule allows, our 8 Days Kenya Safari covers the Mara, Nakuru, Naivasha and Amboseli in a tighter 8-day circuit. Our 7 Days Kenya Safari trims further to cover the classic trio. For a combined Kenya and Tanzania experience, see our 13 Days Kenya & Tanzania Safari — the ultimate East Africa circuit. Looking for a relaxing Kenya finale? Our 10 Days Kenya Bush & Beach Safari swaps Tsavo for three nights on Diani Beach.

Frequently Asked Questions

What parks are covered on the 10-day Kenya safari?

The itinerary covers seven destinations: 1 night Nairobi, 2 nights Masai Mara, 1 night Lake Nakuru, 1 night Lake Naivasha, 2 nights Amboseli, 1 night Salt Lick/Tsavo West, and 1 night Tsavo East — Kenya’s most comprehensive single-country circuit.

What is Salt Lick Lodge and why is it special?

Salt Lick Lodge in Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is one of Kenya’s most architecturally distinctive lodges, built on stilts overlooking a busy waterhole. Night game drives are a highlight, with elephants, buffalos, lions, and leopards coming to the floodlit waterhole after dark.

What is the difference between Tsavo East and Tsavo West?

Tsavo West is greener and more varied, with the Mzima Springs, volcanic landscapes, and the Ngulia hills. Tsavo East is wider, drier, and home to massive ‘red elephant’ herds coated in Tsavo’s distinctive red laterite dust. Together they form one of Africa’s largest protected areas.

Is a 10-day Kenya safari good value?

Excellent value. Ten days allows you to experience seven distinct habitats and wildlife zones across Kenya. Blue Lilac Tours & Travel designs the itinerary to maximise game-drive time and minimise backtracking, keeping the pace comfortable throughout.

Can the 10-day Kenya safari be extended or shortened?

Absolutely. Blue Lilac Tours & Travel customises every itinerary. You can shorten to 7 or 8 days by removing Naivasha or the Tsavo section, or extend by adding Samburu in the north. Contact us for a tailored itinerary.