Kenya Grand Circuit Safari – Samburu, Mount Kenya, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha & Maasai Mara | 8 Days 7 Nights
Wildlife and Nature
Kenya Road Safaris
Samburu Sopa Lodge + Serena Mountain Lodge (Mt Kenya) + Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge + Enashipai Resort (Naivasha) + Mara Sopa Lodge (Maasai Mara)
Nairobi → Samburu → Mt Kenya → Lake Nakuru → Lake Naivasha → Maasai Mara → Nairobi
Kenya is not one country. It is five. The arid northern frontier where the Samburu Special Five roam landscapes that feel like the edge of the Earth. The equatorial forest belt where Mount Kenya rises into the clouds and buffalo move through giant heather at 4,000 metres. The Rift Valley lakes where flamingos turn the shoreline pink and rhinos graze within metres of the water. The flower farms and fever trees of Naivasha where hippos surface at dusk. And the Maasai Mara — the most famous wildlife reserve in Africa, home to the greatest animal spectacle on the planet.
This 8-day, 7-night Kenya Grand Circuit Safari visits all five — moving south from Samburu through the highland corridor and down into the Rift Valley before ending in the Mara. It is Baecation Adventures' most comprehensive road safari, designed for couples who want to understand Kenya completely rather than experience just one corner of it. Every night is in a different lodge. Every morning brings a completely different landscape outside your window. And every game drive builds on the one before, creating a cumulative picture of Kenya's extraordinary natural and cultural diversity.
You travel throughout in a comfortable 4WD safari van provided in partnership with BAMM Tours — one of Kenya's most trusted road safari operators — with an expert guide who knows all five destinations and the stories that connect them.
Details
Summary information about this package
Samburu Sopa Lodge + Serena Mountain Lodge (Mt Kenya) + Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge + Enashipai Resort (Naivasha) + Mara Sopa Lodge (Maasai Mara)
Samburu
Couples
Available
Road
For Adults only (18+)
Full-board
Included
All year round
Costs
Kenyan Citizen
Ksh. 268900 per person sharing
Non-resident
$ 2450 per person sharing
Transport
Options: Road
Duration and Timing
No
Yes
About Package
More information about this package
Samburu Sopa Lodge — elevated hillside views over the Special Five reserve: Perched on a hill overlooking Samburu National Reserve with panoramic views across the acacia shrublands and the Ewaso Ng'iro River, Samburu Sopa Lodge features 60 thatched-roof cottages inspired by traditional Samburu design. The elevated restaurant overlooks a floodlit waterhole where wildlife congregates after dark — your first taste of northern Kenya's extraordinary endemic wildlife.
Serena Mountain Lodge — the only treetop lodge on Mount Kenya: Built in the cloud forest at 2,195 metres, Serena Mountain Lodge is designed in the style of an African treetop lodge, with rooms looking directly into the indigenous cedar forest and a floodlit salt lick and waterhole that attracts giant forest hog, bushbuck, and elephant nightly. It is the most atmospheric mountain lodge in Kenya and the ideal transition point between Samburu's heat and the Rift Valley's open skies.
Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge — elevated rhino country with lake views: Positioned on the hillside inside Lake Nakuru National Park with sweeping views across the alkaline lake and its flamingo-pink shoreline, Nakuru Sopa Lodge is the most reliably positioned property for rhino sightings — both black and white rhino graze within metres of the lodge perimeter, making it possible to watch wildlife from your veranda between game drives.
Enashipai Resort, Naivasha — Rift Valley elegance on the lake shore: A full-service resort on the southern shore of Lake Naivasha combining spa facilities, a large pool, multiple dining options, and comfortable rooms with the natural beauty of the Rift Valley. The resort sits close to Crescent Island for morning walking safaris and the Lake Naivasha boat jetty for hippo-watching boat rides — the perfect transition between the wildlife-dense park stops and the Maasai Mara.
Mara Sopa Lodge — inside the reserve with reliable Big Five access: Positioned inside the Maasai Mara National Reserve with direct access to the reserve's most productive game drive areas, Mara Sopa Lodge provides a comfortable, reliable base for two full days of Mara game drives. Lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, and buffalo are all resident throughout the year — and during July to October, the Great Migration wildebeest herds and river crossings are the defining spectacle.
Five ecosystems, one continuous story: Moving from Samburu's semi-arid north through Mount Kenya's highland forest, the Rift Valley lakes, and finally to the Mara grasslands, this circuit traces Kenya's complete ecological range in eight days. No other road safari in the Baecation portfolio covers as much geographic and wildlife diversity — making this the definitive Kenya experience for couples who want to understand the country from north to south.
Package Itinerary
The package itinerary is as follows
8 Days 7 Nights — Kenya Grand Circuit Safari with Baecation Adventures Kenya
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Day 1: Arrive Nairobi — City & Conservation
Pickup from Nairobi location and transfer to your Nairobi hotel.
Afternoon: David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage (11am visit — pre-book) and Giraffe Centre.
Karen Blixen Museum or Nairobi National Museum for those arriving early.
Full board dinner and overnight in Nairobi.
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Day 2: Nairobi to Samburu — Into the Northern Frontier
Early morning departure north through Nanyuki and Isiolo.
Arrive Samburu Sopa Lodge — approximately 5–6 hours from Nairobi.
Check in, welcome drinks, and settle in.
Afternoon game drive — first encounter with the Samburu Special Five.
Full board dinner at the lodge.
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Day 3: Full Day Samburu — Special Five & Cultural Visit
Pre-dawn game drive — Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, and Somali ostrich at their most active.
Full breakfast at the lodge.
Guided Samburu cultural village visit — warrior traditions, beadwork, and the Samburu people's extraordinary relationship with the Ewaso Ng'iro River.
Lunch at the lodge.
Afternoon game drive along the river — crocodiles, elephant herds, and Samburu Special Five at golden hour.
Full board dinner.
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Day 4: Samburu to Mount Kenya — Into the Forest
Early morning final Samburu game drive.
Full breakfast and check out.
Drive south through Isiolo and the Mount Kenya foothills.
Arrive at Serena Mountain Lodge in the cedar forest — approximately 3 hours.
Afternoon guided nature walk through the highland forest — giant heather, giant lobelia, and highland bird species.
Evening at the floodlit salt lick — elephant, buffalo, and giant forest hog visit after dark.
Full board dinner at the treetop lodge.
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Day 5: Mount Kenya to Lake Nakuru — Rift Valley Opens Up
Early morning birdwatching in the cedar forest.
Full breakfast and check out.
Drive west through Nyahururu and down into the Rift Valley — the escarpment descent is one of Kenya's most dramatic road views.
Arrive Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge — approximately 3 hours from Mount Kenya.
Check in and afternoon game drive inside Lake Nakuru National Park — flamingos, rhinos, lions, and Rothschild's giraffe.
Full board dinner with lake views.
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Day 6: Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha — Rift Valley Lakes Circuit
Early morning game drive in Lake Nakuru — best time for rhino and predator sightings.
Full breakfast and check out.
Drive south to Lake Naivasha — approximately 1.5 hours through the Rift Valley.
Arrive Enashipai Resort and check in.
Afternoon boat ride on Lake Naivasha — hippos surfacing, fish eagles overhead, yellow-billed storks fishing in the shallows. Optional walk on Crescent Island among wildlife.
Full board dinner at the resort.
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Day 7: Lake Naivasha to Maasai Mara — The Mara Awaits
Full breakfast at the resort.
Drive west toward Narok and into the Maasai Mara — approximately 3 hours.
Arrive Mara Sopa Lodge and check in.
Afternoon game drive — first Mara encounters with lions, elephants, and the resident cheetah families.
Sundowner on the plains.
Full board dinner at the lodge.
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Day 8: Full Day Maasai Mara & Return to Nairobi
Pre-dawn game drive — the Mara at first light is the most productive wildlife window of the entire circuit.
Full breakfast at the lodge.
Guided Maasai enkiama cultural visit — warrior dance, community stories, and handmade beadwork.
Lunch at the lodge (own account).
Afternoon game drive — complete the Big Five with a final sweep through the reserve's most productive territory.
Drive back to Nairobi — approximately 5–6 hours.
Drop-off at your Nairobi location.
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+ Inclusions
Nairobi pickup and drop-off
4WD safari van transport throughout — BAMM Tours
Professional safari guide throughout
1 night Nairobi hotel — full board
1 night Samburu Sopa Lodge — full board
1 night Serena Mountain Lodge — full board
1 night Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge — full board
1 night Enashipai Resort Naivasha — full board
2 nights Mara Sopa Lodge — full board
All game drives throughout
Lake Naivasha boat ride & Crescent Island guided walk
Samburu cultural village visit
Maasai enkiama cultural visit — Maasai Mara
All park entry fees (Samburu, Mt Kenya, Lake Nakuru, Maasai Mara)
Private candlelit dinner with sparkling wine (Mara night)
Welcome flowers & honeymoon room decoration
Baecation Adventures coordinator support throughout
- Exclusions
Lunch throughout (own account — stops en route on driving days)
Hot air balloon safari (from $505 PP — bookable as add-on)
Elephant Orphanage & Giraffe Centre entry (Day 1 — own account, ~KES 3,500 PP)
Personal expenses (tips, souvenirs, Maasai crafts)
Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
Gratuities for guide and lodge staff throughout
What To Carry
Neutral safari clothing (khaki, beige, olive) for all game drives
Warm fleece and jacket — Mount Kenya forest lodge and Mara mornings are genuinely cold
Light summer clothing for Naivasha and Mara afternoons
Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
Binoculars — essential across all five destinations
Camera with extra batteries and memory cards
Personal medications and anti-malaria precautions
Water bottle and snacks for long driving days
Soft bag for vehicle storage during drives
Small cash for Day 8 lunch and personal shopping
Valid ID or passport
Book This Package
Reach out:
For enquiries or bookings, write to [email protected]. We’ll revert within 20 minutes during business hours.