The 10 day Big Five safari itinerary, day by day
A 10 day Big Five safari itinerary built for a first trip: Amboseli’s elephant herds beneath Kilimanjaro, rhino tracking in Laikipia, and lion and leopard in a private Maasai Mara conservancy.
Nothing here is fixed. In fact, this is the route we plan most often. So tell us what to keep, lengthen or swap, and we’ll send you your own version, fully priced.
Excellent year-round because every animal here is resident; June–October and January–February are the easiest viewing, and July–October adds the migration.
US travelers: check current entry requirements for each country on travel.state.gov (we also walk you through visas at booking).
Nairobi
Arrive to meet-and-assist and a private transfer to a garden house in Karen, with giraffe at breakfast if you want it and an early night before the flying starts.
Amboseli
Scheduled light aircraft from Wilson Airport to the shadow of Kilimanjaro. Two nights with the continent’s great elephant herds, plus buffalo and big-sky lion country.
Laikipia
Scheduled Amboseli–Laikipia travel generally connects through Wilson; where budget and timing justify it, a private charter flies direct. Three nights on a rhino conservancy where you track black and white rhino with the rangers who guard them, on foot where the conservancy allows it.
Maasai Mara conservancy
Scheduled flight onward, although brief intermediate stops are normal. Three nights on private land for off-road big-cat viewing: lion prides, and the leopard sightings the public reserves queue for. Also, you can reserve a dedicated safari vehicle at camp.
Home
Finally, fly to Wilson with departure assistance through to your evening international flight, or add barefoot nights on the coast.
Where you’ll stay on this Big Five safari
We select your accommodation privately after we understand your dates, pace and priorities. Specifically, we recommend each camp, lodge or villa for its location, guiding, privacy, room configuration and seasonal suitability. You’ll see the places we suggest, and why, in your proposal.
Plan your private safariEvery camp night, all meals and house drinks on safari.
A private expert guide and 4x4 where specified; at fly-in camps, game drives may be shared unless a private vehicle is reserved.
Park fees, light-aircraft hops and meet-and-greet on every leg.
Priced to your budget, your camps and the season. No set packages.
10 days · 10-Day First-Time Kenya Safari
June – October
First-time safari-goers and couples
The full Big Five, done properly, on private reserves
Every itinerary is priced individually, to your budget.
Based on two guests sharing. Final pricing therefore depends on season, camps, private guiding, internal flights and itinerary length. The price excludes international flights.
Every camp named night by night · internal flights and transfers · park and conservancy fees · meals and game activities per each lodge’s terms · airport meet & greet · a founder’s direct line while you travel.
This itinerary is a starting shape rather than a package. Instead, every journey is fully tailor-made around your dates, pace and interests. Design this journey privately →
Questions about this Big Five safari
Make this journey yours.
Tell us when you’d like to go and what you’d change. We’ll send back your own fully priced version within a few days.
This Big Five safari itinerary is a proven shape rather than a fixed package, and we rebuild it around your dates.
Plan your safari