11 Days Kenya Special Five and Big Five Safari 2026/2027

Your safari begins in Nairobi, where our NAMSA Safari Director will warmly receive you at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or at your Nairobi Hotel. After a meet, greet and safari briefing, you will depart Nairobi and begin your journey towards Ewaso Enclave Conservancy in Laikipia Wilderness.

Laikipia is one of Kenya’s most exciting safari regions because it offers a different kind of wilderness experience. The landscape is beautiful, open and rich in wildlife, with a strong focus on conservation and rare species. This is one of the best areas in Kenya to search for the Special Five, which include Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and Beisa oryx.

You will arrive in time for lunch at Sidai Camp. After check-in, you will enjoy lunch and have time to relax before the afternoon game drive. Later, our professional safari guide will take you out into the conservancy for your first game drive in this unique ecosystem.

During the drive, you will stay on the lookout for Special Five species and other wildlife such as lions, leopards, striped hyenas, lesser kudu, vulturine guineafowl and plains game. The conservancy offers a calm and rewarding safari experience, especially for travellers who enjoy rare species and quiet wilderness.

In the evening, you will return to the camp for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Sidai Camp
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Main Experience: Arrival in Laikipia Wilderness and afternoon game drive

After breakfast, you will begin a full day of wildlife exploration in Laikipia Wilderness. This day focuses on the Special Five and rare wildlife tracking, giving you a deeper safari experience away from the more common tourist routes.

Our professional safari guide will help you search for Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and Beisa oryx. These northern species make Laikipia a special safari destination because they are not commonly seen in many southern parks.

You will also spend time tracking rare and elusive wildlife such as the black leopard and African wild dogs. These animals are not easy to find, and sightings depend on wildlife movement, patience, timing and local tracking information. This makes the experience even more exciting because every track, sound and sign can become part of the story.

Laikipia is also known for endangered and less common species such as striped hyenas and lesser kudu. You may also see lions, leopards, elephants, antelopes and many bird species as you explore the conservancy.

In the evening, you will enjoy a night game drive. This is a special experience because the wilderness changes after sunset. Nocturnal animals become more active, and you may see species that are rarely seen during daytime game drives.

Dinner and overnight will be at Sidai Camp.

Accommodation: Sidai Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Main Experience: Special Five viewing, rare wildlife tracking and night game drive

Today gives you another full day in Laikipia Wilderness. After breakfast, you will continue exploring the conservancy with our professional safari guide, focusing on areas with strong wildlife activity and recent sightings.

This day allows more time for tracking and patient observation. Rare wildlife experiences require calmness, patience and good guiding, especially when searching for black leopard, wild dogs and other elusive species. Our team will guide the day carefully, based on available local information and the natural movement of wildlife.

You will continue searching for the Special Five, including Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and Beisa oryx. You may also see big cats, hyenas, plains game and many bird species. The beauty of Laikipia is that every drive feels different, with open landscapes, quiet tracks and wildlife that moves freely through the conservancy.

During your stay, you may also enjoy a complimentary bush meal set-up or sundowner experience, depending on camp arrangements and timing. These moments add a special touch to the safari, allowing you to enjoy the wilderness in a more relaxed and memorable way.

Later, you will return to Sidai Camp for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Sidai Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Main Experience: Special Five safari, rare wildlife tracking and wilderness experience
Optional Activities: Bush walk, camel safari, local herder experience, Mpala Research Centre educational tour and stargazing with a Maasai elder

After breakfast, you will leave Laikipia Wilderness and proceed towards Solio Game Reserve, one of Kenya’s most respected rhino conservation areas. The drive takes approximately three hours, passing through scenic highland landscapes.

Solio Game Reserve is known for excellent rhino viewing and is home to both black and white rhinos. For travellers who want to see rhinos in strong numbers, this is one of the most rewarding places in Kenya. The reserve also has beautiful open plains, acacia woodland and a rich population of other wildlife.

On arrival, you will proceed for a full day game drive in the reserve. Our professional safari guide will help you search for white rhinos, black rhinos, buffaloes, lions, waterbucks, impalas, common zebras and many bird species.

You will enjoy a picnic lunch inside the reserve, allowing you to spend more time exploring the area. The afternoon game drive continues until later in the day, giving you more chances to enjoy rhino sightings and other wildlife moments.

In the evening, you will exit the reserve and proceed to Rhino Watch Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Rhino Watch Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Main Experience: Full day rhino viewing safari in Solio Game Reserve

After breakfast, you will depart Solio Game Reserve and begin the journey to Amboseli National Park. The drive takes approximately six hours, moving from the central Kenya highlands towards the open plains of southern Kenya.

Amboseli is one of Kenya’s most loved safari destinations. It is famous for large elephant herds, open landscapes and spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. On clear days, the snow-capped mountain rises beautifully above the park, creating one of the most iconic safari scenes in East Africa.

You will arrive at Praro Amboseli Camp around lunchtime. After check-in, you will enjoy lunch and have time for a short afternoon rest. Later in the afternoon, our professional safari guide will take you out for your first game drive in Amboseli National Park.

During the game drive, you may see elephants, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, wildebeest, gazelles, lions and many bird species. Amboseli is especially loved for close elephant viewing and photography, especially when Mount Kilimanjaro is visible in the background.

In the evening, you will return to the camp for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Praro Amboseli Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Main Experience: Scenic drive to Amboseli and afternoon game drive

After breakfast, you will set out for a full day game drive in Amboseli National Park. This day gives you time to explore one of Kenya’s premium safari parks, known for free-ranging elephants and the beautiful Kilimanjaro backdrop.

Our professional safari guide will lead the game drive according to wildlife movement, weather and the best viewing areas. You will explore Amboseli’s open plains, wetlands, dry lake beds and acacia woodland while searching for elephants, lions, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, hyenas, antelopes and birdlife.

You will also visit Observation Hill, one of the best viewpoints in the park. From the top, you can enjoy a wide view of Amboseli, including the marshes, plains and distant mountain scenery. This viewpoint is excellent for photography and for appreciating the full beauty of the park.

Lunch will be served during the game drive, allowing you to spend more time in the wilderness. Later, you will continue exploring the park before returning to the camp in the evening.

Dinner and overnight will be at Praro Amboseli Camp.

Accommodation: Praro Amboseli Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Main Experience: Full day Amboseli safari, elephant viewing and Observation Hill

After breakfast, you will leave Amboseli and drive to Tsavo West National Park, a journey of approximately three hours. This day brings you into one of Kenya’s most dramatic and historic safari landscapes.

On arrival at Tsavo West, you will enjoy an en route game drive as you proceed to Voyager Ziwani Safari Camp. Tsavo West is known for rugged scenery, volcanic landscapes, lava flows, springs, wildlife and beautiful wilderness views. Together with Tsavo East, it forms part of one of Kenya’s largest protected wildlife areas.

You will arrive at the camp around lunchtime. After check-in and lunch, you will have time to relax before the afternoon game drive. Later, our professional safari guide will take you out again to explore Tsavo West.

During the game drive, you will stay on the lookout for the famous red elephants of Tsavo, which appear reddish because of the area’s red soil. You may also see buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, lions and many bird species.

In the evening, you will enjoy a night game drive at Tsavo West, depending on park and camp arrangements. This gives you a chance to search for nocturnal wildlife and experience the wilderness after dark.

Later, you will return to Voyager Ziwani Safari Camp for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Voyager Ziwani Safari Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Main Experience: En route game drive, afternoon game drive and night game drive in Tsavo West

After breakfast, you will set out for a full day game drive in Tsavo West National Park. This is a day of wildlife, scenery and discovery, as Tsavo West is known for both animals and striking natural features.

A visit to Tsavo West is especially rewarding when combined with key attractions such as Mzima Springs, Shetani Lava Flow and Lake Jipe. Mzima Springs is a beautiful freshwater spring area where you may see hippos, crocodiles, fish and birdlife. Shetani Lava Flow gives the landscape a dramatic volcanic character, while Lake Jipe adds a peaceful water setting and is also important for birdlife.

The park is home to many wildlife species, including elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, lions, leopards, cheetahs, rhinos, oryx, dik-diks, lesser kudu, klipspringers, hyraxes, mongooses and many birds. Tsavo West is also known for excellent birdlife, with hundreds of species recorded in the wider Tsavo ecosystem.

Our professional safari guide will lead the day according to weather, wildlife movement and accessibility. Lunch will be enjoyed during the game drive, allowing you more time to explore the park.

In the evening, you will return to Voyager Ziwani Safari Camp for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Voyager Ziwani Safari Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Main Experience: Full day Tsavo West game drive, Mzima Springs, Shetani Lava and Lake Jipe

After breakfast, you will leave Tsavo West National Park with an en route game drive and proceed towards Tsavo East National Park. The drive takes approximately three hours, depending on routing and game viewing time.

Tsavo East is one of Kenya’s most famous and largest national parks. It is known for wide open spaces, red soil, red elephants, Aruba Dam, Galana River, Mudanda Rock and beautiful wilderness scenery. The park gives a classic feeling of remote safari country, with long views and strong wildlife experiences.

After crossing into Tsavo East, you will enjoy an en route game drive as you proceed towards Ashnil Aruba Lodge. You will arrive around lunchtime for check-in, lunch and a short rest.

Later in the afternoon, our professional safari guide will take you out for a game drive in Tsavo East. You may see elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, antelopes and many bird species. The red soil and open landscapes make the park especially beautiful for photography.

In the evening, you will return to Ashnil Aruba Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Ashnil Aruba Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Main Experience: Transfer to Tsavo East and afternoon game drive

After breakfast, you will leave the lodge with packed lunch for a full day game drive in Tsavo East National Park. This day gives you more time to explore the vast wilderness and enjoy the wildlife of one of Kenya’s most iconic parks.

Tsavo East is famous for its red elephants, which often appear dusted in the park’s red soil. You may also see lions, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes and many bird species. The park’s open landscapes make it possible to enjoy long views, beautiful skies and peaceful wildlife moments.

You will also explore some of the park’s key attractions, including Mudanda Rock, Aruba Dam, Lugard Falls and the Galana River, depending on routing and accessibility. These features add variety to the day, combining wildlife viewing with scenery and natural landmarks.

You will enjoy packed lunch in the wild, surrounded by the beauty of Tsavo East. Later, you will continue with the game drive, following wildlife movement and enjoying the dramatic mix of red soil, vegetation and wide open space.

In the evening, you will return to Ashnil Aruba Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Ashnil Aruba Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Main Experience: Full day Tsavo East safari, red elephants and scenic landmarks

After early breakfast, you will check out from the lodge and begin your journey back to Nairobi. You will enjoy an en route game drive as you exit Tsavo East National Park, giving you one last chance to enjoy wildlife and scenery before leaving the park.

The drive to Nairobi takes approximately six hours. As you travel back, you will have time to reflect on the safari memories collected across Laikipia Wilderness, Solio Game Reserve, Amboseli, Tsavo West and Tsavo East.

Upon arrival in Nairobi in the afternoon, our NAMSA Prestigious Tours team will drop you at your hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your outbound flight. This marks the end of your 11 Days Kenya Special Five and Big Five Safari.

Meal Plan: Breakfast
Main Experience: En route game drive from Tsavo East and return to Nairobi