A ten-day extended Kenya safari adding the dramatic semi-arid landscapes and unique wildlife of Samburu in the north to the classic Big Five Mara-Amboseli circuit.
This extended ten-day itinerary takes the classic Kenya circuit further north into Samburu — a semi-arid reserve home to wildlife you will see almost nowhere else in Kenya: the long-necked gerenuk, the reticulated giraffe, the Grevy's zebra, the Somali ostrich, and the beisa oryx. Together these are known as the Samburu Special Five. Combined with strong leopard and elephant viewing along the Ewaso Ng'iro River, Samburu gives the trip a wilder, more rugged character that complements the rolling plains of the Mara further south.
From Samburu, the itinerary descends through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru's flamingos and rhinos, then west to two full days in the Maasai Mara, and finally south to Amboseli's elephant herds beneath Mount Kilimanjaro. The result is a complete portrait of Kenya's wildlife regions — northern frontier, Rift Valley lakes, savannah plains, and southern marshes — over a pace that gives time at each location rather than rushing through. The itinerary suits clients on a second Kenya safari, photographers seeking landscape variety, and serious wildlife enthusiasts who want to see beyond the classic Big Five.
Arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, met by Wildtouch and transferred to your Nairobi accommodation. Afternoon at leisure with optional visits to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage or Karen Blixen House. Evening safari briefing.
A morning scheduled flight (or a scenic drive option) takes you north across the equator to Samburu National Reserve. Arrive at camp in time for lunch, with an afternoon game drive along the Ewaso Ng'iro River — the lifeline of the reserve. Samburu's riverine forests and arid surrounds host the area's distinctive Special Five: the gerenuk, the reticulated giraffe, the Grevy's zebra, the Somali ostrich, and the beisa oryx.
A full day in Samburu with morning and afternoon game drives. The Ewaso Ng'iro River draws elephant herds, lion prides and frequent leopard sightings. The reserve's dramatic landscapes — Ololokwe rising on the eastern horizon, doum palm forests along the river, golden grasslands stretching to the Mathews Range — give photographers exceptional variety.
A morning visit to a Samburu community offers an authentic insight into the pastoralist culture of the northern frontier. After lunch, a scheduled flight (or scenic drive) takes you south to Lake Nakuru. An afternoon game drive in the park introduces the flamingo flocks and white rhino sanctuary.
After a morning game drive in Nakuru focusing on rhino and Rothschild giraffe, drive south through the Mau Escarpment and into the Maasai Mara. Arrive at camp in time for lunch with an afternoon game drive on the open plains of the reserve.
A full day in the Mara with two long game drives separated by a bush lunch. The reserve's big cats — lion prides on the open plains, cheetah hunting in the long grass, leopard in the riverine forests — are the focus. Optional sunrise hot-air balloon safari for an unforgettable aerial perspective on the migration.
Morning game drive followed by a visit to a Maasai manyatta — a chance to learn about the pastoralist culture of the southern plains and meet community elders. An afternoon game drive concentrates on any wildlife the trip has not yet covered in detail.
A scheduled flight (or a long road transfer for travellers preferring overland) brings you to Amboseli National Park beneath Mount Kilimanjaro. An afternoon game drive begins the search for the park's legendary elephant herds.
A full day in Amboseli with morning and afternoon game drives. Early-morning light on Kilimanjaro behind Amboseli's elephant herds is one of the iconic East African safari images, and the park's marshes and pans attract hippos, buffalo, plains zebra and a host of birds.
A final morning game drive in the soft early light before transferring to Nairobi for the homeward flight. Day rooms in Nairobi can be arranged for evening international departures. Wildtouch manages airport transfers and check-in assistance.
Inclusions and exclusions are typical for this itinerary type and may vary depending on the tour operator’s programme and the accommodation tier selected. Wildtouch Tours & Travel confirms the exact arrangement at contracting.
Wild and Magical Kenya — Ten Day Extended Safari is a 10-day sample safari itinerary delivered by Wildtouch Tours & Travel, the Destination Management Company that handles in-country operations in Kenya. Wildtouch Tours & Travel is represented in the UK travel trade by Kusa Connect, an ATTA member UK rep company founded by Graeme Watson. UK tour operators programme the itinerary alongside curated African journeys and contract directly with Wildtouch Tours & Travel for operations. Kusa Connect supports operators with FAM trips, consultant training, sales materials and, where required, representation at international travel trade shows.
UK trade enquiries about Wild and Magical Kenya — Ten Day Extended Safari — operator product teams, Africa specialists and luxury travel consultants — should contact Kusa Connect via kusaconnect.com/contact. Kusa Connect does not take consumer or retail-agent bookings; those flow through the contracted UK tour operator who programmes Wildtouch Tours & Travel.
Wild and Magical Kenya — Ten Day Extended Safari is a sample itinerary delivered on the ground by Wildtouch Tours & Travel, the Kenya DMC. UK travel agents recommend the safari concept to their clients, who then book through specialist UK tour operators that programme Wildtouch Tours & Travel's itineraries alongside their wider African journey portfolio. Tour operators contract directly with Wildtouch Tours & Travel for in-country operations. Kusa Connect is the UK trade representative: we support operators with FAM trip coordination, consultant training, sales materials and, where required, representation at international travel trade shows. Kusa Connect does not take consumer or retail-agent bookings.
Yes. The day-by-day structure shown is a sample design — the duration, pace, accommodation tier and special-interest add-ons (walking safaris, photographic programming, family adaptations, honeymoon arrangements) are all customisable by Wildtouch Tours & Travel in consultation with the UK tour operator. Operators contact Kusa Connect to discuss tailored variations.
June to October offers the best combined wildlife viewing across all four regions. January to March is excellent for Samburu and the Mara with quieter camps. The Mara's wildebeest migration falls between July and September.
Configurable from quality tented camps through to flagship lodges and private conservancy properties across all four regions. Properties can be paired for thematic consistency or for variety across the regions, depending on the operator brief.
Wildtouch Tours & Travel is the Destination Management Company responsible for in-country operations across Kenya. They handle the vehicles, the guides, the property contracts, the permits and the logistics. Wildtouch Tours & Travel is represented in the UK by Kusa Connect.
FAM trip enquiries are handled by Kusa Connect on behalf of Wildtouch Tours & Travel. UK tour operator product teams, Africa specialists and luxury travel consultants can request FAM trip availability — including condensed variants of the itinerary for product familiarisation — via the Kusa Connect contact form at kusaconnect.com/contact.