From horseback safari to authentic bush camping with the Maasai, this is the once-in-a-lifetime wildlife and cultural experience in Kenya!
7 days, 6 nights
Min 6-Max 12
18+
Nairobi Airport
Get ready for an immersive wildlife experience through Kenya on this activity-packed comfort lodge safari including an authentic bush camping night with the Maasai! An exclusive Kenya safari like no other!
We’ll get deep into the wilds of Kenyan National Parks including Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, and Amboseli, taking in all the major highlights of Kenya as well as off-the-beaten-path private conservancies for the ultimate safari experience, and this from 4-different vantage points: from boat, on foot, 4×4 jeep, and horseback! As an added bonus, we will spend an authentic (free from staging and commercialization) bush camping night out with the Maasai warriors!
You’ll be immersed in the wild comforts on this outstanding 7-day safari experience in Kenya in the most exciting and authentic way possible!
Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime African experience and secure your spot now on our exclusive Kenya wildlife and cultural safari tour!
You can easily combine our Kenya only trip with our Zanzibar Island Tour or 7-Day Tanzania Serengeti Safari Marathon Tour.
Please note: This trip can be customized for your party upon request. Simply chat to us.
Arrive in Nairobi and transfer to our lovely eco lodge, where your Kenyan safari adventure begins. Time-permitting, you may want to visit the Bomas of Kenya, which is a short ride away from the lodge and a great introduction to Kenyan culture, or simply relax with a drink by the pool before we meet for a welcome dinner in the evening.
Note this itinerary combines well with our 7-Day Tanzania Serengeti Safari Marathon tour. Please contact us if you need any support with your pre-tour travel arrangements.
Get excited as today is an activity filled day! After breakfast we leave busy Nairobi and drive to Lake Naivasha with a brief stopover at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint for sightseeing and photography.
Upon arrival at Lake Naivasha, we will hop on a boat to explore the unique and diverse flora and wildlife on the lake and its surroundings including numerous water birds and huge hippo pods. After, we will go on a walking safari on the Crescent Island in the company of a local guide AND giraffes, zebras, and wildebeests. The Crescent Island is a sanctuary for these animals, so we won't encounter any predators on our walk with the mammals.
In the early afternoon, we will drive to our lodge near Lake Nakuru for check-in, lunch and a short rest before we head to a non-profit private wildlife conservancy on Lake Elmenteita in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley. Here we will enjoy game viewing from a different vantage point: on horsebacks!
We will enjoy a leisurely horse ride on the conservancy while absorbing the stunning views of Lake Elmenteita. Horseback ride is suitable for any level of ability and you will be provided with a helmet and accompanied by an experienced rider guide.
We will then return to our lodge by sunset to enjoy a lovely dinner before we fall asleep after a successful start to our Kenyan safari adventure!
This morning after an early breakfast, we drive to Lake Nakuru National Park for morning game viewing, where we will have a chance to see thousands of flamingos, rhino, and Rothschild giraffe, lion, leopard, and buffalo among other wildlife.
We will then drive to our authentic Maasai Camp for lunch, located in Loita Plains of Masai Mara Natural Reserve. Today we have a super special experience on agenda for the rest of the day: an authentic bush camping experience with the Maasai!
After lunch, we will have a bit of time to rest before we set off for a walk of about 1.5 hours with the Maasai warriors to our Bush Camping set deep within the Loita Plains through spectacular landscapes and nature trails. Once arrived at the sacred campsite, all you need to do is to simply let the magic unfold: relax, settle in and enjoy a traditional Maasai evening in the real Kenyan bush.
We will have a delicious feast traditionally prepared around the campfire, and as the flames keep you warm, the Maasai warriors and elders will share their stories, songs, blessings and all. Tonight you will fall asleep on a traditional hand-made sage mattress under the stars, hearing the hyenas howl in the distance. A truly magical and exclusive night on the sacred land of local people, offering a true glimpse into the ancient way of life (free from staging and commercialization).
A tented bush toilet will be available at the edge of the camp.
Please note: This bush camping experience is a true highlight and an upgrade to the standard accommodation options available at the Maasai basecamp. However, those who don't feel comfortable sleeping outside may return to the basecamp after dinner at no additional cost, where a limited number of Maasai mud huts are available (we won't be keeping any reservations for huts, unless you advise us to do so upon booking). In adverse weather conditions, igloo-tents will be set up by our Maasai hosts to keep us safe from elements.
We will leave our bush camp early in the morning and walk back to the Maasai basecamp to freshen-up and have breakfast. If you don't wish to walk, optional transfer by motorbikes (boda boda) is possible for a small fee to be paid to the local guys from the village.
After bidding farewell to our Maasai hosts at the basecamp, we will drive to Masai Mara National Reserve just in time for a mid-morning game drive. We will be in search of the Big 5 as we cover different areas of the wildlife reserve.
We will have lunch at our tented safari camp in Masai Mara. In the afternoon we will head out on another game drive until sunset and will be back at our lodge in time for a sundowner. Dinner will be served at the safari camp.
Optional: While we would have experienced the horseback riding and walking safaris in other wildlife reserves the day before, you may want to take another horseback or walking safari this afternoon in the Masai Mara's oldest conservancy, Ol Kinyei, at an extra fee of US$220 per person, or a walking safari at an extra fee of US$60 per person. These activities are bookable onsite and include the conservancy entry fees and a sundowner drink.
After an early morning breakfast, we will spend the whole day on game drive in Masai Mara National Reserve.
We will enjoy a nature walk along the Mara River in the company of an armed ranger to see the wildebeest crossing, hippos and crocodiles. We will have a picnic lunch at one of the picnic spots in the national park, so as to spend the entire day on the game drive having not to come back to the camp for meals.
After a successful day full of animal sightings, we will return to our camp for dinner and overnight.
Optional: Early morning Balloon Safari (1 hr.) followed by champagne breakfast at an extra fee of US$500 per person bookable onsite.
Today after breakfast, we will head to stunningly beautiful Amboseli National Park.
We will break the journey to have lunch at the Carnivore Restaurant in Nairobi. As we arrive in Amboseli later in the afternoon, we will go on a sunset game drive to enjoy animal sightings against the majestic backdrop of snow-capped Mt Kilimanjaro.
Dinner and overnight at our lovely lodge in Amboseli.
We will raise early to have breakfast and enjoy morning safari game drive in Amboseli in search of wildlife and also this will be the best chance to see the famous Mt. Kilimanjaro. Though Mt. Kilimanjaro lies in Tanzania, the best place to see it clearly is in Kenya's Amboseli National Park.
We will enjoy our packed lunch and make our way out of the park. Those joining our week-long Tanzania safari will be handed over to our Tanzanian team at Namanga border town, and the rest will be transferred to Nairobi airport or hotel of your choice.
If you need any support with your pre or post-tour travel arrangements, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Trip Destinations: Nairobi (1), Lake Nakuru (1), Masai Mara Loita Plains (1), Masai Mara Reserve (2), Amboseli (1)
The accommodation on this tour is a blend of mid-range safari lodges and permanent tented camps (4 nights), bush camping (1 night) and luxury safari lodge (1 night) specially chosen for their location, uniqueness, value for money, or excellent activities.
All rooms and tents on this trip are shared with two people in each room/tent with ensuite bathroom facilities, except the bush camping night. You'll have the option of a double bed or two single beds. Rooms vary slightly by layout and view and will be assigned based on booking order.
Solo travelers will be paired up with another participant. There is no single room option on this trip.
We will be staying inside the national parks and conservation areas for a truly immersive wildlife experience. You should not miss the experience of falling asleep under the African starry sky, hearing the hyenas or lions roaring in the distance, and being woken up in the morning by the unique African sunrise.
While bush camping, all camping gear will be provided by our local partners.
Please note that this is Africa and one cannot expect the western standards in the places visited. Especially with respect to service, expect a lovely “laid back, unhurried” environment.
6 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches and 6 Dinners are included in the tour price as outlined in the itinerary.
Vegetarians can be catered for if you inform us upon booking. For other dietary requirements (vegan, gluten-free, allergies, etc.), please contact us to discuss the best course of action for you.
During the trip, we’ll use 4×4 land cruiser safari vehicles with pop-up roof, with guaranteed window seat (max. 6 people in a vehicle)
Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of six months after your planned date of arrival into Kenya, with at least one blank page (meaning a total of 3 blank pages at a minimum if visiting more than one country).
Kenya has abolished visa requirements for all foreign visitors from 1 January 2024, and instead implemented an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) system. All visitors including infants and children who intend to travel to the Republic of Kenya must have an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before the start of their journey. The eTA is good for single entry, but visitors who leave Kenya to other EAC countries (Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda) may re-enter provided that their eTA is still valid (90 days from issuance).
Applications can be submitted up to 90 days prior to travel and must be submitted at least 3 days in advance at this link: https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en. The eTA fee is USD 32.50 per traveler, plus bank and processing fees. Processing time is three (3) working days but in some cases it may take longer.
As part of MAHO on Earth services for our participants, we take care of your eTA application and the eTA fees are included in the tour price.
You must ensure that passports and visas are valid for the countries visited.
Disclaimer: The following information is intended as a guide only and is not intended to replace professional advice. We, at MAHO on Earth, cannot guarantee that the following information is complete, up-to-date, accurate, or error-free.
As of the publishing date, there are no mandatory vaccinations to enter Kenya. Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if coming from endemic countries. If you plan on entering Tanzania on the same trip, yellow fever vaccination certificate is required, and you must be inoculated at least 10 days before the start of the trip. Please consult with your local health authorities.
Malaria is a risk all year around in Kenya. We do highly recommend that you obtain professional travel health advice at your doctor or an institute of tropical medicine with respect to your individual needs and your intended travel, including advice on vaccinations, anti-malarial and other medications based on your past vaccination history, your present medical condition, and your intended itinerary.
To join this trip, you'll need to have a reasonable level of fitness. While not too strenuous, the tour involves somewhat long journeys on gravel roads (this is Africa), a fair amount of walking, early-morning wake-up calls, being in the sun in potentially hot temperatures, and other similar scenarios.
This trip may not be suitable for people with special needs such as reduced mobility due to local conditions and activities. If in doubt, please contact us.
Please do not send sensitive information (such as health, accident or other highly personal information) through our contact form. You may want to get in touch with us directly via phone instead.
We do strongly recommend you take out travel insurance as soon as you make your deposit to ensure the most coverage. Your travel insurance policy should at least cover medical expenses, trip cancellations, activities you intend to do, and repatriation in the event of an accident or illness. We will reach out and collect your travel insurance and emergency contact details shortly before the departure date. Your trip price with us does not include any travel insurance. Travel insurance policies are generally speaking more economical when taken out locally in your country of origin.
We personally use Safety Wing Travel Insurance and can highly recommend.
On this trip, you are covered by Flying Doctors Services Insurance in case of emergencies. Please note, this service does not replace a proper travel insurance. Flying Doctors Insurance policy solely covers a speedy first-aid treatment and air-transportation from the bush to the nearest hospital; medical care beyond this is not included.
While your trip with us cover most of the expenses, things such as alcoholic beverages, souvenirs, snacks, laundry, visa fee, meals not included (if any) are examples of a few additional costs that might arise during your trip. Any optional activity is mentioned clearly so that you don't have to worry about hidden costs.
The countries visited on this trip accept the USD or EUR for tourism. While credit cards are accepted, there is usually an additional fee. ATMs are scarce outside of bigger towns. We recommend carrying some cash and budgeting around $20 – $50 USD/EUR per day for incidental expenses and tips.
Please note: Our tour price does not include tips/gratuities for the local guides, as tipping is discretionary and should be based on your satisfaction with the service provided. It is however customary to express your appreciation for a job well done, and guidelines will be given on tipping local guides.
Further details and recommendations on what to pack will be provided prior to departure.
We care about getting to know our fellow travelers, hence we keep our groups small and intimate. Our tours usually run with 12 or fewer participants and require a minimum of 6 participants to take place. It will be an international group and the main language will be English. We also speak German and Turkish.
People from all walks of life and nationalities, singles, couples, friends, and families with a sense of adventure, an open mind, and an open heart can join our tours. We consider each trip as an opportunity to cultivate our travel persona with humility, curiosity, and respect, what we call a "Mindful Adventure".
This trip is handcrafted by Maho and peer-reviewed by Tom. Designing a trip is engineering work, and this is not a cookie-cutter tour. Maho and Tom, founders and owners of MAHO on Earth, curated this immersive itinerary to make the best use of your hard-earned bucks and vacation days with lots of wonderful handpicked activities and locations included!
We want you to have the most rewarding experience possible. We take care of all the hassle of planning, and you can enjoy your vacation with peace of mind, not least because we support social projects and NGOs, and partner with the best local enterprises.
Join us on this Mindful Adventure, Highlands to Oceans!
To reserve your spot, please use our booking form!
Please note, the minimum age to participate in this tour is 18.
Should you need any support with your pre or post-tour travel arrangements, we are here to help.
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