The Best 10-Day Kenya Safari Itinerary

An African Safari is one of those bucket list destinations that we hear about consistently throughout our lives. 

For me, it was always a trip filed under “someday.” I’m not sure why it was never at the top of my list, especially after hearing countless friends and fellow travel bloggers rave about how life-changing their trips to Kenya were. Then came an invitation I couldn’t pass up: a travel writers' trip to Kenya. I said yes—and everything changed.

Now, I get the hype.

Since my return, I can’t stop blabbing to anyone who will listen about how incredible Kenya is. I am one of those people. The animals, the landscapes, the hospitality, literally every aspect of this trip completely blew my expectations away. 

Much of the success of the trip goes to Uplift Travel & Capture Kenya. Although I’m a seasoned traveler who typically plans her own international itineraries, I would’ve completely failed to do Kenya justice if I had tried to do this trip without their expertise. Henry, the owner of Capture Kenya, and Kim, the owner of Uplift Travel, put together this bucket-list trip for our group, which consisted of 11 travel writers.

Born and raised in a rural village along the tourist track to Maasai Mara, Henry grew up watching vehicles trek down the highways on their way to safaris. Today, he has over a decade of experience guiding groups around his home country. 

Our trip was two weeks, but I've narrowed down the highlights to include the best Kenya Safari Itinerary.

The Best 10-Day Kenya Safari Itinerary with Capture Kenya Expeditions

When to Take a Safari in Kenya 

Peak safari season in Kenya runs from mid-June through August. We visited in late May, right at the tail end of the low season—and honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing. Everywhere we went was peaceful and uncrowded, and we saw just as many animals as those who visit during the Great Migration. The best part? We often had those unforgettable wildlife encounters all to ourselves.

After experiencing Kenya with quiet roads and zero crowds, I can’t imagine going during peak season. It sounds like peak-season Yellowstone. Hot, overcrowded, and too many people to truly enjoy the wildlife. 

Day 1: Nairobi 

Kenya isn’t an easy flight from anywhere, and you’ll likely want a day in Nairobi to adjust from jetlag, but also see a few of the highlights the unexpectedly modern & lush city offers. Two highlights offer a close-up and ethical introduction to the wildlife of Kenya: The Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage & the Giraffe Center. Both are worth a stop on your first day. 

Where to stay: Nairobi Serena Hotel 

Day 2-4: Maasai Mara 

When you Google “Kenya safari ideas,” the Maasai Mara tops just about every list—and for good reason. Bordering Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, it’s most famous for the Great Migration and offers that quintessential safari backdrop: wide open plains, acacia trees, and endless wildlife.

That said, it’s also one of the more popular and tourist-heavy parks in Kenya. I imagine it feels overwhelming during peak migration season, but visiting in the low season (mid-May) made all the difference. It was still the most crowded area we visited during our trip, but not by any means overwhelming.

We stayed at Mara Serena Safari Lodge, which was easily the most touristy stop of our trip. But its panoramic views of the Maasai Mara are impossible to beat. Each evening, thunderstorms rolled across the savannah, painting the sky in dramatic depths of clouds and colors. Truly one of the most remarkable areas I've experienced. Does Maasai Mara deserve all the hype it receives? Absolutely.

Where to stay: Mara Serena Safari Lodge

Day 4-6: Kileleoni Mara Gateway House and Maasai Women’s Co-Op

During our trip, the sights and itinerary were a dream, but I felt like there was something missing. Something that wasn’t a fancy tourist resort and a bit more off the beaten path. Our last stop of the trip was Kileleoni Mara Gateway House, and it delivered everything I was searching for. Soul, heart, and a connection. 

The inn is run by Sylvia, who was born and raised on the lands surrounding the Mara. She now dedicates her life to empowering local Maasai women through a nearby women’s co-op, which she founded in 2012. 100% of the lodge’s profits go directly to supporting this initiative, which provides refuge for women escaping child marriage, abusive relationships, or life without rights after widowhood. (In some regions, it’s illegal for women to remarry, and many are married off as teens to older men with multiple wives.)

Sylvia comes from an influential family—her brother is the regional governor—and she uses her voice to fight for those who have none. During our stay in late May, she mentioned that her next booking wasn’t until the end of June. An entire month without guests.

The cost to stay? Just $75–$85 per person per night, including three home-cooked meals a day. And Sylvia is everywhere—welcoming you, serving dinner, prepping coffee. The inn is in the middle of the conservancy, surrounded by wildlife. Just because you're outside of the Mara doesn't mean the wildlife stops; they're everywhere - giraffes, zebras, jackals, hippos, and more just beyond the property fence. If you book a stay on your own, you will be supporting the local co-op women with 100% of your payment.

However, if you’re looking to take it a step further for a more authentic and cultural visit to Kenya, you won’t want to miss this next opportunity, which can only be accessed when traveling with Kim at Uplift Travel. Throughout her numerous visits to the country, Kim & Sylvia have become close friends, and those visiting on her trips through Uplift Travel get the rare opportunity to not only support the village but also visit and meet the women who call it home. 

Once at the village, you are able to spend time with the women, hear their stories, and purchase handmade jewelry to support their independence.

The women pay $3/month in dues, which go toward buying cows—a significant source of security and pride in Maasai culture. Since Maasai women aren’t legally allowed to own cows, Sylvia negotiated with the local chief to allow the co-op itself to collectively own livestock, making these women the first in the region to do so. But during slow tourism months, when no one visits, jewelry doesn’t sell, dues go unpaid, and cows can’t be bought.

Where to stay: Kileleoni Mara Gateway House

OR Day 4-6: Amboseli National Park 

If you only have 10 days in Kenya, you’ll likely have to choose between Kileleoni Mara Gateway House and Amboseli National Park. But if you can stretch your trip to 12–14 days, I highly recommend including both, as they each offer completely different, unforgettable experiences.

Amboseli is one of the best places in Kenya to see elephants, and sunrise safaris here are nothing short of spectacular. Picture this: golden light spilling over the plains as herds of elephants march to their morning watering hole. It’s the kind of moment no photo or description can truly capture.

The park sits at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, offering the best angle and views of Africa’s highest peak...as long as the weather cooperates!

We visited Amboseli first, and it was the perfect introduction to Kenya’s safari magic. In just a couple of days, we saw cheetahs, elephants, hippos, jackals, wildebeests, a rare black serval cat, and more. I remember leaving the park in total disbelief that we still had 12 days to go—I already felt like I’d hit the wildlife jackpot.

Where to stay: Ol Tukai Lodge Amboseli  

Day 6-8: Ol Pejeta Conservancy 

We saw the Big Five in under three hours one evening at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, something I never thought possible. When I first found out I’d be going on this trip, I figured we’d be lucky to check off all five animals over the course of two weeks, let alone in a single evening. But Ol Pejeta completely blew me away. It quickly became the top highlight of the trip, with wildlife encounters that felt unreal.

The experience was made even more surreal when we witnessed a lion pride feasting on a cape buffalo carcass just off the side of the road twice. The conservancy’s layout made game drives feel intimate, and the roads were in great shape, making for smooth, up-close encounters.

Ol Pejeta is also home to the last two northern white rhinos on earth, and visitors can meet them while learning about the groundbreaking efforts underway to save the species from extinction. It’s both humbling and unforgettable.

At the end of an adventurous day, it was a treat heading back to Serena Sweetwater Camp, which has a watering hole just beyond the fence as the centerpiece of the hotel. You can sit in your luxury glamping tent or at the lodge bar and watch giraffes, gazelles, rhinos, zebras, buffalo, and other wildlife approach the watering hole throughout the day. Regarding views and location, this hotel was my favorite on the trip. 

Where to stay: Serena Sweetwater Camp 

Day 8-10: Sumburu National Reserve 

Samburu is lower in elevation and noticeably hotter than many other regions in Kenya. At first, I assumed it might be one of my least favorite stops, but I love being proven wrong. Samburu ended up offering some of my most memorable wildlife encounters and striking landscapes of the entire trip. The dramatic terrain, rich biodiversity, and jaw-dropping sunrises and sunsets quickly pushed it to the top of my list. In the end, it was my absolute favorite place in all of Kenya.

If you’re ready to splurge, a stay at Surana Buffalo Springs can’t be missed. It is my favorite hotel I’ve ever stayed at, and I’m a travel blogger! That says a lot. It comes as the most expensive hotel on the list, but it's incredibly worth it if it’s within your budget (roughly $700/night).

If it’s a little too pricey for your liking, fear not! Their sister property, Ashnil Samburu Camp, is a perfect alternative that is a little more budget-friendly ($200/night). 

Where to Stay: Surana Buffalo Springs or Ashnil Samburu Camp

The First Step in Your Kenya Safari Itinerary

If I had one recommendation for this kind of trip, it would be to take your Kenya safari itinerary through Capture Kenya Expeditions. I can tell you with 100% certainty that Henry and his team are what made this trip for the majority of us. I will be going back to Kenya again, and maybe again, and maybe again, and every time I will contact Henry to make my next Safari dreams come true. 

Contact Capture Kenya Expeditions 

Contact Uplift Travel

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