5 Days in Kenya - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Classic Wildlife & Culture Tour

This classic introduction to Kenya combines a national park boasting non-predatory wildlife, a cultural camp, and two days of game drives with possible sightings of the "Big Five."

This is an excellent option for first timers to Kenya (and Africa). You'll be picked up from the airport by a private transfer in Nairobi, and quickly whisked away from the city toward Lake Naivasha for an hour-long boat ride where you can check out some hippos and waterbucks. Within the lake is a small piece of land, called Crescent Island, which is home to non-predatory wildlife, so jump ashore and take a walking safari with possible giraffe and zebra sightings.

Next is a visit to two local artisans who make handmade ceramic pieces and handwoven fabrics. If there's energy left, your driver will take you to Hell's Gate National Park for an easy bike ride through more trails and possible non-predatory wildlife. The next morning, transfer to Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp where you'll get insight into the daily lives of the Maasai people. Learn to understand their cultures, challenges, and methods of adapting to outside influences, with a range of optional activities during your visit. The next morning you'll take a private transfer to Maasai Mara National Reserve in time for an afternoon game drive. 

The rest of your time is spent at Maasai Mara where you'll have the opportunity to take a few different game drives looking for wildlife such as elephant, zebra, lion, cheetah, leopard, giraffe, buffalo, rhino, and even the Great Migration if you're here at the right time before you're transferred back to the airport to catch your departure flight. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Birdwatching Safari

With over a thousand species of birds in Kenya, this 5-day adventure visits four different lakes where you can pick between an exciting range of guided bird and wildlife tours.

Like the first trip, you'll be picked up from the airport in Nairobi and transferred to Lake Naivasha for a boat tour—this time in search of saddle-billed storks, great white pelicans, goliath herons, giant kingfishers, and African fish eagles. Then, continue the drive to Lake Nakuru National Park, for a game drive where you might see black and white rhinos, leopards, hippos, and endangered Rothschild's giraffes. Notable birds here include greater blue-eared starlings, flamingos, and Hottentot teals. You'll retire for the evening at Sarova Lion Hill Camp and wake up for an early morning game drive. 

Next is a drive to the area that encompasses Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria—a birdwatcher's paradise—where you'll take a sunset boat ride and enjoy the evening views. You'll spend the next two days exploring these two lakes with a range of guided bird and wildlife tours using various means of transportation including vehicles, boats, bicycles, as well as on foot. On your last day, you'll transfer back to the capital with a visit to Nairobi National Museum, known for its excellent bird exhibit, with 900 plus stuffed specimens—a chance to catch a glimpse of anything you may have missed earlier in the trip. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Coffee, Culture & Wildlife in Kenya

This unique trip includes a tour of a coffee plantation and visits to three famous conservancies with a bit more time in the nation's capital than other options on this list.  

The trip starts in Nairobi where you'll have some free time to check out great traditional markets, like Maasai Market, located in the city center. You'll head to Nairobi National Park before rush hour begins for a game drive. The 73-square-mile (117 km) park is not a zoo, but rather a vast protected space where animals roam happily and free. From here, you'll visit two centers dedicated to caring for baby orphaned elephants and giraffes. Watch and feed these charming animals while learning more about the center's conservation efforts.

Then, it's time to transfer to one of the finest coffee-growing areas in the world where you'll take a two-hour tour. Learn how Kenyan coffee is grown and processed, enjoy tastings, and purchase your own fresh coffee to take home. From here, you'll head to Lake Naivasha where there will be free time in the afternoon. The next morning is a special visit to Elsamere, a center that honors the life of George and Joy Adamson and their lifelong commitment to the wildlife of Kenya. After a buffet lunch (or high tea), you'll drive to Hell's Gate National Park, known for its scenery and variety of wildlife. 

Finish the trip with a one-hour boat tour in Lake Naivasha and then head for the Nairobi National Museum, which offers a great wealth of African history (time permitting). Learn more

Itinerary #4: Mount Kenya Hike & Safari

This active trip covers a lot of ground—literally—with an overnight trek before delving into two days of safari excursions. 

From Nairobi you'll be picked up in the morning for a three-hour drive to Mount Kenya National Park where you'll take a 5.6-mile (9 km) hike to Old Moses Mountain Camp for your overnight. This is a well-run mountain lodge at 10,837 feet (3,300 m) and a common first stop along the popular Sirimon trekking route to the summit of Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest peak. The next morning, you'll have time to enjoy the views over breakfast before descending through four of the park's vegetation belts. A driver will transfer you to a hotel in Nanyuki, the gateway to one of Africa's most important wildlife conservation areas. 

Your adventure isn't complete without getting up close to some rare wildlife. For your last night, pack up and make the short drive to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a not-for-profit conservation area protecting lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, gazelles, warthogs, and Kenya's only chimpanzees. You'll have a chance at spotting the only two northern white rhinoceros remaining in the world. Choose between a range of excursions before staying overnight in one of the tented camps, lodges, and homestays for an unforgettable experience. Learn more

More Great 5-Day Kenya Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your Kenya trip? Check out these 5-day itineraries, or describe your ideal trip and we will connect you with a local specialist to make it happen.