Kenya is one of those destinations that leave a lasting impression. From the endless plains of the Masai Mara to the giant elephants of Amboseli facing Kilimanjaro, from walking safaris among the giraffes to sunsets in the Rift Valley, this trip brings together everything you imagine when you dream of your first safari in Africa.
With this 7-day, 6-night itinerary, we’ve imagined a complete immersion in Kenya’s most beautiful landscapes, with a selection of charming & luxury accommodations offering a true travel experience, as much for the quality of the safaris as for the atmosphere of the lodges.
As always with Travel With la French, each itinerary can be adjusted to suit your expectations and desires. Itinerary titles can be clicked to give you direct access to full details of the trip, day by day.
This itinerary : Kenya’s must-sees – Charm & Luxury version
is designed for travelers discovering Africa for the first time, as well as for safari enthusiasts wishing to experience the great Kenyan classics in excellent conditions.
Nairobi: first immersion in the heart of East Africa
The adventure begins in Nairobi, Kenya’s vibrant and contrasting capital. Often considered a mere transit city, Nairobi is well worth a visit. It’s one of the few capitals in the world where you can spot wild lions or buffalo just a few minutes from the city center.
Depending on the time of arrival, several experiences can be added before the safari begins: meet the elephant calves taken in at the Daphne Sheldrick orphanage, feed the famous Rothschild giraffes at the Giraffe Centre or discover the Kazuri and Utamaduni craft workshops.
For this first night, travelers stay at the legendary Fairmont The Norfolka truly historic institution in Kenya. This iconic hotel blends colonial elegance, tropical gardens and upscale service. For over a century, it has welcomed explorers, writers and travelers to discover East Africa. Deluxe rooms offer refined comfort ideal after a long international flight, with a warm, chic atmosphere perfectly suited to a first Kenyan immersion.
Amboseli: elephant kingdom facing Kilimanjaro
After Nairobi, we head for the mythical Amboseli National Park, undoubtedly one of Africa’s most emblematic landscapes. Here, the scenery seems unreal: dusty plains, swamps fed by the snows of Kilimanjaro, acacia forests and, as a backdrop, the highest peak on the African continent, culminating at 5,892 meters.
Amboseli is world-famous for its huge herds of elephants. It’s probably one of the best places in Africa to see them up close, often with Kilimanjaro in the background. Wildlife photographers find it an exceptional playground, especially early in the morning when the light is soft and the clouds reveal the snow-capped peak.
But there’s more to Amboseli than elephants. Lions, cheetahs, Masai giraffes, hyenas, zebras and an impressive diversity of birds also inhabit the park. The wetlands attract abundant wildlife all year round, making safaris particularly rewarding.
The experience takes on an even greater dimension with a stay at Satao Elerai Camp, set in a private concession of over 2,000 hectares at the gateway to the national park. This type of concession offers a more exclusive and intimate experience than the park itself.
The “Mountain Facing” tents face Kilimanjaro, offering spectacular views from the moment you wake up. Between the private terraces, wooden structures and thatched roofs integrated into the surrounding nature, the camp offers that special feeling of being totally immersed in the bush, without forgoing comfort.
One of the highlights of this stage is the walking safari accompanied by a Maasai guide in Elerai’s private concession. Walking in the savannah allows you to discover Africa in a different way: learning to read animal tracks, observe plants, understand the ecosystem and fully experience the sounds and smells of the bush.
And because a safari in Kenya wouldn’t be complete without these suspended moments, the itinerary also includes a sunset aperitif in the wilderness, when the last rays illuminate the plains of Amboseli.
Naivasha: hippos, birds and walking safaris
After the great plains of Amboseli, the route heads into the Great Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha. This region offers a complete contrast with the previous landscapes: here, water dominates, green hills replace dry plains and birds are omnipresent.
Lake Naivasha is particularly renowned for its hippos and incredible biodiversity. A boat trip allows you to get up close to the animals, while enjoying a much more peaceful atmosphere than in the big safari parks.
The experience continues on Crescent Island, a small private reserve where you can take a safari… on foot. There are no predators here, so you can walk freely among giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and antelope. It’s a great choice for families, but also for travellers looking for a more immersive experience than a traditional vehicle safari.
For this nature break, travellers can stay at the Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resortperched high on the Eburu escarpment, with spectacular views over the entire Rift Valley and Lake Naivasha.
The lodge offers a much more relaxing atmosphere after several days of intense safari: spacious villas, wide open spaces, panoramic views and a peaceful atmosphere at sunset. It’s the perfect place to slow down a little, while continuing to explore exceptional landscapes.
Masai Mara: African safari in all its glory
It’s impossible to imagine a trip to Kenya without visiting the Masai Mara. A veritable icon of African safari, this world-famous reserve is often considered one of the best places in the world to observe wildlife.
The Masai Mara, a natural extension of the Tanzanian Serengeti, offers landscapes of infinite savannah dotted with acacia trees that we immediately associate with Africa. This is also where the famous Great Migration takes place every year, when over a million wildebeest and zebra cross the plains between July and October.
Even outside the migration season, safaris here are exceptional all year round. Lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, rhinoceros, hyenas, cheetahs and giraffes live here in abundance. The chances of spotting the famous “Big Five” are particularly high.
For this last major stage, the itinerary includes a stay at the Kilima Campan eco-lodge set on the Siria plateau with spectacular views over the Mara plains and the Mara River. Its privileged location allows you to enjoy an exceptional panorama directly from the tents.
The camp’s classic tents offer a perfect balance between adventure and comfort: wooden floors, private bathroom, panoramic terrace and total immersion in nature. Waking up at sunrise overlooking the Mara plains is clearly one of the memories that will stay with you long after your return.
As in Amboseli, the days are punctuated by morning and end-of-day safaris, when the animals are most active. Sunsets in the Masai Mara are particularly spectacular, especially when accompanied by an aperitif in the middle of the bush, in the middle of nowhere.
For travelers looking for an even more extraordinary experience, it’s also possible to add a hot-air balloon flight over the Masai Mara. Watching the African plains awaken from the air at sunrise remains one of the most magical moments you can experience in Kenya.
An ideal itinerary for a first safari in Kenya
This itinerary brings together everything that makes Kenya so magical:
the great African landscapes, exceptional wildlife, immersive experiences, carefully selected accommodation and that permanent sense of adventure that accompanies every day on safari.
Between 4×4 safaris, walking safaris, cultural encounters, hippo sailing and savannah sunsets, this trip offers a complete and balanced vision of East Africa in just one week.
And as always at Travel With la French, each itinerary can be entirely customized to your wishes: honeymoon, family safari, beach extension in Zanzibar or Diani Beach, hot-air balloon flights, ultra-luxury lodges or more exclusive experiences in private conservancies.
Because in Kenya, no two safaris are ever quite the same.
🔗 Also read: When to go to Kenya: Climate, Seasons and Tips
