Experience a unique whirlwind of Kenya's diverse environments on this express 5 day luxury safari. Perfectly crafted for Canadian travellers with very limited time seeking specific, high impact highlights, this journey, expertly coordinated by Kenyan based specialists, connects the unique forest lodges of Aberdare, the rich birdlife of Lake Nakuru, and the legendary wildlife plains of the Maasai Mara. Please Note: To comfortably achieve this diverse itinerary within five days while upholding a luxury standard, this trip relies on efficient light aircraft flights between regions to maximize your enjoyment and minimize travel time.

Brief Day by Day Itinerary Outline

Day 1: Nairobi to Aberdare National Park
Day 2: Aberdare National Park to Lake Nakuru National Park
Day 3: Lake Nakuru to Maasai Mara National Reserve
Day 4: Full-Day Game Drives in Maasai Mara
Day 5: Maasai Mara to Nairobi

Activities:

* Game drives and guided walks in Aberdare National Park
* Visit the Treetops Lodge or The Ark for unique wildlife viewing opportunities
* Game drives in Lake Nakuru National Park and Maasai Mara National Reserve
* Witness the Great Wildebeest Migration in the Maasai Mara (if travelling during the season)
Optional activities: Bird watching, hiking, visiting a Maasai village, or taking a hot air balloon safari in the Maasai Mara (additional cost).

Optional Travel Upgrade:

Travel Between Parks with Light Aircraft: For a seamless and time-efficient experience, consider upgrading your transportation between parks with a scenic light aircraft flight. This option offers breathtaking aerial views of the Kenyan landscape and significantly reduces travel time, allowing you to maximize your time on safari.

Wildlife & Scenic Highlights:

Aberdare National Park: Bongo antelopes, elephants, leopards, black rhinos, buffaloes, giant forest hogs, Sykes' monkeys, colobus monkeys, and a variety of bird species, including the African fish eagle and the Jackson's francolin.
Lake Nakuru National Park: Flamingos, rhinos (both black and white), lions, leopards, Rothschild's giraffes, buffaloes, waterbucks, zebras, and a plethora of bird species, including pelicans, eagles, and storks.
Maasai Mara National Reserve: The Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes), cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, hippos, crocodiles, and a diverse array of bird species, including ostriches, eagles, and vultures.
The Great Wildebeest Migration: Witness the annual spectacle of millions of wildebeests, zebras, and other herbivores crossing the Mara River in search of fresh grazing lands. (Seasonal, typically July-October)
Scenic Landscapes: The lush rainforest, cascading waterfalls, and moorlands of Aberdare, the picturesque landscapes of the Rift Valley, acacia forests, the shimmering waters of Lake Nakuru, and the vast plains, rolling hills, and acacia-dotted savannahs of the Maasai Mara.

Tailoring Your Kenya Express Safari

This 5 day itinerary is specifically designed for efficiency and unique highlights. Customization typically focuses on:

• Accommodation Tiers: Selecting preferred levels within our premium partner properties.
• Optional Activities: Incorporating experiences like the Mara balloon safari where time permits.
• Pre or Post Extensions: This itinerary is ideal for adding onto longer trips or before/after beach stays or Nairobi exploration.
• Note: Significantly altering the core route or extending time within locations generally requires moving beyond the 5 day express timeframe.

Best Time for This Safari

This express itinerary is viable year round due to reliance on flights:

• Aberdare: Forest climate, viewing from lodges possible year round (mist can occur).
• Nakuru: Rhino viewing excellent year round; flamingo numbers fluctuate.
• Mara: Superb big game viewing always; Migration season is July October.

Consult our specialists for nuances based on your preferred travel dates.

Why Choose This Unique Express Journey?

• Unique Aberdare Experience: Includes the special opportunity for forest lodge game viewing.
• High Impact Highlights: Covers conservation, Rift Valley, and the Mara extremely efficiently.
• Ideal for Very Short Trips: Perfect for travellers with minimal time wanting specific, diverse experiences.
• Fly In Efficiency: Designed around comfortable and scenic light aircraft travel.

Plan Your Unique Kenyan Express Safari

The detailed day by day itinerary, outlining specific timings, accommodation suggestions, and essential flight details, follows below. If this high impact express journey suits your schedule, contact our specialists.

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Itinerary

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Day 1: Nairobi to Aberdare National Park (Approx. 3-4 hours drive)

• Morning (Arrival/Departure): Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), Nairobi, you will be met by your professional driver/guide. After a brief welcome and safari briefing, depart for Aberdare National Park.
• Mid-morning: The drive takes you north, through agricultural areas and into the foothills of the Aberdare mountain range. You'll likely stop at the Aberdare Country Club for lunch. This is often the staging point for transfers into the park itself, especially to the "tree hotels."
• Afternoon: Transfer into Aberdare National Park and check in to your chosen tree hotel (The Ark or Treetops are the most well-known). These unique lodges offer excellent wildlife viewing opportunities from their elevated platforms overlooking floodlit waterholes.
• Evening: Enjoy wildlife viewing from the lodge throughout the night. Keep an eye out for elephants, rhinos, buffalo, and various nocturnal animals.

Accommodation Suggestions: The Ark, Treetops, or similar.

Day 2: Aberdare National Park to Lake Nakuru National Park (Approx. 3-4 hours drive)

• Morning: Enjoy a final morning of wildlife viewing from your tree hotel. The early morning light in the Aberdares is often beautiful.
• Mid-morning: After breakfast, descend from the Aberdares and drive towards Lake Nakuru National Park.
• Afternoon: Arrive at Lake Nakuru and check in to your accommodation near the park. Have lunch.
• Late Afternoon: Enjoy a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park. While the large flamingo flocks are not always present (depending on water levels), the park is a sanctuary for both black and white rhinos, Rothschild giraffes, lions, leopards, and various antelope species. It's also a great place for birdwatching.
• Evening: Dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation Suggestions: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge, Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge, The Cliff Nakuru, Flamingo Hill Tented Camp, or similar.

Day 3: Lake Nakuru to Maasai Mara National Reserve (Approx. 4-5 hours drive)

• Morning: Enjoy a final game drive in Lake Nakuru, perhaps focusing on rhino tracking or birdwatching.
• Mid-morning: After breakfast, check out and depart for the world-renowned Maasai Mara National Reserve. The drive will take you through scenic landscapes, including the floor of the Great Rift Valley. A stop for lunch will be arranged en route, often in Narok town.
• Afternoon: Arrive at your chosen accommodation in or near the Maasai Mara. Check in.
• Late Afternoon: Embark on your first game drive in the Maasai Mara, famous for its incredible wildlife concentrations and the Great Migration (seasonal).
• Evening: Dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation Suggestions: Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Mara Intrepids Camp, Angama Mara, Mahali Mzuri, &Beyond Bateleur Camp, or similar.

Day 4: Full-Day Game Drives in Maasai Mara National Reserve

• Full Day: Enjoy full-day game drives in the Maasai Mara with packed lunches. This maximizes your time for exploring different areas of the reserve and increases your chances of seeing the "Big Five" (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo) and other iconic African wildlife. Consider a hot air balloon safari for a unique perspective of the Mara plains (pre-booking essential). You can also discuss with your guide options for shorter morning and afternoon game drives with some relaxation time at the camp/lodge in the middle of the day.
• Evening: Return to your lodge/camp for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: Maasai Mara to Nairobi (Approx. 5-6 hours drive)

• Morning: Enjoy a final early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara.
• Mid-morning: After breakfast, check out and depart for Nairobi.
• Afternoon: Arrive in Nairobi and transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) for your departure flight or to a hotel for onward travel.

Important Notes :

• This is a sample itinerary and can be customized.
• Driving times are estimates and depend on road conditions.
• Pack appropriate clothing for varying weather, including warm layers (especially for Aberdare), comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and binoculars.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is 5 days genuinely enough time for Aberdare, Nakuru, and Mara? This is an express itinerary focusing on key highlights. It involves moving location frequently in the initial days. While intense, it's rewarding if you utilize the essential light aircraft flights between regions to minimize travel time and maximize comfort. Expect focused experiences rather than deep immersion at each stop before the Mara.

2. Are flights mandatory for this 5 day itinerary? For this specific route to be feasible, comfortable, and meet luxury travel standards within just 5 days, yes, light aircraft flights between the key regions are considered essential by us for planning and execution. Driving would consume disproportionate amounts of your limited time.

3. What is the unique Aberdare 'tree hotel' experience like? Staying at lodges like The Ark or Treetops (or similar forest lodges) offers a different safari perspective. You often view wildlife, including potentially nocturnal animals like rhinos or forest elephants, visiting floodlit waterholes and saltlicks directly from the lodge's decks throughout the evening and night, complementing daytime activities.

4. Who is this very fast paced 5 day safari best for? It's best suited for travellers with extremely limited time who specifically want to include the unique Aberdare experience alongside Nakuru and the Mara, perhaps repeat visitors focusing on these spots, or those adding a short, high impact safari to other travel plans. The pace may be too demanding for a relaxed first safari or very young children.