12 Days, 11 Nights Best Kenya Safari Tours Itinerary & Price

12 Days Kenya Safari Tours - AjKenyaSafaris.com

According to John Hemingway, an American author, “If you will ever see magic, it has to be in Africa. But if you ask us if you will ever see magic, it will be in Kenya”. Our 12 days Kenya safari tours guarantee all the magic you would ever dream of finding in Africa.

We have planned this 12 Days, 11 Nights Kenya safari itinerary to take you to the world-famous Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru. And for a change in environment and therapeutic sceneries, we turn to the Kenyan highlands characterized by rolling hills and vast green fields of tea and coffee, against the backdrop of the mighty Mt. Kenya – Aberdare National Park.

Of course, no Kenya safari tours packages are complete without an evening walk along some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. That’s why we have added Diani Beach, the best beach in Africa, to this itinerary. Diani is a treat on its own and offers scuba diving, snorkeling, and even swimming with dolphins! You get the latter during a Wasini Island day trip, which is part of this the 12 days Kenya safari tours.

Book Your 12 Days, 11 Nights Kenya Safari Package with Us Now

Reach us now at +254-748-258-880 to book your safari. We are also available via email at james@ajkenyasafaris.com or safarioffers@ajkenyasafaris.com.

The Summarized, 12-Day, 11-Night Kenya Safari Tour Package

Trip Details Highlights
Day 1

Airport Pickup, Flight to Masai Mara, & Game Drives

Overnight at Mtito Safari Camp

Day 2

Full-Day Game Drive at Masai Mara with Packed Lunch

Overnight at Mtito Safari Camp

Day 3

Hot Air Balloon, Visit a Maasai Village, & Evening Game Drive

Overnight at Mtito Safari Camp

Day 4

Morning Game Drive & Transfer to Lake Nakuru

Overnight at Flamingo Hill Tented Camp

Day 5

Full-Day Game Drive at Lake Nakuru National Park

Overnight at Flamingo Hill Tented Camp

Day 6

Transfer to Aberdare and Evening Game Drive

Overnight at Rhino Watch Safari Lodge 

Day 7

Full-Day Game Drive at Aberdare National Park with Packed Lunch

Overnight at Rhino Watch Safari Lodge 

Day 8

Tranfer to Nairobi, Flight to Diani, & Relax

Overnight at Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort

Day 9

Wasini Day Trip – Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park

Overnight at Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort

Day 10

Relax at the Hotel or Visit the Beach

Overnight at Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort

Day 11

Half Day Tour of Mombasa Town and Mamba Village

Overnight at Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort

Day 12 Late Check-Out, Flight to Nairobi, & International Flight
Items Included Full-Board Accommodation, Local Flights, Park Fees, Use of 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser, Wasini Day Trip, Hot Air Balloon Safari, Transfers, & More
Items Excluded Visa Application, Tips and Gratuites, Money Transfer Fee, & Flying Doctor Cover
Safari Price Per Person Sharing from USD 4544

The Detailed, 12 Days, 11 Nights Kenya Safari from Nairobi Itinerary

Here is the detailed safari in Kenya itinerary that takes you to Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Aberdare, and Diani Beach. You can opt for our 16 Days Kenya Luxury Safaris if you have more time.

Day 1: JKIA Pickup, Transfer to Wilson Airport, Flight to Mara, & Game Drives

Karibu Kenya! Your appointed professional safari guide will pick you up from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi hotel, or residence by 6 am. Please don’t worry; our guide arrives an hour early, so you will not be wondering what to do.

After a formal welcome, the safari guide will take the short drive to Wilson Airport in time for your 9.30 am flight. The flight takes only 45 minutes. Upon landing, our Masai Mara safari guide will pick you up and take you to the reserve for mid-morning game drives.

You will do the game drives at Masai Mara National Reserve until noon; the perfect time for your Masai Mara hotel check-in. You will spend 2-3 hours in the hotel as you take lunch and relax for a while.

We know you are excited to explore the Masai Mara, so we have an evening game drive today at 3 pm. The evening is a great time to catch the big cats in their element as they hunt for dinner. With a bit of luck, you might see the king of the jungle in action!

There will be plenty of other animals out for dinner as well. As the darkness creeps in and the animals wind down, you will drive back to the hotel for dinner and a well-deserved rest. Get a good night’s sleep; day 2 of your 12-day safari in Kenya will be full of adventure!

Day 2: Full-Day Game Drive at Masai Mara with Packed Lunch

The second day of your safari at the Masai Mara starts after breakfast. Remember to pack your camera and extra batteries as you have plenty to look forward to today. On the menu is a full-day game drive complete with a picnic lunch.

The game drive starts in earnest as you crisscross the vast jungle of the Masai Mara. Your safari guide has in-depth knowledge about the animals and will happily share interesting facts and tidbits. Watch out for lions, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, cheetahs, and the elusive leopard.

A drive by the Mara River will reveal countless crocodiles idling about and families of hippos relaxing in the water. If you have a soft spot for birds, you need not worry. There are over 400 bird species recorded in the Masai Mara.

After a busy but exciting morning, your guide will pick the best possible spot, picturesque with just the right amount of shade, for your picnic lunch. Enjoy the sumptuous meal as you reminisce on what you just experienced.

Your Masai Mara tours and safaris resume after the picnic lunch. This time to a different part of the Mara to give you a chance to see many animals that you had not come across in the morning session.

As dusk draws in, your safari guide will wind up the day by driving you back to the hotel, with just enough time for you to refresh and get ready for dinner. Enjoy your favorite drink by the bonfire after dinner as you trade stories of the day. More magic awaits tomorrow.

Day 3: Hot Air Balloon Ride, Visit a Maasai Village, & Evening Game Drive

If you thought you had seen the Masai Mara, wait until you see it from the air! The Masai Mara is vast, stretching as far as your eye can see. A hot air balloon safari is the perfect way to explore this jungle.

You arrive at the balloon launch site at 5.45 am. You will take some coffee while waiting for the crew to get ready. When everybody boards, the balloon takes off, floating at the whim of the winds. The balloon safari takes roughly an hour, after which you start descending.

When the balloon lands (wherever it lands), a crew will be ready to prepare a champagne breakfast with all the trims.

Your safari guide will be on standby to take you for a game drive after breakfast. The safari guide will head to where you spotted animals during the hot air balloon safari.

At around 11.30 am, you will slowly drive out of the reserve and head to a Maasai village. The Maasai are a fascinating tribe, stubbornly clinging to their culture and traditions even in the face of technology and westernization.

Learn how they make their mud huts and beautiful ornaments (don’t forget to buy some souvenirs) and perhaps even learn the famous Maasai jump. After this experience, the tour guide drives you back to the hotel for lunch and relaxation.

Your day is not over until you head for an evening game drive from 3 pm to 6 pm today. Watch out for more animals, and then head for dinner at the camp.

Day 4: Morning Game Drive at Masai Mara & Transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park

Masai Mara game drives help set the day, and today you have one last game drive at the reserve. Get your camera ready to capture the action one last time and carry with you your luggage in the morning.

After an adventurous time at the Masai Mara, it’s time to hit the road. Kenya has beautiful countryside, and you will experience some of it as you drive to Lake Nakuru National Park. This is roughly a 5.5-hour trip, stopping for lunch at Narok town.

You will arrive at Lake Nakuru National Park in the evening, giving you time to check in and relax before dinner.

Day 5: Full-Day Game Drive at Lake Nakuru National Park with Packed Lunch

After breakfast, you will drive to the lake, where thousands of flamingos are already busy pecking around for food. This is a sight to behold, and the pink stretch as far as your eye can see. The air is also crisp and fresh at this hour.

You will notice that the flamingos start flying away from 10 or 11 am. In fact, by midday, most of them will have gone. You will have spent enough time here, and it’s time to explore the rest of the park.

Lake Nakuru boasts 4 of the big five animals, so look for rhinos, lions, leopards, and buffalos. You will notice large herds of rhinos and the armed guards not so far away from them. This is to protect them from poachers.

For bird lovers, this park has over 300 species. There are some breathtaking waterfalls here, and you will head there after lunch. You will return to the hotel in the early evening, allowing time to relax as tomorrow you take another road trip.

Day 6: Transfer to Aberdare National Park & Afternoon Game Drive

You start day 6 of your 12 days safari in Kenya at the crack of dawn to arrive in Nyahururu by 9 am, where you will make a short stopover to explore the famous Thomson Falls. You will resume your safari to arrive in Aberdare National Park before midday.

You will check in the hotel for lunch, refresh and prepare for the evening game drive, which starts at 3 pm. The evening game drive will let you see the Aberdare National Park as it sleeps and as animals move out for dinner.

Day 7: Full-Day Game Drive at Aberdare National Park with Packed Lunch

The Aberdare National Park is an empress that refuses to be ordinary, taking advantage of her beauty and charm to seduce suitors from all over the world. Morning game drives through her is a peak into paradise.

She gets to bedazzle you with her multitudinous wildlife that ranges from the Big 5, cheetah, serval, hyena, bat-eared foxes, black-backed and side-striped jackals, and hippo. Others include crocodiles, baboons, warthog, topi, eland, Thomson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, impala, waterbuck, oribi to the reed-buck, and zebras. And a population of over 400 bird species.

The morning game drive is the best time to capture the carnivores chasing their play or a leopard taking its kill up a tree. You will also catch many mammals moving out of their sleeping quarters for breakfast before the sun gets too hot.

Soon, the morning game drives will turn into afternoon ones. You will take lunch in the jungle and only return to the hotel in the evening.

12 Days Kenya Safari Tours - Elephants

Day 8: Transfer to JKIA & Flight to Diani – Relax in Hotel

It is time to leave the bush for some time in Diani Beach. You depart from Aberdare National Park and head to Nairobi for your next flight at JKIA. It’s okay to take a nap on the way but do not forget to look out for the beautiful Kenyan countryside.

This journey will take about 3 hours, and you will soon be diving into the pristine calm waters of the Kenyan coast. The flight from Nairobi to Diani takes only 45 minutes, and our team will be waiting for you at the Ukunda airstrip to transfer you to the hotel.

There are no more activities planned for the day.

Day 9: Wasini Day Trip – Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park

Day 9 of your Kenya tour package will be an unequivocally fun-filled day in Diani. You’ll enjoy

scuba diving, swimming with dolphins, and a Fun Dive Day in Kisite Marine Park on Wasini Island.

After a short briefing, you go underwater with the instructor. The instructor holds your hand during the dive. Also, the site offers some of the best underwater views in Africa, including corals, tropical fish, and turtles.

It offers snorkeling for non-swimmers, with life jackets and a ring. Here you’ll also enjoy snacks, fresh tropical fruit, and soft drinks on a dhow.

After a jam-packed day full of fun, we head back to the hotel where we can enjoy the nightlife or head to the Resort.

Day 10: Rest Day – Diani Beach or Hotel

Today is about relaxing, and you have earned it. After taking in the Kenyan jungle with its majestic views, you need time to reflect. Nothing says ‘reflect’ better than lying on a beach bed after a massage, with your favorite cold drink, watching boats disappear into the horizon of clear blue waters.

Your waiters will be at your beck and call, so you can lie here all day if you wish. We recommend, however, that you spare time for a walk at sunset, along the beach, barefoot, as the sun disappears on the horizon.

We guarantee that this is a feeling you will never forget.

Day 11: Mombasa and Mamba Village Day Trip

On the final day of this Kenya tour, you’ll pay a visit to the famous Mamba Village in Nyali and Mombasa town. The catch today is East Africa’s largest crocodile farm that displays crocodiles’ age, weight, and length.

You will also see hatchlings to 5-meter-long “big daddy” – the man-eating monster, sun-basking along the tropical garden trail. The crocodiles are fed daily, and you can see them jump high in the air to snap the meat.

Enjoy lunch at Mamba Restaurant overlooking the crocodile pond, a unique “a la carte” restaurant that serves game meat like crocodile and ostrich. They also have a beautiful collection of plants and flowers specializing in orchids and aquatic flora. On display are carnivorous species, marine aquariums, and snakes.

The Mamba safari is easily combined with a Mombasa town trip. Here you will get the chance to learn about the town’s history and even visit Fort Jesus. After the day, you’ll head back to the Resort to rest.

Day 12: Late Check-Out, Evening Flight to JKIA, & International Flight

You will spend the day at the hotel or beach and then check out in the afternoon. You will catch a local flight to JKIA, connecting with your international flight.

Your Kenya tours and safaris have come to an end. We are glad to have been of service to you, and we hope to welcome you to Kenya again soonish.

The Price of 12 Days Kenya Safari Tours Includes

  • All pickups and transfers
  • Service of a professional safari guide
  • Exclusive use of a 4×4 safari land cruiser
  • Full-board accommodation at finest accommodations
  • Game drives as outlined in the itinerary
  • Hot air balloon safari at Masai Mara
  • Wasini day trip at Diani Beach
  • Mombasa and Mamba village trip
  • All applicable game park and reserve entrance fees.
  • All meals, drinks, and game drives.
  • Return flight tickets (Nairobi to Diani to Nairobi)

The Price of the 12 Days Best Kenya Safari Tours Excludes

  • Traveling insurance, laundry charges, airtime, and luxury drinks like champagne.
  • Tips for porters and game guides.
  • Holiday supplement, Bush dinners, and drinks.
  • Pre-travel expenses – Passports and visas.
  • International Airfare.

Total Safari Price Per Person Sharing

Dates/MonthPrice Per Person Sharing
1st Jan – 31st Mar 2024USD 4980
1st Apr – 30th Jun 2024USD 4544
1st Jul – 31st Oct 2024USD 6310
1st Nov – 15th Dec 2024USD 5034
16th Dec 2024 – 2nd Jan 2025USD 6665

The above price is based on two adults traveling together, sharing a safari vehicle and a double room. Reach us to get a personalized quote for the safari if you are a solo traveler or more than two.