Kenya | 10 Day Itinerary

Though I always wanted to go to the African continent never thought I would begin my African travel stories from Kenya & Tanzania. Unforgettable wildlife safaris, untouched waterfalls, and warm people made this a fun and memorable trip.

Nairobi:

Nairobi is one of the fastest-growing cities in East Africa. From dust to dreams, traffic to animal shelters, the wealthiest apartment buildings in Westlands to the largest slum in Africa(Kiberia), millions of people to the wild animals, this capital has everything. Though many people use Nairobi as a transit hub for Safaris, spending a day or two will not disappoint you. Giraffe center(and Giraffe Manor, if your budget supports), David Sheldrick Trust, and Nairobi National Parks are easily accessible from the city and worth a visit. If you are just looking for shopping malls, cute cafes, and night bars, Westlands is a great choice. Nairobi will always have something to offer you, if just for a night or a couple of days.

Notes:

1. To visit David Sheldrick Trust, you need to mail them in advance to obtain a spot at least two days before your planned visit date. We did not know this, so we booked an expensive private tour at the last moment.
2. And if you have adopted an elephant/rhino in David Sheldrick Trust and are looking to spend time with them in private, as specified on their website, be informed that they have stopped that practice. You can just visit your foster animals during the one-hour public visit window(11 AM to 12 PM every day).
3. Nairobi is a spread-out city, so traveling from one neighborhood to another might take at least 30mins(in a taxi). So, plan your stay accordingly.

Nanyuki:

Nanyuki is a small town located around 200kms from Nairobi city. It offers access to Mount Kenya, Ol Petaja, and a few waterfalls near Laikipia county. If you are not hiking mount Kenya, you can explore the waterfalls(an hour’s drive from Nanyuki town) in the forest area. The waterfall can be accessed either by hike or by four-wheel drive. If you are hiking, you need to make reservations or reach the base no later than 7 30 AM. The waterfall was beautiful(though we visited in the rainy season). If you are looking for a day trip or break from safaris, this might be a good option.

Notes:

1. We drove from Nairobi. Roads are not great, especially the drive to the falls. But you can manage without a four-wheel drive.
2. Day rental from Nairobi was pretty expensive. We paid around 70 USD, excluding gas. But this was the only option with unlimited mileage. Other companies provided the option of unlimited mileage only for weekly rentals, and daily rentals came with the limit of 250kms.
3. Make sure to take photos/videos of the car and fuel level before the trip. And be aware rental car people will find reasons to extract extra cash from you.
4. Visitors are welcomed to plunge into the freezing waters of the main waterfall and pool.

Masai Mara:

What is a Kenya trip without a visit to the most famous safari destination in the world, Masai Mara? Masai Mara National Reserve, home to many wild animals, is more than 1510kms in size and closer to the Tanzanian border. The great migration, where thousands of animals migrate from Serengeti to Mara, can happen anytime from July to September. But regardless of the time of the year, the chances are spotting the big five are high(though we could spot only 4 of the big 5). We booked a 3-day safari. We visited nearby Masai Village on the last day, met the Masai people, and learned about their culture and traditions. This was our first safari experience, and we could not have asked for a better one.

Notes:

1. Our safari costed 320 USD, including stay, food, park entrance fee, and pick up from and drop off at Nairobi.
2. It’s recommended to tip your safari guide and driver. So, make sure you have some cash on you.
3. We paid 100 USD online and the rest by cash(in USD). You can pay the rest online once you start your safari, but it will attract an additional charge.
4. You can tour Masai Mara on your own but it is highly recommended to go with a tour operator to spot the animals.

Majestic lions of Masai Mara 🦁

Amboseli National Park:

Amboseli National Park is the second most famous national park in Kenya. It has the largest population of African elephants and a fantastic view of Mt Kilimanjaro. It is also home to different species of birds, and we got to see flamingos near the lake. You may not spot big cats here, but this is the place if you are looking for a less crowded national park and more elephants(or hoping to get the classic safari image — an elephant with the backdrop of Mt Kilimanjaro).

Notes:

1. We booked a single-day private tour safari for 180 USD(includes pick up from Nairobi) and an extra 25 USD to drop us off at Arusha. We could not find anything cheaper than this.

Zebra crossing

Safari & Stay:

1. We booked our safaris through Safari Bookings website(3-Day Masai Mara Safari and 1-Day Amboseli Private Tour). Don’t book your safari without negotiating your price.
2. Stayed at Aj’s Rach in Nanyuki. We booked through travel credits, and they did not let us check out without paying in cash. Had to call the travel concierge and sort it out. So would recommend communicating with your hotels or stays before your trip and getting confirmation receipts for your payment.
3. In Nairobi, we stayed in Westlands and Umoja. We booked our stay through Airbnb and Couchsurfing. And we personally liked Westlands.

Sim Card:

Safari Telecom is one of the major networks in Kenya. It had pretty good coverage at all the places and was fast. Even during safaris, we had decent network coverage. I opted for 50 GB of data for 3000 Kenyan Shillings package. My friend had international roaming.

You can find safari telecom shop once your exit through the baggage claim area in Nairobi Airport. The airpot is pretty small so its hard to miss this store.

Ride-Share Apps:

Uber and Bolt are commonly used. We used Bolt because it was relatively cheaper.

General Tips:

1. Don’t agree to a price without bargaining, be it a rental car, souvenirs, or bus rides. The original price may not be even 1/3rd of the quoted price.
2. Most shops and people accept M-Pesa payments. M-Pesa is a commonly used mobile banking service in Kenya. You can register/activate your m-pesa service using your mobile number. You can do that while you purchase your sim card or go-to any nearby convenience store, they will do it for you.
3. Driving in Kenya is not an absolute necessity. You can find day trips, book taxis, and use public transport.
4. You can manage with English, but learn a few Swahili words if you can :)

We have Mount Kenya, Lake Nakuru, Diani Beach, and many more reasons to come back soon :)

Here is our detailed itinerary : 1-Week in Magical Kenya