8 Days Premium Christmas and New Year Safari in Kenya

A Christmas Morning Journey

Meet our guide between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m. on 25 December at JKIA or a confirmed Nairobi hotel. Travel 255–300 km through the Great Rift Valley and Narok, taking 5½–7 hours excluding holiday traffic, lunch and comfort stops. A festive packed meal or restaurant lunch will be arranged according to the confirmed program, as some businesses operate reduced Christmas hours.

Christmas in Maasai Mara

Check into your premium lodge or camp and begin a wildlife drive around 3:30 p.m. Search the golden plains for elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes and predators before returning around sunset. Christmas dinner, decorations or entertainment depend on the selected property’s program. Any private cake, special table, gift arrangement or dietary menu must be confirmed before arrival.

Destination:

MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE

Overnight:

Mara Leisure Camp

  premium luxury 5 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Lunch, Dinner

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Festive Savannah Morning

After breakfast around 6:00 a.m., depart between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m. for a Boxing Day safari across grasslands, seasonal waterways and riverine areas. Possible wildlife includes lions, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, hyenas and numerous birds. The reserve may be busy during the holiday season, so our guide follows viewing etiquette and avoids overcrowding animals.

Holiday Picnic Safari

Enjoy a festive picnic lunch at an authorized site between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. Continue through the afternoon with time for wildlife photography and shared holiday memories. Migration activity and predator sightings cannot be guaranteed. Return between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. for dinner. Guests celebrating birthdays, anniversaries or family reunions should ensure every special request appears in the final booking confirmation.

Destination:

MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE

Overnight:

Mara Leisure Camp

  premium luxury 5 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

❮ ❯

Sunrise-Season Safari

Leave around 6:30 a.m. after breakfast or with a packed meal. Explore a different Mara sector according to road conditions and wildlife movement. The quieter hours can create beautiful seasonal light for photography, although sunrise visibility and animal behaviour remain unpredictable. Search for elephants, predators, herbivore herds, hippos, crocodiles and birds.

Premium Holiday Afternoon

Lunch is served around 1:00 p.m. at an approved location. Continue the game drive or return earlier for lodge leisure when private arrangements and property location permit. Optional festive activities are controlled by the lodge and may involve additional charges. Return before 6:00 p.m. for dinner and the final Maasai Mara overnight. Pack most luggage before sleeping to simplify the next morning’s transfer.

Destination:

MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE

Overnight:

Mara Leisure Camp

  premium luxury 5 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

❮ ❯

Mara Farewell

An early game drive may begin around 6:30 a.m. if the transfer schedule permits. Return for breakfast and check out between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. Confirm that gifts, cameras and travel documents have been packed. Holiday occupancy can make lost-property recovery difficult once the group has moved to another destination.

Festive Rift Valley Transfer

Travel 230–270 km through Narok and Mau Narok, taking 5–6½ hours excluding lunch, holiday traffic and road conditions. Arrive near Lake Nakuru during the late afternoon and check into your premium accommodation. Enjoy dinner and any seasonal entertainment offered by the property. Holiday programs can change, and participation in music or social activities remains optional.

Destination:

MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE

Overnight:

Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge

  premium luxury 5 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

❮ ❯

Seasonal Nakuru Safari

Enter Lake Nakuru National Park around 6:30 a.m. for approximately 3–4 hours of wildlife viewing. Search for rhinos, buffaloes, Rothschild’s giraffes, baboons, antelopes and waterbirds. Flamingos may be present, but their abundance depends on water and feeding conditions rather than the holiday season.

Lakeside Festive Retreat

After breakfast or brunch, travel 75–100 km to Lake Naivasha in 1½–2½ hours. Check into your premium lakeside accommodation and enjoy a relaxed holiday afternoon. A confirmed 60–90-minute boat trip may offer views of hippos and birds when conditions are safe. Wear the supplied life jacket and follow the captain’s instructions. Return for dinner and a peaceful evening before continuing south.

Destination:

LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK

Overnight:

Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort

  premium luxury 5 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

❮ ❯

Final Lake Morning

Breakfast begins around 6:30 a.m. Enjoy an optional boat activity or quiet lodge time before departure. Guests should reconfirm New Year’s Eve clothing, special meals and celebration requests before leaving Naivasha. Items unavailable in remote Amboseli properties may be difficult to purchase at the last minute.

Road to Kilimanjaro Country

Travel 310–360 km through Mai Mahiu, Nairobi’s outskirts and Emali, requiring 6–8 hours excluding lunch, festive traffic and comfort stops. Arrive during the late afternoon and check into your premium Amboseli accommodation. The lodge will explain its confirmed New Year program, dining times and any dress recommendations. Enjoy dinner and rest before the full safari and celebration day.

Destination:

LAKE NAIVASHA NATIONAL PARK

Overnight:

Satao Camp

  premium luxury 5 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

❮ ❯

Final Wildlife Day of the Year

Depart between 6:15 and 6:30 a.m. after an early breakfast. Clear conditions may reveal Kilimanjaro, but visibility cannot be promised. Explore Amboseli’s plains, woodland and wetlands while searching for elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, predators and birds. Enjoy lunch between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m.

New Year’s Eve in Amboseli

Continue the game drive and return between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m., allowing time to prepare for the evening. The lodge may offer a gala dinner, music, cultural entertainment or a countdown, depending on its official program. Alcoholic drinks, private tables and premium beverages are not automatically included. Families remain responsible for children, and guests should respect quiet hours after the celebration.

Destination:

AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK

Overnight:

Satao Camp

  premium luxury 5 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

❮ ❯

First Safari Morning of the Year

Welcome 1 January with an optional game drive around 6:30 a.m. or enjoy a relaxed breakfast after the previous evening’s celebration. A clear Kilimanjaro sunrise would be memorable but cannot be guaranteed. Return for breakfast and complete check-out between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m., depending on the lodge’s holiday schedule.

New Year Return to Nairobi

Travel 200–240 km through Emali, taking 4–5½ hours excluding lunch and holiday traffic. Drop-off is available at JKIA, Wilson Airport or a confirmed Nairobi hotel. New Year’s Day operating hours and traffic patterns can affect restaurants and services, so arrangements should be confirmed in advance. The safari ends with a direct transfer to the agreed location.