Kenya’s story stretches from prehistoric discoveries in the Rift Valley to modern Nairobi’s creative energy. Today, the capital remains the only city on earth with a national park at its doorstep—where lions roam beneath a skyline of glass. Out west, the Maasai Mara’s golden savannah hosts the legendary Great Migration and year-round wildlife drama.

Expect bucket-list sights and intimate moments: a baby elephant nudging a bottle; giraffes peering at you with their soft, mascaraed eyes; an eagle-eye guide spotting a leopard just as the light turns honey-gold. Balance these with Nairobi’s café culture, markets, and contemporary cuisine for a rounded sense of place.

Practical notes: Tap-to-pay and M-Pesa mobile money are ubiquitous. Park fees vary by season (plan roughly $60–100 per adult per day for national park entry) and are typically cashless. Book popular experiences—David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust viewing (11:00–12:00 only) and balloon rides—well in advance. July–October is prime for the Great Migration; November–June brings fewer crowds and superb resident game.

Nairobi

Nairobi is kinetic and creative—matatus painted like street art, indie roasters serving stellar coffee, and a dining scene that riffs on Kenyan terroir. The city’s crown jewel is Nairobi National Park, where black rhino and big cats share acacia plains with the skyline. In Karen, leafy lanes hide craft studios, cozy eateries, and the farm once worked by Karen Blixen.

• Top sights: Nairobi National Park, Giraffe Centre, David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Karen Blixen Museum, Nairobi National Museum, Railway Museum, Kazuri Beads.
• Where to eat: Spring Valley Coffee (award‑winning roaster), Wasp & Sprout (all-day brunch and local design), Talisman (farm-to-table, Karen), Cultiva (inventive, garden-grown), K’Osewe Ranalo (classic fish and traditional greens), Carnivore (open-flame nyama choma institution), Hero or Harvest at Village Market (creative plates, excellent cocktails).
• Fun fact: Nairobi National Park was established in 1946 and remains the world’s only wildlife park within a capital city.

Stay: Search stays on VRBO Nairobi or Hotels.com Nairobi. Excellent picks: Hemingways Nairobi (boutique luxury in Karen), Sarova Panafric (central with a quiet pool), Fairview Hotel (leafy, classic), or budget-friendly Kahama Hotel Nairobi.

Getting there: Search international flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) to Karen is ~45–60 minutes by car (roughly $20–35 depending on traffic).

Recommended Nairobi activities (bookable via Viator):

• Elephant Orphanage & Giraffe Centre Tour

  

• 5Hrs Nairobi National Park Morning/Evening Game Drive (4x4)

  

• Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour

  

Maasai Mara

The Maasai Mara is Kenya’s dreamscape: endless savannah, acacia silhouettes, and a sky that seems to go on forever. Big cats thrive here, and from July to October, over a million wildebeest and zebra surge across the Mara River.

• Top experiences: Dawn and dusk game drives, hot-air ballooning, bush breakfasts, sundowner viewpoints, and cultural visits to Maasai bomas (villages).
• What you’ll see: Lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, buffalo, hippos, crocs, and kaleidoscopic birdlife—year-round.

Stay: Browse VRBO Maasai Mara or Hotels.com Maasai Mara. Signature picks: Angama Mara (jaw-dropping Oloololo Escarpment views) and Basecamp Masai Mara (community-focused, excellent guiding).

Getting there: From Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, a bush flight to the Mara is ~45–60 minutes; expect around $180–300 one-way per person depending on season. Search options on Kiwi.com (or arrange via your lodge). By road, it’s a 5–6 hour drive; group/overland safaris often include transport.

Recommended Maasai Mara activities (bookable via Viator):

• 3 Days Masai Mara Flying Safari & Hot Air Balloon Ride Package

  

• 3 Days Group Joining Safari to Maasai Mara (Land Cruiser Jeep)

  

• Maasai Mara Day Trip From Nairobi

  

Day 1: Arrive in Nairobi (Afternoon Arrival)

Afternoon: Land at NBO and transfer to Karen. Check in at Hemingways Nairobi for tranquil gardens and sunset views, or go central with Sarova Panafric or Fairview Hotel. Shake off jet lag with a pour-over at Spring Valley Coffee or a pastry at Artcaffé.

Evening: Dinner in Karen: Talisman’s seasonal tasting plates with housemade ricotta and spice-roasted lamb, or Cultiva for wood-fired vegetables and dry-aged steaks from their on-site farm. Early night—tomorrow’s game drive starts before dawn.

Day 2: Nairobi National Park at Sunrise + Museum & Markets

Morning: Head out pre-dawn for a 4x4 game drive in Nairobi National Park. Book the 5Hrs Nairobi National Park Morning/Evening Game Drive for expert tracking and convenient pickup. Expect lions, rhinos, and elegant giraffes against the skyline. Park fees apply (card/mobile only).

Afternoon: Brunch at Wasp & Sprout (try the masala shakshuka). Visit the Nairobi National Museum for a primer on Kenya’s peoples and prehistory, or tour Kazuri Beads to see beadmaking and pick up fair-trade souvenirs.

Evening: Go classic at Carnivore—order a platter of charcoal-roasted meats with kachumbari and ugali—or dine at Harvest (Village Market) for East African produce-driven fare and a strong wine list.

Day 3: Giraffe Centre & David Sheldrick + Kenyan Cooking Class

Morning: Start at the Giraffe Centre to hand-feed endangered Rothschild giraffes. Time your visit to reach the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for the 11:00–12:00 viewing of orphaned elephants with their keepers. Easiest: book the Elephant Orphanage & Giraffe Centre Tour; transport and timing are handled.

Afternoon: Lunch at K’Osewe Ranalo (lake fish, sukuma wiki, millet ugali) or Boho Eatery in Karen for plant-forward dishes amid leafy courtyards. Stroll the Karen Blixen Museum if you enjoy literary history and colonial-era architecture.

Evening: Dive into Kenyan foodways with a hands-on class: the Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour teaches staples like chapati, pilau, or mukimo—and how spice blends shift by region. It’s a flavorful, convivial way to wrap Nairobi.

Day 4: Nairobi to Maasai Mara + First Game Drive

Morning: Fly from Wilson Airport to your Mara airstrip (~45–60 minutes). Search options on Kiwi.com; many lodges can ticket bush flights for you. By road, plan 5–6 hours (great scenery but bumpy). Expect ~$180–300 per person for the one-way flight, depending on season.

Afternoon: Check into your camp—splurge-worthy Angama Mara for views and a library of natural history, or Basecamp Masai Mara for eco-ethos and community partnerships. Enjoy lunch and a siesta.

Evening: Head out on your first Mara game drive. Your guide will work the riverine thickets for leopards and the plains for cheetah coalitions. Sundowners with snacks as the sky flares pink, then dinner at camp—often a multi-course feast under a billion stars.

Day 5: Full-Day Safari + Optional Hot-Air Balloon

Morning: Optional pre-dawn hot-air balloon ride drifting over herds, ending with a champagne bush breakfast. If you prefer to package your Mara stay around a balloon, consider the 3 Days Masai Mara Flying Safari & Hot Air Balloon Ride Package.

Afternoon: Continue on an extended game drive with a picnic by the Mara River, watching hippos grunt and crocs sunbask. In Migration months, your guide will position you for potential crossings—patience pays off.

Evening: Freshen up, then swap sightings by the fire. Many camps offer Swahili-inspired dishes—coconut vegetables, spiced pilau, and grilled tilapia—alongside Kenyan wines and Tusker beer.

Day 6: Sunrise Drive + Maasai Culture + Golden Light

Morning: Sunrise game drive focusing on predators when they’re most active. Look for lion prides with cubs or a cheetah scanning termite mounds for vantage.

Afternoon: Visit a nearby Maasai village arranged through your camp to learn about beadwork, the adumu (jump dance), and pastoral traditions. If you’d rather organize the entire Mara segment as a join-in package, the 3 Days Group Joining Safari to Maasai Mara is a value-forward option.

Evening: One last golden-hour drive. Celebrate with a private lantern-lit dinner at camp if available—a poetic farewell to the savannah.

Day 7: Fly Nairobi & Depart (Afternoon Departure)

Morning: Bush flight from the Mara to Wilson Airport (~45–60 minutes). Transfer to a Nairobi café—try Spring Valley Coffee at Village Market or Connect Coffee in Riverside—for a final flat white and pastries.

Afternoon: Airport transfer to NBO for your international flight. If time allows, pick up last-minute gifts: Kenyan coffee beans, kanga cloth, or hand-carved salad servers. Karibu tena—come again.

Optional Add-Ons (From Nairobi)

• Amboseli day tour for elephants with Mt. Kilimanjaro backdrop: Day Tour To Amboseli National Park From Nairobi

  

• Active day by the Rift Valley: bike through Hell’s Gate and take a Lake Naivasha boat ride: Hell’s Gate & Lake Naivasha Small-Group Tour

  

Getting Around & Costs (Quick Reference):

• International flights: compare on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.
• Nairobi–Mara: fly (~45–60 min; ~$180–300 one-way pp) via Kiwi.com or lodge-arranged bush airlines. By road: 5–6 hours in a 4x4 or safari minibus.
• Park fees: budget ~$60–100 per adult per day (season-dependent). Most parks accept card/mobile; cash is typically not accepted at gates.

In seven days you’ll taste Nairobi’s creative pulse and the Maasai Mara’s wild heartbeat—lions at dawn, giraffe kisses at noon, and campfire stories under equatorial stars. Kenya stays with you: in the red dust on your boots and the new names you know for constellations.