Kenya is a country of dramatic contrasts: modern skylines, ancient valleys, and savannahs that stage the world’s greatest wildlife spectacle. From the Great Rift Valley—home to early human history—to Nairobi’s creative pulse and the Maasai Mara’s roaming herds, a week here is both eye-opening and soul-stirring.

First-time visitors fall for Nairobi’s rare urban-wild mix: lions within city limits at Nairobi National Park, gentle giraffe encounters, and museums that chart Kenya’s story. Then the Maasai Mara delivers the dream: sunrise safaris, Big Five sightings, and, in season, the thunder of the Great Migration.

Practical notes: Most travelers need an online Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA); check current entry rules before you fly. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for the Mara; carry sunscreen, a hat, and layers for cool mornings. Cards are widely accepted, mobile money (M‑Pesa) is ubiquitous, and rideshare apps (Uber/Bolt/Little) are standard in Nairobi. Reserve popular wildlife experiences in advance.

Nairobi

Welcome to the “Green City in the Sun,” where jacaranda-lined lanes meet innovative restaurants and coffee roasters. Nairobi pairs cosmopolitan culture with truly wild moments—few capitals can claim lions on their doorstep and a hip cocktail bar scene in the same day.

• Top sights: Nairobi National Park (dawn game drive with skyline views), Giraffe Centre (feed endangered Rothschild giraffes), Sheldrick Wildlife Trust nursery (book the 11:00–12:00 public hour in advance), Karen Blixen Museum, Nairobi National Museum, and Karura Forest’s waterfalls and bike trails.
• Cafés and eats: Spring Valley Coffee (roastery-fresh), Wasp & Sprout (creative brunch with local crafts), Tin Roof Café (leafy garden lunches), Mama Oliech (fried or grilled tilapia; Obama famously ate here), Nyama Mama (Kenyan comfort with a modern twist), The Talisman (seasonal global-Kenyan plates), Cultiva (farm-to-table with a greenhouse vibe), About Thyme (romantic garden dining).
• Nightlife and sundowners: Hero Bar at Trademark Hotel (comic-book themed cocktails), The Alchemist (food trucks, DJs), J’s Westlands (live music nights).
• Where to stay: For leafy calm, base in Karen; for dining/nightlife, choose Westlands; for embassies/quiet, pick Gigiri. Browse stays on VRBO Nairobi or compare hotels on Hotels.com Nairobi.
• Getting there: Fly into NBO (Jomo Kenyatta International). Find fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Airport to the city takes ~30–60 minutes by car depending on traffic.

Day 1: Arrive in Nairobi, Giraffes and Garden Dining

Morning: In transit. If you arrive early, drop bags and reset with specialty coffee at Spring Valley Coffee (Village Market or Kitisuru) and a mandazi (Kenyan doughnut).

Afternoon: Head to the Giraffe Centre in Karen to learn about the Rothschild subspecies and hand-feed giraffes from a viewing deck. If time allows, pop by the nearby Kazuri Beads cooperative to see artisans handcraft ceramic beads and pottery.

Evening: Dinner at The Talisman in Karen—order the feta-samosa appetizer and wasabi prawns in the garden courtyard. For a nightcap, sip inventive cocktails at Hero Bar (Gigiri), where the menu nods to comic-book “heroes.”

Day 2: Nairobi National Park, Museums, and Live Music

Morning: Dawn game drive in Nairobi National Park (gates open ~6:00). Look for lions, black rhinos, and masai giraffes against city-skyline backdrops. Brunch afterward at Emara Ole-Sereni’s terrace overlooking the park or Tin Roof Café (Karen) for smoothies and wholesome bowls.

Afternoon: Explore the Nairobi National Museum (human origins, ethnography, Joy Adamson’s lion stories). Stroll the attached Snake Park if you’re herpetology-curious. Shop the Maasai Market (rotating locations; ask your hotel) for baskets and beadwork—bargain kindly.

Evening: Try Nyama Mama Delta for elevated local staples like ugali chips and sukuma wiki. Later, catch live music at J’s Westlands (Tues/Thurs popular) or browse food trucks and DJs at The Alchemist.

Day 3: Karura Forest, Sheldrick Elephant Nursery, and Cultiva

Morning: Walk or bike Karura Forest’s shaded trails to waterfalls and caves; it’s a local favorite and wonderfully restorative. Coffee and pastries at Wasp & Sprout, where everything—from the carrot cake to the décor—supports Kenyan makers.

Afternoon: Visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust nursery for the 11:00 public feeding (advance booking required) to watch orphaned elephants barrel toward milk time. Continue to the Karen Blixen Museum for colonial-era history and Ngong Hills views.

Evening: Early dinner at Cultiva (Lavington): hyper-seasonal plates from their own garden—think wood-fired vegetables, house ferments, and impeccable sourdough. Pack for safari: soft-sided duffel, max ~15 kg for bush flights.

Maasai Mara

The Maasai Mara is the quintessential African savannah: acacia-dotted plains, prowling big cats, and sweeping sunsets. From July to October, the Great Migration surges across the Mara River; the rest of the year still dazzles with resident lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, and rhinos—the fabled Big Five.

Consider staying on a private conservancy (Mara North, Naboisho, Olare Motorogi) for fewer vehicles, guided bush walks, night drives, and meaningful community conservation. Inside the National Reserve, game viewing is superb, with classic open plains and river scenes.

• Where to stay: Mid-range classics include Basecamp Masai Mara and Mara Serena Safari Lodge; boutique tented options like Kichwa Tembo or Mara Intrepids; splurge at Angama Mara or Mahali Mzuri. Browse availability on VRBO Maasai Mara and Hotels.com Maasai Mara.
• Getting there: Fly from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to an airstrip near your camp (Keekorok, Ol Kiombo, Mara North, Serena). Flight time ~45 minutes; return fares typically $200–350 per person; baggage 15 kg in soft bags. Search flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. By road, it’s 5–6.5 hours via Narok; shared transfers run roughly $35–60 pp, private 4x4s $250–350 per vehicle each way.
• Park fees: Reserve/conservancy fees are generally $100–200 per adult per day (season- and area-dependent); confirm current rates with your camp.
• Must-do extras: Sunrise hot air balloon ($450–600 pp including bush breakfast), sundowner setups on the escarpment, and a respectful Maasai village visit (expect a cultural contribution).

Day 4: Nairobi to the Mara, First Game Drive

Morning: Transfer to Wilson Airport for your 45-minute bush flight; keep cameras handy—Mount Suswa and patchwork savannahs look surreal from the air. Your guide meets you at the airstrip; a short game drive often unfolds en route to camp.

Afternoon: Settle in, then head out for your first proper game drive. Learn to read the landscape: vulture spirals hint at a kill; oxpeckers betray buffalo; reedbuck prefer marsh edges. Tea and cake before a sunset lookout.

Evening: Campfire under a river of stars. Dinner is typically communal—grilled meats, ugali and sukuma wiki, seasonal salads. Swap sightings and set intentions for tomorrow’s dawn run.

Day 5: Big Cats and, If You Wish, a Balloon

Morning: Optional hot air balloon at sunrise to drift above hippo pods and herds; land to a bush breakfast complete with champagne. Otherwise, target predators at first light—lions are most active before the heat sets in.

Afternoon: Follow the river loops for elephants and basking crocs. If it’s Migration season (roughly Jul–Oct), your guide may stake out a crossing; patience is everything. Picnic lunch under an acacia with views that seem to have no edge.

Evening: Sundowners on a termite mound or escarpment ledge—ginger beer for teetotalers, a classic Dawa for others. In private conservancies, consider a short night drive to spot genets, bat-eared foxes, and springhares.

Day 6: Walk the Savannah, Culture, and Golden Hour

Morning: Guided bush walk (usually on conservancies) to learn tracks, dung IDs, and medicinal plants; seeing the Mara at human pace is humbling. Alternatively, focus on leopards along rocky kopjes and sausage trees.

Afternoon: Visit a Maasai boma (village) for music, beadwork, and stories about pastoral life; contributions support schooling and healthcare. Return for a pool break and a slow, late-afternoon drive timed for golden light photography.

Evening: A barbecue night at camp—nyama choma with kachumbari and chapati. Try Kenyan craft beers or a glass of South African pinotage. Early to bed; one last dawn awaits.

Day 7: Farewell Drive, Back to Nairobi, Last Tastes

Morning: Final game drive to tick any last misses—maybe a rhino in the thickets or cheetah on a termite mound. Fly mid-morning back to Wilson Airport.

Afternoon: Lunch in Nairobi at About Thyme (excellent salads and steaks) or Mama Oliech (tilapia by the kilo, eaten with hands). Pick up gifts at Utamaduni or House of Treasures in Karen, then transfer to NBO for your afternoon departure. For any flight changes, browse options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Evening: Fly out with memory cards full and a new definition of “golden hour.” If you’re overnighting, compare stays near the airport or in Karen on Hotels.com Nairobi or plan a longer stay via VRBO Nairobi.

In one week, you’ll trace Kenya’s story from museum halls and forest trails to open plains where lions rule and elephants wander. Nairobi brings color and culture; the Maasai Mara supplies the wonder. It’s a balanced itinerary that pairs city flavor with once-in-a-lifetime safari magic.