7-Day Kenya Wildlife Safari through Maasai Mara, Nakuru and Amboseli

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Drive through the scenic Great East African Rift Valley
• 02 Visit the Mara, land of the big cats
• 03 Meet the tree-climbing lions in Lake Nakuru National Park
• 04 See diverse birdlife around the soda lake in Lake Nakuru National Park
• 05 Admire views of the snow-capped Mt Kilimanjaro
• 06 Look at the large herds of elephants in the swamps of Amboseli National Park

Go on an adventure through the Maasai Mara Reserve, where you can spot the "Big Five" and other wild animals near the Mara River. Continue to Lake Nakuru National Park to experience its diverse flora, fauna, birdlife, and famous flamingos. The journey also includes an overnight stay at Lake Naivasha before heading to Amboseli National Park to see large herds of elephants and admire spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Go on an adventure through the Maasai Mara Reserve, where you can spot the "Big Five" and other wild animals near the Mara River.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 174 Hours

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Naivasha, Narok, Nairobi, Masai Mara, Amboseli National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Mount Longonot

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Nairobi to Maasai Mara via the Rift Valley

• Meet your driver-guide at your hotel in Nairobi for a safari briefing. Then proceed to the Masai Mara National Reserve with a stop at the Rift Valley viewpoint.
• Continue past the Longonot and Suswa craters into Narok town, the largest Maasai town.
• Proceed to the reserve and check in at Sentrim Mara Lodge for lunch. At 4:00 pm, embark on an afternoon game drive and return to the lodge before dusk for dinner and an overnight stay.

2

Day 02

Full-Day Game Drive in Maasai Mara

• After breakfast, get ready for a tremendous full-day game drive with a picnic lunch along the Mara River.
• Roll down the windows or stand up through the customized pop-up roof hatch and enjoy unhindered 360-degree views and the possibilities of what lies ahead.
• Masai Mara is one of the lushest reserves in Africa and is globally renowned for the Great Migration, when thousands of wildebeest, zebra, and Thomson's gazelle travel to and from the Serengeti. Thanks to its relatively large populations of lions, cheetahs, and leopards, the park is also known for providing excellent predator sightings in their natural habitats.
• You will also see lots of elephants, Masai giraffe, common zebra, impala, Thomson's and Grant's gazelles, topi, hartebeest, black-backed jackal, spotted hyena, and more.

3

Day 03

Morning Game Drive and Transfer to Lake Naivasha

• After breakfast, go for a game drive in the reserve and spot wild animals.
• Depart the park for a visit to Lake Naivasha, where you will stay for the night.

4

Day 04

Lake Nakuru National Park Day Trip

• After an early breakfast, depart from the lodge for a day trip to Lake Nakuru National Park with a picnic lunch. The park offers a rare insight into Kenya's diverse flora, fauna, and wildlife, and it is famous for its huge flocks of pink flamingos.
• The birds gather on Lake Nakuru itself, one of the Rift Valley soda lakes that comprises almost a third of the park's area. More than 450 species of birds have been recorded here, along with a rich diversity of other wildlife. Lions, leopards, warthogs, waterbucks, pythons, and white rhinos are just some of the animals you might see, and the landscapes range from sweeping grasslands bordering the lake to rocky cliffs and woodland. The park also protects the largest euphorbia candelabrum forest in Africa.
• In the evening, drive back to Lake Naivasha Country Club for an overnight stay.

5

Day 05

Lake Naivasha to Amboseli National Park

• Have an early breakfast, then check out and travel to Amboseli National Park. The journey takes about 6 hours via Nairobi, the capital city, to the southern side of the country.
• Arrive in time for lunch and check in at Aa Lodge. An optional visit to a Masai village can be arranged after lunch, along with a nature walk, weather permitting.
• Enjoy a magnificent view of Mount Kilimanjaro from the balcony of your tent as you sip your favourite drink. Dinner and an overnight stay will be at the camp.

6

Day 06

Amboseli Wildlife and Namatior Observation Hill

• After an early breakfast, depart with a picnic lunch for Amboseli National Park. Despite its changing habitat, Amboseli is the best wildlife area in Kenya to experience big herds of elephants at close range. They are less harassed by poachers, and you can easily see them feeding and bathing in the swamps, making this the highlight of your day.
• Enjoy your lunch at Namatior Observation Hill, whose base forms a permanent water reservoir full of hippos.
• Then return to your camp on an en-route game drive, arriving in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.

7

Day 07

Amboseli to Nairobi with Shopping Stop

• Have breakfast at your leisure, then check out from the camp. Drive back to Nairobi with a last-minute shopping stop at Emali, then continue to Nairobi for your airport drop-off.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Inter-hotel transfers from the start to the end of the tour
• Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
• Transport in a 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof
• Professional, experienced English-speaking safari guide during the safari
• Water in the vehicle during the safari
• Park entrance fees

What's Not Included

• International flights and departure taxes
• Visa fees
• Tips and porterage
• Drinks and laundry
• Extra meals and visits not mentioned in our program
• Walking safaris
• Insurance and medical evacuation
• Items of a personal nature

What to bring

• Baggage: the 'mantra' is travel light.
• Clients should be encouraged to carry soft-sided travel bags instead of hard or roller cases such as Samsonite, etc.
• This saves time during the loading and offloading of the safari vehicles.
• Other personal items.
• Don't forget the camera, camcorder, and a plentiful supply of film and spare batteries.
• A pair of binoculars will greatly enhance game viewing, while a torch to find your way around camp after dark is a good idea.
• Books, pencils, crayons, and crackers are very welcome as gifts for the children of local villages that you may pass through or visit whilst on safari. We do not encourage candy, as some do not have easy access to dentists.
• Sunglasses and a hat for protection against the sun are recommended, and swimsuits should be packed for the swimming pool or beach.

Know before you go

• Summer clothing is worn throughout the year, although a jacket and light raincoat may be necessary. Early morning and evening temperatures at altitude (most national parks are located 1000 m plus asl) are cool, so we recommend a sweater to keep you warm, especially during your dawn and dusk safaris.
• On safari, wear neutral colours such as brown, beige, and khaki - bright colours may alarm the animals. Sensible walking shoes are also recommended.
• Since laundry is only possible where you are staying for two nights, try to carry quick-dry clothing. This applies only to particular properties mentioned in the itinerary.
• Casual wear is the norm during the day: a short-sleeved shirt for men, and light cotton dresses or a skirt and top for women. In the evening, all hotels and restaurants require long trousers for men in particular.
• Topless sunbathing is not permitted.
• Tipping is not compulsory, but it is always enthusiastically received if you are happy with the service and would like to tip. There are no set percentages for tips. The local culture believes the level of tips should be at the client's discretion, and any token of appreciation is gladly received.
• We recommend that you tip your guide directly at the end of your stay in camp. As a rough guideline, you might want to tip US$5-10 per day.
• Please note that there are variations between all the EA countries on tipping and gratuities, while the actual amount of money to tip is left at your discretion.
• An optional visit to a Masai village can be arranged after lunch on Day 5, along with a nature walk, weather permitting.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Nairobi, Kenya

Tour start

Nairobi, Kenya

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.