Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi – Masai Mara National Reserve (265 km, 5 to 6 hours)

On the first day of your Kenyan safari, we pick you up from your Nairobi hotel and drive to the wonderful Masai Mara National Reserve in the Great Rift Valley. It is named in honour of the Maasai people, the ancestral inhabitants of the area, and is one of the most famous and important wildlife conservation and wilderness areas in Africa. After lunch explore on a game drive and look out for the herds of herbivores like waterbuck, zebra and Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelle,all expertly identified by your Kenyan safari guide. Depending on the season, you may witness the annual wildebeest migration, which is the Mara’s most famous attraction, when an estimated two million hooved animals move between the Masai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park following the rains and fresh pastures. The day ends at your comfortable camp/lodge, and over dinner reflect on the amazing animals you have seen on your first Masai Mara safari.

• Overnight in Masai Mara National Reserve
• Accommodation at your camp or lodge
• Lunch and dinner included
• Drinking water is provided. All other drinks are extra

Day 2: Full Day in Masai Mara National Reserve

After an early breakfast and with packed lunches that will be served picnic-style in the bush, a full day is spent game-driving. On the grassy tree-studded plains and around the rocky kopjes look for the big cats, and the Masai Mara is famous for its large prides of lion and cheetah that are seen hunting in family groups. Other predators like jackal, hyena and bat-eared fox can be seen on the prowl in the early morning, the acacia woodlands are inhabited by giraffe, eland, impala, topi and hartebeest, and the Mara River is home to half-submerged hippos and some of the biggest crocodiles in Africa. An optional hot air balloon safari can be arranged for US$425 per person, and it’s a wonderful experience to float over the plains and rivers in the first light of dawn and watch the wildlife below. Visiting a Maasai village is another optional extra for US$20 per person, and this is an interactive introduction to the culture of the semi-nomadic Maasai warriors who have a deep and symbolic relationship with the lands and animals of the Mara.

• Overnight in Masai Mara National Reserve
• Accommodation at your camp or lodge
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
• Drinking water is provided. All other drinks are extra

Day 3: Masai Mara National Reserve – Lake Nakuru National Park (300 km, 5 to 6 hours)

After another rewarding early morning Masai Mara game drive, return to your safari camp/lodge for breakfast before departing for Lake Nakuru National Park on the floor of the Great Rift Valley. The lake is surrounded by wooded and bushy grassland, and the birdlife is world-renowned with more than 450 species. These include pelicans, eagles, rollers, starlings, herons, plovers, egrets, marabou storks and more, and you may see stunning flocks of lesser and greater flamingos, which literally turn the lake shore a brilliant pink. Lake Nakuru National Park is one of the very few places in Africa to see both the white and black rhino, as well as the rare Rothschild giraffe, and lion and leopard are frequently seen. Numerous antelope include gazelle, waterbuck and impala, and at the scenic lookout points on the cliffs overlooking the lake, you’ll spot playful baboons and vervet monkeys. You stay at a comfortable Lake Nakuru safari camp/lodge, from where you’ll hear the night-time sounds of the animals in the park.

• Overnight in Lake Nakuru National Park
• Accommodation at your camp or lodge
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
• Drinking water is provided. All other drinks are extra

Day 4: Lake Nakuru National Park - Lake Naivasha (93 km, 2 hours)

After more bird watching and game-viewing in Lake Nakuru National Park, we take a leisurely drive to Lake Naivasha, another of the picturesque Great Rift Valley lakes. Much of the lake is surrounded by grassy forests of impressive giant yellow-barked acacia trees, which are full of birds and black-and-white colobus monkeys. In the early afternoon, enjoy a boat ride to spot Naivasha’s many pods of hippos and water birds including pelicans, cormorants and fish eagles. This is also a region where there are no large predators, so walking is an option—both in Crescent Island Game Sanctuary to stroll among small antelope, zebra and giraffe, and in Hells Gate National Park to see the towering cliffs and water-gouged valleys. Although Naivasha is a freshwater lake, you can’t swim because of the hippos, but our camp/lodge has a delightful swimming pool set in expansive gardens.

• Overnight in Lake Naivasha
• Accommodation at your camp or lodge
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
• Drinking water is provided. All other drinks are extra

Day 5: Lake Naivasha – Amboseli National Park (350 km, 6 to 7 hours)

Today it is a long but interesting drive back via Nairobi and on through Maasai country to the magnificent Amboseli National Park. On the way we stop on the Great Rift Valley escarpment to take in the sweeping views of the lakes, rivers and arid plains. One of Kenya’s most spectacular geological features, the Rift Valley starts at Lake Turkana in the north, and runs right through the centre of the country and is up to 100 km wide in places. Amboseli National Park is one of Kenya’s most popular and is known for its endless views of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak that lies over the border in Tanzania. The park has an excellent variety and abundance of wildlife, especially the huge herds of elephant, and there will be time for a short game drive before relaxing at your camp/lodge over dinner and preparing for the adventures of the next day on your Kenyan safari.

• Overnight in Amboseli National Park
• Accommodation at your camp or lodge
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
• Drinking water is provided. All other drinks are extra

Day 6: Full Day in Amboseli National Park

Today we first go on an early morning game drive, and hope to see the dazzling white glaciers of Kilimanjaro as its peak is spectacularly revealed when the cloud cover breaks at dawn. After a leisurely breakfast back at your camp/lodge, we spend a full day game-driving through Amboseli’s varied landscapes to find elephant, hyena, giraffe, several antelope species and other plains animals, and prides of lion and families of cheetah resting under shady acacia trees or stalking the grassy plains. Take a break from the vehicle for a walk and a picnic packed lunch at Observation Hill—the only high point in the whole park that has tremendous views of the strikingly-green Enkongu Narok Swamp that is fed by the melting snows of Kilimanjaro. Then explore Amboseli’s marshlands and seasonal lakes to see wallowing buffaloes and hippos and the extraordinarily rich birdlife which numbers over 300 species. After a rewarding day, you can share your exciting safari stories over dinner.

• Overnight in Amboseli National Park
• Accommodation at your camp or lodge
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
• Drinking water is provided. All other drinks are extra

Day 7: Amboseli National Park – Tsavo West National Park (147 km: 2 to 3 hours)

After a morning game drive in Amboseli, we proceed the short distance to Tsavo West National Park. The terrain and ecosystem in this scenic park comprises of open grasslands, acacia woodlands, riverine forests, rocky ridges and volcanic hills and ancient lava flows. We game drive on the way to your accommodation and look out for the large mammals of Tsavo West like elephant, rhino, hippo, buffalo, lion, cheetah and leopard, while some of the interesting antelopes include the lesser kudu and tiny dik-dik. At your Tsavo West tented camp or safari lodge you can relax around an atmospheric campfire before dinner.

• Overnight in Tsavo West National Park
• Accommodation at your camp or lodge
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
• Drinking water is provided. All other drinks are extra

Day 8: Tsavo West National Park – Tsavo East National Park (168 km, 2 to 3 hours)

This morning we will stop at the beautiful Mzima Springs for an opportunity to get out of the vehicle and go on a nature walk with your guide. The four natural springs here are replenished with millions of litres of crystal-clear water that comes from the underground streams flowing from the nearby Chyulu Hills. This verdant oasis is surrounded by fig trees and raffia palms full of monkeys and birds, the springs are home to hippo and crocodile, while numerous animals are attracted to the shady banks to drink the fresh water. There are well-marked trails, an observation platform and an underwater viewing chamber to watch the colourful fish. Later head to nearby Tsavo East National Park, the largest protected area in Kenya that is home to most of the larger wildlife species including black rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard and hippo, as well as prolific birdlife. After a long day exploring both Tsavo national parks, you’ll stay at your Tsavo East camp/lodge on your last night of safari.

• Overnight in Tsavo East National Park
• Accommodation at your camp or lodge
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
• Drinking water is provided. All other drinks are extra

Day 9: Tsavo East National Park – Kenyan Coast (193 km, 4 to 5 hours)

Today we head towards Kenya’s balmy Indian Ocean coast, and from Tsavo East you will feel the temperature warm up considerably as we drive down the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway. You will be chauffeured to your lavish resort on one of the beaches either north or south of the city and port of Mombasa. A few days enjoying the tropical sunny climate, swathes of wide white sands backed by swaying palm trees, and the fascinating Swahili coastal culture and delicious cuisine,is the perfect ending to your road safari across the dusty savannahs.

• Overnight in Kenyan coast
• Accommodation at your Resort andWhat's Included Spa
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
• Drinking water is provided. All other drinks are extra

Day 10: Full Day Kenya Coast

Enjoy a full day relaxing at your resort, which has an idyllic location overlooking the ocean and comfortable guestrooms with private terraces or balconies set in tropical gardens. There is a full spectrum of amenities and facilities for an all-round beach holiday including sun-loungers and umbrellas on the sand, outdoor swimming pools with water slides, diving boards and kids’ pools, beach volleyball and floodlit tennis courts. For dining and entertainment, guests can choose from a choice of excellent themed restaurants where seafood is a speciality, and a number of bars including one on the beach where you can enjoy a cocktail with your feet in the sand.

• Overnight in Kenyan coast
• Accommodation at your Resort and Spa
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
• Drinking water is provided. All other drinks are extra

Day 11: Full Day Kenya Coast

After breakfast, you can take a morning beach walk and spend the day sunbathing or enjoying more of the resort’s facilities. For an extra cost, the spa offers revitalising massages and luxurious beauty treatments, and there are plenty of optional excursions to choose from too, which can be arranged at the resort’s reception. You can have a glimpse of the colourful underwater life by snorkelling or by glass-bottomed boat in one of Kenya’s renowned marine parks, which were established to protect the pristine coral reefs in the crystal-clear turquoise sea.

• Overnight in Kenyan coast
• Accommodation at your Resort and Spa
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
• Drinking water is provided. All other drinks are extra

Day 12: Full Day Kenya Coast

This is another relaxing day to enjoy as much or as little as you feel like. Other activities to try are kitesurfing, scuba diving, big game fishing, or playing a round at one of the nearby golf courses, or opt for a gentle walk through one of the coast’s indigenous forests for the opportunity to spot monkeys and birds. There’s also the option to go on an escorted tour to explore the historical Old City of Mombasa to visit the impressive Fort Jesus and the Swahili architecture in the labyrinth of narrow alleyways, or opt to take a boat ride on a traditional white-sailed dhow.

• Overnight in Kenyan coast
• Accommodation at your Resort & Spa
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
• Drinking water is provided. All other drinks are extra

Day 13: Kenyan Coast - Nairobi Airport by Plane

After a final leisurely breakfast in the sunshine, in the mid-morning we transfer you to the local airport for your scheduled flight to Nairobi. Upon arrival you will be met and taken for a restaurant lunch, after which we shall transfer you to your Nairobi hotel or the international airport for your flight back home.

• Accommodation: End of tour (no accommodation)
• Meals and drinks: Breakfast and lunch (Dinner not included)