Day 1 — Nairobi → Amboseli National Park
Depart Nairobi early morning (6:30 AM) and
drive south through Kajiado County and the Maasai pastoral lands towards
the Tanzania border (approx. 4 hours). Arrive Amboseli National Park,
check in to your lodge, and enjoy lunch. Afternoon game drive to the
park's iconic swamp areas — fed by underground water
from Kilimanjaro's snowmelt — where large elephant herds congregate to
drink and bathe. With clear weather, Mount Kilimanjaro provides a spectacular backdrop. Also spot buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, and hyenas. Sundowner at the lodge. Overnight Amboseli.
Day 2 — Full Day Amboseli National Park
Full day exploring Amboseli with morning and afternoon game drives. The early morning drive
offers the best chance of a clear Kilimanjaro view — the mountain is
typically clearest before 10 AM, making for world-class elephant
photography. Visit Observation Hill for sweeping panoramas over the park's plains and swamps. Afternoon drive through the acacia woodlands
— prime territory for lions, cheetahs, and Maasai giraffes. Also look
out for Cape buffalo, bat-eared foxes, and a rich variety of waterbirds.
Optional Maasai village visit at sunset (own cost). Overnight Amboseli.
Day 3 — Amboseli → Lake Naivasha
Early morning game drive before breakfast and check-out. Drive north to Lake Naivasha
in the Great Rift Valley (approx. 4.5 hours via Nairobi or Sultan
Hamud). Arrive lakeside in time for lunch at your lodge. In the
afternoon, board a boat ride on the lake — glide past
pods of hippos, African fish eagles, cormorants, and pelicans along the
papyrus-fringed shores. Late afternoon, take a guided walking safari on Crescent Island — stroll among zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, and waterbuck with no predators present. Overnight Lake Naivasha.
Day 4 — Lake Naivasha → Maasai Mara National Reserve
After breakfast, drive southwest to the Maasai Mara National Reserve
(approx. 3 hours) through scenic Maasai pastoral lands. Arrive in time
for lunch at your lodge. Afternoon game drive into the Mara — home to
one of the densest concentrations of wildlife on Earth. The vast golden grasslands and open plains are breathtaking. Spot lion prides, elephant herds, cheetahs, leopards, and buffalo on your first drive. Sundowner on the plains. Overnight Maasai Mara.
Day 5 — Full Day Maasai Mara National Reserve
Full day in the Mara with morning and afternoon game drives — the heart of the safari. The morning is prime time for big cat activity:
cheetah families on termite mounds, leopards draped over acacia trees,
and lion prides with cubs are regularly encountered. Head to the Mara River where, in season (July–October), wildebeest and zebra make their dramatic river crossings through crocodile-infested waters. Afternoon drive through the Mara Triangle. Optional hot air balloon safari at dawn (own cost). Optional Maasai village visit at sunset. Overnight Maasai Mara.
Day 6 — Maasai Mara → Nairobi
Final sunrise game drive in the Maasai Mara —
predators are most active at dawn and the golden morning light makes
for outstanding photography. Return to lodge for breakfast and
check-out. Drive back to Nairobi (approx. 5 hours via Narok). Stop for
lunch en route at a local restaurant. Arrive Nairobi by late afternoon.
Drop-off at hotel or JKIA for onward travel. End of safari services.
