8 Days Mara, Nakuru, Naivasha,
Amboseli & Tsavo East Safari

Depart Nairobi early and drive west towards the Maasai Mara National Reserve, stopping at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint along the way. The drive takes around 5 to 6 hours. Arrive in time for lunch, check in and head straight out for an afternoon game drive across the open grasslands. Elephant, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest and buffalo are all common on the first drive — and with a bit of luck, lion too.

An early start and a full day in the Mara — morning and afternoon game drives with a picnic lunch inside the reserve. This is your best chance for predator sightings — lion, leopard and cheetah are all present in the Mara and your guide will work the areas where recent sightings have been reported. During the migration season (July–October) the Mara River crossings can be one of the most dramatic wildlife spectacles on earth. An optional hot air balloon ride can be arranged as an early morning extra.

An early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara (optional) before checking out and driving north to Lake Nakuru National Park. Nakuru is a dedicated rhino sanctuary and home to both black and white rhino — one of the best places in Kenya to see them. The lake itself attracts huge flocks of flamingos along with pelicans, cormorants and fish eagles. Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive around the lake circuit, keeping an eye out for rhino, lion, leopard, waterbuck and Rothschild's giraffe.

A final morning game drive in Nakuru (optional), then drive to Lake Naivasha — a beautiful freshwater lake in the Rift Valley, fringed with yellow fever trees and papyrus. In the afternoon, board a boat for a lake safari among the hippos, watching African fish eagles, herons and kingfishers from the water. An optional walk on Crescent Island lets you get out of the vehicle and walk alongside zebra, giraffe and wildebeest on foot — a completely different experience to a standard game drive.

Drive south through Nairobi and on towards the Tanzania border, arriving at Amboseli National Park in the early afternoon. Amboseli sits at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro and is famous for its large elephant herds that move freely across the open swamp and plains. Check in at your lodge and head out for an afternoon game drive — if the sky is clear, the sight of elephants with the snow-capped peak behind them is unforgettable.

A full day in Amboseli with morning and afternoon game drives. Mornings are the best time for Kilimanjaro views — the mountain is often cloud-free before mid-morning, giving you that classic shot of elephants at the base of Africa's highest peak. The swamp areas attract huge concentrations of elephants, buffalo, hippos and waterbirds. Lion, cheetah and hyena are also present. An afternoon drive across the open plains rounds off the day before a final sunset from the lodge.

Drive east into Tsavo East National Park — Kenya's largest park and one of the least visited, which gives it a wild and unhurried feel. Tsavo is famous for its red dust elephants, which roll in the area's distinctive red volcanic soil, and for the Galana River that cuts through the park and concentrates wildlife along its banks. Check in at your lodge and spend the afternoon on a game drive along the river — crocodiles, hippos, elephants and buffalo are all commonly seen here.

One final early morning game drive along the Galana River (optional) before checking out and driving back to Nairobi, arriving in the afternoon. The drive takes around 4 to 5 hours depending on traffic.

After your chosen Nairobi activity or lunch, continue to the airport for your departure flight. We recommend allowing enough time for traffic and airport check-in, especially for international flights.