Overview
From the north to the south of Kenya, you’ll get to explore massive stretches of our country, discovering not only great parks but scenic wonders, and excellent wildlife. This complete 8-day African safari is a well-planned adventure and fun, taking you from the famous Masai Mara Park to the Great Rift Valley Lakes of Naivasha to the land of giants, Amboseli National Park, flooding with wildlife. For over a week, you’ll enjoy the best African holiday ever as we finish our trip with a visit to one of Kenyan beaches – Diani Beach.
We start-off with the Masai Mara; so much has been said and written about the Masai Mara Park. No other Kenyan park has so many prides of lions like the Mara – the concentration of the wildlife here is un-equaled in the region. Our stay at the Mara will give us enough time and space to get to know the park, its wildlife, and perhaps pick out some favorite viewing spots.
We shall discover the Mara, driving over its rolling hills with its stunning acacia trees, you’ll be tracking for the over 95 mammal species that occupy this famous park. Look for other predators like leopard, cheetah, jackal, and hyena.
If you are here during the migration river crossings, you can’t miss the massive crowds of wildlife that make up the Great Migration from July through October. You’ll witness thousands of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles pouring into the park from the nearby Serengeti. It’s said to be the greatest movement of animals on the planet.
Then we’ll turn and head to the Rift Valley lakes of Naivasha. Lake Naivasha isn’t just one park but several destinations. There is the fresh-water Rift Valley Lake where we’ll take a boat safari, spotting hippos and birds. To get up close to grazing wildlife, we’ll go on a guided walking safari to the charming and wonder-filled Crescent Island Game Sanctuary.
Next up, we will travel to Amboseli Park. Adventurers love to include Amboseli on their African safari because this park offers lots of wildlife sightings of all the big game. But top of the list is Amboseli’s reputation as the best spot to see great herds of elephants. The population is so dense that you are guaranteed sightings – a boast most parks can’t make. You will appreciate views of its towering – great Mt. Kilimanjaro (tallest mountain in Africa), a perfect backdrop for the park’s active wildlife.
We finish off our 8-days Kenya safari, by travelling to one of the best Kenya beach destinations - Diani Beach. Here is where you will take your safari break, and keep yourself busy with the available beach water-sports. What a holiday.
Highlights
- Unlimited game drives days filled with great wildlife sighting.
- Safari in your own comfortable 4 X 4 Land Cruiser Jeep Open Rooftop.
- Guided walking safari at Crescent Island.
- Maasai people and culture.
- A dedicated expert driver / guide.
- An optional hot air balloon ride over the Mara – enquire with us =$ 450 per person.
- An optional hot air balloon safari at Amboseli – enquire with us =$ 480 per person.
- Beach water-sports.
Itinerary
Expand allCollapse all1: Nairobi - Masai Mara Game Reserve
We’ll begin our Kenya adventure with a 0600 hrs pickup from your Nairobi hotel or from the Nairobi airport. We’ll start out at 6:30 am to get a good head start on the day as we journey to the Mara, the most famous park in Kenya, we’ll stop at Narok, a colourful small city, for breakfast. Proceed to the Masai Mara game reserve, Kenya’s best wildlife safari reserve.
The drive to the Mara is via Kenya rural settings that contrast dramatically as you progress towards the Great Rift Valley escarpment where we shall make our stop to admire this historical setting.
You’ll find so much to see on this massive expanse of savannah and green hills. The Mara is the seasonal home to the Kenya Great Migration (July – October), an awesome display of thousands, sometimes millions of foraging wildebeests and zebra in search of the tall grasses. Awaiting them are predators like river crocodile, lion, cheetah and leopard. You’ll be there to witness this timeless cycle of nature play out before you on the riverbanks and acacia studded plains of this great park.
During the afternoon hours after arrival and check in at our Masai Mara tented safari camp/ safari lodge, we will explore the Masai Mara on your first game drive in this Kenyan holiday tour.
2: Full Day - Masai Mara Park
We’ll rise early in the morning and move inside the Masai Mara with plenty of time for unlimited game drives today. This park is not only beautiful but also holds a good concentration of wildlife. You’re sure to see plenty of African big five predators and grazers moving about on this great savannah dotted with distinctive acacia trees.
If you should be at the park during the time of the Kenya migration season (July – October) prepare to take in the greatest display of migrating animals – wildebeests and zebra – on the planet. Their numbers are breathtaking.
We’ll visit the Mara River at the point of this crossing, where crocodiles await and massive hippos forage. The focus of this African safari trip will also be spent tracking other wildlife over plains of the park – lion, leopard, buffalo, cheetah, rhino and gazelle.
We offer several optional Kenya safari excursions to add more value and memories to your African safari adventure here. Speak to us about taking a hot air balloon safari ride. You’ve never experienced anything like rising with the dawn over the Masai Mara with an endless 360 – degrees view of the park and its wildlife.
3: Masai Mara – Lake Naivasha
Today after breakfast concludes our stay in the Masai Mara Game Reserve. You can take this opportunity to visit the Masai village for some cultural discovery with these colorful tribe.
We’re headed for the Great Rift Valley and Lake Naivasha. The lake and its surrounding areas are a haven for birds, fish and larger wildlife grazing on the shores.
Naivasha is an elevated Rift Valley Lake filled with migratory birds, fish and hippo. We’ll take an afternoon boat safari across the lake, sailing by those hippos with views of wildlife like zebra and antelope grazing on the nearby shore.
This is a striking area blessed with acacia forests, waterfalls, towering escarpments and deep gorges. Not far off are more parks and preserves waiting for your exploration.
We’ll head over to one of these small gems – Crescent Island Game Sanctuary. This is a private island preserve that hosts rich birdlife such as pelicans, cormorants and fish eagles. On our guided walking safari here, we’ll also get close to wildebeest, waterbuck, zebra and gazelle.
4 : Lake Naivasha – Amboseli National Park
We will leave early from Lake Naivasha to maximize our time at our next and final wildlife safari destination, Amboseli National Park. This is where the elephants roam… in great numbers. So great, in fact, that viewings are guaranteed. Perhaps the only wild animal park in the world that can make this claim.
On the way, we’ll take a break from our drive and stop to view more scenic views.
So, get your camera ready for the great herds, and adding to the fun, mighty Mt. Kilimanjaro looms over the park like a picture postcard. In addition to elephant, you’ll have a good chance of finding lion, cheetah and plenty of colorful birdlife – the park hosts close to 400 bird species.
You’ll settle in at your lodge or tented campground, and with a little luck this evening, the clouds hiding Kilimanjaro’s snowy peak will part, revealing the world-famous summit.
The next morning we’ll take one more short game drive through the park bidding farewell to the friendly giants of Amboseli.
Dinner and overnight at your Amboseli tented safari camp/ safari lodge.
5 : Amboseli – Mombasa – Kenyan Beaches
It's just (Approximately – 1 hr.) Train to Mombasa-4 hours
We have a short final game drive scheduled – our last on this active 5-day tour of Kenya’s most dynamic parks. (Please note no exit game drive if sleeping outside the park). We have seen much, but the fun and wonder aren’t over yet.
As we exit the park on the way to the train station at Emali, you’ll be seeing your last views of Amboseli. However, on your upcoming train journey, you’ll be passing through both Tsavo West and Tsavo East for more park vistas and possibly wildlife viewing.
Your driver/guide will bring you to the train station at Emali. There, he’ll assist you with tickets and transfer to the Madaraka Express, the new high-speed train to Mombasa and the coast.
Your first-class ticket is included with the tour, so enjoy the comfort of your air-conditioned compartment and reclining seat. The train’s route is positioned higher than the roadway and offers an elevated view of the parks. And with its large windows you’ll enjoy wonderful vistas of the passing landscapes.
Drop – Off
In about 4 ½ hours, you’ll arrive at the state-of-the-art train station in Mombasa.
Transfer to your hotel or resort is also included – we’ll pick you up and bring you to your local hotel or resort in Malindi, Watamu, Diani, Mombasa and Kilifi beach signals the end of this epic African holiday vacation.
6 - 7 : Kenyan Beaches Full Day Exploring
Now for a change of scenery. Feel the tropical heat and refreshing ocean breeze at your Kenyan beach resort.
The next 2 nights of this African trip are at your own pace. Step out on the beach and feel the unbelievably soft powdery white sand between your toes, take a dip in the azure water or sink into tranquility by the pool with a cocktail in hand. If you want to explore further afield, drift out to sea on a traditional wooden dhow boat and enjoy a gin and tonic with a backdrop of the brilliant fuchsia sky as the sun begins to set. The choice is yours.
8 : Diani Beach - Nairobi
Today being the end of your African holiday package; at an advised time, you will check out at your hotel/lodge and make your own way to Nairobi/ Mombasa via train/ flight, according to your plans.
You can also tell us early so that we may arrange the private transfer for you (at an extra cost) either using the train or flight.
What’s Included
- Park fees to the mentioned park.
- Transport in a 4 X 4 Land Cruiser Jeep Open Rooftop.
- Services of an experienced driver /guide.
- All meals while on safari as per itinerary.
- Accommodation as per itinerary at the camp/lodge.
- Bottled drinking water on the vehicle.
- All game drives.
- Statutory taxes and local levies.
- Guided walking safari at Crescent Island.
- Boat safari at Lake Naivasha.
- Train transfers to Mombasa and hotel transfers.
- Laundry, drinks & meals not specified.
- Passport and visa costs.
- Travel insurance.
- Accommodation pre and post the safari.
- Tips to driver guides.
- Visits to Maasai village.
- Hot air balloon rides.
- All expenses of personal nature (e.g. Activities etc.)