Overview
An exciting road and train safari immersing you all the way from the wildlife & savannah grasslands to the Kenya Coast beaches. We begin our Kenyan adventure from Nairobi and finish off at Mombasa and its beach areas – Travel comfortably in your own 4 x 4 safari Land Cruiser Jeep, then finish your tour on a smooth train ride to the coast.
This relaxed 6-day safari will take you from the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro to the drama of Tsavo West Park, from a lush private sanctuary filled with wildlife to the red dust elephants of Tsavo East. All that and then we finish up at the Kenyan beach!
Your tour starts at Amboseli Park, famous for its concentrated population of elephants and postcard views of nearby Mt. Kilimanjaro. At Tsavo West, we’ll be tracking the Big Five and especially rhinos at the sanctuary there. Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is compact and promises sightings of its over 50 species of large mammals. And legendary Tsavo East is home to predators and tales of its infamous man-eaters’ lions!
But not to worry, that was long ago. In the meantime, if you have any favorite ideas for your safari – more time here, less there, a special something… just let us know and we’ll customize your trip just for you.
Note: If you prefer instead, you can continue your journey from Tsavo East to Mombasa by safari vehicle.
Highlights
- Unlimited game drives days.
- Safari in your own comfortable 4 X 4 Land Cruiser Jeep Open Rooftop.
- Recent Volcanoes.
- Mzima Springs & underwater hippo and fish watching.
- Epic views of Mount Kilimanjaro and its snow-capped peak (weather permitting)
- An optional hot air balloon ride over Amboseli – enquire with us =$ 480 per person
- Masai village visit at Amboseli (arrange with your driver guide) = $ 20 per person – optional.
- Train expedition.
- The beautiful Aruba dam located on the north bank of the seasonal Voi river - visited by thousands of animals.
- Waterhole wildlife-viewing
Itinerary
Expand allCollapse all1: Nairobi – Amboseli National Park
0730 am. We will start with an early morning pickup from your Nairobi hotel/ Nairobi Airport and drive via the magnificent Africa with expansive savannah plains dotted with local homesteads and colorful Masai tribe’s men and their cattle.
We’ll be arriving at Amboseli National Park around mid-morning, plenty of time for a game drive and to get familiar with the park before lunch. Here, you can’t miss the sights of Mt. Kilimanjaro nor the very present herds of elephants – so many you’re guaranteed to see them moving along the park.
An afternoon wildlife game viewing drive is scheduled for the late afternoon when animals are at their most active.
Weather permitting enjoy a breathtaking views of the Mount Kilimanjaro’s ice cap with the open skies giving you that magical photographic opportunity. Return for dinner and overnight at your Amboseli tented safari camp/ safari lodge.
2: Amboseli National Park Full Day
The park offers a variety of wildlife such as wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, and we’ll be especially on the lookout for lion and cheetah. The park also features a diversity of landforms, and you may travel through wetlands, savannah, woodlands with a visit to the Amboseli observation hill giving us an incredible view of the park and some of its wildlife.
You’ll have fun on these many game drives, but you’ll also have plenty of time for relaxation at your safari lodge or tented safari campground. Just let us know your preferences.
You can also take advantage of an optional visit to the local Maasai village to meet its people and learn about their nomadic culture and way of life, one of the special highlights of this African safari holiday.
As we depart Amboseli, we’ll take a last glance at Kilimanjaro and perhaps sneak a peek at its famous summit, if the clouds disperse.
Overnight will be at your Amboseli safari lodge / tented safari camp.
3: Amboseli – Tsavo West National Park
Early morning game viewing drives at the Amboseli with possible chances of the morning Mount Kilimanjaro views.
It’s a short drive to Tsavo West and we just may spot some wildlife on the way. We certainly will at the park itself, home to Africa’s “Big Five” plus giraffe, impala, dik-dik, baboon and monkey.
We’ll visit the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary and look for some of these shy and endangered creatures. Some 80 black rhinos are here, and they like to forage about in the thick undergrowth.
The vegetation here tends to be dense and is part of the park’s physical attraction. Besides the rolling plains and natural springs, you’ll also come across ancient volcanic cones and lava beds, reminders of the park’s timelessness.
One of Tsavo West’s more unexpected surprises is Mzima Springs. Mzima means “life” in Swahili and you’ll find aquatic life all about in this lush oasis. Besides being a popular watering hole for elephants and zebra, you can’t miss the rich parade of birdlife, fish, hippo and crocodile that make their home here.
Overnight will be at your Tsavo safari lodge / tented safari camp.
4: Tsavo West – Taita Hills Sanctuary
Early morning game viewing drives at the Tsavo West with a visit to the Mzima springs as we head out to Taita Hills Sanctuary.
This private sanctuary is located right next to Tsavo West, so it’s an easy hop to get here. The landscape in this park is more verdant than Tsavo, and the game viewing is every bit as good. The sanctuary offers good birdwatching but that isn’t Taita Hills’ main attraction.
A unique aspect of this small park is the rangers here usually have a very good idea where the larger animals can be found. It’s not unheard of for safari-goers to spot over a dozen species on a game drive.
Overnight will be at your Taita Hills safari lodge.
5: Taita Hills Sanctuary – Tsavo East
We’ll enjoy one more early morning game drive as we depart Taita Hills and then it’s a short run to our next and final park, Tsavo East.
You may have heard of Tsavo’s red dust elephants. The soil here has a rusty colour from oxidation so when the herds are ready for a dirt bath, they roll in this ruddy earth presenting a colourful coat for us to admire.
The park will offer us opportunities to find other African“Big Five” like the black rhino, Cape buffalo and leopard. On our game drives through Tsavo’s rugged plains we’ll also be tracking the famous man-eating Tsavo lions, whose reputation from a century ago still sparks fascination and a little excitement.
A sure spot to find some of this wildlife is at the Aruba Dam, a beautiful structure that has formed an impressive watering hole. Thousands of animals are attracted to its waters, and we’ll be there as they nourish themselves at this life-giving oasis.
Overnight will be at your Tsavo East safari lodge / tented safari camp.
6: Tsavo East – Mombasa – Kenyan Beaches
On our 6th and final day of this African wildlife safari we’ll take one more game drive before heading to the nearby train station at Voi and your trip to the coast.
On that train ride, you’ll be traveling through parts of Tsavo East, so there are still more opportunities to view the park and possibly some wildlife.
At the train station, your driver/guide will assist you with tickets and transfer to the Madaraka Express, the new high-speed train to Mombasa and the coast.
In about 2 hours, you’ll arrive at the state-of-the-art train station in Mombasa.
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 park. And with its large windows you’ll enjoy wonderful vistas of the passing landscapes.
Transfer to your hotel or resort is also included – we’ll pick you up and bring you to your local hotel or safari resorts in Malindi, Watamu, Diani, Mombasa and Kilifi beach signaling an end to your African holiday package.
Train Schedule
We shall proceed to Voi train station (Next to Tsavo East) where you shall board the standard gauge Nairobi-Mombasa Train (Madaraka Express).
Approximately 11:45am arrive at the train station.
12:08am: Depart for Mombasa on the Madaraka Express Train with elevated country views through parts of Tsavo East national parks.
14:00pm: Arrive Mombasa train station where you shall be met by your transfer vehicle and driver.
Transfer to your beach hotel in Mombasa, Kilifi, Diani, Watamu or Malindi.
You may transfer to your beach resort by car if you prefer or when train tickets are not available.
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.
- First Class Train tickets from Mtito Andei train station to Mombasa train station.
- Pick up from Mombasa Train Station to your Mombasa, Malindi, Watamu & Diani beach resort.
- 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.)