Wildlife Safaris
7-Day Kenya Safari: Amboseli, Lake Nakuru & Masai Mara
A complete 7-day, 6-night Kenya safari linking four of the country's signature destinations - Nairobi, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara - with a sunrise hot air balloon safari and a Maasai village visit built in.
Itinerary
Download Itinerary (PDF)Itinerary at a Glance
| Day | Destination | Travel | Key Sightings | Overnight | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Nairobi
Arrival in Nairobi
|
Drive |
-
|
- | B L D |
| 2 |
Amboseli National Park
Nairobi to Amboseli National Park
|
Drive |
African Elephant
Plains Zebra
Maasai Giraffe
+1
|
Amboseli Sopa Lodge | B L D |
| 3 |
Amboseli National Park
Full Day in Amboseli National Park
|
Drive |
African Elephant
Lion
Hippopotamus
+1
|
Amboseli Sopa Lodge | B L D |
| 4 |
Lake Nakuru National Park
Amboseli to Lake Nakuru National Park
|
Drive |
White Rhinoceros
Black Rhinoceros
Flamingo
+1
|
Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge | B L D |
| 5 |
Masai Mara National Reserve
Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara
|
Drive |
Lion
African Elephant
Topi
|
Mara Sopa Lodge | B L D |
| 6 |
Masai Mara National Reserve
|
Drive |
Lion
Leopard
Cheetah
+1
|
Mara Sopa Lodge | B L D |
| 7 |
Nairobi
Departure
|
Drive |
Lion
Cheetah
African Elephant
|
- | B L D |
Full Day-by-Day Itinerary
Arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and transfer to your hotel. Overnight on a bed and breakfast basis.
Morning drive to Amboseli National Park, arriving in time for an afternoon game drive with Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop. Overnight on a full-board basis (lunch, dinner and breakfast).
A full day of game drives across Amboseli's plains and swamps, tracking its famous elephant herds. Overnight on a full-board basis.
Drive north through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park, with a game drive on arrival around the rhino sanctuary and lake shore. Overnight on a full-board basis.
Morning game drive at Lake Nakuru, then continue west to the Masai Mara, arriving in the late afternoon for an evening game drive. Overnight on a full-board basis.
Optional pre-dawn hot air balloon safari over the Mara plains followed by a bush breakfast, then an afternoon visit to a local Maasai manyatta (village) to learn about Maasai culture and traditions. Overnight on a full-board basis.
Final morning game drive, then depart the Masai Mara for Nairobi. Lunch at the renowned Carnivore Restaurant before your transfer to JKIA for departure.
Best Time to Visit
July - October for the Great Migration; dry seasons (Jun-Oct, Jan-Feb) for the clearest game viewing and balloon flights
High Season - Jun-Oct & Jan-Feb
Dry weather makes for the clearest game viewing, with animals gathering at rivers and waterholes. Masai Mara river crossings peak July-October. Expect busier parks and the highest rates of the year.
Low Season - Mar-May & Nov
The "green season" brings lush scenery, dramatic skies and newborn wildlife, with far fewer visitors and the lowest accommodation rates. Expect afternoon showers, muddier roads and a handful of camps closed for maintenance.
What to Expect
This safari links four of Kenya's most rewarding wildlife destinations, each with its own character:
Nairobi is your gateway to Kenya - a modern capital where a single day of arrival or departure formalities can also include a meal at the Carnivore Restaurant, a Nairobi institution, before or after your safari.
Amboseli National Park is famous above all for its elephants - large, habituated herds that are among the easiest in Africa to observe up close - set against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro on clear mornings, plus swamps that draw hippo, buffalo and abundant birdlife.
Lake Nakuru National Park is a compact, fenced sanctuary built around its alkaline lake. Expect a strong chance of seeing both black and white rhino, along with leopard, buffalo and, in good years, dense flocks of flamingos along the shoreline.
The Masai Mara is Kenya's best-known reserve, part of the same ecosystem as Tanzania's Serengeti. Visitors come for the Big Five, resident prides of lion, and - from around July to October - the Great Migration, when huge herds of wildebeest and zebra cross the Mara River. A sunrise hot air balloon safari here offers a rare bird's-eye view of the plains, and a visit to a Maasai manyatta is a chance to see the traditions of the community that shares this land with its wildlife.
Route Map
Approximate route followed during this safari.
What's Included
- All transport in a 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Park entry fees for Amboseli, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara
- 6 nights' accommodation as per itinerary (bed & breakfast Day 1, full board Days 2-7)
- Lunch at the Carnivore Restaurant, Nairobi, on Day 7
- Maasai manyatta visit
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
What's Excluded
- International flights
- Hot air balloon safari (paid locally - a memorable optional add-on, roughly USD 450-550 per person)
- Travel insurance and visa fees
- Tips and gratuities
- Drinks and items of a personal nature
Get your free, no-obligation plan
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