OVERVIEW
Experience Kenya’s most iconic wildlife destinations in one epic week-long adventure. This fast-paced yet comprehensive safari takes you from the rolling grasslands of the Maasai Mara to the flamingo-lined shores of Lake Nakuru, the elephant-rich plains of Amboseli beneath Kilimanjaro, and finally through the vast wilderness of Tsavo—East and West. Traveling by road in a rugged 4×4 Land Cruiser, you’ll witness the dramatic diversity of Kenya’s landscapes and wildlife, staying at trusted standard accommodations that offer comfort without luxury pricing.
Route: Nairobi → Maasai Mara → Lake Nakuru → Amboseli → Tsavo West → Tsavo East → Nairobi/Mombasa
Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights
Vehicle: 4×4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
HIGHLIGHTS
- Maasai Mara: Kenya's premier wildlife reserve, home to the Big Five and the Great Migration
- Lake Nakuru: UNESCO World Heritage rhino sanctuary with flamingos, pelicans, and Rothschild's giraffes
- Amboseli: Elephant paradise with iconic Mount Kilimanjaro backdrop
- Tsavo West: Volcanic landscapes, Mzima Springs, and the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary
- Tsavo East: Vast wilderness of red elephants, lava flows, and the historic "Man-Eaters" territory
- Epic Road Journey: Experience Kenya's diverse landscapes from Rift Valley to savannah to volcanic plains
ITINERARY
Distance: ~280km | Drive Time: 5-6 hours
07:00 AM: Pickup from your Nairobi hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Meet your professional driver-guide and receive a comprehensive safari briefing.
08:00 AM: Depart Nairobi via the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Stop at the Viewpoint for panoramic photos of the valley floor below.
10:00 AM: Descend into the valley and pass through Narok Town, a bustling Maasai trading center. Continue across the Loita Plains.
12:30 PM: Arrive at AA Lodge Maasai Mara
for check-in and lunch. The lodge offers comfortable accommodation with friendly staff and good amenities, situated in a convenient location for game drives .
03:30 PM: Afternoon game drive in the Mara. This is Big Five country—search for lion prides, elusive leopards in acacia trees, cheetahs on the open plains, and the massive elephant herds that make the Mara famous.
06:30 PM: Return to lodge for dinner and overnight.
Overnight: AA Lodge Maasai Mara
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
06:00 AM: Early morning game drive (optional hot air balloon safari at additional cost—book in advance). The Mara at dawn is magical, with predators active and soft golden light.
08:00 AM: Return for breakfast at the lodge.
10:00 AM: Full day game drive with packed lunch boxes. Visit the Mara River to witness crocodiles and hippos, and if visiting during July-October, potentially catch the dramatic wildebeest crossings.
Explore: The Musiara Swamp (elephant haven), Rhino Ridge, and the vast plains where the Big Five roam freely. The Mara hosts over 450 bird species and 95 mammal species.
01:00 PM: Bush lunch at a scenic spot within the reserve.
04:00 PM: Continue game viewing, focusing on areas less visited by other vehicles.
06:30 PM: Return to AA Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Overnight: AA Lodge Maasai Mara
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: ~320km | Drive Time: 5-6 hours
06:30 AM: Early breakfast and check-out. Depart the Mara with packed lunch.
08:00 AM: Drive through Maasai pastoral lands and wheat farms of Narok and Mau Narok.
12:00 PM: Arrive at Lake Nakuru National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley
.
12:30 PM: Check-in at Lake Nakuru Lodge, perched on a hill overlooking the lake. Lunch and brief rest.
03:30 PM: Afternoon game drive. Lake Nakuru is renowned for:
- Rhino Sanctuary: Both black and white rhinos thrive here
- Rothschild's Giraffes: Rare subspecies with distinctive white "stockings"
- Flamingos & Pelicans: Thousands of flamingos create a pink rim around the lake when conditions permit; great white pelicans also abound
- Tree-climbing Lions: Often spotted in the acacia woodlands
06:30 PM: Return to lodge for dinner with views over the lake.
Overnight: Lake Nakuru Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: ~380km | Drive Time: 6-7 hours (longest driving day)
06:00 AM: Early morning game drive to Baboon Cliff for sunrise over the lake. Spot pelicans, cormorants, and perhaps leopards in the yellow acacia forests.
08:00 AM: Return for breakfast and check-out.
09:00 AM: Depart for Amboseli via Nairobi. Lunch en route in Nairobi (at own cost) or packed lunch.
02:00 PM: Continue to Amboseli, entering the park with views of Mount Kilimanjaro (weather permitting).
03:30 PM: Check-in at Sentrim Amboseli Camp (or similar standard camp). The Sentrim properties offer comfortable tented accommodation with good locations for wildlife viewing
.
04:00 PM: Afternoon game drive. Amboseli is elephant paradise—over 1,500 elephants roam here, including some of Africa's largest tuskers. The swamps attract buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, and numerous water birds with Kilimanjaro as backdrop.
06:30 PM: Return to camp for dinner.
Overnight: Sentrim Amboseli Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner (Lunch en route at own cost or packed)
Distance: ~120km | Drive Time: 3-4 hours (rough road)
06:00 AM: Sunrise game drive to Observation Hill. Climb the pyramid-shaped hill for 360-degree views of the park, swamps, and Kilimanjaro. Elephants are often silhouetted against the mountain at dawn.
08:00 AM: Return for breakfast and check-out.
09:30 AM: Depart for Tsavo West via the Chyulu Gate. This is a rough, corrugated road through volcanic terrain—your 4x4 Land Cruiser is essential here
.
11:00 AM: Stop at Mzima Springs—a crystal-clear oasis where millions of gallons of water bubble up from volcanic rock daily. Walk the underwater viewing chamber to see hippos and fish from below the surface.
12:30 PM: Continue to Ngulia Safari Lodge
, dramatically perched on the Ndawe Escarpment with stunning views over the Rhino Valley. Check-in and lunch.
03:30 PM: Afternoon game drive to the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, a 90 sq km fenced area protecting over 80 black rhinos. Guided tour with rangers to track these endangered giants.
06:00 PM: Return to Ngulia Lodge for dinner. The lodge's location offers spectacular sunset views over the savannah.
Overnight: Ngulia Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: ~100km | Drive Time: 2-3 hours via park roads
06:00 AM: Early breakfast with views over the Rhino Valley.
07:00 AM: Depart for Tsavo East via the Manyani Gate. En route, visit the Shetani Lava Flows—expansive black lava fields formed just 200 years ago. Walk among the volcanic cones and learn about the region's dramatic geology.
09:30 AM: Enter Tsavo East, Kenya's largest national park. The landscape transforms to open savannah dotted with baobabs and the red-dust elephants that give Tsavo its fame.
11:00 AM: Game drive en route to Sentrim Tsavo Camp (or similar), located near Voi. Check-in and lunch.
03:30 PM: Afternoon game drive to the Aruba Dam area, a wildlife magnet where animals congregate. Tsavo East is known for:
- Red Elephants: Dust-bathed giants that glow russet against the landscape
- Man-Eaters of Tsavo: Historic lions that once terrorized railway workers
- Yatta Plateau: World's longest lava flow stretching 300km
- Diverse Wildlife: Lions, cheetahs, lesser kudu, gerenuk, and over 500 bird species
06:30 PM: Return to camp for dinner.
Overnight: Sentrim Tsavo Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance to Nairobi: ~330km | 5-6 hours | Distance to Mombasa: ~120km | 2-3 hours
06:00 AM: Final early morning game drive in Tsavo East. Search for predators returning from their night's hunt and elephants moving to waterholes.
08:00 AM: Return for breakfast and check-out.
09:00 AM: Depart for your chosen destination:
OPTION A: Return to Nairobi
- Drive via Voi-Mombasa Highway and turn inland at Mtito Andei
- Lunch en route (own cost)
- Arrive Nairobi late afternoon (~3:00-4:00 PM)
- Drop-off at hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (flights after 6:00 PM recommended)
OPTION B: Extend to Coast (Mombasa/Diani/Malindi)
- Continue on Mombasa Highway to the coast
- Arrive Mombasa or Diani Beach by lunchtime
- Perfect for beach extension after safari
Meals: Breakfast
INCLUDES/EXCLUDES
COST INCLUDES
- ✅ Accommodation: 6 nights in standard lodges/camps as per itinerary (double/twin sharing)
- ✅ Meals: Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) Days 1-6; breakfast Day 7
- ✅ Transport: Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof, professional English-speaking driver-guide
- ✅ Fuel: All fuel and vehicle maintenance for entire circuit
- ✅ Park Fees: All national park entrance fees for Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli, Tsavo West, Tsavo East
- ✅ Game Drives: Unlimited game drives as per itinerary
- ✅ Activities: Mzima Springs visit, Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary tour
- ✅ Transfers: Pickup from Nairobi hotel/airport; drop-off at Nairobi hotel/airport or Mombasa hotels
- ✅ Water: Bottled drinking water in vehicle (2 bottles per person per day)
- ✅ Taxes: All applicable government taxes and levies
COST EXCLUDES
- ❌ International Flights: Airfare to/from Kenya
- ❌ Visa Fees: Kenya e-Visa (~$51 USD, apply online in advance)
- ❌ Travel Insurance: Comprehensive travel and medical insurance (mandatory)
- ❌ Optional Activities:
- Hot air balloon safari in Maasai Mara (~$450-500 per person)
- Maasai village visit (~$20-30 per person)
- Night game drives (where available)
- Nairobi excursions on Day 7 (if not departing immediately)
- ❌ Meals: Lunch on Day 4 (en route to Amboseli) unless requested as packed lunch
- ❌ Drinks: Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, and premium juices at lodges
- ❌ Tips: Guide/driver ($10-15 per day per vehicle recommended), lodge staff, porters
- ❌ Personal Expenses: Laundry, telephone calls, souvenirs, mini-bar
- ❌ Single Supplement: Additional cost for solo travelers (typically 30-40% of per person rate)
- ❌ Medical: Yellow fever vaccination (if required), malaria prophylaxis, personal medications
