Overview
Amboseli National Park – With the snowy peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop, Amboseli makes the perfect location for a short safari. Here one can always expect to see herds of elephant, prolific bird life, Cape buffalo, giraffe, many varieties of plains game as well as a few predators.
Naivasha – The dusty, stunning plains of Naivasha make a tour of the Great Rift Valley priceless. Dozens of attractions dot this magnificent gorge and include: Lake Naivasha, one of the freshwater lakes in the Great Rift Valley to see the lake’s dense population of hippos and birds on a boat.
Lake Nakuru is a shallow alkaline lake in the Rift Valley renowned for its spectacular flamingo population. The lake is famed as one of the world’s greatest ornithological spectacles. It’s also home to zebras, gazelles, Rothschild giraffes, impala, black and white rhino sanctuary and other large mammals.
Masai Mara Game Reserve is world-famous for its authentic safari experience. It is half the story in the annual Great Wildebeest Migration and is home to the Big Five among other wild animals. One can also experience hot air balloon safaris as well as cultural visits to Masai villages. The Masai Mara is about a 6-hour drive from the capital Nairobi or a 45-minute flight.
Itinerary
Day 1
Nairobi/Amboseli (250 km Approx 4 hrs)
Early morning pick-up from your hotel and depart for Amboseli National Park. Afternoon game drive. All meals and overnight at your camp or lodge
Amboseli National Park is the second most popular park after Maasai Mara, is 260 km (160 miles) from Nairobi, on the border with the neighboring country of Tanzania. Its magnificent location is at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Combined with its excellent opportunities to view Kenya’s animals, it is one of the most-visited safari parks in Kenya.
Day 2
At Amboseli: Full Day with game drives
Experience the majestic view of Kilimanjaro with morning and afternoon game drives, lunch, dinner and overnight at your lodge/Camp
Amboseli is best known for its great herds of elephants. You’ll often find many of them standing knee-deep in the water, spraying, eating and at the same time bathing in the swamps to cool off. The park is a relatively small park, hence animal spotting is easy and fast. The game is plentiful; you will see cheetah, buffalo, giraffe, different types of gazelle and other plains game, prolific bird life up to approximately 425 species and it’s all set against the amazing backdrop of majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. Other attractions of the park include opportunities to meet the Maasai people to experience their traditional way of life and dances.
Weather permitting you shall get a view of the magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro with its snow capped peaks where its background offers a good photographic scenery coupled with wild animals on the ground.
Day 3
Amboseli/Naivasha: (340 km Approx 5-6 hrs)
On this morning, you will have breakfast at your camp followed and check out. Proceed to Lake Naivasha which is 340 km, approximately 5-6 hrs from Amboseli arriving just in time for lunch. All meals and overnight at your camp/lodge
Optional Activities at an extra cost –
1. Enjoy boat rides at Lake Naivasha where you will spot hippos as well as a variety of birds common to this area. (US$30 per person).
2. Visit Crescent Island – Crescent Island is about 15 minutes by boat away from the shores of Lake Naivasha. It is a private game sanctuary, which is home to zebra, wildebeest, gazelle, vervet, monkeys, waterbuck and giraffe and one of the few places where one can wander on foot amidst wild animals as there are no predators. (US$33 per person).
3. You may also visit Hell’s Gate National Park. – As scary as the name may make it seem, Hell’s Gate National Park is really quite charming and serene. There is a lot to see and do in this park. Explore gorges, climb rocks, view wildlife, enjoy a nature walk and have a picnic in the park’s plains. Hell’s Gate is one of the best rock climbing destinations in Kenya. This is a unique park where walking and cycling is done in the middle of wildlife: Giraffes, zebras, warthogs and many types of gazelles are found here. Adjacent to this park is the Ol Karia Geothermal Spa, which has naturally heated water and is a great recreation spot. The pool has water with temperatures ranging from 30oC to 40oC.
Day 4
Naivasha/Lake Nakuru (80 km Approx 1-2 hrs)
Morning drive to Lake Nakuru National Park for a full day game drive. All meals and overnight at your lodge/Camp
Lake Nakuru National Park is best known for its vast and dynamic variety of birdlife, over 400 birds’ species exist here, White Pelicans, Plovers, Egrets and Marabou Stork including the beautiful flamingo and many more branding it as the bird watchers paradise. You will interact with four of the Big Five at the park, excluding the elephant. The lake has also earned a reputation as an important haven for endangered species, particularly the Rothschild Giraffe and the black and white rhino. As you go further inside the park there is a spectacular area called “Out of Africa” where you experience an amazing view of part of the Great Rift Valley. The park is also home to the olive baboon, an amazing animal to see!
Day 5
L. Nakuru National Park - Maasai Mara
Game Reserve – After breakfast, depart for the Mara which is 300 km away, approximately 6 hrs drive arriving in time for lunch at your lodge/camp. Relax in the lodge till 1600 hrs after which you will go for a late afternoon game drive. Return to your lodge/camp for dinner and the overnight stay.
Masai Mara National Reserve
Masai Mara National Reserve is considered a “must see” for any new visitor traveling on a safari to Kenya. It is on the “to do” list for many Kenyans and visitors alike because the park is graced by a wide variety of unique and exquisite wildlife and birds
What to see and what to do in Maasai Mara:-
Game Viewing
The Masai Mara Game Reserve is one of the best places in Africa for wildlife viewing. Game drives are a great way to experience the park and they take place all year round. If the big cats are what you’re looking for on your Kenyan safari, you are guaranteed to spot them at the Mara.
All of the “Big Five” animals (elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo) can be spotted here.
Herds of plains zebras are found throughout the park, as well as Masai giraffes, common giraffes, jackals, white-bearded gnus, Oribis, warthogs, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, hartebeests, hyenas, bat-eared foxes, rare Topi antelope and beautiful roan antelope, as well as hippos and crocodiles in the Mara River.
Hippos are abundant in the Mara River as are very large Nile crocodiles, who lay in wait for a meal as the wildebeest cross on their annual quest to find new pastures.
The best time to view animals is either at dawn or dusk.
Wildebeest Migration
Over 1.5 million wildebeest, zebras and several species of antelope make an annual circular tour between the Serengeti in Tanzania and Masai Mara in Kenya in search of greener pastures.
The trek happens with a fair share of animal drama as the migrating herds attract the attention of hungry predators – the hyenas and lions that prey on the lame and sick animals along the way.
The animals trek for four months (July-October) towards the Mara. The months of July and August are the best times to see what is truly the world’s most spectacular wildebeest migration and the dramatic sights that occur during the mass crossing of the swollen Mara River.
Bird Watching
For bird lovers, the Mara birds come in every color and size. More than 400 bird species have already been recorded, including birds of prey.
You can enjoy a colorful view of birds such as vultures, ostriches, long-crested eagles, pygmy falcons, secretary birds, marabous, red-winged Schalow’s turacos, white-tipped crests, ross turacos, orange buffs, Pel’s fishing owls, wary guinea fowl, Jackson’s bustards, black-bellied hartlaubs bustards and many others.
Day 6
At Maasai Mara: Full Day with Game Drives
Enjoy a full day with morning and afternoon game drives and a picnic lunch on the Mara River overlooking the Hippo Pools and the Savannah. You can also decide to take an optional hot air balloon ride (US$420 per person); and/or visit a local Maasai village (US$30 per person).Dinner and overnight at your camp/lodge
Maasai Cultural Tours
You will have an opportunity to visit the maasai village where you get a chance to interact with the Maasai people in their traditional setting and experience their culture. Often the Maasai morans (young Maasai warriors) will perform their traditional dance. You also get an opportunity to purchase traditional Maasai souvenirs, art and collectibles.
Hot Air Balloon rides
For the adventurous tourist who wants a sky-high view of wildlife from the hot air, balloon rides and safaris are the best way to travel over the massive Masai Mara park. Hot air balloon rides last approximately an hour and a half and often take place at dawn.
You will get a great view of the animals while you glide above them. Breakfast is prepared on the balloon burner upon landing.
Day 7
Maasai Mara/Nairobi (265 km Approx 5-6 hrs)
On this morning, you will have breakfast at your camp, and check out. You will then drive back to Nairobi. On arrival in Nairobi you will be dropped off at your pickup hotel.
