Safari Overview
This is Kenya in its entirety, from the legendary golden plains of the Masai Mara to the elephant kingdoms of Amboseli beneath Kilimanjaro’s eternal snows, from Lake Nakuru’s flamingo-painted shores to the vast red-dust wilderness of Tsavo East and the volcanic drama of Tsavo West.
This 9-day Kenya grand safari tours five of the country’s most celebrated Class A national parks and reserves, delivering the most comprehensive wildlife experience Kenya offers. This is not a safari that picks highlights, this IS the highlights. Every park on this itinerary represents the pinnacle of what an East African safari can be, and together they create a journey that reveals Kenya’s extraordinary diversity of landscapes, ecosystems, and wildlife.
This complete Kenya safari takes you to the Masai Mara, where over 95 mammal species roam endless grasslands, and the Great Migration river crossings stop your heart (July-October). To Amboseli, where massive elephant families move in slow procession beneath Mount Kilimanjaro’s snow-capped summit. To Lake Nakuru’s rhino sanctuary, where both black and white rhinos graze alongside millions of flamingos. And finally to Tsavo, Kenya’s largest protected wilderness, split into Tsavo East with its famous red elephants and open plains, and Tsavo West with its volcanic landscapes, lava flows, and crystal-clear Mzima Springs.
This Tsavo Amboseli Masai Mara safari combination is Kenya’s classic grand tour — refined over decades, delivering maximum wildlife diversity, landscape contrasts, and authentic wilderness experiences across nine perfectly paced days.
Rates
Our rates are per person sharing unless we note differently. Please treat all pricing as a guide only:
- All rates are subject to availability and may change without notice.
- Single supplements may apply.
- Request a quote or speak to one of our African Safari Experts for the best, most current rates available.
Price from
$2117
Per Person Sharing
Day to Day Itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi – Masai Mara National Reserve | Into Africa's Greatest Wildlife Theater
Your Kenya grand safari begins with a morning departure from Nairobi, driving southwest through the dramatic Great Rift Valley toward the legendary Masai Mara. The 5-6-hour journey descends into the valley floor, with stunning viewpoints, crosses Maasai pastoralist lands, and arrives at the Mara, Kenya’s most celebrated reserve.
Arrive at your camp for lunch, settle in, then head straight out for your first afternoon game drive. The Mara delivers immediately: herds of wildebeest and zebra, giraffes, elephants, and the predators that make this reserve legendary, lion prides, cheetahs, and elusive leopards. Visit the Mara River where crocodiles lurk year-round and hippos wallow in their hundreds.
Accommodation: Mid-range tented camp | Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Highlights: Great Rift Valley · First Mara game drive · Mara River · Predator encounters
Day 2: Masai Mara National Reserve | Full-Day Wildlife Immersion
A full day exploring Africa’s most famous wildlife reserve. Rise before dawn when predators are most active — lions returning from night hunts, cheetahs scanning the plains, leopards descending from trees. Track all the Big Five across golden grasslands and enjoy picnic lunch in the bush.
If visiting July-October, witness the Great Migration — over 1.5 million wildebeest crossing the crocodile-infested Mara River. Even outside migration season, the Mara’s resident populations deliver extraordinary encounters. The park’s extensive road network allows close-range viewing perfect for photography.
Accommodation: Mid-range tented camp | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Highlights: Big Five tracking · Great Migration crossings (Jul-Oct) · Bush picnic · Full-day game viewing
Day 3: Masai Mara – Lake Nakuru National Park | Into the Rift Valley Sanctuary
Get ready for an exhilarating adventure! After an unforgettable early morning game drive through the Mara and a hearty breakfast, set off on an exhilarating 5-hour drive to Lake Nakuru National Park. As you journey through the stunning landscapes of the Rift Valley, prepare to be awestruck by breathtaking viewpoints that will leave you in awe.
Upon arrival, indulge in a delicious lunch before diving into an exciting afternoon game drive in this compact yet wildlife-rich paradise. Lake Nakuru is legendary for its mesmerizing flamingo displays and stands as one of Kenya’s top rhino sanctuaries. Get ready to track both the elusive black and white rhinos, spot the rare Rothschild giraffes, and, if you’re lucky, catch a glimpse of the remarkable tree-climbing lions lounging in the fever trees.
With over 400 bird species, including pelicans, cormorants, and the majestic African fish eagle, every moment promises to be a thrilling encounter. This is not just a trip; it’s an adventure of a lifetime!
Accommodation: Mid-range lodge | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Highlights: Final Mara sunrise · Rift Valley panorama · Flamingo spectacle · Rhino sanctuary
Day 4: Lake Nakuru – Amboseli National Park | Journey to Kilimanjaro's Shadow
Depart Lake Nakuru after breakfast and drive southeast to Amboseli National Park — approximately 6 hours passing through Nairobi. Arrive for lunch, then embark on your first Amboseli game drive beneath Mount Kilimanjaro’s snow-capped summit.
Amboseli’s open plains create perfect visibility, massive elephant families (over 1,600 elephants including rare big tuskers) move in slow procession, lions rest beneath acacia shade, and if clouds part, Kilimanjaro rises impossibly from the earth. Position yourself for Amboseli’s signature photograph: elephants silhouetted against Africa’s highest peak.
Accommodation: Mid-range lodge/tented camp | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Highlights: Kilimanjaro views · Amboseli elephant kingdoms · Signature elephant-mountain photograph
Day 5: Amboseli National Park | Full Day with the Giants
A full day exploring Amboseli’s five distinct ecosystems. Begin at dawn when elephant families gather at the central swamps — hundreds strong, calves playing in the water, matriarchs leading their clans. Ascend Observation Hill for panoramic views of the entire park spread below with Kilimanjaro standing guard to the south.
Around 5pm, witness Amboseli’s most extraordinary spectacle — the evening elephant migration from the swamps to Kilimanjaro’s forests. Hundreds of elephants cross the road before you, tusks catching golden light, the mountain glowing behind them. Optional Maasai village visit available.
Accommodation: Mid-range lodge/tented camp | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Highlights: Dawn elephant gathering · Observation Hill · Big tusker encounters · Evening elephant migration
Day 6: Amboseli – Tsavo East National Park | Into Kenya's Largest Wilderness
After a final early morning Amboseli game drive with Kilimanjaro views, drive to Tsavo East National Park — approximately 4 hours. Enter Kenya’s largest park (13,747 km²), famous for its red elephants (dust-bathing colors them red) and the legendary man-eating lions of Tsavo.
Arrive for lunch, then head out for an afternoon game drive across vast open plains dotted with red soil, baobab trees, and abundant wildlife. The Galana River cuts through the park, attracting massive elephant herds, buffalo, hippos, and crocodiles. Track lions, leopards, cheetahs, and countless antelope species across endless horizons.
Accommodation: Mid-range lodge | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Highlights: Final Kilimanjaro sunrise · Tsavo East arrival · Red elephants · Galana River · Open plains game viewing
Day 7: Tsavo East National Park | Full-Day Red Elephant Country
A full day exploring Tsavo East’s vast wilderness. Morning and afternoon game drives reveal why this park is legendary — massive elephant herds (Tsavo hosts over 12,000 elephants), healthy predator populations, and the famous Yatta Plateau, the world’s longest lava flow stretching 290 kilometers.
Visit Lugard Falls where the Galana River forces through narrow rock channels creating spectacular rapids and pools. Watch for crocodiles basking on rocks and hippos in the calmer waters. The park’s sparse vegetation makes wildlife spotting easier than in denser parks — lions, leopards, and cheetahs are frequently seen.
Accommodation: Mid-range lodge | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Highlights: Full-day Tsavo East exploration · Lugard Falls · Yatta Plateau views · Red elephant herds
Day 8: Tsavo East – Tsavo West National Park | From Plains to Volcanic Drama
After breakfast, transfer from Tsavo East to Tsavo West — approximately 3-4 hours. While both parks share the Tsavo name, they offer completely different experiences. Tsavo West is more mountainous, with volcanic landscapes, dramatic rocky outcrops, and denser vegetation.
Arrive for lunch, then visit the park’s highlights: Mzima Springs where 250 million liters of crystal-clear water flow daily from underground springs, with an underwater observation chamber to view hippos and fish. Explore Shetani Lava Flow — a dramatic black river of volcanic rock. Optional visit to Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, home to critically endangered black rhinos.
Accommodation: Mid-range lodge | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Highlights: Tsavo West arrival · Mzima Springs underwater viewing · Shetani Lava Flow · Volcanic landscapes
Day 9: Tsavo West – Nairobi | Farewell to the Wilderness
Rise early for a final game drive through Tsavo West’s volcanic terrain and acacia woodlands. Return for breakfast, check out, and begin the scenic 5-6 hour drive back to Nairobi, game viewing en route as you exit the park.
Arrive in Nairobi by early afternoon for drop-off at your hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. You came seeking Kenya’s finest. You found something that exceeds any postcard, any photograph, any expectation.
Accommodation: No accommodation (end of tour) | Meals: Breakfast
Highlights: Final Tsavo West game drive · Scenic return to Nairobi · Hotel or airport drop-off
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