Embark on an 8-day safari in Kenya and immerse yourself in the wildlife and culture of the Maasai people. The safari will take you through Masai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, and Lake Naivasha national parks, known as the best places to see wildlife in Kenya between July and October. Masai Mara is particularly famous for its wildebeest migration, while the reserve is home to the Big 5 African mammals, including rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, lions, and leopards.
Amboseli National Park is where you can witness majestic super tusker elephants with the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. The Rift Valley lakes of Nakuru and Naivasha are renowned for bird-watching, with many lesser and greater flamingos, crocodiles, and hippos. Lake Nakuru also has a rhino sanctuary, where you will likely spot them. Boat rides are available at Lake Naivasha.
The tour begins and ends in Nairobi and includes a historical city tour. The most convenient mode of transportation is by a 4x4 vehicle, but flying between destinations is an option for those who want to save time. The accommodation will be chosen in prime wildlife viewing spots. Although popular parks attract many visitors in high season, those looking for an exclusive experience can stay in private or community conservancies. Staying in conservancies still allows you to visit the national parks.
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel in Nairobi, Kenya's capital city, for an overnight stay.
The protected area is 204 km south of Nairobi, which takes about 4 hours to drive. After having breakfast, you will leave the city and head to Amboseli. You will arrive in the morning and check in at the lodge. Then, you will embark on a game drive at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, where you might spot fantastic wildlife such as super tusker elephants, buffaloes, Maasai giraffes, lesser kudu, and common zebras. In the mid-afternoon, head back to the lodge for lunch and relax for a while. Later, you will go on an evening game drive and explore the Lake Amboseli basin. You will drive around the dry lake beds and come across freshwater pools, such as Ol Tukai, where you can observe hippos and crocodiles. You can see the park and elephants in the swamps from Observation Hill, which overlooks the lake. Lake Amboseli is home to over 600 species of birds, most of which are found around the lake, such as great white pelicans. During the cool of the day, your guide will devote the evenings to searching for predators like lions, cheetahs, and leopards. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
The day will be spent exploring the attractions of the park, which include super tusker elephants, lions, ostriches, Mount Kilimanjaro, dry lake beds, Ol Tukai swamp, Observation and Lerne Boti hills. There will be various activities, such as game drives, nature walks, and a Maasai community tour. During the day, there will be time to enjoy lunch, picnics, and sundowners in the park at the observation hill, where the view of the lake is most spectacular.
Lake Naivasha is located 233 kilometres away from Amboseli, which is about a 4-hour drive. On your final game drive in Amboseli, head out early in the morning to search for predators. After that, continue your journey to Lake Naivasha National Park via Nairobi West, stopping there for lunch en route.
Lake Naivasha is situated in the Rift Valley and offers various activities you can indulge in. These include boat rides, game drives, nature walks, birdwatching, and horseback rides. Once you arrive, check-in at the lodge before heading out for an afternoon boat trip to Lake Naivasha.
This protected area is an Important Bird Area with over 400 species of birds, including lesser and greater flamingos and the red-knobbed coot (Fulica cristata).
Around the lake, you can also spot other animals like crocodiles, hippos, zebras, buffaloes, and waterbucks.
After the boat ride, enjoy an evening game drive and sundowner before returning to the lodge.
Lake Nakuru National Park is 66 km northwest of Naivasha, just an hour's drive away. During the short drive, you'll see the beautiful Rift Valley landscape and the stunning Mau escarpment. As soon as you reach Lake Nakuru, you'll be amazed to find black rhinos and flamingos, the park's main attractions. The park has a variety of habitats, including euphoria and riverine forests, open and dense woodland savanna, shrubs, and wetlands, which are home to over 56 mammal species. The highlight of the visit will be searching for rhinos during game drives, exploring Makalia waterfalls, and visiting the Out of Africa lookout.
To reach Masai Mara National Reserve, you must travel 235 km southwest of Lake Nakuru, which takes around five hours by road. Alternatively, you can reach the park by air through the Mara Serena airstrip in the Mara Triangle, which shares borders with Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. Mara Triangle is the entry and exit point for wildebeests migrating from Serengeti to Masai Mara. Visiting the Mara Triangle between July and October will allow you to witness the wildebeest crossing of the Mara River. The area boasts riverine forests and vast stretches of open savanna plains. It is famous for being home to the Big Five animals, including lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, cheetahs, hyenas, African wild dogs, hippos, and crocodiles. Besides staying in the Mara Triangle, you can also explore other parts of the reserve, including conservancies in North Mara that offer unique activities such as night game drives, stargazing, and horseback rides. Activities in the main reserve include game drives, hot air ballooning, walking safaris, and Maasai cultural tours. During the later afternoon and evening, you can enjoy game drives, including sundowners.
Accommodation: Little Governors Camp
Day 7: Maasai Mara full day
A morning game drive or hot air balloon safari is the best time to spot large mammal species and predators, as they are primarily active at this time. You may see lions and cheetahs hunting or resting on rocky outcrops or a leopard in an acacia tree. Elephants, wildebeests, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, gazelles, elands, impalas, and rhinos can also be seen across the vast savanna plains. After the morning activity, you can return to the lodge for lunch and refreshments. In the late afternoon, head out again for a second game drive featuring sundowners or take a community tour to visit the Masai people. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in Masai Mara National Reserve.
Nairobi, the capital city, is approximately 270 km northwest of Maasai Mara and can be reached via a 5-hour drive. After having breakfast, you will drive to Nairobi for your outbound flight back home.
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