DAY 1: NAIROBI – MASAI MARA (Appx: 265kms – 5-6 hrs)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
0700hrs: pick up from your Nairobi hotel / Nairobi airport / Nairobi residence.
We’ll start out at 7:00 am to get a good head start on the day as we journey to the Mara, the most famous park in Kenya, and perhaps Africa. As the dawn lights up the surrounding fields, we’ll stop at Narok, a colourful small city, to stretch your legs.
You’ll find so much to see on this massive expanse of savannah and green hills.
The Mara is the seasonal home to the Great Migration, an awesome display of thousands, sometimes millions of foraging wildebeests and zebra in search of the tall grasses. Awaiting them are predators like river crocodile, lion, cheetah and leopard. You’ll be there to witness this timeless cycle of nature play out before you on the riverbanks and acacia studded plains of this great park.
DAY 2: FULL DAY – MASAI MARA
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Our entire day is devoted to game drives throughout the reserve. There’s so much to see as the park is home to over 90 mammals in great concentration. Of course, the “Big Five” are here in big numbers as are many smaller species.
We’ll head down to the Mara River where the animals cross over from the Serengeti. During migration season (July-October), you will see them by the thousands, herding, rushing, thrashing their way across – an unending stream of wildlife searching for food.
A wonderful way to view this flow of nature is in an early morning hot air balloon ride. Rising above the Mara, you’ll take in the awakening land and the life upon it. The excursion is optional, so ask your driver/guide for details. He’ll be happy to arrange it.
Another optional excursion, closer to the ground is a visit to a nearby Masai Village. Here you can meet the Maasai people and learn about their nomadic way of life.
The scenic appeal of this tree studded savannah plains, its moderate climate and diversity of wild game species makes it a one stop shop for game viewing activities.
We shall traverse the reserve on a full day of unlimited game viewing encountering the big five and more of the lesser game.
You shall visit the Mara river where we may watch hippos & crocodiles or maybe the great migration (July -October)
Day 3: Masai Mara – Lake Naivasha (240 km – Approx. 4 Hrs)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We’ll finish our tour of the Mara with an exit game drive as we depart the park. We’re headed for the Great Rift Valley and Lake Naivasha. The lake and its surrounding areas are a haven for birds, fish and larger wildlife grazing on the shores.
We’ll take an afternoon sailing safari gliding past hippos and enjoying the birdlife that flocks to this attractive freshwater lake.
Nearby lies the private reserve of Crescent Island Game Sanctuary. On our guided walking safari here, we’ll see pelicans and cormorants along the shore, but there’s also larger game like buffalo, zebra and giraffe grazing nearby.
And now for our third safari of the day – it’s a quick run over to Hell’s Gate National Park. The hot springs, geysers and steaming vents here are dramatic proof of the geothermal activity below ground. But we’ll be gliding along on bicycles past impala, gazelle, zebra, giraffe and baboon. A fitting and joyful way to end a busy day of animal watching.
Day 4: Lake Naivasha – Amboseli (350 km: Approx. 6 hrs)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We will depart early from Lake Naivasha to maximize our time at our next and final destination, Amboseli National Park. This is where the elephants roam… in great numbers. So great, in fact, that viewings are guaranteed. Perhaps the only wild animal park in the world that can make this claim.
So get your camera ready for the great herds, and adding to the fun, mighty Mt. Kilimanjaro looms over the park like a picture postcard. In addition to elephant you’ll have a good chance of finding lion, cheetah and plenty of colourful birdlife – the park hosts close to 400 bird species.
You’ll settle in at your lodge or tented campground, and with a little luck this evening, the clouds hiding Kilimanjaro’s snowy peak will part, revealing the world-famous summit.
Day 5: Amboseli –Nairobi
Meal Plan: Breakfast.
We have a short final game drive scheduled – our last on this active 5-day tour of Kenya’s most dynamic parks. (Please note no exit game drive if sleeping outside the park)We have seen much, but the fun and wonder aren’t over yet. Drive back to Nairobi.
