9 Days Big Kenya Safari in Tsavo West, Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Maasai Mara, and Lake Nakuru
Voyager Ziwani Camp, Ziwani, Tsavo West, Taveta, Kenya
Breathtaking Safari in Kenya
This is the tour of a lifetime! Immerse yourself in Kenya for nine days. Begin your journey with the parks of the coast, Tsavo West and Amboseli, with two nights in each of them. Marvel at the huge elephants under the gazing Kilimanjaro. Take a relaxing break as you go west, and enjoy Lake Naivasha with its flamingos and hippos. Go on to The Great Mara and use your time there to forge memories and images of the big five that will last forever.
Key information
- Private safari
- Minimum group size: 1 person
- Maximum group size: No limit
- Children policy: Children of any age are allowed on this safari
- Starting point and ending point: Nairobi
- English speaking guide
- All park fees are included
Highlights
- 6 game drives
- See the big five, flamingos, hippos, antelopes, and leopards
- Explore Tsavo West, Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Maasai Mara, and Lake Nakuru
- All national parks entrances, camping fees, and permits included
- Transportation in a pop up roof 4x4 vehicle
- 8 nights accommodation
- Daily delicious meals
- Airport transfers
Styles
8 activity days
Airport transfer included:
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
Accommodation
You will spend two nights in Tsavo West, two nights in Amboseli, one night in Lake Naivasha, two nights in Maasai Mara, and one night in Lake Nakuru.
Nights 1-2: Voyager Ziwani Camp
With a spectacular view of mystical Mount Kilimanjaro and easy access to the wild attractions of Tsavo West National Park, Voyager Ziwani offers a tranquil retreat in one of the wildest places left on Earth. Located on a private sanctuary on the western edge of Tsavo, the camp sits on a secluded dam on the Sante River – home to turtles, crocodiles, and hundreds of basking hippos.
- Accommodation level: Mid-range
Nights 3-4: Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
With Mount Kilimanjaro soaring majestically just beyond the golden, acacia-specked savanna, the Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge offers a graceful blend of stark beauty and lavish comfort in the heart of Kenya’s Amboseli National Park.
Nestled in an acacia grove by a gentle mountain spring, the lodge, comprising a Maasai-inspired design, a garden restaurant, and a palm-shaded swimming pool and sundeck, provides uninterrupted views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the surrounding landscape. In every detail, the ambiance captures the essence of Maasai culture, warmth, and indomitable spirit.
- Accommodation level: Mid-range
Night 5: Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort
From its panoramic perch above Lake Naivasha, the Great Rift Valley Lodge enjoys one of humankind’s oldest views – over the sweeping floor of the world’s largest valley. The Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort boasts 30 spacious en-suite rooms with private balconies, wooden furniture, and fireplaces.
- Accommodation level: Mid-range
Nights 6-7: Ilkeliani Camp or Basecamp Mara
Nestled in a river glade in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, the area is a favorite for elephants coming to drink from the Talek River. The camp has been designed to combine the old traditional safari style with a modern and fresh feel.
Ilkeliani Camp offers only 17 tents, each with commanding views of the plains and the wildlife action throughout the day. It is a permanent camp designed along eco-friendly principles. The ethos is to leave a minimum footprint on nature.
- Accommodation level: Mid-range
In an effort to revive the natural habitat, Basecamp has planted more than 70 000 indigenous trees around the Talek River. Consequently, BCMM has turned into a tree lover's paradise and a haven for birdlife. Each morning, a symphony of bird songs will wake you up as the sun rises over the world-renowned Maasai Mara National Park, home to the greatest gathering of wild animals on the planet.
Maasai Mara is only a short walk away across the private suspension bridge. Basecamp Maasai Mara offers fifteen double riverside tents, all built along the banks of the Talek River, the natural border to the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
- Accommodation level: Mid-range
Night 8: Lake Nakuru Lodge or Flamingo Hill Tented Camp
Lake Nakuru Lodge is situated in a wonderland which lies in the heart of one of Kenya’s parks (Ramsar site), only a two hours leisurely drive on first-class roads from Nairobi, through some of the most exciting landscapes. Each room is designed with an en-suite bathroom and a balcony. The rooms are fitted with beds draped in mosquito netting, a worktable / chair, and full-length windows.
Meals may be ordered at the on-site restaurant which prepares a variety of dishes. The bar / lounge serves as a relaxation spot for guests. Cold drinks can be enjoyed by the pool. The hotel boasts a large Olympic-sized outdoor pool where guests can enjoy swimming sessions.
- Accommodation level: Mid-range
Flamingo Hill Camp is situated within the famous Lake Nakuru National Park, which lies within the Great Rift Valley of Kenya. Nestled between the “honeymoon hills”, and set in beautifully landscaped grounds with natural foliage and a variety of indigenous African plants and flowers, Flamingo Hill Camp provides superb tented accommodation.
It is an eco-friendly establishment. Part of the money earned from the camp is used for environmental restoration and endangered species. Cozy, warm, and inviting with a personal touch, Flamingo Hill Camp offers the traveler a home away from home.
- Accommodation level: Mid-range
Program
Day 1: Nairobi - Tsavo West National Park
You depart by road for Tsavo West National Park. Arrive in time for lunch, then go on an optional afternoon or evening game drive. Tsavo West is the most visited section in Tsavo National Park, offering many attractions apart from its wildlife.
The foremost is the famous Mzima Springs where up to 227.3 million liters of cool crystal clear water flows out of the ground through porous volcanic rocks. The water is believed to originate from Chuyulu Hills, via an underground river. Dinner and overnight will be at the campsite or lodge.
Day 2: Tsavo West National Park
After breakfast, you have a full day game drive, with packed lunch provided. Other interesting places to visit are the Roaring Rocks, which get their name from the wind that hurtles through them. From here, there are wonderful views over Tsavo from the top of a 98 meters rock face; similar views can be experienced from the poacher's lookout.
The volcanic Chaimu Crater, less than 200 years old and composed of black coke, is worth visiting and can be climbed, if one is interested. The area is a good place to look out for klipspringer, a small antelope that's as agile as its Swahili name, Mbuzi mawe (mountain goat), suggests. In the south-west corner of Tsavo West, is Lake Jipe, which has the Kenyan-Tanzanian border running through it.
Day 3: Amboseli National Park
Have an early morning start and drive to Amboseli National Park, check in at your accommodation, and enjoy a day spent at leisure. Amboseli National Park is situated south of Nairobi. Most of the park consists of a dry, ancient lake bed and fragile grassland with patches of acacia woodland, while in the southern area there is a number of small, rocky, volcanic hills.
Around the swamps of Ol Okenya, Ol Tukai, and Enkongo Narok, the vegetation is lush with yellow-barked acacias and phoenix palms. Dinner and overnight will be at the campsite or lodge.
Day 4: Explore Amboseli
Today you will be rising early for good views of Mount Kilimanjaro before clouds build up over the summit, with packed lunch provided. An optional visit to a Maasai village can be planned after breakfast. A visit reveals the singing and dancing that are part of their daily lives and sacred rituals. A glimpse into their homes and social structure is a poignant experience.
Despite its changing habitat, Amboseli National Park is possibly the best wildlife area in the whole of Africa to experience elephants at close range. Left un-harassed by poachers, elephants feeding and bathing in the swamps must form the highlights of any safari. Dinner and overnight will be at the campsite or lodge.
Day 5: Amboseli National Park - Lake Naivasha
In the early morning, drive to Lake Naivasha. It is the highest and the most beautiful of the Rif Valley lakes. At 1910 meters (6200 feet), the water is fresh and the lake is fringed with dense clumps of papyrus (ancient Egyptians once used this to make paper). Kingfishers use the papyrus as a perch and herons hide in it while searching for food. Naivasha is yet another area popular for bird watching (over 400 species have been recorded).
It is also a favorite weekend retreat for Nairobi residents, who come here to sail and water ski. There are no crocodiles in the lake as the water is too cold for them due to the altitude, but there are a number of hippos. Along the lake's shore, vineyards produce grapes for the country's fledgling wine industry. Dinner and overnight will be at the campsite or lodge.
Day 6: Lake Naivasha - Maasai Mara
Today you will have an early morning drive to Maasai Mara National Reserve. It holds on as one of the few places left on earth where wildlife still lives comparatively undisturbed, in the numbers that once roamed the plains and forests of Africa.
As the northern tip of the vast Serengeti ecosystem, the Mara hosts the spectacular seasonal migration of many thousands of wildebeest, zebras, and attendant predators. Arrive in time for lunch, then have an afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight will be at the campsite or lodge.
Day 7: Maasai Mara
After breakfast, you will have a full day game drive, with packed lunch provided. The reserve is well known for its black-maned lions, as well as its abundant resident wildlife, and it's one of the few places where it's possible to see the big five during a morning game drive. Many of the cheetahs are so tame, they seek shelter from the hot sun under one's vehicle and several even climb onto the roof to get a better view of prospective prey.
For the bird enthusiasts, almost 500 species have been recorded: among these, 16 species of eagles, plus many hawks and falcons, six species of vultures, eight species of storks, four species of bustards (including the Kori bustard, the world's heaviest flying bird), and nine species of sunbirds. Dinner and overnight will be at the campsite or lodge.
Day 8: Maasai Mara - Lake Nakuru National Park
You will be picked up in the early morning, then drive to Lake Nakuru National Park. Across the equator, southwards of Bogoria, lies Rift Valley's most famous Lake Nakuru. Known all over the world for its flamingos, the lake is recognized as being one of the natural wonders of the world.
Lake Nakuru is now a rhino sanctuary, harboring a population of over 40 black rhinos and over 60 white rhinos, but the flamingos, of course, have always been the main attraction. At times, there may be almost two million flamingos in residence, forming a stunningly beautiful deep pink band around the edge of the shore. Arrive in time for lunch, then have an afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight will be at the campsite or lodge.
Day 9: Lake Nakuru National Park - Nairobi
Leave for a morning game drive after breakfast. Depart to Nairobi late in the morning, with lunch en-route.
Location
Food
During the tour, you will be provided with full-board meals, as well as unlimited water during the safaris. Upon booking, Spirit of Kenya will send you a form in which you will be able to indicate any dietary preference or restriction or any specific request you might have. They will then provide that information in advance to all the accommodations.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Other dietary requirements on request
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
You also have the possibility to take a balloon safari in Maasai Mara Game Reserve, for an additional price, as well as an optional visit to a Maasai village on day four.
What's included
- Game drives
- Excellent Toyota minivans or Land Cruisers with a pop-up roof and unlimited mileage
- All national parks entrances
- Camping fees and permits
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) airport transfers
- Donations to the local communities
- Full-board meals
- Unlimited water during the safaris
- 8 nights accommodation
What's not included
- Airfare
- Country visas
- Government increase of taxes
- Items of personal interest like souvenirs or extra services / tours
- Tips (the industry recommends a guideline of 10 USD per person per day)
How to get there
Recommended Airports
NBO
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
245 km
Transfer included
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). Transfers from and to this airport are included. Spirit of Kenya will pick you up from the airport.
Airport: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
Airport transfer included: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookAllSafaris.com. All major credit cards supported.
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