Day 1: Nairobi – Amboseli

Depart Nairobi in the morning and drive to Amboseli Natioanl Park, arriving lodge in time for lunch. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at the lodge. Meal plan: {L, D}.

Amboseli national park was declared a national reserve in 1968. It became a national park in 1974. Amboseli National Park covers 392km² (151miles²) and has a mixed topography of plains, acacia woodland, rocky thorn bush, swamps and marshes. This diversity, along with a long dry season, ensures excellent viewing of the large concentrations of African animals living in this natural habitat. Amboseli is one of the most popular safari parks in Kenya, the wildlife viewing is first class throughout the year, and the park is renowned for the spectacular backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro – the highest mountain in Africa

Wildlife and Bird Watching in Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park is home to large herds of free-ranging elephants, buffalo, impala, lion, cheetah, hyena, giraffes, zebra, and wildebeest among other African animals. There is also a host of Kenya birds, both large and small, to see if you keep your eyes open and stop at every sighting.

Activities and What to do in Amboseli National Park

Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain in the world is best viewed from Amboseli National Park

Visit Observation Hill, which overlooks the park, swamps and, of course, the herds of free-roaming elephants.

Amboseli is Masai land so you have a chance to meet the Masai people and learn about the Masai culture and their indigenous lifestyle on a Masai village tour.

Bird watching is best between October and January if you want to see Kenya’s migratory birds, including African skimmers, red and yellow bishops, goshawks, buffalo weavers and palm nut vultures, to name a few.

Day 2: Amboseli

Early morning pre-breakfast game drive at 6.30am, when you have the best chance to see the majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro. Return to the camp for late breakfast. The rest of the morning is at leisure. Afternoon game drive. All meals and overnight at the

lodge. Meal plan: {B, L, D}.

Day 3: Lake Nakuru

Depart Amboseli in the morning and drive via Nairobi to the floor of the Rift Valley with hot or picnic lunch en route. Arrive Lake Nakuru National Park in time for afternoon game drive. Besides the flamingos that the lake is famous for, there are approx 400 other species of birds visiting the lake. Also, many species of game can be found in the park including the introduced Rothschild’s giraffe, black and white rhino, waterbuck, reedbuck, lion, buffalo, leopard, baboon and many species of plains game.Dinner and overnight at the lodge. Meal plan: {B, L, D}

Lake Nakuru National Park was first gazette as a bird sanctuary in 1960 and upgraded to National Park status in 1968. A northern extension was added to the park in 1974 and the lake was designated as a Ramsar site. Lake Nakuru is world famous for its stunning flocks of lesser flamingo, which literally turn its shores pink. Its birdlife is world renowned: a beacon for leading ornithologists, scientists and wildlife film-makers. The park spans an attractive range of wooded and bush grassland around the lake offering wide ecological diversity, from lake water, woodland to the rocky escarpments and ridges.

Lake Nakuru Natio0nal Park rivals Amboseli as Kenya’s second-most-visited park. This is one of the best places in Kenya to see leopards, white rhinos and black rhinos and the endangered Rothschild Giraffe. Lake Nakuru National park’s most famous attraction is the flamingos that ring the lake in thousands.

Notable game within the lake includes hippo and clawless otters. On the shores roam waterbuck, Bohor’s Reedbuck and zebra. The woodlands and forest are now home to both black and white rhino. In 1987, only two black rhinos remained following the ravages of poaching. By creating a rhino sanctuary within the park and reintroducing a breeding herd from Laikipia, the K.W.S. has now successfully re-established rhino in the park. Lake Nakuru National Park is also a sanctuary to the endangered Rothschild Giraffe.

Game viewing is relatively easy: buffalo, leopard, lion, Rothschild’s giraffe, Black and White Colobus monkey are plentiful in the forest. The bushlands offer eland, steinbok, impala, Chandler’s reedbuck and dik dik, whilst rock hyrax and klipspringer occupy the cliffs and escarpment.

Day 4: Maasai Mara

Depart Lake Nakuru after breakfast and drive further along the floor of the Rift Valley to Maasai Mara arriving lodge in time for lunch. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at the lodge. Meal plan: {B, L, D}

Day 5: Maasai Mara

Spend the day in Maasai Mara, Kenya’s most popular game sanctuary where you will have the best opportunity of spotting the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant). There will also be an optional visit to a local Maasai village. All meals and overnight at the camp. Meal plan: {B, L, D}

Day 6: Nairobi

Depart Maasai Mara in the morning and drive back to Nairobi with hot or picnic lunch en route, arriving in the afternoon.