Day 1 Tsavo East

Our Safari leaves Mombasa and drives north towards the vast wilderness of Tsavo East, Kenya’s oldest and largest park. Picnic lunch en-route and set up lodge. Afternoon at leisure. The late afternoon 4.30p.m. Game drive exploring the park where we can expect to see elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, kudu, zebra and hartebeest. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Tsavo East National Park is one of the oldest and largest African safari parks in Kenya. It was established in 1948 and covers 11,747 km². Tsavo East National Park is 333km south-east of Nairobi, and 173km north-west of Mombasa. Its relative closeness to the beaches and tourist attractions around Malindi and Mombasa make it an ideal one-day wildlife safari destination for those who do not want to stay overnight. Tsavo East National Park can be accessed through three main gates: the Bachuma gate from Mombasa, Sala Gate from Malindi and the Manyani gate from Voi.

Tsavo East National Park consists mainly of grasslands which are generally flat and dry. Conservationists consider this area as one of the world’s strongholds when it comes to biodiversity, mainly due to the wildlife that proliferates here.

Wildlife and Bird Watching in Tsavo East National Park

Animals you may see during your visit to Tsavo East National Park: Cape buffalo, cheetahs, duikers, African elephants, gazelles, gerenuks, giraffes, hares, hartebeests, hyenas, impalas, leopards, lions, mongoose, black faced vervet monkeys, Sykes’s monkeys, crested porcupines, giant rats, black rhinoceros, squirrels, warthogs, waterbucks, and zebras.

Physical and Other Attractions in Tsavo East National Park

Lugard’s Falls is a series of rapids on the Galana River where crocodiles love to bathe.

Yatta Plateau is the world’s longest lava flow at 290km long. It actually runs along the western portions of Tsavo East National park, slightly above the Athi River. With a 290-kilometer length, the plateau was formed from the lava that came from Ol Doinyo Sabuk Mountain.

Mudanda Rock is a 1.6km outcrop of rock, with a dam at its base. This is a popular drinking place for animals.

Aruba Dam also attracts animals and birds looking for a place to drink.

Walking safaris are offered by several guides along the Galana River.

Day 2 Tsavo East-West

Game drive early morning before Breakfast. After breakfast leave Tsavo East with game drive en-route and cross into Tsavo West National Park for lunch and set up lodge. Later on in the afternoon, game viewing in the park. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Tsavo West National Park was established in 1948 and forms part of the Greater Tsavo National Park that includes Tsavo East and West National Parks and the Chyulu Hills. It is situated about 240km south east of Nairobi and about 200km north of Mombasa on the main Nairobi to Mombasa road and covers 7065km² but the terrain is much more varied than that of Tsavo East. It ranges from 200-1000m in altitude.

Tsavo West National Park encompasses mountains and hills for climbing, savanna bush and semi-arid desert scrub, acacia woodland, palm thickets, rivers and the tranquil Lake Jipe.

In 1898, as many as 135 railway workers were attacked and killed by man-eating lions of Tsavo West National Park . The pair of male, mane-less lions that, unusually, hunted humans rather than livestock, evaded traps and capture for many months. The man-eaters were eventually shot by Lt. Col. John Henry Patterson, but the legend lives on.

Game viewing Wildlife in Tsavo West National Park

Tsavo West is home to the largest population of red-skinned elephants as well as to members of the rest of the “Big 5” African animals (buffalo, African lions, leopards and rhinos). There is also a host of Kenyan birds and other animals, both large and small to see.

Tsavo Tsavo West National Park’s Main Attractions:

Mzima Springs: a pool containing natural spring water with underwater viewing hides for observing hippos. Water from the Chyulu Hills runs from beneath the lava ridge and forms several natural pools, Mzima springs being the largest of them all. You can also watch the hippos bathing underwater here.

Chaimu Crater, the volcanic crater that is less than 200 years old which you can climb

Visit the Lava Flows and Caves for geological interest: explore the caves or hike along the lava flow.

Bird watching safaris to Tsavo West National Park are best between October and January, featuring many migratory birds including African skimmers, red and yellow bishops, goshawks, buffalo weavers and palmnut vultures, to name a few.

The swamps on Lake Jipe and the acacia woodlands also attract many birds. In fact, over 500 bird species have been recorded in the park, including ostriches, kestrels, buzzards, starlings, weavers, kingfishers, hornbills, secretary birds and herons.

The cliff faces in Tsavo West National Parkoffer some of the best rock climbing in Kenya. The views over the savanna plains are spectacular, and Mt Kilimanjaro can also be seen on occasion. Visit the 300m high, east side of Kichwa Tembo, the Great Tsavo Chimney and the Ivory Tower on Elephant Rock.

Day 3 Tsavo West-Amboseli

After breakfast a game drive in the park including a visit to Mzima springs where Hippos, Crocodiles, and various species of fish can be seen in the crystal-clear waters. Then proceed to Amboseli Game Park. Picnic lunch enroute. Time allowing evening game drive. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

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 4 Amboseli-Nakuru

After an early breakfast leave Amboseli for Nairobi and proceed to lake Nakuru national park, picnic lunch en-route and proceed for a game drive of Lake Nakuru often described as ‘World’s greatest bird spectacle” return to lodge for dinner and Overnight at lodge.

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 5 Nakuru-Mara

After breakfast leave Lake Nakuru for Masai Mara. Game reserve, picnic lunch en -route. On arrival set up lodgeon time allowing proceed for a game drive in search for Black manned lions, Elephants, Leopard, Cheetah, Buffalo and other plains game. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Masai Mara National Reserve (also known as Masai Mara or The Mara) is situated within the Great Rift Valley (a fault line some 3,500 miles (5,600km) long that extends from the Mediterranean Sea through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique and to South Africa)in the southern part of Kenya. Measuring approximately 1510sq. kilometres (approx. 938sq. miles) in size. The Masai Mara is one of the best known and most popular reserves in the whole of Africa. The reserve’s topography is mainly open savannah (grassland) with clusters of acacia trees along the southeastern area of the park. The Mara and Talek rivers grace the rolling plains of the reserve. Myriad seasonal rivers appear during the rainy season but dry out once the rains are gone.

Wildlife and Game Viewing in The Masai Mara National Game Reserve

The Mara is also home to the richest concentration of wildlife, including the “Big Five” (elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo), zebras, antelope, gnus, Oribis, hyenas, giraffes, warthogs, gazelles, hartebeests, hippos, crocodiles and others. The park has the largest concentration of African lions, including the black-manned lion.

Birdlife is as plentiful as wildlife at the Masai Mara, which boasts over 400 different birds species. In the Mara and Talek rivers you’ll find crocodiles as well as Hippos.

The Great Wildebeest and Zebra Migration of The Masai Mara National Game Reserve

Then of course there is Wildebeest and Zebra migration which has made the Masai Mara famous. The trek happens with a fair share of animal drama as the migrating herds attract the attention of hungry predators – the hyenas and lions that prey on the lame and sick animals along the way. The Masai Mara Wildebeest and Zebra migration last for four months (July-October) towards the Mara. The months of July and August are the best times to see what is truly the world’s most spectacular wildebeest migration and the dramatic sights that occur during the mass crossing of the swollen Mara River

Day 6 Mara

Full day game viewing .All meals and overnight at the lodge.

Day 7 Mara-Nairobi

After breakfast at the lodge, leave Masai Mara for Nairobi. Picnic en-route. Arriving Nairobi around 16.00hrs