5-Day Amboseli and Tsavo West Safari

After breakfast, depart Nairobi in your private pop-up roof 4x4 safari vehicle and drive towards Tsavo West National Park. Enjoy the changing landscapes along the way, from busy urban surroundings to open countryside and the rugged terrain of the Tsavo region. On arrival, check in at your lodge or tented camp and enjoy lunch before heading out for an afternoon game drive.

Explore the park’s varied habitats, looking for elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes and, with luck, lions. Tsavo West’s volcanic hills, rocky outcrops and expansive wilderness create a dramatic introduction to Kenya’s wildlife. Return to your accommodation in the evening for dinner and relaxation.

Meals: Lunch and dinner.

Transport: Nairobi to Tsavo West National Park, approximately 240–300 km and 4–6 hours, depending on the park gate and accommodation location.

Begin the day with an early morning game drive when wildlife may be active and the temperatures are cooler. Explore different sections of Tsavo West in search of elephants, antelopes, buffaloes and predators. Your guide will help interpret animal tracks, explain wildlife behaviour and look for sightings suited to the day’s conditions.

After breakfast, visit Mzima Springs, where clear underground water emerges into a series of natural pools. Look out for hippos, crocodiles and birdlife where visible, then return to your lodge for lunch or enjoy a suitable picnic arrangement if planned. Depending on local conditions and park access, an additional afternoon game drive offers more opportunities to explore before returning to camp for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Transport: Game drives and excursions within Tsavo West; distances and driving times depend on wildlife sightings and the selected route.

Enjoy breakfast before leaving Tsavo West and travelling towards Amboseli National Park. The journey introduces you to another side of Kenya’s wilderness, with changing landscapes and views of local communities along the way. After entering Amboseli and reaching your accommodation, enjoy lunch and some time to settle in.

Head out for an afternoon game drive across Amboseli’s open plains and seasonal wetlands. Watch for elephants moving across the landscape, along with zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes and a variety of bird species. If the skies are clear, Mount Kilimanjaro may provide a memorable backdrop for photographs. Return to your lodge or camp in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Transport: Tsavo West to Amboseli National Park, approximately 100–180 km and 3–5 hours, depending on the lodge, park gates and route.

Set out early for a game drive through Amboseli, when the morning light can create excellent photography conditions and Mount Kilimanjaro may be visible. The park is particularly well known for its elephant herds, often seen crossing the plains or gathering around wetlands. Your guide will help you look for individual animals and explain how wildlife uses the park’s different habitats.

Return for breakfast and relax at your accommodation, or arrange a packed lunch to spend more time exploring. Continue with an afternoon game drive, focusing on wildlife-rich areas and birdlife around the marshes. As the day draws to a close, enjoy the changing colours of the landscape before returning to your lodge for your final evening in the park.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Transport: Game drives within Amboseli National Park; driving time varies according to sightings and the day’s route.

Enjoy an early morning game drive in Amboseli, making the most of your final opportunity to see elephants and other wildlife in the soft morning light. If conditions permit, take a few last photographs of Mount Kilimanjaro before returning to your accommodation for breakfast and check-out.

Begin the drive back to Nairobi, travelling through the countryside and making suitable comfort stops along the way. You should generally arrive in Nairobi in the afternoon, depending on road conditions, traffic and your lodge’s location. Your safari concludes with a drop-off at your hotel or another agreed location in Nairobi.

Meals: Breakfast; lunch may be arranged depending on departure time and package arrangements.

Transport: Amboseli National Park to Nairobi, approximately 220–250 km and 4–5 hours, depending on the lodge, exit gate and traffic.