8 Day Kenya Safari Tsavo West Amboseli Lake Naivasha & Masai Mara begins in Mombasa & ends in Nairobi
This classic 8-day wildlife holiday by road includes the top-rated Kenya safari parks and destinations. From the Red Elephants and the legendary Man-Eaters of Tsavo to the elephants of Amboseli, the tour takes you to the hippos of Lake Naivasha before concluding in the Masai Mara.
Travel is in a 4×4 safari vehicle or Safari mini-van with an open rooftop, with the guarantee that each guest has a window seat and the option to stand and peer through the open roof for maximum views and photo opportunities.
Enjoy comfortable accommodation in typical safari-style lodges or tented camps, all with en-suite facilities designed for guests’ comfort.
The safari begins from Mombasa and travels to Tsavo West National Park, forming part of one of the greatest wildlife conservancies on Earth. It is known for its Red Elephants and the legend of the Maneaters of Tsavo.
Tsavo West offers some of the most magnificent game viewing in the world, and attractions include elephants, rhinos, Hippos, lions, cheetahs, leopards, buffalo, diverse plant and bird species including the threatened corncrake and near-threatened Basra Reed Warbler.
The safari continues to Amboseli National Park, known for having big herds of elephants and stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro. The park has 56 known animal species including zebra, wildebeest, eland, buffalo, hartebeest, hippo, giraffe, waterbuck, jackal and both Thomson’s & Grant’s gazelle.
The game viewing continues to Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake populated with hippos and a variety of bird life. Enjoy a guided boat tour on the lake, which is ideal for bird watching. A visit to Crescent Island gives you a chance to walk and interact with animals such as wildebeest, giraffes, waterbuck, gazelle, impala and many more.
The excitement builds up as we head to the Masai Mara National Reserve, a land of breathtaking vistas, abundant wildlife and endless plains.
The Masai Mara delivers many attractions, as the reserve is home to an excellent year-round concentration of game, including the more than two million wildebeest, zebras and other antelopes that make up the famous Great Migration.
The reserve is a photographer’s and naturalist’s paradise, with abundant elephants, buffalo, giraffes, lions and cheetahs alongside the migratory wildebeest and zebra.
Leopards are frequently encountered; endangered black rhino hide in the dense thickets, and large rafts of hippos and enormous crocodiles are found in the Mara River. The park is also home to over 450 bird species.
Detailed Daily Itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi to Tsavo West National Park
0630 Hours – 0700 Hours: Depart from Nairobi early to beat the city traffic.
0700 Hours – 1300 Hours: Drive southeast along the Mombasa highway, entering Tsavo West via Mtito Andei gate.
1300 Hours –1430 Hours: Check-in and lunch at your lodge (e.g., Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge).
1530 Hours – 1815 Hours: Afternoon game drive visiting the Shetani Lava Flow and Mzima Springs to spot hippos and crocodiles from the underwater viewing chamber
Day 2: Tsavo West to Amboseli National Park
0630 Hours – 08:30 Hours: Early morning game drive in Tsavo West to track predators.
0830 Hours – 0930 Hours: Return to the lodge for breakfast and check out
0930 Hours – 1330 Hours: Drive to Amboseli via the scenic Chyulu Hills route or Kimana gate
1330 Hours – 1530 Hours: Lunch and rest at your Amboseli lodge (e.g., Ol Tukai Lodge)
1600 Hours – 1815 Hours: Evening game drive. This is prime time for photographing large elephant herds against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro
Day 3: Full Day in Amboseli National Park
0615 Hours – 0900 Hours: Early morning game drive; clouds are usually clear around Kilimanjaro at sunrise
0900 Hours – 1000 Hours: Breakfast at the camp/lodge
1030 Hours – 1300 Hours: Visit the Observation Hill for a panoramic view of the Amboseli swamps, packed with hippos and waterbirds
1300 Hours – 1530 Hours: Lunch and afternoon relaxation by the pool
1600 Hours – 1830 Hours: Sunset game drive to spot lions, cheetahs, and hyenas
Day 4: Amboseli to Lake Naivasha
0600 Hours – 0700 Hours: Early breakfast and checkout
0700 Hours – 1400 Hours: Drive towards the Great Rift Valley, bypassing Nairobi. Includes a 15-minute bathroom/souvenir stop.
1400 Hours – 1530 Hours: Late lunch and check-in at Lake Naivasha (e.g., Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort
1600 Hours – 1800 Hours: Take a 1-hour boat ride on Lake Naivasha to see fish eagles and hippos, followed by a walking safari among giraffes and zebras on Crescent Island
Day 5: Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara National Reserve
0700 Hours – 0800 Hours: Breakfast and departure from Naivasha
0800 Hours – 1330 Hours: Travel past Narok town directly to the Masai Mara gates. The last 60km stretch is a rough road
1330 Hours – 1530 Hours: Check-in and lunch at your Mara camp (e.g., Ashnil Mara Camp)
1600 Hours – 1830 Hours: First introductory evening game drive in the world-famous Masai Mara
Day 6: Full Day in the Masai Mara
0630 Hours – 1700 Hours: Full-day exploration with a packed picnic lunch. You will head deep into the reserve to track the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino
Alternative Timing: If you book a Hot Air Balloon Safari, your pickup is at 0500 Hours, landing around 0730 Hours for a bush breakfast, followed by midday game drives
Day 7: Masai Mara (Mara River & Culture)
0630 Hours – 1330 Hours: Return to the camp for hot lunch and downtime
16:00 Hours – 1730 Hours: Optional cultural visit to a traditional Masai Village (Manyatta) to experience their dances and lifestyle
1730 Hours – 1830 Hours: Short final sunset drive
Day 8: Masai Mara to Nairobi
0615 Hours – 0815 Hours: Final sunrise game drive in the Mara
0830 Hours – 0930 Hours: Return for breakfast and packing
0930 Hours – 1600 Hours: Drive back to Nairobi, with a stopover for lunch in Narok or the Rift Valley viewpoint. Drop-off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) or your hotel
Route Overview
| Day | Route Overview | Major Highlights | Estimated Road Travel Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Nairobi to Tsavo West | Mzima Springs, Shetani Lava Flow | 5 – 6 hours |
| Day 2 | Tsavo West to Amboseli | Chaimu Crater, Afternoon game drive | 3 – 4 hours |
| Day 3 | Amboseli National Park | Full day wildlife viewing, Mount Kilimanjaro views | Internal game drives |
| Day 4 | Amboseli to Lake Naivasha | Great Rift Valley view, Boat cruise & walking safari | 6 – 7 hours |
| Day 5 | Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara | Evening game drive in the Mara | 5 – 6 hours |
| Day 6 | Masai Mara National Reserve | Full day game drive, Big Five tracking | Internal game drives |
| Day 7 | Masai Mara National Reserve | Mara River crossing points, Optional Mara Village visit | Internal game drives |
| Day 8 | Masai Mara to Nairobi | Morning game drive, Return to Nairobi | 5 – 6 hours |
Safari Itinerary in Summary
Day 1: Mombasa – Drive to Tsavo West National Park
Day 2: Tsavo West – Drive to Amboseli National Park
Day 3: Explore Amboseli National Park
Day 4: Amboseli – Drive to Lake Naivasha
Day 5: Lake Naivasha – Drive to Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 6: Explore Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 7: Explore Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 8: Masai Mara – Drive to Nairobi
Safari Itinerary in Detail
Day 1: Mombasa – Drive to Tsavo West National Park
After breakfast at your hotel/ residence, we have a short tour briefing, say farewell to Nairobi, and head to Tsavo West National Park in the coastal area of Kenya. Tsavo West and Tsavo East National Parks together form one of the largest national parks in the world, covering 4% of Kenya’s total land area.
We arrive in time for lunch at our lodge/camp and later explore Tsavo West on an afternoon wildlife viewing drive, spotting overwhelming numbers of wildlife and searching for rare species.
The park is known for its magnificent wildlife, including elephants, rhinos, hippos, lions, cheetahs, leopards, and buffalo, as well as diverse plant and bird species. Tonight is spent at a camp/ lodge in the African wilderness.
Overnight Accommodation: Severin Safari Camp, Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge or Finch Hattons Luxury Camp
Meal Plan {Lunch & Dinner}
Day 2: Tsavo West – Drive to Amboseli National Park
Today we take a scenic drive to Amboseli National Park. Depending on the weather, our long drive may culminate in spectacular distant views of Kilimanjaro and snow-capped Uhuru Peak. Amboseli is well known for its large herds of elephants, and to see them wandering regally amongst the Acacia trees is a charming sight.
During the afternoon we take a wildlife viewing drive in the park in our 4×4, open-roof vehicle, adapted for spectacular views. Amboseli National Park offers some of the best opportunities to see African wildlife because the vegetation is sparse due to the long, dry months.
The protected area is home to African bush elephants, Cape buffalo, impala, lion, cheetah, spotted hyena, Masai giraffe, Grant’s zebra, and blue wildebeest. A host of large and small birds occur too, all overlooked by towering Kilimanjaro.
Overnight Accommodation: Kibo Safari Camp, Sentrim Amboseli Lodge or Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, Amboseli Sopa Lodge
Meals: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Explore Amboseli National Park
Today we take a full day to explore Amboseli National Park and learn more from our safari guide about the elephants’ highly developed social behavior as we follow a herd.
Although Amboseli has a hot, dry climate, it benefits from underground water sourced from the melting snow off Kilimanjaro, which filters through volcanic rock and funnels into two springs in the heart of the park. This can turn Amboseli into a green oasis during the rainy season.
There are five different habitats in Amboseli, ranging from the dried-up bed of Lake Amboseli, wetlands with sulfur springs, the savannah and woodlands, which contribute to the large wildlife population such as cheetahs, wildebeest, zebras and waterbucks.
After a breathtaking day of wildlife viewing, we return to our Camp/lodge overlooking Mt Kilimanjaro and enjoy a sundowner on the terrace before dinner.
Overnight Accommodation: Kibo Safari Camp, Sentrim Amboseli Lodge or Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, Amboseli Sopa Lodge
Meals: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}
Day 4: Amboseli – Drive to Lake Naivasha
Today we leave Amboseli and head to Lake Naivasha via Nairobi, arriving around lunchtime. Then continue to Lake Naivasha, located in the Great Rift Valley. Lake Naivasha is one of the few freshwater lakes there and is populated with hippos and a variety of bird life including cranes and pelicans.
The area is also well-known for flower farming, with many roses grown for export to Europe. We enjoy a guided boat tour on the lake, which is ideal for bird watching, or taking a stroll around the grounds of our lodge, cooling off in the pool, or just relaxing with a good book or a nap. It’s time to re-energize before our next adventure.
We spend the night at Naivasha Sopa Lodge (or similar), where the large grounds are an invitation to a stroll. Look out for the resident wildlife, which includes giraffes, waterbuck and zebra.
Overnight Accommodation: Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge, Muthu Lake Naivasha Country Club or Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge
Meals: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}
Day 5: Lake Naivasha – Drive to Masai Mara National Reserve
What could be more exciting than heading to the world-famous Masai Mara Reserve? The Maasai Mara (Masai Mara) is situated in southwest Kenya and is one of Africa’s Greatest Wildlife Reserves. The annual wildebeest migration alone involves over 1.5 million animals arriving in July and departing in November.
There have been some 95 species of mammals, amphibians and reptiles and over 400 bird species recorded on the reserve. Arrive in time for lunch and later proceed for our first wildlife viewing drive. Look out for the Big 5: elephant, lion, rhino, leopard, and buffalo, and all the other wildlife you would expect to see on safari.
Your guide is extremely knowledgeable and will share his stories, pointing out interesting evidence of animal behavior that could easily be overlooked.
Overnight Accommodation: AA Lodge Mara Masai Mara, Muthu Keekorok Lodge or Mara Serena Safari Lodge
Meals: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}
Day 6 & 7: Explore Masai Mara National Reserve
We spend the next two days exploring the Mara in our open-top safari vehicle, where everyone is guaranteed a window seat. There’s also the option to stand with our heads popping through the open roof, wind in our hair as we experience excellent viewing and photo opportunities from this vantage point.
No two days on Mars are the same, and we have enough time to travel to every corner of the Mara and immerse ourselves in this wildlife wonderland, so be prepared for excitement.
If you are fortunate to be there during the migration season, thrill to the scene of thousands of wildebeest and zebra crossing the plains, risking a swim across the crocodile-infested river.
But any time of the year is a good time to visit as the vast plains of the Mara teem with wildlife, and there is a good chance of adding the Big 5 to our spotted list as well as many other species.
After our thrilling days on the plains, we return to our camp where we enjoy a sundowner and a welcome dinner. The evening is spent around the fireplace, under starry skies, re-living the events of the day.
Overnight Accommodation: AA Lodge Mara Masai Mara, Muthu Keekorok Lodge or Mara Serena Safari Lodge
Meals: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}
Day 8: Masai Mara – Drive to Nairobi
Breakfast and one last look at the Mara before we head back to Nairobi by road. We check into our hotel and enjoy a few hours of relaxation by the pool or perhaps revisit a favourite shop or two.
After dinner, we proceed to the airport knowing that this has been a journey to remember for the rest of our lives.
Meals: {Breakfast}
8 Day Kenya Safari Tsavo West Amboseli Lake Naivasha & Masai Mara Prices
8-Day Kenya Safari Tsavo West Amboseli Lake Naivasha & Masai Mara Prices Include
✓ 8 Extensive Game drives
✓ All meals included while on safari
✓ All applicable Game Park entrance fees
✓ Guaranteed window seating with an open-top
✓ Safari vehicles carry cold drinks and mineral water
✓ Finest accommodations in all Game Parks and Game Reserves
✓ Multi-lingual professional safari driver-guide
✓ Transport from Mombasa to Tsavo West National Park, Amboseli National Park, Lake Naivasha & Masai Mara Game Reserve and to Nairobi
| Dates From | Dates To | Price Per Person | Children Aged 2 to 12 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st January 2026 | 31st December 2026 | Request for rates | Request for rates |
Notes
* This 8-day Kenya road safari could begin from Nairobi and on to Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli, Tsavo West, and end in Mombasa
8-Day Kenya Safari Tsavo West Amboseli Lake Naivasha & Masai Mara Excludes
✗ International Airfare
✗ A visit to a Masai Village
✗ Accommodations in Nairobi
✗ Cost of obtaining passport and visas
✗ Gratuity for your professional Driver Guide
✗ Sundowner bush cocktails and bush dinner
✗ Christmas, New Year, and Easter Supplement
✗ Gratuity for Porterage/ waiters at hotels, camps, and airports
✗ Membership in Flying Doctors Society – Emergency air rescue
✗ Optional Night Game drives, Horse and Camel rides, Bird watching, Picnics, sundowners, Fly fishing, Hand axes, archaeology, Nature walks, etc
✗ Personal expenses such as travel insurance, excess baggage fee, communication charges that include laundry, emails, faxes, and phone calls, beverages including luxury champagne, luxury spirits, beer, and wines during meals or meals not indicated in the itinerary
Booking & Reservations 8 Day Kenya Safari Tsavo West Amboseli Lake Naivasha & Masai Mara Contact
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