This 5-day itinerary pairs two of Kenya’s most distinct safari landscapes: the density and predator activity of the Masai Mara, and the scale and setting of Amboseli, where elephant herds are famously photographed against Mount Kilimanjaro. Amboseli’s elephant herds are visible year-round, but the clearest views of Kilimanjaro in the background tend to come during the drier months from June to October and January to February.

5 Days Masai Mara & Amboseli Big Five and Elephant Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Masai Mara

A transfer to the Masai Mara is followed by an afternoon game drive as your guide gets an early read on recent Big Five activity.

Day 2: Full Day Masai Mara Game Drives

A full day of game drives across the reserve’s plains and river crossing points offers your best chances at lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino. The reserve’s river crossing points and tree lines are where guides typically expect the highest concentration of predator activity on any given drive.

Day 3: Transfer to Amboseli

A scenic drive, typically routed via Nairobi, brings you to Amboseli National Park, with time to check into your lodge and take in the first views of Kilimanjaro. The escarpment views along this route are considered some of the best roadside scenery in Kenya, particularly in the clearer light of early morning.

Day 4: Full Day Amboseli Game Drives

A full day is spent among Amboseli’s large elephant herds, some carrying unusually large tusks, with the swamps keeping them visible even in dry season, all set against the Kilimanjaro backdrop. Because this drive is built around photography, the guide prioritizes light and vehicle angle over simply maximizing the number of species seen.

Day 5: Return to Nairobi & Departure

A final morning game drive is followed by the transfer back to Nairobi for your onward departure. The drive back retraces the Rift Valley route in reverse, giving a last look at the escarpment views before reaching Nairobi’s outskirts.

What’s Included

• Airport pickup and drop-off in Nairobi
• Private safari vehicle with pop-up roof and professional driver-guide
• Park, reserve and conservancy entrance fees
• Accommodation as specified, on a full-board basis unless otherwise stated
• Game drives as per the itinerary
• Bottled drinking water during game drives
• All applicable government taxes

What’s Excluded

• International flights
• Kenya visa or eTA fees
• Tips and gratuities for guides and lodge staff
• Personal travel and medical insurance
• Meals not specified as included in the itinerary
• Items of a personal nature (laundry, souvenirs, phone or internet charges)
• Optional activities not listed in the itinerary