9 Days - Masai Mara (5 nights), Lake Naivasha and Amboseli
TRIP OVERVIEW
In this tour we will cover the 3 most popular destinations in Kenya - Masai Mara National Reserve (5 nights), Lake Naivasha (1 night) & Amboseli National Park (2 nights). Tour starts and ends at Nairobi. With our experienced driver guides, it will be a trip of a lifetime!
![trip overview](../assets/images/kenya/kenya-19.jpg)
![trip overview](../assets/images/kenya/kenya-23.jpg)
![trip overview](../assets/images/kenya/kenya-24.jpg)
Short Itinerary
Day 1 - Nairobi to Masai Mara. Afternoon game drives in Masai Mara
Day 2 - Full day game drives in Masai Mara
Day 3 - Full day game drives in Masai Mara
Day 4 -Full day game drives in Masai Mara
Day 5 - Full day game drives in Masai Mara
Day 6 - Transfer to Lake Naivasha for Boat ride to and Walking tour in Crescent Island
Day 7 -Transfer to Amboseli for afternoon game drives in Amboseli
Day 8 - Full day game drives in Amboseli
Day 9 - Morning game drives in Amboseli and transfer to Nairobi
Note 1 : Effective from 1st November 2023, our 2024 prices have been updated to reflect the revised park fees for Masai Mara (USD 100 from Jan to Jun and USD 200 from Julyy to Dec).
Note 2 : Morning game drives in Masai Mara can be added on the last morning at the park by paying additional park fees
Note 3 : In Naivasha, Boat ride to Crescent Island and walking tour in Crescent Island are included. Other activities like bike tour, hiking, horse ride can be opted as add-ons by paying additional.
Ensuite Accommodation Packages
Below are packages with a few popular ensuite options for your private tour, starting on Nov 13, 2023, in a group of two adults. Ensuite hotels are tented camps/lodges that can be inside/around national parks. You will have a private room with attached bathroom. Meals are provided by hotels.
Option E1
$1,950 per person for safari with Safari Van
$2,284 per person for safari with Land Cruiser
Stay at Fisi Camp Masai Mara, Masai Mara (Outside the Park)
Stay at Naivasha Peppercorn Lodge - Standard Room, Lake Naivasha
Stay at Nyati Safari Camp - Stone Rooms, Amboseli (Outside the Park)
Option E2
$2,186 per person for safari with Safari Van
$2,519 per person for safari with Land Cruiser
Stay at Explore Nature Mara Lodge, Masai Mara (Outside the Park)
Stay at Mwanzo Lodge, Lake Naivasha
Stay at AA Lodge, Amboseli - Lodge Room, Amboseli (Outside the Park)
Option E3
$2,612 per person for safari with Safari Van
$2,975 per person for safari with Land Cruiser
Stay at Mara Simba Lodge, Masai Mara (Outside the Park)
Stay at Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort, Lake Naivasha
Stay at Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, Amboseli (Within the Park)
Option E4
$2,680 per person for safari with Safari Van
$3,013 per person for safari with Land Cruiser
Stay at Olgatuni Camp - Classic Tent, Masai Mara (Within the Park)
Stay at Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort - Lodge Room, Lake Naivasha
Stay at Amboseli Sopa Lodge, Amboseli (Outside the Park)
Option E5
$4,212 per person for safari with Safari Van
$4,456 per person for safari with Land Cruiser
Stay at Mara Bush Camp, Masai Mara (Within the Park)
Stay at Chui Lodge - Standard Room, Lake Naivasha
Stay at Elewana Tortilis Camp, Kitirua - Safari Tent, Amboseli (Outside the Park)
Option E6
$5,454 per person for safari with Safari Van
$5,787 per person for safari with Land Cruiser
Stay at Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp - Superior Tents, Masai Mara (Outside the Park)
Stay at Chui Lodge - Deluxe Room, Lake Naivasha
Stay at Elephant Gorge Camp, Amboseli (Outside the Park)
Option E7
$7,534 per person for safari with Safari Van
$7,867 per person for safari with Land Cruiser
Stay at Bateleur Camp - Tented Suite, Masai Mara (Outside the Park)
Stay at Chui Lodge - Deluxe Room, Lake Naivasha
Stay at Elephant Gorge Camp, Amboseli (Outside the Park)
TRIP ITINERARY
Day
1
Nairobi to Masai Mara
Your tour starts with pick up at 7:30 AM from your Nairobi hotel or Airport and drive to Masai Mara. This drive will take about 5 to 6.5 hours with a scenic stopover at Great Rift Valley. Arrive in Masai Mara shortly after noon and check into your lodge/camp, have hot lunch and then depart for an afternoon game drive.
After the game drive, we head back to lodge/camp to reach by around 5:30 or 6:00 PM, freshen up and enjoy a freshly prepared Dinner. Overnight at your lodge.
Note : The last 1-hour drive to Masai Mara is on the corrugated and bumpy road and may not be comfortable for clients with back problems. Clients with back problems can consider flying directly to (and out of) Masai Mara.
Day
2-5
Masai Mara
Today's itinerary is flexible and you can discuss with your guide on the previous evening and plan for today's schedule.
You can either have a relaxed breakfast and depart for full day game drives around 9:00 AM with packed lunch and return back to lodge late afternoon around 6:00 PM. Or you can depart at 6:00 AM on an early morning game drive (This is the best time to see the animals and a good chance to witness hunt/kill). Later return to accommodation for breakfast and relax for a bit and depart on an afternoon game drive with packed lunch. you will stop at a picnic spot for having packed lunch and later depart on a game drive till the park is closed. Around 6:00 PM return to lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day
6
Masai Mara to Lake Naivasha
After a relaxed breakfast and around 9:30 AM checkout and Depart to Lake Naivasha which is about 5 hours drive.
Check-in to your camp/lodge and then proceed for Boat Ride to Crescent Island where you will be doing a nature walk next to zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, waterbucks, antelopes and many types of birds. Return back to your camp/lodges in Naivasha for dinner and overnight stay.
Note 1 : Effective from 1st November 2023, our 2024 prices have been updated to reflect the revised park fees for Masai Mara (USD 100 from Jan to Jun and USD 200 from July to Dec).
Note 2 : Morning game drives in Masai Mara can be added on the last morning at the paying additional park fees. Note 3: Depending on your itinerary, location of lodge in Nakuru and plan for the next day(if going to Amboseli for example), we might skip morning game drives in Masai mara this day and proceed to Nakuru directly to reach by around 2:00 PM and do afternoon game drives in Nakuru.
Day
7
Lake Naivasha to Amboseli
After breakfast, depart to Amboseli which is about 5.5 hours drive. Upon arrival, check-in to lodge, have lunch and start your afternoon safari in Amboseli. You can do game drives till about 6:00 PM before returning to your camp/lodge for a freshly prepared dinner. Overnight stay at your Camp/Lodge.
Day
8
Amboseli
After breakfast, depart for morning game drives around 7:00 AM and continue till about 10:30 AM. Return back to camp to relax and have lunch and then in the afternoon around 3:00 PM proceed for afternoon game drives for 3 hours and return to camp before 6:30 PM.
Day
9
Amboseli to Nairobi
Wake up early in the morning and proceed to Amboseli for game drives around 6:15 AM. Continue with game drives till around 9:00 AM and then head back to camp for breakfast. After breakfast, check out from camp and proceed to Nairobi to reach by around 3:00 PM.
Stay Locations
Day 1 -Masai Mara (Within the Park) or Masai Mara (Outside the Park)
Day 2 -Masai Mara (Within the Park) or Masai Mara (Outside the Park)
Day 3 - Masai Mara (Within the Park) or Masai Mara (Outside the Park)
Day 4 - Masai Mara (Within the Park) or Masai Mara (Outside the Park)
Day 5 - Masai Mara (Within the Park) or Masai Mara (Outside the Park)
Day 6 - Lake Naivasha
Day 7 - Amboseli (Within the Park) or Amboseli (Outside the Park)
Day 8 - Amboseli (Within the Park) or Amboseli (Outside the Park)
Transfers
This tour starts from Nairobi. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the nearest international airport and Wilson airport is the nearest domestic airport.
Airport Pickup/Drop
Pickup or drop off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on the day of safari: No extra charge
Pickup or drop off at Wilson Airport on the day of safari: No extra charge
Airport to Hotel transfers
Transfer from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Nairobi hotel or vice versa: USD 30 per vehicle
Transfer from Wilson Airport to Nairobi hotel or vice versa: USD 30 per vehicle
Transfer from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Wilson Airport or vice versa: USD 30 per vehicle
Flights
We do not book International Flights.
We can book local flights based on availability. Below are indicative additional costs for local flights.
This tour starts & ends at Nairobi with road transfers between all locations. Masai Mara is the farthest location you will be visiting in this tour and it is 5 hours from Nairobi, each way. To save drive time, you can directly fly into Masai Mara where your safari vehicle with guide will be waiting to directly start the safari and cover other parks over the next few days making your way to Nairobi by road on the last day. We will reroute the itinerary such that you cover all the parks included in the original itinerary with the same choice of accommodations & same number of nights as included in the original itinerary. This is called a Fly-in Safari.
We can also reroute the itinerary such that you start with driving from Nairobi on day 1 and cover other parks before you drive to Masai Mara. We end the safari tour at Masai Mara on the last day from where you can fly out to Nairobi. We will reroute the itinerary such that you cover all the parks included in the original itinerary with the same choice of accommodations & same number of nights as included in the original itinerary. This is called a Fly-out Safari.
Fly into Masai Mara
From Nairobi to Masai Mara: From USD 240 per person (Morning flight)
From Nairobi to Masai Mara: From USD 185 per person (Afternoon flight)
From Diani/Mombasa to Masai Mara: From USD 320 per person
Fly out of Masai Mara
From Masai Mara to Nairobi: From USD 240 per person (Early Morning flight)
From Masai Mara to Diani/Mombasa: From USD 485 per person (Afternoon flight)
Intercity Flights
From Diani to Nairobi: From USD 200 per person (Morning flight)
Note 1: Rates mentioned above are indicative and subject to change based on airlines and party(group) size Note 2: In the Fly into Masai Mara rates mentioned above, in addition to airfare, above rates also include cost to send the safari Vehicle with guide a day in advance to Masai Mara, in time for your arrival & additional park fees that results due to rerouting of itinerary. Note 3: Flights into Masai Mara land at around 11:00 AM and game drives can start soon after landing and flights out of Masai Mara depart around 08:00 AM.
Note 1 : Rates mentioned above are indicative and subject to change based on airlines and party(group) size.
Note 2 : In the Fly into Masai Mara rates mentioned above, in addition to airfare, price also includes cost to send the safari Vehicle with guide a day in advance to Masai Mara & transport cost from your Nairobi hotel to Nairobi airport.
Note 3 : For afternoon flights In the Fly out of Masai Mara rates mentioned above, in addition to airfare, price also includes an additional Masai Mara park fee.
Note 4 : Flights into Masai Mara land at around 11:00 AM and game drives can start soon after landing and Morning flights out of Masai Mara depart around 08:30 AM.
Meals
Day 1 - Dinner
Day 2 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 7 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8 - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 9 - Breakfast & Lunch
Drive Times
Day 1 - Nairobi to Masai Mara takes about 5.5 to 6 hours (284 km)
Day 6 - Masai Mara to Lake Naivasha takes about 5 to 5.5 hours (250 km)
Day 7 -Lake Naivasha to Amboseli takes about 6 to 6.5 hours (313 km)
Day 9 - Amboseli to Nairobi takes about 4 to 4.5 hours (216 km)
Note : These are estimated drive times. Because of the traffic, location of the accommodations, and several other factors, actual drive times may vary. Driving distances are approximate and do not account for exact places.
Inclusions
Park Fees (for Non-Residents).
Daily game drives while on Safari.
A professional driver/guide.
4x4 Land Cruiser or Safari Van.
All Taxes and VAT.
Meals as per itinerary.
Drinking water while on safari (2 litres per person per day).
Exclusions
International flights.
Airport Transfers (Unless mentioned otherwise).
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour (Unless mentioned otherwise).
Personal Items (Souvenirs, Travel Insurance, Visa Fees, etc.).
Tips
Government imposed increase of Taxes and or Park Fees.
Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary.