3 daysKenyaAmboseli National Park Safari
3-day private safari through Amboseli National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro. This itinerary focuses on elephant herds, Kilimanjaro views and short private...
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Exclusive Safaris · Kenya
7-Day Kenya Classic Safari: Masai Mara, Nakuru & Amboseli
About this journey
Our Kenya Classic is the 7-day safari most first-time visitors are looking for: two nights in the Maasai Mara, a night at Lake Nakuru or Lake Elementaita, a morning on Lake Naivasha and two nights in Amboseli beneath Kilimanjaro, starting and ending in Nairobi.
The Mara comes first, with a full day of game drives, an optional sunrise balloon flight and the option of a Maasai village visit. Lake Nakuru National Park follows, one of Kenya's most reliable places to see black and white rhino. The next morning brings a boat excursion on Lake Naivasha among hippos and fish eagles, or a guided bird walk at Lake Elementaita, before the drive via Nairobi to Amboseli.
Two nights in Amboseli give you a full day with its famous elephant herds and, on clear mornings, the snow-capped summit of Kilimanjaro rising above the plains. The safari ends with a transfer to a hotel near the airport or straight to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
There are five accommodation options, from the Serena collection to Sopa lodges, Sentrim and tented camps such as Kibo Safari Camp, so you can match the safari to your budget without changing the route.
Best time to go: late June to October brings dry weather and the migration in the Mara; January to March is a superb, quieter alternative.
Who it suits: first-time visitors to Kenya who want to see its most famous parks in one trip, families with older children and couples. The five accommodation options mean the same itinerary works for a mid-range budget or a more luxurious trip.
The order of parks is designed to balance driving time: the Mara first while you are fresh, the Rift Valley lakes as a break in the middle, and Amboseli last so you leave with Kilimanjaro in view. Most days include a long lunch break at the lodge, so the pace is steady rather than tiring.
Highlights
- Two nights in the Maasai Mara and two in Amboseli
- Rhino at Lake Nakuru and a Lake Naivasha boat ride
- Kilimanjaro views over the Amboseli elephants
- Five accommodation options for every budget
- Airport pick-up and drop-off in Nairobi
What's included
Included
- Nairobi airport arrival transfer
- Transport in a 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Game drives as per itinerary
- Park and sanctuary entry fees
- Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
- Lake Naivasha boat excursion or guided bird walk (by option)
- Departure transfer to JKIA or an airport hotel
Not included
- International flights
- Kenya eTA and visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Drinks, tips and personal expenses
- Hot-air balloon safari (optional, at additional cost)
- Airport hotel costs on the final day
Day by day
- Pick-up at the airport and transfer to your hotel
- Accommodation: your chosen Nairobi hotel
- Breakfast and safari briefing, then drive to the Maasai Mara, arriving for lunch
- Afternoon game drive
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: your chosen Mara lodge or camp
- Optional: sunrise hot-air balloon safari (at additional cost)
- Morning and afternoon game drives; a Maasai village visit can be included
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: your chosen Mara lodge or camp
- Early breakfast and drive to Lake Nakuru National Park
- Options A and C: picnic lunch and game viewing, then on to Lake Elementaita
- Options B, D and E: lunch at your lodge inside the park and an afternoon game drive
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: your chosen Nakuru or Elementaita lodge
- Option A: guided bird walk; other options: morning boat excursion on Lake Naivasha
- Drive to Nairobi for lunch, then continue to Amboseli National Park
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: your chosen Amboseli lodge or camp
- Morning and afternoon game drives among the elephant herds
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: your chosen Amboseli lodge or camp
- Breakfast and a last view of Kilimanjaro, then return to Nairobi
- Transfer to a hotel near the airport or to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
- Meals: Breakfast
Where you stay
Choose one accommodation option for the whole safari; all include the same game drives.
| Location | Option A | Option B | Option C | Option D | Option E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi | Nairobi Serena Hotel | Eka Hotel | Hilton Garden Inn | Ole Sereni Hotel | Mövenpick Hotel |
| Masai Mara (2 nights) | Mara Serena Safari Lodge | Pride Inn Mara Camp | Sentrim Mara Camp | Mara Sopa Lodge | Mara Maisha Camp |
| Lake Elementaita / Nakuru | Lake Elementaita Serena Camp | Sarova Lion Hill Lodge | Elementaita Sentrim Camp | Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge | Flamingo Hill Tented Camp |
| Amboseli (2 nights) | Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge | Ol Tukai Lodge | Sentrim Amboseli Camp | Amboseli Sopa Lodge | Kibo Safari Camp |
Questions about this safari
How long is the 7-Day Kenya Classic Safari?
7 days and 6 nights. It starts in Nairobi and returns to Nairobi.
Is this a private or a shared safari?
It runs as a scheduled safari: you share the vehicle and game drives with other travellers on the same departure, which keeps the price down. We can also run it as a private safari on your own dates.
How do you travel?
By road in a 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for game viewing and photography.
Where will I stay?
In Nairobi: Nairobi Serena Hotel, Eka Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn, Ole Sereni Hotel and Mövenpick Hotel. In Masai Mara (2 nights): Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Pride Inn Mara Camp, Sentrim Mara Camp, Mara Sopa Lodge and Mara Maisha Camp. In Lake Elementaita / Nakuru: Lake Elementaita Serena Camp, Sarova Lion Hill Lodge, Elementaita Sentrim Camp, Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge and Flamingo Hill Tented Camp. In Amboseli (2 nights): Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, Ol Tukai Lodge, Sentrim Amboseli Camp, Amboseli Sopa Lodge and Kibo Safari Camp. You pick one option, A to E, for the whole safari.
What is included in the price?
Nairobi airport arrival transfer, Transport in a 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof, Professional English-speaking driver-guide, Game drives as per itinerary, Park and sanctuary entry fees, Accommodation and meals as per itinerary, Lake Naivasha boat excursion or guided bird walk (by option) and Departure transfer to JKIA or an airport hotel.
Are park fees included?
Yes. Park, reserve and conservancy entry fees for every day of the itinerary are included in the price.
How far is the Maasai Mara from Nairobi?
The Maasai Mara is about 270 km west of Nairobi: five to six hours by road through the Great Rift Valley, or about 45 minutes by scheduled flight from Wilson Airport.
Can I see the Big Five on this safari?
Lion, elephant, buffalo and leopard are seen regularly in the Maasai Mara. Black rhino are few and shy, so all five are possible but never guaranteed.
When is the best time for this safari?
The Mara is good all year. July to October brings the Great Migration and Mara River crossings; January to March is quieter with excellent resident wildlife; April and May are green and the best value.
Can I add a hot-air balloon safari?
Yes. A sunrise balloon flight over the Maasai Mara with a champagne bush breakfast can be added at an extra cost. It needs booking in advance, as places are limited.
Can I customise this itinerary or upgrade the accommodation?
Yes. Choose any of the five accommodation options, A to E, and we can add nights, swap parks or arrange a private version on your dates.
What should I pack for this safari?
Pack neutral-coloured layers, a warm fleece or jacket for early-morning drives, a sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, binoculars and your camera with spare batteries. A soft-sided bag is best, and required on light-aircraft flights.
Do I need a visa for Kenya?
Most visitors need a Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), applied for online before travel. Check the requirements for your passport well before you fly.
Is 7 days enough for a Kenya safari?
Yes. Seven days covers Kenya's classic circuit, the Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha and Amboseli, with two nights in each of the main parks so the pace never feels rushed.
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