Nairobi – Amboseli National Park (1 Hour Flight)

Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner

07:30: Are you ready to safari? Your Walk With Maa Tours driver will pick you up from your hotel, residence, or place of your choice for the quick hop to Wilson Airport.

Our flight departs at 08:30 for the scenic flight over central Kenya to Amboseli National Park. On your flight, you’ll see the morning sun light up the savannahs and plains below and then touch down at a convenient airstrip near the park. Here your guide will meet you in a private 4x4 Land Cruiser jeep for the quick trip into Amboseli.

We’ll settle in at our Amboseli accommodation and get ready for the first thrilling game drive of our 6-day safari.

As you saw from the air, Mount Kilimanjaro dominates the landscape here and now provides a scenic backdrop for your game drives. It probably won’t be long until you spot your first elephants – their presence is so robust in the park that sightings are virtually guaranteed.

But we’ll also be on the lookout for other magnificent big game like lions, buffalo, and even hippos in the swampy areas.

As the day begins to wane, turn to the great form of Kilimanjaro. Sometimes in the evening, the clouds obscuring its snowy peak may part, revealing one of Africa’s most iconic and breathtaking sights.

We’ll return to our safari lodge or tented camp for relaxation and a delicious dinner.

Full Day at Amboseli National Park: Elephants, Views & Birdlife

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We’ll be up early to enjoy the dawning sun lighting up the park and the great form of Mount Kilimanjaro, creating truly magnificent scenes.

After breakfast, we’ll set out on our first game drive of the day. Your schedule today is your own – discuss with your guide how much safari time you’d like and if or when you just want to relax at your accommodation. The flexibility is yours to maximize your enjoyment.

We’re certain to see plenty of elephants at their favorite watering holes and dust-bathing spots, but we should also be looking for other diverse wildlife like zebra, graceful giraffe, warthog, and the striking ostrich. Yes, Amboseli has a rich population of birdlife, making it a birder's delight.

Driving up Observation Hill, we can take in the entire park from a vantage point, including the lush marshlands, which are home to hippos and abundant waterfowl like pelicans and the elegant Egyptian goose.

Toward evening, we’ll head back to our accommodation for our second safari night, reflecting on the day's incredible sightings.

Amboseli – Masai Mara National Reserve (1 Hour Flight)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Another safari morning, another chance to see Amboseli National Park at its most still, awaking to the early light. We’ll have time for another morning of game drives and lunch before we head off to the airstrip for our flight to the Masai Mara.

At the Amboseli airstrip, we’ll say goodbye to our guide, but rest assured that an equally experienced Walk With Maa Tours guide will meet us as we touch down near the Masai Mara.

Our flight departs at 14:00 hrs (2:00 PM), and our quick scenic trip takes only an hour, landing at 15:00 hrs (3:00 PM). Our new driver/guide will meet us promptly at the airstrip, and we’ll hop into our 4x4 safari Jeep to transfer to our Masai Mara lodge or tented camp to freshen up.

We should have time for a quick game drive before dinner. Since the Masai Mara is so dense with wildlife, you’ll probably see some activity even before you head in for the evening, setting the tone for the exciting days ahead.

We’ll enjoy dinner on our first night at the Mara, immersed in the heart of this world-renowned wilderness.

Full Day at the Masai Mara: Unrestricted Game Viewing

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

We’ll be at the Masai Mara over the next three days, including two full days of exhilarating game drives. As at Amboseli, discuss with your guide how you’d like to spend your time. Some safari-goers just want to be out in the field all day, maximizing their wildlife sightings. Others like to mix up game drives with some downtime at their accommodation. The choice is always yours!

But now we’re off, tracking for the majestic lions, elusive leopards, swift cheetahs, and the smaller yet fascinating predators like hyenas and jackals.

The park’s many grazers support this large population of carnivores, and we’ll be looking for various species of antelope, zebra, gazelle, graceful giraffe, and smaller, charming species like the dik-dik.

Other magnificent big game roaming the park include the critically endangered rhino, formidable elephant, and powerful buffalo, completing the array of the Big Five.

As the day gets on, get your camera ready for one of the park’s glowing sunsets on the western horizon, painting the vast savannah in incredible hues.

Back at our safari lodge or tented camp, we’ll enjoy dinner and share stories of the day’s amazing adventures, reliving every thrilling moment.

Full Day at the Masai Mara: Migration, Culture & Optional Adventures

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

It’s our second full day at the park, and by now you may have some ideas about what areas you’d like to explore further with your guide.

But be sure to head down to the Mara River, the iconic site of the animal crossing during the Great Migration (typically July – October). The river holds an awaiting float of crocodiles in expectation of the crossing zebra, wildebeest, and gazelle… by the thousands. The resulting spectacle is one of intense drama, displaying the natural forces of intense survival – predator and prey.

You can also witness this spectacle and the greater park from above in an optional pre-dawn hot air balloon safari. As the sun lights up the Mara, you’ll view the land and wildlife come alive in one of the most unique and beautiful safaris ever. Your driver/guide will be happy to assist with arrangements for this unforgettable experience (at an extra cost).

Round out your visit here with an optional visit to a local Maasai village (at an extra cost). Meet the Maasai people and learn about their lives, their rich culture, and watch some of their traditional ceremonies. This offers a profound cultural immersion.

We’ll retire on our last safari evening at our chosen Mara lodge or tented camp, savoring the memories of this incredible wilderness.

Masai Mara – Nairobi (1 Hour Flight)

Meal Plan: Breakfast

Let’s take one more early game drive through the park, perhaps visiting our favorite viewing spots for a final farewell to the Mara's magnificent wildlife, and then enjoy breakfast at our accommodation.

We’ll next head to the nearby airstrip for the flight back to Nairobi. This is a quick bonus tour as we exit the park and head for our plane, often with opportunities for last-minute wildlife sightings.

Our one-hour flight takes off at 11:15 am, and you’ll enjoy a final, spectacular view of the great Masai Mara from the air as you wing back to Nairobi.

Landing at Wilson Airport, a representative from Walk With Maa Tours will meet you for the comfortable ride back to your hotel, residence, or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) for your onward journey.

What a great way to pack so much safari time into six days – flying in and out! We hope you made great memories from the air as well as on the ground, getting up close to the incredible wildlife. From our team at Walk With Maa Tours, a big thanks for your time, attention, and thoughtfulness about our precious world of wildlife.