9 DAYS, 8 PARKS – CLASSIC SAFARI TSAVO EAST, TSAVO WEST, AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK, LAKE NAIVASHA & AREA ATTRACTIONS, LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK & MASAI MARA NATIONAL GAME RESERVE
9 DAYS, 8 PARKS – CLASSIC SAFARI
Tsavo East, Tsavo West, Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru & Masai Mara
Kenya’s Prime National Parks — Nairobi to Nairobi
Vehicle & Comfort
Enjoy this amazing safari in a customized pop-up roof Adventure In The Wild Safaris 4×4 Safari Jeep that includes: portable fridge/cooler box, 4 binoculars, long-range HF radio, sand bags, 4G/LTE broadband Wi-Fi connectivity, AC 230V power outlets, first aid kit and safari guide books. Baby seats and side steps available on request. Above all, a professional multi-lingual safari guide will ensure you have an unforgettable experience.
Route & Highlights
We begin in Tsavo East & Tsavo West, traverse Amboseli beneath Mt. Kilimanjaro, visit the Rift Valley lakes of Naivasha and Nakuru (boat and walking safaris, Hell’s Gate cycling), and finish with the incomparable Masai Mara for big-cat action and, seasonally, the Great Migration.
All-Inclusive
All-Inclusive: Your 9-day Tsavo East / Tsavo West / Amboseli / Lake Naivasha / Lake Nakuru / Masai Mara safari includes all transportation, park entrance fees, game drives, accommodations and meals.
Itinerary Summary
Tsavo East & Tsavo West
Start with two of Kenya’s largest parks — famous for elephants, open plains, scenic lava flows and the beautiful Mzima Springs (crocodiles, hippo, fish and migratory birds).
Amboseli National Park
Amboseli sits beneath Mt. Kilimanjaro and is renowned for its large elephant herds, Observation Hill and sweeping views (weather permitting) of Africa’s highest peak.
Lake Naivasha & Area Attractions
Boat safari on Lake Naivasha to spot hippos and birds, a guided walking safari at Crescent Island Game Sanctuary, and a bicycle/hike visit into Hell’s Gate National Park for close wildlife encounters.
Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru features rocky escarpments, acacia forest and alkaline waters with flamingos (seasonal), pelicans and a celebrated rhino sanctuary hosting both black and white rhinos plus Rothschild’s giraffe.
Masai Mara National Game Reserve
Finish with two nights/days in the Masai Mara — unlimited game drives, dense big-cat populations and, in season, the dramatic Great Migration sweeping across the plains.
Tour Highlights (Quick List)
- Tsavo East — dust-red elephants, Aruba Dam wildlife congregations, classic game drives.
- Tsavo West — scenic hills, lava flows, Mzima Springs (crocodile, hippo, fish, migratory birds).
- Amboseli — vast elephant herds, Mt. Kilimanjaro vistas, Observation Hill.
- Lake Naivasha — boat safari, Crescent Island walking safari, Hell’s Gate bicycle/hike, birding.
- Lake Nakuru — birdlife (flamingos seasonal), rhino sanctuary, Great Rift Valley escarpment.
- Masai Mara — unlimited game drives, rich big-game populations, Maasai culture.
Your Guide & Transport
For the entire 9-day journey you’ll be guided, hosted and looked after by your own experienced driver/guide. Transportation and game viewing are in a private pop-top 4×4 Land Cruiser Jeep — the safari standard offering higher seating and rugged all-wheel drive.
Booking & Costs
Please check our guide for African Safari Costs when booking. Prices vary by season, accommodation selection and group size. Adventure In The Wild Safaris can provide a tailored quote and detailed inclusions on request.
Overview
This 9-day classic safari spans Tsavo East, Tsavo West, Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara. Travel by private 4×4 Land Cruiser Jeep with an experienced driver/guide and experience game drives, boat and walking safaris, cycling at Hell’s Gate and unforgettable wildlife encounters.
Day 1 — Nairobi → Tsavo East (340 km – Approx. 5 hrs)
Meal plan: Lunch, Dinner
06:00 hrs: Your driver/guide will pick you up from your Nairobi area hotel, Nairobi airport or Nairobi residence. We’ll take the Mombasa/Nairobi Highway in our private 4×4 Jeep for Tsavo East. Along the way we’ll make stops to stretch and enjoy the scenery.
Day 2 — Tsavo East → Tsavo West
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Rise early for an awakening game drive, then breakfast and another drive as we exit for Tsavo West. The landscape changes here with richer colors and the full Big Five. We’ll visit Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary to track rhinos and explore Tsavo West’s varied terrain.
Day 3 — Tsavo West → Amboseli (≈100 km – Approx. 2 hrs)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Begin with an early morning game drive and then visit Mzima Springs to view hippo, crocodile, fish and birds in crystal waters. Later drive to Amboseli for lunch, relaxation and an afternoon game drive beneath the iconic silhouette of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Day 4 — Amboseli National Park (Full day)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Amboseli offers easy game viewing with spare foliage and large herds of elephants. Fill the day with game drives—watch for wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, gazelle, lion, and smaller fauna like hyena, monkey and baboon. Birdlife includes pelican, kingfisher and egret. At dusk, Kilimanjaro may reveal its snowy peak.
Day 5 — Amboseli → Lake Naivasha (≈340 km – Approx. 6 hrs)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart Amboseli and head to the Great Rift Valley and Lake Naivasha. Enjoy a sailing safari to view hippos and shore wildlife, followed by a guided walking safari on Crescent Island where wildebeest, waterbuck, zebra and gazelle graze peacefully.
Day 6 — Lake Naivasha → Hell’s Gate → Lake Nakuru (≈70 km – Approx. 1.5 hrs)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optionally visit Lake Bogoria instead for larger flamingo flocks. Otherwise cycle into Hell’s Gate National Park to hike canyons and spot grazing impala and antelope, then drive to Lake Nakuru to view waterfalls, acacia and euphorbia trees and abundant birdlife including flamingoes (seasonal), pelicans and cormorants. Look for Rothschild’s giraffe and both black and white rhinos.
Day 7 — Lake Nakuru → Masai Mara (≈220 km – Approx. 4.5 hrs)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy an early morning drive in Lake Nakuru, then depart for the legendary Masai Mara. Arrive mid-afternoon and set out on an introductory game drive—keep watch for lions, leopards, cheetahs and large herbivore herds among the acacia-studded plains.
Day 8 — Full Day in Masai Mara
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Spend a full day on unlimited game drives across the Mara’s rolling hills and savannah. During migration season (July–October) witness vast herds of wildebeest and zebra and dramatic Mara River crossings. Picnic lunch by the river while watching hippos and crocodiles. Optional cultural visits to Maasai villages and pre-dawn hot air balloon safaris available—ask your guide to arrange.
Day 9 — Masai Mara → Nairobi (≈265 km – Approx. 5 hrs)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast your driver/guide will assist with checkout and depart for Nairobi. En route your guide will point out Longonot, an extinct stratovolcano southeast of Lake Naivasha—thought to have last erupted in the 1860s. The Maasai name Oloonong’ot means “mountains of many spurs” or “steep ridges.”
Optionally detour via Naivasha for lunch/excursions or stop at Kiambethu Farm for a tea farm tour and three-course buffet lunch (extra cost), or continue to Nairobi for transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward flight.
Operated by Adventure In The Wild Safaris
All transport and game viewing are by private 4×4 Land Cruiser Jeep with an experienced, multi-lingual driver/guide. Accommodation, park fees and meals are typically included—please confirm specific inclusions at booking. If you have special requests or would like to customize your safari, Adventure In The Wild Safaris will be happy to assist.
