Classic Kenya Highlights

- After an early morning pickup from your Nairobi hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), you'll begin the scenic drive to the Masai Mara. You'll descend the Great Rift Valley, with a stop at a viewpoint for photos, and continue past the town of Narok. The journey takes approximately 5-6 hours.
-Afternoon Activity: Arrive at your lodge or tented camp in time for lunch. After settling in, you'll head out for your first thrilling game drive, exploring the rolling grasslands in search of lions, elephants, and cheetahs. Return to the lodge for dinner.
-Accommodation Suggestion: Mara Sopa Lodge (a spacious lodge with a pool), Jambo Mara Safari Lodge, or a mid-range tented camp like Zebra Plains.

-Full-Day Exploration: After an early breakfast, you'll depart with a packed lunch for a full day of wildlife viewing. The Mara is known for its high density of big cats, so keep a sharp eye out for lion prides, leopards, and cheetahs.
-Mara River Visit: You'll drive to the Mara River, where you can see hippos and massive Nile crocodiles. If you're traveling between July and October, you may witness a dramatic river crossing during the Great Migration.
-Optional Activity: Consider an early morning hot air balloon safari for a breathtaking aerial view (at an extra cost of around 450−550 per person).
-Accommodation Suggestion: Continue your stay at Mara Sopa Lodge or a similar mid-range camp.

-Journey: Enjoy a final early morning game drive before breakfast, or depart right after breakfast. The drive to Lake Nakuru takes 5.5 to 6.5 hours, covering a distance of approximately 240-265 km. You'll stop at scenic points along the way.
-Afternoon Activity: Arrive in time for lunch at your lodge, which typically offers stunning views of the lake. In the afternoon, you'll go on a game drive in the park, famous as a rhino sanctuary and for the thousands of flamingos that often line the shore.
-Accommodation Suggestion: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge or Lake Nakuru Lodge, both offering great views and easy access to the par

-Journey: This is the longest travel day. After an early breakfast, you'll depart for Amboseli, with a drive of around 7-8 hours covering roughly 373 km. A stop for lunch is usually made in Nairobi. You'll arrive in the afternoon with the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro becoming a dominant feature of the landscape.
-Evening Activity: Check into your lodge and, if time permits, have a short evening game drive to get your first taste of Amboseli's famous elephant herds.
-Accommodation Suggestion: Sentrim Amboseli Lodge (a mid-range tented camp), AA Amboseli Lodge, or the Amboseli Sopa Lodge.

-Sunrise & Kilimanjaro Views: Wake up early for a sunrise game drive. The early morning often offers the clearest, most spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro. It's a perfect backdrop for photographing the large-tusked elephants that Amboseli is famous for.
-Full-Day Exploration: Explore the park's diverse landscapes, including swamps and marshes that attract a rich variety of birdlife and mammals. You can break up the day with a visit to Observation Hill, which offers a panoramic 360-degree view of the park.
-Accommodation Suggestion: Continue your stay at the Amboseli Sopa Lodge or similar accommodation.

-Alternative Route: To break up the long drive back to Nairobi and add a different ecosystem, many 7-day itineraries include a night at Lake Naivasha instead of heading straight back. If you choose this, you'll drive approximately 5-6 hours from Amboseli.
-Afternoon Activity: After lunch, you can take a boat ride on the lake to spot hippos and birdlife, followed by a guided walking safari on Crescent Island, where you can walk safely among giraffes, zebras, and antelopes.
-Accommodation Suggestion: Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort or similar.
-Alternative: If you prefer not to extend the journey, your Day 6 will simply be the drive from Amboseli back to Nairobi for an overnight stay in the city.

Day 7: Return to Nairobi
Journey: After a relaxed breakfast, you'll begin the journey back to Nairobi. The drive takes about 4-5 hours (from Amboseli), so plan to arrive by early afternoon. You'll be dropped off at your hotel or at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) for your onward flight.

Important Note: Do not book a flight departing before 6:00 PM on this day to ensure you have plenty of time to get from the park to the airport without stress