6 Day Masai Mara & Amboseli Fly-in Safari

Day 1: Fly to Amboseli from Nairobi (1 Hour Flight)

Your Masai Mara Holidays 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 8:30 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 4 x 4 Land Cruiser jeep for the quick trip to Amboseli.

We’ll settle in at our Amboseli accommodation and get ready for the first game drive of our 6-day safari. As you saw from the air, Mt. 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.

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

Day 2: Full Day at Amboseli

We’ll be up early to enjoy the dawning sun light up the park and the great form of Kilimanjaro.

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.

We’re certain to see plenty of elephants at their favorite watering holes but we should also be looking for other wildlife like zebra, giraffe, warthog… and ostrich. Yes, Amboseli has a rich population of birdlife.

Driving up Observation Hill, we can take in the entire park including the marshlands, home to hippos and waterfowl like pelicans and the Egyptian goose.

Day 3: Fly to Masai Mara from Amboseli  (1 Hour Flight)

Another safari morning, another chance to see the 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 airstrip, we’ll say goodbye to our guide but know that an equally experienced 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 at the airstrip, and we’ll hop into our 4 x 4 safari Jeep to freshen up at our Masai Mara lodge or tented camp.

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 before you head in for the evening.

Day 4: Full Day Masai Mara

We’ll be at the Masai Mara over the next three days, including two full days of 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. 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 lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, and smaller predators.

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

Other big game roaming the park include rhino, elephant, and buffalo.

As the day gets on, get your camera ready for one of the park’s glowing sunsets on the western horizon.

Day 5: Full Day Masai Mara

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.

But be sure to head down to the Mara River, the site of the animal crossing during the Great Migration (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.

Round out your visit here with an optional visit to a local Maasai village. Meet the Maasai people and learn about their lives, their culture, and watch some of their ceremonies.

Day 6: Fly Back to Nairobi

Enjoy an early morning game drive before breakfast. We return to the camp in time for a quick breakfast. Proceed to check out to transfer to the nearby airstrip for your scheduled return flight to Nairobi at 11:00 AM [ flying time approx. 1 hour]. Upon arrival in Nairobi, we’ll have our Driver/guide waiting for you at the Wilson Airport for onward transfer to your booked Hotel in Nairobi or to the airport for your flight home or consider an extension to the white sand beaches of the Kenyan Coast