8 Days of Wildlife Adventures in Kenya’s National Parks

January 28, 2019January 28, 2019admin

Summary of this Budget Safari Package

This budget Kenya Safari offers varied, and ample, opportunities to view the abundant wildlife of Masai Mara, Amboseli and Tsavo West National Parks in a 4×4 safari vehicle with an open rooftop. Each guest is guaranteed a window seat and there is an option to stand and peer through the open roof for maximum views and photo opportunities. Visit Lake Naivasha and marvel at the amazing birdlife and thriving flower farms.

The views of the East African landscape, including the Great Rift Valley and the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, as you travel between Kenya’s national parks are exceptional. Starting in Nairobi, the tour ends in Diani Beach, a tropical paradise with its white-fringed beaches nestling against the Indian Ocean.

Enjoy comfortable accommodation in typical safari-style lodges or tented camps all with en-suite facilities and designed for guests’ comfort.

Itinerary for this Tour

Day 1: Nairobi to Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya

What could be more exciting than starting a wildlife tour in the world famous Masai Mara Reserve, so after a short tour briefing we say farewell to Nairobi and city life and head for the peace and tranquillity of the Kenyan countryside? As we get into Mara territory our first wildlife viewing drive begins. Look out for the Big 5, elephant, lion, rhino, leopard and buffalo and all the other wildlife you would expect to see on safari. Your guide is extremely knowledgeable and will share his stories, point out interesting evidence of animal behaviour that could easily be overlooked.

As the sun sets it’s time to check into Basecamp Masai Mara (or similar) located on the banks of the Talek River where the wildlife gathers to drink. After a welcome dinner, we gather around the campfire to recapture the day’s highlights with our fellow travellers and fall asleep to the sounds of the African bushveld.

Lunch & Dinner

Day 2-3: Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya

We spend the next two days exploring the Mara in our open-top safari vehicle, where everyone is guaranteed a window seat. There’s also the option to stand with our heads popping through the open roof, wind in our hair as we experience excellent viewing and photo opportunities from this vantage point.

No two days in the bush are the same and we have enough time to travel to every corner of the Mara and immerse ourselves in this wildlife wonderland, so be prepared for excitement. If you are fortunate to be there during the migration season thrill to the scene of thousands of wildebeest and zebra crossing the plains, risking a swim across the crocodile-infested river. But any time of the year is a good time to visit as the vast plains of the Mara teem with wildlife and there is a good chance of adding the Big 5 to our spotted list as well as many other species.

After our thrilling days on the plains, we return to our camp where we enjoy a sundowner and a welcome dinner. The evening is spent around the fireplace, under starry skies re-living the events of the day.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Masai Mara Region to Lake Naivasha, Kenya

Today we leave Masai Mara and head to Lake Naivasha arriving on the lake shores around lunch time. Located in the Great Rift Valley, Lake Naivasha is one of the few freshwater lakes there and is populated with hippo and a variety of birdlife including cranes and pelicans. The area is also well-known for flower farming with many roses grown for export to Europe.

The afternoon is free for leisure activities. There are guided boat tours on the lake which are ideal for bird watching or take a stroll around the grounds of our lodge, cool off in the pool or just relax with a good book or a nap. It’s time to re-energise before our next adventure.

We spend the night at Naivasha Kongoni Lodge (or similar).

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Lake Naivasha to Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Today we take a scenic drive south to Amboseli National Park. Depending on the weather our long drive may culminate in spectacular distant views of Kilimanjaro and snow-capped Uhuru Peak. Amboseli is well known for its large herds of elephant and to see them wandering regally amongst the Acacia trees is a charming sight.

During the afternoon we take a wildlife viewing drive in the park in our 4×4, open roof vehicle, adapted for spectacular views. Amboseli National Park offers some of the best opportunities to see African wildlife because the vegetation is sparse due to the long, dry months. The protected area is home to African bush elephant, Cape buffalo, impala, lion, cheetah, spotted hyena, Masai giraffe, Grant’s zebra, and blue wildebeest. A host of large and small birds occur too, all overlooked by towering Kilimanjaro.

We spend the next two nights at Amboseli Serena Lodge (or similar), an ideal spot for wildlife viewing in Amboseli National Park.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Today we take a full day to explore Amboseli National Park and learn more from our safari guide about the elephants’ highly developed social behaviour as we follow a herd. Although Amboseli has a hot dry climate, it benefits from underground water sourced from the melting snow off Kilimanjaro which filters through volcanic rock, which in turn funnels into two springs in the heart of the park. This can turn Amboseli into a green oasis during the rainy season. There are five different habitats in Amboseli ranging from the dried-up bed of Lake Amboseli, wetlands with sulphur springs, the savannah and woodlands which contributes to the large wildlife population such as cheetahs, wildebeest, zebras and waterbucks.

After a breathtaking day of wildlife viewing, we return to Amboseli Serena Lodge (or similar) overlooked by Mt Kilimanjaro and a sundowner on the terrace before dinner.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: Amboseli National Park to Tsavo West National Park, Kenya

After visiting two of the amazing wildlife parks in Kenya you would think it couldn’t get any better, but then you haven’t seen Tsavo West National Park in the coastal area of Kenya. This beautiful. rugged wilderness has a number of ecosystems that include open grasslands, scrublands, and Acacia woodlands, belts of riverine vegetation and rocky ridges including the Poacher’s Lookout where visitors can see the teeming herds in the plains below. Tsavo West is known for its magnificent wildlife viewing and species that includes elephant, rhino, Hippos, lions, cheetah, leopards, Buffalos as well as diverse plant and bird species. We take an afternoon wildlife viewing drive through the park spotting overwhelming numbers of wildlife and searching for the rare species such as Hunter’s hartebeest.

Tonight is spent at Severin Safari Camp (or similar) a tranquil retreat in the African wilderness.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8: Tsavo West National Park to Diani Beach, Kenya

Today we leave the wildlife behind and take a slow, scenic drive through the back roads of Kenya past rolling hills and small villages down to the coastal town of Diani Beach. With 13 kilometres of warm Indian Ocean coastline trimmed with white beaches and waving palm trees, this is a tropical paradise.

The past week has seen us become safari experts with the knowledge gleaned from our safari guide and our observations in the diverse landscapes, but now it’s time to relax. If you have planned a stay at the coast you will be dropped at your hotel, otherwise the airport beckons.

Breakfast & Lunch

Please Note:

This safari is also available as a private tour on any day of the year. If you are interested in booking it on a private basis, please contact African Budget Safaris for pricing details.

You will stay in hotels, safari lodges or permanent tented camps (with en-suite bathrooms). Safari lodges are solid buildings, whereas tented camps are permanently set-up, walk-in safari style tents that offer the same service as hotels and lodges. Whenever possible, we accommodate our guests at small and personal tented camps, avoiding the big lodges.

We only use specially converted 4×4 safari vehicles (i.e. Toyota Land Cruiser) that are able to take on the harsh Kenyan road conditions. Each guest will enjoy a window seat and during game drives the roof will open, ensuring unspoilt views.

Important: If you would like to fly out from Mombasa airport on the last day of your safari, please consult with African Budget Safaris before booking your flight.