Kenya Big Five Safari

Depart Nairobi early morning and drive south toward the Tanzanian border and Amboseli National Park, arriving in time for lunch at your lodge. The afternoon game drive reveals Amboseli's signature scene — large elephant herds moving across the marshes with the majestic silhouette of Mount Kilimanjaro rising behind them. The park's open terrain makes for exceptional photography.

A full day of game drives in Amboseli. The morning drive takes you to Observation Hill for panoramic views of the park's swamps and the mountain beyond. Track lion prides, cheetahs, and hyenas across the open grasslands. The afternoon focuses on the marshlands, where elephants feed on papyrus, hippos wallow, and over 400 bird species thrive.

Depart Amboseli after breakfast and drive east to Tsavo West National Park. This rugged park features dramatic volcanic landscapes, including the Shetani Lava Flows and the crystal-clear Mzima Springs, where an underwater observation chamber lets you watch hippos and crocodiles from below the waterline. An afternoon game drive reveals leopard, buffalo, and the park's healthy rhino population.

Cross the Nairobi-Mombasa highway into Tsavo East, one of the world's largest national parks. The landscape opens into vast semi-arid plains dotted with termite mounds and framed by the Yatta Plateau — the world's longest lava flow. Tsavo East is famous for its red-dusted elephants, large lion prides, and the dramatic Lugard Falls on the Galana River.

Enjoy a final early morning game drive in Tsavo East, soaking up the last of the bush atmosphere. After breakfast and check-out, drive southeast through the coastal lowlands to Mombasa. Arrive at the coast by midday, where you can be dropped at Moi International Airport, a Mombasa hotel, or a Diani Beach resort to begin a beach extension.