12 Days Masai Mara / Lake Naivasha / Amboseli National Park / Tsavo West / Mombasa
About This 12-Day Safari and Beach Holiday
This is our full Kenya circuit: twelve days that begin with lions in the Masai Mara and end with your feet in the Indian Ocean at Mombasa. In between you get boat rides past hippos on Lake Naivasha, elephants under Mount Kilimanjaro in Amboseli, and the red-earth wilderness of Tsavo West. One trip, five very different sides of Kenya.
The route at a glance
- Days 1 to 3: Masai Mara. Game drives across the reserve that hosts the Great Migration and all of the Big Five. The drive from Nairobi is about 270 km; our Nairobi to Masai Mara route guide shows what to expect on the road.
- Days 4 and 5: Lake Naivasha. A slower pace after the Mara. Boat trips past hippos and fish eagles, and an optional cycle through Hell’s Gate National Park, one of the few Kenyan parks you can explore by bike.
- Days 6 to 8: Amboseli. Famous for big-tusked elephants with Kilimanjaro behind them. The mountain hides in cloud by mid-morning, so we build in dawn drives. Get your bearings with our map of Amboseli.
- Days 9 and 10: Tsavo West. Volcanic hills, lava flows and the clear water of Mzima Springs, where you can watch hippos from an underwater viewing chamber. Our map of Tsavo shows how West and East fit together.
- Days 11 and 12: Mombasa. White sand, warm water and time to let the safari sink in before you fly home.
The full day-by-day plan, with driving times and meals, is in the itinerary section on this page.
Where you will sleep
The same route runs at three comfort levels. Tell us yours and we price the trip around it:
| Style | What it is like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Campsites | Budget-friendly sites near or inside the parks, with essential facilities like showers and toilets. | Backpackers and anyone stretching their shillings |
| Lodges | Proper rooms, restaurants and pools, often at prime wildlife-viewing spots. | Families and first-time safari travellers |
| Tented camps | Spacious walk-in tents with real beds and private bathrooms. You sleep under canvas with the sounds of the night around you. | Couples and returning safari lovers |
Who this trip suits
Travellers who want the whole of Kenya in one visit: first-timers who would rather not choose between savannah and beach, honeymooners pairing game drives with quiet coast days, and families who want the pace to vary across the two weeks. If twelve days is more than you have, our shorter safaris cover the same parks in three to five days.
Included/Excluded
- Transport on a pop-up safari vehicle
- Accommodation on Fullboard basis
- Services of an experienced guide
- Drinking water
- Transfers
Tour Plan
Depart to Masai Mara Game Reserve stopping at the view-point of the Great Rift Valley. Arrive in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive in the reserve which is famous for its high animal concentration, abundance and variety. Dinner and overnight at the camp/lodge Accommodations: Kiboko Luxury Camp, Enashipai Resort and Spa, Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort, Lake Naivasha Resort or similar Meals: Lunch and Dinner.
A full day spent game viewing on studded grassland and rolling hills Masai Mara. The famous Mara is renowned for its great herds of game, black-maned lions, leopard cheetah, great migration of wildebeest and zebras but also contains numerous elephant and virtually every type of wildlife to be found in Kenya.
A Day on Safari: What to Expect
Most days on safari begin before sunrise, often with a gentle wake-up call from the camp staff. After a quick coffee or tea and a light snack, you'll set out on an early morning game drive. This is the best time to spot wildlife as the animals are most active. You’ll return to the lodge or camp mid- to late morning for a proper sit-down breakfast.
The hottest part of the day is usually spent relaxing at your camp or lodge, just as the animals find shade to escape the midday sun. Take time to unwind, enjoy the amenities, or simply soak in the views. Lunch is served, followed by a few leisurely hours to rest or explore at your own pace. In the afternoon, high tea is offered, often around 3 PM, before heading out for another game drive as the sun begins to set. A classic safari tradition, the ‘Sundowner’, lets you pause at a scenic spot, drink in hand, while you watch the African sunset. After returning to camp and freshening up, dinner is served. Then it’s off to bed, ready to do it all again the next day.
Dinner and overnight at the camp/lodge Accommodations: Kiboko Luxury Camp, Enashipai Resort and Spa, Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort, Lake Naivasha Resort or similar Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.
After your early buffet breakfast, depart to Lake Naivasha with a short game viewing enroute. You will arrive in time for check-in for lunch. Enjoy your buffet lunch with a great view of Lake Naivasha. Afternoon, you have decide to take an optional boat ride with a visit to crescent island at an extra cost or decide to enjoy the hotel amenities by the pool. Dinner and Overnight at your lodge/camp. Dinner and overnight at Kiboko Luxury Camp, Enashipai Resort and Spa, Lake Naivasha Resort, Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge, Lake Naivasha Crescent Camp, Sawela Lodge, Lake Naivasha Great Rift Valley Lodge. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Enjoy your breakfast and leave for Amboseli National Park. You will have a stopover at Maanzoni Lodge located on the outskirts of Nairobi along Nairobi-Mombasa Highway. After lunch and a short rest, proceed to Amboseli National Park. Arrive Amboseli National Park in time for an afternoon game drive as you enter the park and your lodge/camp. This is the right time to have a great view of snow-caped Mount Kilimanjaro. Dinner and overnight at Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Oltukai Lodge, Kilima Camp Amboseli, Amboseli Sopa Lodge, Kibo Safari Camp, Aa Lodge Amboseli. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.
After breakfast, proceed for an early morning game drive where plains game including Zebra, wildebeest, giraffe and various antelopes can be seen. You will have lunch and leisure break at the camp then end with an evening game drive, looking out for the peak of Kilimanjaro which may be seen in clear weather from the observation hill. Large herd of elephants can be spotted bathing on the swampy area Dinner and overnight at Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Oltukai Lodge, Kilima Camp Amboseli, Amboseli Sopa Lodge, Kibo Safari Camp, Aa Lodge Amboseli. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.
Wake up for an early breakfast and then check-out of your lodge/camp. Have a morning game drive enroute to Tsavo west National Park. Enter Tsavo West National Park through Chyulu gate with a great scenic view of Shetani Lava and volcanic hills of Chyulu. Arrive in time for lunch at your lodge/camp. In the afternoon enjoy a game viewing with a visit to Mzima Spring and rhino sanctuary. Dinner and overnight at Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge, Ngulia safari lodge, or similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.
Early in the morning at 0800hrs leave for Tsavo East National Park, which is renowned for its large number of elephants and the famous “man eating” lions. We will then arrive at your lodge/camp, where you will check-in and have lunch. In the afternoon you will experience an afternoon game drive in the Park before returning to the lodge. Dinner and overnight at Voi Safari Lodge, Man-Eaters Camp, Ashnil Aruba Camp, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.
This day, you will have a short morning game drive then return to your camp/lodge for a full buffet breakfast. After breakfast, leave for Amboseli National Park with a stopover for lunch on the way. Arrive North Coast in time for dinner and Overnight. Enjoy a cool breeze and a scenic view from the ocean while enjoying your dinner. Dinner and overnight: Sarova Whitesands Spa and Resort, Mombasa Serena Spa and Resort, Severin Sea Lodge, Mombasa Beach Hotel, Travelers Beach Resort, Milele Beach Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.
Three days at leisure to relax on the beach or take in various optional activities on offer; visit Mombasa Old Town, Mombasa Marine National Park, boat trips and various water sports. Please note all of these activities are at an additional cost. Dinner and overnight: Sarova Whitesands/Severin Sea Lodge or similar (Luxury Resorts), Milele Beach hotel/Travelers beach resort and spa or similar (Mid-range) Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.
After your breakfast, you will a have a short rest within the facility before waiting to be transferred to Airport for your flight to Nairobi. Upon arrival at Nairobi Wilson Airport, transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward flight home. Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
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