Areas of Interest
Amboseli, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tsavo West National Park, Chyulu Hills, Mzima Springs, Tsavo East National Park, Lugards Falls, Mudanda Rocks, Aruba Dam, Mombasa.
Activity: Game Viewing, Camping, Scenery, Trekking, Photography, Culture, and Bird Watching
Day 1 – Amboseli
Depart Nairobi in the morning and drive via Namanga on the Tanzania border to reach Amboseli early in the afternoon. We view the game as we proceed towards the campsite for dinner and overnight.
This small park (at 392 sq km) is the second most popular park in Kenya after Masai Mara, mainly due to the spectacular backdrop of Mt. Kilimanjaro on the southern boundary.
Day 2 – Amboseli
Day spent exploring this park. The waters from melted snow drain down the mountain under lava flows and surface on the Amboseli plains, creating a green belt of swampland amidst dusty plains. Here elephants, buffalo, lions, cheetahs, wildebeest, hyenas, jackals, warthogs, zebra, and the Maasai giraffe are likely to be seen.
Day 3 – Tsavo West
We leave soon after breakfast for Tsavo West National Park. Visit the Chyulu Hills and the Mzima Springs, which are favorite haunts of both the hippo and crocodile that can be seen from an underwater observation chamber if time permits. Dinner and overnight at the campsite.
Tsavo is the largest national park in Kenya (at 22,000 sq km). Tsavo West covers a wide variety of landscapes, from swamps and natural springs to rocky peaks, extinct volcanic cones, and rolling plains. The dramatic Chyulu Hills are a collection of ancient volcanic cinder cones with splendid views of Kilimanjaro and populations of elands, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeest.
Day 4 – Tsavo West
Day spent exploring the park including the nature trails. In Tsavo West birds are very common – look out for the white-bellied go-away bird, red-beaked hornbills, and bateleur Eagles. There are also large populations of elephants, zebras, and leopards. Look out for dung beetles rolling huge balls of elephant dung along the tracks.
Day 5 – Tsavo East
Early in the morning, we drive to Tsavo East. This park was famed for its large herds of elephants covered in red dust and fine scenery. We visit the scenic Lugards Falls, Mudanda Rocks (which attracts elephants in the drier season), and Aruba Dam as we view the game if time permits.
The landscape in Tsavo East is flatter and drier, despite having one of Kenya’s largest rivers flowing through the middle. Much of the wildlife is concentrated on the Galana River, which has plentiful crocs and hippos. Likewise, Kudus, waterbucks, and dik-diks are common along the river banks.
Day 6 – Mombasa
Early morning game drive. Soon after breakfast, we proceed to Mombasa arriving there in good time for the pax to find their way to their hotels, and the tour ends.