7-Day Big 5 Safari Tour and Holiday Adventure in Kenya
This 7-day Kenyan safari takes travelers across some of the country’s most iconic national parks, including Tsavo East & West, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, and Masai Mara. Guests experience close encounters with the Big Five, migratory wildlife, and spectacular landscapes, including Mt. Kilimanjaro and the Rift Valley escarpments. The tour combines early morning and afternoon game drives, cultural interactions, and optional activities like hot air balloon rides. Accommodation ranges from mid-range tented camps to lodges, providing comfort while staying close to wildlife. It is designed for travelers seeking a classic Big Five safari adventure with diverse ecosystems and scenic beauty.
Trip Highlights
- Game drives in multiple national parks covering the Big Five
- Observe large herds of elephants and the Great Migration (seasonal)
- Scenic views of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Rift Valley, and lakes
- Explore Mzima Springs, Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, and Lake Nakuru
- Optional hot air balloon ride over the Masai Mara
- Cultural visits to Maasai villages with souvenir opportunities
- Early morning and sunset wildlife viewing for optimal photography
Itinerary
Upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta international airport Nairobi, You will be met and welcomed by our airport representative, followed by a short briefing about the trip just to double confirm the itinerary.
We will later be followed by a transfer to your hotel waiting for the next day's trip departure. (First night and last Night Nairobi Hotel Not included in the price).
Pick up from the hotel at 7:30 am or Airport upon landing, short safari briefing by one of our travel experts, and later hit the road to Tsavo West and Tsavo East National Parks.
The two parks form one largest National park in the world and cover a massive 4% of Kenya’s total land area.
Tsavo East is the largest of the two lies to the east of the Nairobi to Mombasa road, equidistant between the two, and offers a vast and untapped arena of arid bush which is washed by azure and emerald meandering of Galana River.
Guarded by the limitless lava reaches of Yatta plateau and patrolled by some of the largest elephant herds.
We will be arriving at the lodge in good time for early lunch after an introductory game in this park.
Afternoon at leisure, the late afternoon 4.30 p.m game viewing / exploring the park in such of elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, kudu, zebra and hartebeest.
Dinner and overnight at the Ashnil Aruba or any of similar standard.
Meal plan: lunch and dinner.
- Main Destination: Tsavo East National Park
- Accommodation: Ashnil Aruba - Mid-range tented camp located inside Tsavo East NP
- Meals & Drinks: Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
When in Tsavo East, we rise with the birds, that is, before the sun. Our early morning game drive will afford us exquisite views of the park emerging in the dawning light.
Breakfast follows at our lodge or tented camp and then we’re off again on another game drive to discover buffalo, impala, eland, and some of the park’s 500 species of birds.
But soon it’s time to journey to Tsavo West. The short drive there will give us more opportunities to spot wildlife.
The look and feel of this park are different – more color, more foliage, and some very green surprises like Mzima Springs.
The crystal waters feeding this haven and the palm shrouded banks impart the feeling of a lush oasis. We’ll look for hippo, crocodile, exotic fish, and migratory birdlife.
The park also is home to the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, protecting at least 80 of these endangered animals. We’ll drive through and perhaps spot some of the magnificent rhinos.
- Main Destination: Tsavo West National Park
- Accommodation: Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge - Luxury lodge located inside Tsavo West NP
- Meals & Drinks: All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Early pre-breakfast game drive, exit for morning game drive listening to the birdsong sticking out your eyes for the first stirrings of the game as it emerges from the night, ready to explore.
The park’s Mzima Springs is a lovely surprise of greenery, palm trees, and an unending flow of crystalline water.
Mzima means “life” in Swahili and this lush spot is life-giving for the hippos, crocodiles, and exotic fish that inhabit this special place.
Other animals include; Elephant, zebra, and other wildlife that naturally flock to this Eden.
We will later exit and drive to Amboseli National Park. We will following the towering guide of Mt. Kilimanjaro to set our course.
This smaller park lies at the foot of Africa’s tallest peak and together they create amazing vistas and perfect photos.
We’ll arrive at the park by mid-morning ready for lunch and then set out for a game drive.
Amboseli is famous for its herds of elephants marching proudly before a backdrop of the iconic mountain.
- Main Destination: Amboseli National Park
- Accommodation: Kibo Safari Camp - Mid-range tented camp located just outside Amboseli NP
- Meals & Drinks: All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Our early wake up may again give us spectacular views of the mountain. Either way, it will afford us a beautiful morning game drive as we exit the park, on the way to Lake Nakuru.
This will be an extended but beautiful drive, passing through Nairobi and the central highlands of Kenya.
You’ll see Masai herders, small farms, and homesteads along the way. As we enter the area of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, we’ll take breaks to enjoy the drama of the sheer walls of this natural wonder.
We’ll also pass and take in views of several Rift Valley lakes – Naivasha and Elementeita.
But Lake Nakuru Park is our destination and we will arrive in time for a late afternoon drive along the lake to see birdlife and a short game drive as well.
- Main Destination: Lake Nakuru National Park
- Accommodation: Lanet Matfam Resort - Budget hotel located just outside Lake Nakuru NP
- Meals & Drinks: All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
We’ll be up early to squeeze in every bit of viewing time at the park. At the lake, we’ll be looking for flamingo, pelican, cormorant, and kingfisher.
This wonderful park also features a rhino sanctuary where we’ll find these fascinating and rare creatures. Time permitting, we’ll see if we can spot lion, leopard, and the reserve’s baboons and monkeys.
But we’ve got a date with the world-famous Masa Mara Reserve and so it’s time to hit the road in our 4 x 4. We should arrive at the Mara in the late afternoon, in time for a game drive.
You’ll enjoy your first sight of this attractive park with its deep savannahs, showing off their distinctive acacia trees.
The landscape is rich and varied here – be ready to see all sorts of wildlife.
- Main Destination: Masai Mara National Reserve
- Accommodation: Zebra Plains Mara Camp - Mid-range tented camp bordering Masai Mara NR without fences
- Meals & Drinks: All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
There’s nothing more exciting like catching the dawn over the plains of the Masai Mara. The early morning light brings out the gold of the savannah and the first stirrings of the park’s hungry inhabitants.
The park is famous for its great density of wildlife – plenty of lions here.
During the months of the Great Migration (July – October) prepare to see the largest movement of animals on the planet – tens of thousands of zebra and wildebeest cross the Mara River following ancient cycles of survival.
We’ll enjoy our lunch down at the river where we’ll spot hippos and crocodiles in their natural habitat.
Optional activities – visit the local Maasai people to learn about their culture and perhaps pick up some souvenirs.
A dawn hot air balloon ride over the park is a once-in-a-lifetime event. There’s nothing quite like watching the land and the wildlife come alive as you float above it all, taking in the immense horizon.
- Main Destination: Masai Mara National Reserve
- Accommodation: Zebra Plains Mara Camp - Mid-range tented camp bordering Masai Mara NR without fences
- Meals & Drinks: Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
It’s our last safari day so let’s make the most of it with an early game drive to view those lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, wildebeests, and zebras. Once you have seen the Masai Mara, you have seen Africa.
We’ll breakfast and enjoy one last game drive in our 4 x 4 as we exit the park, heading back to Nairobi.
- Main Destination: No major destination visited
- Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks: Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
End of tour:
- Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
- You'll be dropped off at the airport.
Includes/Excludes
Cost Includes
- - Accommodation as outlined above.
- - All meals noted in the itinerary.
- - Each day generally includes Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner buffets consisting of both western and local dishes.
- - Transportation in standard game viewing safari vehicles complete with a pop-up roof for easy viewing and photography.
- - Every passenger guaranteed a window seat.
- - Your driver/guide speaks English and has in-depth knowledge of the flora, fauna, landscape, and culture.
- - A 4x 4 Safari Van/Land cruiser outfitted with two-way, long-range high-frequency radio communications equipment in Kenya.
- - Each safari Vehicle carries safari accessories including wildlife books, binoculars for the guide, a first-aid kit, and a fire extinguisher.
- - Flying doctors (AMREF) insurance covers each client doing a safari with us just for emergencies
- - Park entrance fees and game drives as noted in the itinerary.
- - All government taxes, levies, 2 liters of bottled water during safari
- - Pick up from your beach hotel and drop off in Mombasa airport in good time for your outbound flight after the trip.
Cost Excludes
- - Domestic and international airfares and departures taxes.
- - Personal communications charges for telephone calls, faxes, email, etc.
- - Tips and gratuities for your driver/guide.
- - Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
- - Laundry services.
- - Between meal snacks, parks, attractions, and events not included in your itinerary
