6-day Kenya safari: Tsavo, Amboseli, Naivasha & Masai Mara

Five parks game viewing tour: Tsavo, Amboseli elephants, Naivasha hippos, Hell's Gate biking, Masai Mara savannah

A 6-day private Jeep safari through five Kenya national parks—Tsavo West, Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Hell's Gate and Masai Mara—with a live guide, hotel pickup from Nairobi, and lodge accommodation included. You drive early mornings and late afternoons hunting wildlife, take a boat safari and walking tour at Lake Naivasha, cycle through Hell's Gate, and spend a full day in Masai Mara. The itinerary chains the parks so you move through different terrain and animal concentrations without building the route yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Nairobi to Tsavo West National Park

• Pick up from Nairobi hotel or airport
• Drive to Tsavo West National Park
• Game viewing drive in Tsavo West
• Visit rhino sanctuary
• More game viewing drives

Day 2 — Amboseli National Park

• Early morning game drive
• Visit Mzima Springs
• Drive to Amboseli National Park
• Afternoon game viewing in Amboseli

Day 3 — Lake Naivasha Exploration

• Early morning game and scenery drive
• Extra game drive after breakfast
• Drive to Lake Naivasha
• Lunch stop in Nairobi suburb
• Afternoon boat safari at Lake Naivasha
• Guided walking safari at Crescent Island

Day 4 — Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara

• Morning trek at Hell’s Gate
• Bicycle ride in Hell’s Gate National Park
• Drive to Masai Mara National Reserve
• Afternoon game viewing drive in Masai Mara

Day 5 — Full Day Masai Mara Safari

• Full day game viewing in Masai Mara
• Visit Mara River for wildlife viewing

Day 6 — Masai Mara to Nairobi

• Breakfast and checkout at lodge
• Drive to Nairobi with scenic stops
• Optional lunch or excursions en route
• Transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

The Experience

The safari starts with a 0730 pickup from your Nairobi hotel or airport, then heads south on smooth tarmac toward Tsavo West National Park. The drive cuts through African savanna dotted with Maasai herds and local homesteads. Once inside Tsavo West, you begin game viewing drives in search of elephant, cheetah, lion, zebra and buffalo across dramatic volcanic terrain shaped by recent lava flows. Mid-afternoon brings a visit to the rhino sanctuary—a chance to spot this endangered species in one of Kenya's protected reserves. You overnight at Kilaguni camp or a similar lodge.

Day two starts before dawn for the morning game drive, then moves to Mzima Springs where you watch hippos, crocodiles and exotic fish in the greenery that contrasts sharply with Tsavo's harsh landscape. The route then heads to Amboseli National Park, where afternoon game viewing happens at a leisurely pace with animals easily visible and Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop for photography—weather permitting, its snow peak rises above the plains. Day three is a long drive north to Lake Naivasha (340 km, roughly 5–6 hours), with a lunch stop en route. You arrive in the late afternoon and take a boat safari to spot hippos and birds, followed by a guided walking tour at Crescent Island. Day four includes a morning trek through Hell's Gate National Park on a rented bicycle, where you pedal past giraffe, zebra and large antelopes in this small reserve, then drive to Masai Mara (240 km, about 4–5 hours) for an afternoon game drive.

Day five is reserved entirely for Masai Mara—unlimited game viewing across the tree-studded savannah plains where the highest concentration of wild animals in the region roam. You traverse the reserve in search of the Big Five and smaller game, visit the Mara River where hippos and crocodiles gather, and may witness the great migration if you travel July through October. The final day is a leisurely breakfast followed by the drive back to Nairobi (265 km, roughly 6 hours), with your guide pointing out the Longonot extinct volcano en route. You can add a lunch stop at Naivasha or a tea farm tour with a three-course buffet at Kiambethu farm for an extra cost, or proceed straight to the airport.

What’s included

• Private pop-top Jeep for the group.
• live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.
• hotel pickup from Nairobi or airport transfer.
• lodge or tented camp accommodation for five nights.
• all game drives and park entry.
• boat safari at Lake Naivasha.
• guided walking tour at Crescent Island.
• bicycle rental for Hell's Gate National Park.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problems

Operated by Natural World Kenya Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this if your group stays together in one vehicle for all six days—your private Jeep and guide adapt to your pace across five parks, rather than coordinating separate transport and timing at each stop.

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Top questions

What animals will I actually see on this 6-day safari?

Tsavo West holds elephant, cheetah, lion, zebra and buffalo across volcanic plains; Amboseli is known for elephant herds with Mount Kilimanjaro behind them; Lake Naivasha hosts hippos, crocodiles and abundant bird species; Masai Mara holds the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo) and the great migration July through October.

How much driving is there each day?

Most days include early morning and late afternoon game drives lasting several hours; the longest single drive is the 340 km journey to Lake Naivasha (5–6 hours), and the return to Nairobi is 265 km (roughly 6 hours). Mid-day stops break up the travel, and day five is entirely devoted to game viewing in Masai Mara without long transfers.

What happens at Lake Naivasha besides the game drive?

Lake Naivasha includes a boat safari to watch hippos, crocodiles and birds on the water, plus a guided walking tour at Crescent Island; day four adds a morning bicycle trek through Hell's Gate National Park before you drive to Masai Mara.

Is the guide included, and what languages do they speak?

A live guide is included throughout the safari and speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language; pickup from your Nairobi hotel or airport is also included.

Can I add activities or change the route?

The itinerary is fixed across the five parks and six days, but on the final day you can opt to add a lunch stop at Naivasha or a three-course tea farm tour at Kiambethu farm for an extra cost instead of driving straight to Nairobi.