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6-Day Amboseli and Masai Mara Safari

6-Day Amboseli and Masai Mara Safari

Elephant herds against the backdrop of Kilimanjaro at Amboseli, then a scenic flight into two full days deep in the Masai Mara. Two of Kenya's most iconic landscapes, six days, no wasted time between them.

6 DaysDuration KenyaCountries PrivateGroup type
Overview Highlights Daily itinerary Accommodation Inclusions
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Overview

Explore Kenya's Iconic Wildlife Destinations

Some safari images are powerful enough to speak for themselves. For instance, an elephant herd moving across open ground with Kilimanjaro rising behind it is a stunning sight, and it perfectly captures what this itinerary aims to provide. Amboseli National Park is home to some of the largest and most habituated elephant families in Kenya, drawn into open view by the swamps that define the park. On clear mornings, the majestic mountain is visible behind them.

From Amboseli, the trip takes a different turn. Instead of a long road transfer, you will enjoy a scenic flight that carries you directly to the Masai Mara. Here, the elephant-and-mountain backdrop transforms into open grasslands filled with some of the densest predator populations in Africa. By the time you land, you’ll be greeted by a truly different landscape, not just a continuation of what you’ve already seen.

You will have two full days in the Mara, allowing for an immersive experience. Guided by a private tour guide, you’ll embark on multiple drives across various sectors of the reserve. The guide will adjust the route based on fresh tracks and seasonal movements, ensuring you make the most of your time. With exceptional elephant photography opportunities in Amboseli and the rich predator density in the Mara, this itinerary is one of the best options available for travellers who want to experience two distinct, iconic landscapes in Kenya without wasting time on lengthy road transfers.

At a glance

  • Duration6 Days
  • CountriesKenya
  • Group typePrivate

Activities

A few ways to shape your time in the wild

Swamp viewing at Amboseli
Scenic flight, Amboseli to the Mara
Private game drives
Photography-focused drives
Moments to note

What Makes this Safari Special

The details that make pairing Amboseli with the Mara one of the strongest six-day itineraries on offer.

I

Elephants Against Kilimanjaro

Amboseli's signature image, elephant herds photographed with Kilimanjaro rising behind them, is exactly what mornings here are built around.

II

A Scenic Flight Between Parks

A light aircraft flight carries you directly from Amboseli into the Masai Mara, trading road time for aerial views over the southern Kenyan plains.

III

Two Full Days in the Masai Mara

A dedicated two days of game drives across the Mara's varied terrain, enough time to properly cover different sectors of the reserve.

IV

A Guide Who Adjusts to the Season

The same private guide throughout, reading each day around fresh sightings and, in the Mara, seasonal migration movement.

V

Daily Swamp Viewing at Amboseli

Elephant families gather at the park's swamps to feed and bathe, drawing some of Kenya's largest herds into open view on a near-daily rhythm.

Day by day

How the days break down

A starting shape: pace, order and length of each stage are all adjustable.

Day
01
Amboseli
Nairobi → Amboseli

Kilimanjaro in view by late afternoon.

Depart Nairobi by road, arriving in Amboseli by early afternoon. First game drive begins immediately, with Kilimanjaro often visible in clear late afternoon light.

Where you rest

O Tukai Lodge · In the heart of Amboseli National Park

Day
02
Amboseli
Full day in the park

Where the herds gather.

A full day exploring the park's swamps and open plains, home to some of Africa's largest and most photographed elephant herds. Morning and afternoon drives are timed around the swamp feeding patterns that draw elephant families out into open view.

Where you rest

Ol Tukai Lodge · In the heart of Amboseli National Park

Day
03
Amboseli → Masai Mara
Amboseli → Masai Mara

Scenic flight to Kenya's top wildlife destination

Morning game drive before transfer to the airstrip for a scenic flight to the Masai Mara, arriving in time for an afternoon game drive in a landscape entirely different from the one you have just left.

Where you rest

Enkakenya Camp · Luxury tented camp inside the Mara, on the banks of Olare Orok River

Day
04
Masai Mara
Full-day in the wilderness

After Big Cats and iconic wildlife in the Masai Mara

A full day in the reserve, with morning and afternoon game drives structured around resident pride movements and, depending on season, migration herds. Your guide reads the day from fresh tracks and radio reports shared between camps.

Where you rest

Enkakenya Camp · Luxury tented camp inside the Mara, on the banks of Olare Orok River

Day
05
Masai Mara
Iconic Wildlife Encounters

On the right season, encounter the wildebeest migration

Masai Mara is famous for the wildebeest migration, one of the Wonders of the World. It is here that the Great Migration happens each year. Millions of wildebeests and zebras migrate from Serengeti in Tanzania into Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve in search of greener pastures. These animals cross the crocodile-packed Mara River; most make it across, while the unfortunate ones are feasted on by the hungry crocodiles. The wildebeest migration takes place from July through October. The Mara is home to thousands of animals, including the Big Five. Enjoy early morning and full-day game drives during which you will spot elephants, antelopes, zebras, leopards, cheetahs, Masai giraffes, impalas, gazelles, lions, and many others. There are over 500 bird species in the Mara, which makes it a great spot for bird watching

Where you rest

Enkakenya Camp · the same camp as the night before

Day
06
Masai Mara → Nairobi
Masai Mara → Nairobi

Early morning game drive and transfer back to Nairobi

Final morning game drive before departing the reserve by road, arriving back in Nairobi by mid to late afternoon in time for onward connections.

What you'll likely see

Key species on this route

Elephant herds at Amboseli, big cats at the Mara, here's what past travellers have consistently seen across this two-park route

· · · · · · ·
Elephant
Elephant
95% chance
Lion
Lion
85% chance
Giraffe
Giraffe
80% chance
Buffalo
Buffalo
75% chance
Hippo
Hippo
75% chance
Zebra
Zebra
70% chance
Cheetah
Cheetah
60% chance
Leopard
Leopard
55% chance
Wildebeest
Wildebeest
50% chance
The details

What's included

What's included

  • All accommodation as listed on a full board basis
  • Road transfer between Nairobi and Amboseli, and between the Masai Mara and Nairobi
  • Scenic flight between Amboseli and the Masai Mara
  • All game drives in a private 4x4 vehicle with pop-up roof
  • A dedicated driver guide throughout
  • All park fees

What's not included

  • International flights to and from Nairobi
  • Visa
  • Travel Insurance
  • Alcoholic and premium beverages
  • Gratuities for guides and camp staff

Notes about this trip

  • This itinerary mixes road and air travel: road between Nairobi and Amboseli and on the return leg from the Mara, with a scenic flight connecting the two parks in between. Worth explaining clearly to travellers who assume it's fully fly-in based on the Mara half alone.
  • The flight between Amboseli and the Masai Mara runs about an hour, offering aerial views over the southern Kenyan plains, a genuinely scenic leg in its own right rather than just a transfer.
Responsible travel

Responsible Travel

Park fees collected at both Amboseli and the Masai Mara go directly toward habitat protection and anti-poaching operations, and Amboseli's ongoing elephant research programme, one of the longest running of its kind in Africa, relies in part on this revenue to continue tracking family herds across generations. Camps used on this itinerary work closely with surrounding Maasai communities on employment, keeping tourism revenue circulating locally.

I

Park fees fund habitat protection

Fees collected at both Amboseli and the Masai Mara go directly toward habitat protection and anti-poaching operations across both parks

II

One of Africa's longest-running elephant research programmes

Amboseli's ongoing elephant research programme relies in part on park fee revenue to keep tracking family herds across generations, among the longest-running studies of its kind on the continent.

III

Community-linked employment

Camps used on this itinerary work closely with surrounding Maasai communities on staffing, so tourism revenue has a better chance of staying local rather than leaving the region entirely.

IV

Camps run with a light footprint

The lodges used on this route operate with low-impact practices in mind, minimising water and energy use across two landscapes where both are limited resources.

Make it mine

This page shows the shape of an Amboseli and Masai Mara safari. The trip itself gets built around you: how many days at each park, which lodges, and whether it extends further into Kenya or Tanzania afterward.

With the route as a starting point, your specialist will adjust the pace, camps and add-ons until the itinerary feels like yours.

Start tailoring this safari
If this isn't quite right

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Common questions

Before you enquire

The mountain often clears in early morning light and clouds over by mid to late morning, so game drives are timed where possible to catch the clearest views, though weather cannot be guaranteed on any given day.

Approximately one hour, with the route offering aerial views over the southern Kenyan plains between the two parks.

That depends on timing. The migration typically moves through the Mara between July and October, though exact dates shift year to year based on rainfall further south in the Serengeti.

Yes, both parks are considered among Kenya’s strongest for photography, Amboseli for its elephant and mountain backdrop, and the Mara for predator action and dramatic light.

Yes, an extension to Lake Nakuru or Tsavo can be added before or after this route, either by road or with an additional scenic flight.

It depends on the season, the camps, and how many people are travelling, so there isn’t a single number that fits every trip. Tell us your dates and group size and we’ll put together a tailored quote rather than a generic estimate.

Ready when you are

Ask about 6-Day Amboseli and Masai Mara Safari

Tell us your dates and we'll confirm whether the timing works, then adjust the route from there.

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