Kilimanjaro's Silent Watch Elephants at Its Feet
The Mara's Endless Plains Africa's Richest Wilderness
7-Day Amboseli & Maasai Mara Safari
(Trip Overview)
This seven-day journey pairs two of Kenya's most celebrated safari landscapes into a single, effortless itinerary. It opens in Amboseli National Park, where vast elephant herds move across open plains beneath the towering silhouette of Mount Kilimanjaro - a scene that has come to define classic East African safari imagery. From there, the journey continues into the Maasai Mara, one of the richest and most storied wildlife ecosystems on the continent, offering days of game drives across grasslands few destinations anywhere can rival. What sets this itinerary apart is not only the landscapes themselves, but how travelers move between them. Scheduled flights replace long overland transfers, minimizing time on the road and maximizing time in the bush - a deliberate choice that transforms seven days from a rushed circuit into an unhurried immersion in two entirely distinct environments. Southern Kenya's open, elephant-dense plains give way to the Mara's dense concentrations of predators and migratory herds, each destination given the time it deserves. Together, Amboseli and the Maasai Mara form a complete introduction to Kenya's safari heritage, condensed into a week without compromise. For travelers seeking Africa's most iconic wildlife scenery, delivered with efficiency and comfort rather than fatigue, this classic pairing remains one of the continent's most rewarding short safaris. Highlights • Availability: Year-round • Duration: 7 days • Locations: Nairobi, Amboseli National Park and Maasai Mara National Reserve • Start: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), Kenya • End: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), Kenya
2 National Parks
Lodge & Tented Camp
7 Days
Ideally 7 Guests Minimum
Safari Inclusions
Daily game drives in 4x4 safari vehicle
Full-board accommodation (lodge/tented camp)
Professional English-speaking driver-guide
Park entry & conservation fees
All meals & bottled water included
Airport & lodge transfers
Flying doctor / medical evacuation cover
Sundowner drinks & evening campfire
Daily housekeeping at camps/lodges
Guided nature walk or cultural village visit
(Itinerary Gallery)
(Trip Details)
Day 1 | Arrival in Nairobi
Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where you will be met by your safari team and transferred to your selected Nairobi hotel.
Depending on your arrival time, spend the remainder of the day relaxing at the hotel or venture out to experience some of Nairobi. The capital combines a lively urban atmosphere with green spaces, cultural attractions and wildlife experiences.
Overnight options: Eka Hotel, House of Waine or Hemingways Nairobi
Days 2–3 | Amboseli – In the Shadow of Kilimanjaro
After breakfast, transfer to Wilson Airport for your scheduled flight to Amboseli National Park. On arrival, meet your guide and continue into the park, with your first game viewing opportunity beginning along the way to your lodge or camp.
Amboseli is renowned for its impressive elephant herds and spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Across its open plains, wetlands and acacia-dotted landscapes, you may encounter lion, cheetah, buffalo, giraffe and numerous bird species.
Spend the next two days exploring the park on morning and afternoon game drives. The cooler hours provide some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing, while the changing light can transform the landscape into an extraordinary backdrop for photography.
Between drives, return to your lodge or camp to relax, enjoy a meal or simply take in views of the surrounding wilderness. On clear mornings, Mount Kilimanjaro can rise dramatically above the plains.
Overnight options: Ol Tukai Lodge, Elephant Gorge Camp or Angama Amboseli
Days 4–6 | Maasai Mara – The Great Plains
After breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your flight to the Maasai Mara. Meet your guide on arrival and begin exploring the reserve as you make your way towards your accommodation.
The Maasai Mara is one of Africa’s premier wildlife destinations, with expansive grasslands supporting large populations of lion, cheetah, elephant, buffalo and a wide variety of plains game.
During the Great Migration season, the Mara becomes an important destination for enormous herds of wildebeest and zebra moving through the wider Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Depending on the time of year, you may witness river crossings, predator activity or vast herds spread across the open plains.
Spend three days exploring different parts of the reserve on morning and afternoon game drives. Each outing brings the possibility of a new wildlife encounter, from big cats resting beneath acacias to elephants crossing the savannah and vast herds moving across the horizon.
Between activities, enjoy the tranquility of your camp or lodge, taking time to relax and appreciate the scenery before heading back into the bush.
Overnight options: Karen Blixen Camp, Hemingways River Camp or Angama Mara
Day 7 | Departure
Enjoy a final morning in the Maasai Mara before transferring to the airstrip for your scheduled flight back to Wilson Airport in Nairobi.
On arrival, meet your driver for the transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where you will connect with your onward flight and conclude your Kenyan safari.
Flying between Amboseli and the Mara rather than driving made all the difference - more time in the bush, less time in transit. Watching elephant herds move beneath Kilimanjaro was extraordinary enough on its own, but the Mara's sheer scale and density of wildlife took it further still. Seven days, two completely different Kenya’s, both handled with total ease and comfort.
Henry Ashworth-Clarke
Edinburgh, Scotland
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