Arrive in Nairobi
Settle in after your flight. If time allows, visit the Giraffe Centre or the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage, both a short drive from the city.
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Drive or fly to the Mara for three nights of game drives. This is Kenya's flagship reserve, dense predator populations year-round, and (if timed for July-October) the Great Migration's river crossings.
Transfer to Amboseli
Fly or drive to Amboseli National Park, famous for large elephant herds framed against Mount Kilimanjaro across the Tanzanian border, best photographed at sunrise.
Amboseli Game Drives
A full day exploring Amboseli's swamps and plains, home to some of Africa's largest tuskers alongside buffalo, giraffe, and diverse birdlife.
Return to Nairobi & Departure
Drive back to Nairobi (roughly 4-5 hours) or take a short domestic flight in time for your international departure.
Have more time? Add 2-3 days at the end for Diani Beach or Watamu on the coast, a short domestic flight from Nairobi, for a classic safari-plus-beach combination.
This route works well with a private vehicle and guide for flexibility, especially around Mara game drives where lingering at a good sighting matters. Domestic flights between the Mara, Amboseli, and Nairobi are widely available and save considerable driving time if your schedule is tight.