Jambo and welcome to Kenya. We are warmly welcomed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi by our safari guide and transferred to our hotel. Hotel check-in starts at 3:00 PM. Balance of the day is free to explore Nairobi on our own. Some options include visiting Village Market, a world-class shopping destination located in Nairobi’s diplomatic district, stopping by the Karen Blixen Museum to learn about the author of Out of Africa, or visiting the Nairobi Railway Museum, which is home to many interesting artefacts that illuminate Nairobi’s complex history.

Overnight: Eka Hotel, Nairobi (1 night)

After an early breakfast, we meet at the hotel reception for a pre-departure briefing from our safari guide before setting off on the 250 km drive to Tsavo East National Park. We cross the scrubby Athi plains and sunbaked landscape of Kambaland before arriving in the semi-arid red wilderness of Tsavo – Kenya’s largest game park, covering more than 20,000 sq km and 4% of the country’s land mass. We arrive in time for a hot lunch, then head out on our first game drive. Because the vegetation here is sparse, wildlife is fairly easy to spot, and we may see rhinoceros, buffalos, hippos, crocodiles, gerenuk, and hirola antelope. The hirola, with its tawny fur and long, sharp horns, is a critically endangered antelope found in only a small area of Africa. We spend two nights at this well-regarded lodge, known for excellent service and comfortable surroundings. (B, L, D)

Overnight: Ashnil Aruba Lodge, Tsavo East National Park (2 nights)

We set out on a morning game drive through Tsavo East National Park, aiming to spot elephants, lions, cheetahs, leopards, waterbuck, and lesser kudu, along with hundreds of species of birds. The park is the southernmost habitat of the Somali ostrich, which can live 40–50 years, run at speeds of up to 70 km per hour, and grow to a height of over 2 metres. Tsavo East is also known for its mane-less lions and red elephants, which get their colour from rolling in the park’s red volcanic soil. As the day continues, we take in scenic highlights including the Aruba Dam, the Galana River – a vital water source in this arid land that draws wildlife of all kinds to its banks – and Lugard Falls, known for the swirling rapids that twist through a narrow gorge, a striking contrast to the dry surrounding landscape. After a full day of game viewing, we return to our lodge for our last night in Tsavo East. (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we set off by 4x4 safari vehicle to Tsavo West National Park, with a game drive en route. Vast red plains spotted with zebras and elephants stretch out to meet lush green hills, beckoning us to experience this wild landscape. We arrive at our lodge in time for a hot lunch and a short rest before departing on an afternoon game drive. Tsavo West is home to the important Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, where an estimated 6,487 black rhinos remain in the wild – an endangered species, making any glimpse of these animals a very special experience. Tsavo West is also home to lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffalos, giraffes, kudu, dik-dik, and abundant birdlife. The dik-dik is a small antelope named for the repetitive “dik” sound females make when they feel threatened, while the Maasai giraffes here are so much more impressive in real life than in photos – the tallest living terrestrial animals, reaching up to 5.5 metres in height. After a rewarding afternoon immersed in the landscape, we return to our lodge for dinner and relaxation. (B, L, D)

Overnight: Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge, Tsavo West National Park (1 night)

Another exciting day ahead as we head to Amboseli National Park, located near the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro across the border in Tanzania. Standing 5,895 metres tall and just 340 km from the equator, Kilimanjaro is both Africa’s highest peak and the world’s highest free-standing mountain – and it’s from Amboseli that we get some of the best views of it, its snow-capped summit rising above the golden plains below. Amboseli itself is home to a wealth of extraordinary wildlife, much of which we aim to see on our game drives. Look out for an opportunity to combine a Maasai warrior next to an elephant with a backdrop of Mt. Kilimanjaro. We enjoy a 2-night stay at the elegant Serena Safari Lodge. (B, L, D)

Overnight: Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, Amboseli National Park (2 nights)

After breakfast, we spend a full day exploring Amboseli National Park, home to a wide variety of wildlife – from elephants, lions, cheetahs, buffalos, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeest to birds such as black-bellied plovers, Malagasy pond herons, and grey crowned cranes. As we drive across the plains with our safari guide, we take in the surrounding landscape and look for opportunities to photograph the wildlife. Today also offers two optional activities: a visit to the local Maasai community to learn about their culture and customs, and a hot air balloon safari over Amboseli (see Notes below). (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we bid a fond farewell to Amboseli and set off for Lake Nakuru via the Mombasa Highway through Nairobi, stopping for refreshments along the way. Lake Nakuru lies at the base of the Great Rift Valley, with the vast blue lake crowded with colourful flamingos and surrounded by wooded, bushy grasslands home to lions, leopards, and buffalos. Upon arrival, we enjoy a game drive as we make our way into the park, taking in the scenery and wildlife. Later, we head to our lodge for lunch before setting out for an additional game drive. We spend the evening at our lodge, enjoying a quiet dinner in a restful atmosphere. (B, L, D)

Overnight: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge, Lake Nakuru National Park (1 night)

We drive to the spectacular Maasai Mara Game Reserve, one of Africa’s most celebrated safari destinations, arriving at our lodge in time for a hot lunch before heading out on an afternoon game drive. The reserve is named for the Maasai people, its original inhabitants. “Mara” means “spotted” in the Maa language, a reference to the scrubby trees dotting the plains. Maasai Mara is world-renowned for its wildlife, including the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino – alongside cheetahs, hyenas, zebras, and hippos. The reserve also hosts the Great Migration, a circular journey of over a million wildebeest that takes place between June and October, joined by Thomson’s gazelles, topi, common elands, and zebras. Witnessing these vast herds move across the landscape is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. After a full day out on the plains, we return to our lodge for a 2-night stay at the Mara. (B, L, D)

Overnight: Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Maasai Mara Game Reserve (2 nights)

We spend a full day exploring the Maasai Mara with both morning and afternoon game drives, with plenty of opportunity to photograph the more than 470 species of birds that make their home here, including the tawny eagle, sacred ibis, great white egret, and purple heron. The reserve supports one of the largest black rhino populations in Africa – if we’re lucky, we may catch a glimpse of one – and its permanent water supply sustains wildlife here year-round. Alongside lions, leopards, elephants, and the other major species, the Mara is also home to smaller carnivores such as African wolves, black-backed jackals, African wild cats, bat-eared foxes, and servals. An optional hot air balloon safari over the Mara is available today (see Notes below). (B, L, D)

Hotel check-out is at 10:00 AM. After an early breakfast, we check out of our lodge and are transferred to the airstrip to catch our flight to Nairobi. Upon arrival at Wilson Airport, we are transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) for our final journey home. As our safari comes to an end, we bid farewell to Kenya, taking with us unforgettable memories of its remarkable wildlife and spectacular landscapes. (B)