See the best of Kenya on this far reaching tour. You are met at the airport on arrival and transferred to your hotel downtown. The next morning you can stay in town to enjoy sightseeing at the Karen Blixen Museum, Elephant Orphanage, and Giraffe Manor - or depart right away to the plains of Amboseli. This small park is famous for its great elephants and the matchless view of Mount Kilimanjaro. Enjoy two days of game viewing with your private expert guide, in the comfort of your own vehicle. Drive back through Nairobi to Lake Naivasha in the Rift Valley where you can stroll along the lakeside and view the hippos. There is an optional boat tour to nearby Crescent Island that offers rare game walking. Then drive to Masai Mara for two spectacular days of game viewing. This park has the best game viewing in the world because of its small size, and the ability to go off-road to the animals. You'll stay at Kensington Mara located on the banks of the Talek river on the north side of the reserve. At night, relax with 5-course meals prepared by our Kensington Camps chef, and listen to stories by the fire. There is no substitute for a tented safari - and the sense of being connected to the land. Return to Nairobi for some final souvenir shopping and a farewell dinner.

Kensington Tours has its own offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Arusha, Tanzania. We also have our own tented camps (www.kensingtoncamps.com). Our prices include the support of our own dedicated team on the ground! Another reason we deliver unbeatable value.

Day 1
Nairobi
Includes Flying Doctors air ambulance emergency evacuation to Nairobi in the event of serious illness. Kensington Tours donates a portion of our proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities. Airport transfer with private vehicle and guide. Owned and operated by Fairview Hotel, Country Lodge offers modern accomodations at reasonable prices. Located in quite Upperhill, relax in the gardens or take advantage of gym facilities and local restaurants. Rest in comfort and security at this lovely location. Nairobi is the least expensive arrival city for flights with a full range of hotels and local attractions. Dubbed the “Safari Capital of the World” cool, clear and cosmopolitan Nairobi is the natural departure point for most safari itineraries. A city of contrasts, it is simultaneously the largest, the youngest, the most modern, the highest (1700m) and the fastest growing city in East Africa. High-altitude Nairobi enjoys a pleasant tropical climate all year round. There are ATMs and banks to stock up on cash, great restaurants, and malls where you can purchase any forgotten items.

Day 2
Nairobi - Amboseli
Transfer between Nairobi and Amboseli park by road. Includes stops at souvenir shops and refreshment stands. The drive is between 3-4 hours. Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). This afternoon you'll meet up with your guide and head out into Amboseli National Park. The park is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants. On a clear day, you'll also have spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

Enjoy dinner (included in tour price). The Sopa Lodge in Amboseli is seated near Mount Kilimanjaro, with a keen view of the mountain’s supreme heights and surrounding landscape. The 83 rooms are spacious and full of character, each constructed like private hut using local materials and fixtures. The dining room is decorated with authentic African carvings and vibrant, burning colors, with Pan African and continental cuisine served. One may pass the time observing the habits of the regional game or rummaging through the Maasai market, where proceeds are gathered for reinvesting into the indigenous community. Amboseli National Park, is 260 km (160 mi) south of Nairobi, on the Kenya and Tanzania border. It is most famous for its spectacular views of Kilimanjaro. A system of swamps makes this low-rainfall area one of the best widlife-viewing experiences in the world. The park protects two of the five main swamps, and includes a dried-up Pleistocene lake and semi-arid vegetation. Noted in particular for its large elephant herds, Amboseli is the third most visited game area in Kenya after Masai Mara and Nakuru.

Day 3
Amboseli
This morning you will meet up with your guide for your game drive through Amboseli. Famous for it's great herds of Elephants. The African elephants are distinguished from Asian elephants in several ways, the most noticeable being their ears which are much larger. The African elephant is typically larger than the Asian elephant and has a concave back. Both African males and females have external tusks and are usually less hairy than their Asian cousins. The elephant's gestation period is 22 months, the longest of any land animal. At birth it is common for an elephant calf to weigh 120 kilograms (260 lb).

Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). This afternoon you'll meet up with your guide and head out into Amboseli National Park. Along with the great herds of elephants the park is also home to cheetah, lion, baboons, wildbeest and buffalo to name a few. Enjoy dinner (included in tour price). Overnight at Sopa.

Day 4
Amboseli - Naivasha
This morning you'll meet up with your guide and head off to Naivasha. The drive will be about an 6 hours. Includes stops at souvenir shops and refreshment stands. Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). Sign up for optional activities at your resort (not included in tour price); horse-riding, bird-watching, fishing, water sports, cycling, lake trips and nature trails. Enjoy dinner (included in tour price). The Simba Lodge is situated not far from Nairobi, surrounded by gardens on the serene Lake Naivasha. Its 70 rooms are spacious and pleasantly decorated to fit in with the light, earthy and calm surroundings. Dining is an all around pleasant experience, where one may choose their favorites and make new discoveries at the wide buffet. Traditional and international cuisine is offered, as well as curries, which are popular with the locals. Hell’s Gate is not far, and there are plenty of activities such as cycling and rock climbing there. Otherwise, take a boat ride or nature walk. Naivasha is one of our favorite places to pause a safari, lush, cool and relaxing - is a beautiful freshwater lake, fringed by thick papyrus. The lake is almost 13kms across but its waters are shallow and thick with hippo. Hell's Gate National Park, Longonot National Park and Mount Longonot are nearby attractions. Boat tours on the lake are popular to observe birdlife and hippopotamus behavior, or explore Crescent Island on foot.

Day 5
Naivasha - Masai Mara
Transfer between Naivasha and Mara park by road. Includes stops at souvenir shops and refreshment stands. During the rainy season this can be a long drive. Usually takes about 5 - 6 hours. Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). This afternoons game viewing will be exciting as you are searching for game with your private guide and driver. The leopard is difficult to see as it moves fast and is very shy. If you're lucky there is a good chance to spot them around waterholes or up in a tree after a hot long day. Enjoy dinner (included in tour price). Our new Kensington Mara West Camp has been revamped and relocated to what is surely one of the best views in East Africa. Perched elegantly on the Ololoolo escarpment forming the western boundary of the Masai Mara Reserve itself, this is the authentic ‘Out of Africa’ experience where much of the original film itself was filmed & produced. The camp borders the remote and beautiful western edge of Masai Mara National Reserve. Kensington Mara West provides nature lovers with deluxe accommodations while experiencing the sights and sounds of an unforgettable African safari. Chalets are perched in secluded spots on an escarpment edge overlooking the vast plains of the Masai Mara Game Reserve, giving tremendous views and a sense of private exclusion. Mara West is providing high quality service with beautifully designed, comfortable accommodations. Masai Mara is the northernmost portion of the larger Serengeti ecosystem and features the best game viewing in the region . The small size funnels animals into a tight space, and park rules allowing off-road driving which means that guests can venture into plains covered with hundreds or even thousands of animals. Take an optional hot air balloon ride over the plains, with the opportunity for amazing pictures of the animal herds below.

Day 6
Masai Mara
Masai Mara is named after the traditional inhabitants (Maasai) and the Mara River. At some point during your stay in the Mara, you'll drive by the river which is a great place to spot wildlife. This area is a photographers delight where with any luck you'll be able to take amazing pictures of the hippos and elephants in the water. Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). On today‘s afternoon game drive the choice is up to you, search for the big 5 or expand your horizons to discover something different. Masai Mara not only has rich mix of animal population, it also has an incredible array of bird life with almost 450 different species. Enjoy dinner (included in tour price). Overnight at Kensington Mara West.

Day 7
Masai Mara - Nairobi
Transfer between Mara park and Nairobi by road. Includes stops at souvenir shops and refreshment stands. One hour of road is badly potholed. Includes opportunity to visit local handicrafts market to stock up on souvenirs. Before leaving that night, stop by the kensington office for free use of internet, lounge, showers and drinks. (We can arrange dinner at Carnivore game meat restaurant, though there is limited wild meat on the menu these days - please let us know in advance and if you are veg.) Airport transfer with private vehicle and guide. Depart from Nairobi international airport - end of itinerary.