What is the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust rescues orphaned baby elephants and raises them for eventual release into the wild. The daily public viewing allows visitors to watch the calves being fed and playing in mud baths while keepers explain each elephant's rescue story.

Can I touch the giraffes at the Giraffe Centre

You can hand-feed the Rothschild giraffes from an elevated platform, and they will gently take food from your hand with their long tongues. Direct contact is limited to feeding to ensure the animals' welfare.

Is this safari suitable for families with children

This is one of the best safaris for families. Children especially love the hands-on experiences at the Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Centre, and the short drive to Amboseli keeps travel manageable.

What time does the Elephant Orphanage open

The public viewing is held daily from 11 AM to 12 noon. The itinerary is designed to arrive in time for this viewing on the Nairobi city day.

Can I combine this with a Maasai Mara safari

Absolutely. This Amboseli and Nairobi safari pairs perfectly with a Mara extension for travellers who want a comprehensive Kenya wildlife experience.

3 Day Amboseli and Nairobi City Safari Wildlife Meets Culture

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Overview

An Amboseli Nairobi city safari is the perfect blend of wild Africa and urban exploration, combining the iconic elephants and Kilimanjaro views of Amboseli National Park with Nairobi’s world-renowned wildlife attractions and cultural landmarks. This 3-day journey begins in Amboseli, where massive elephant herds cross sun-drenched plains beneath the snow-capped summit of Africa’s tallest mountain, delivering one of the most photographed safari scenes on the continent. After a full day of game drives, you return to Nairobi for a curated city safari day that visits the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Elephant Orphanage, the Giraffe Centre in Langata, and the Karen Blixen Museum, weaving together wildlife conservation and colonial history into an unforgettable urban experience. This Amboseli Nairobi city safari is ideal for first-time visitors who want to experience both the wilderness and the city. The combination of open-air game drives in Amboseli with hands-on wildlife encounters in Nairobi creates a uniquely varied safari experience. At the Elephant Orphanage, you watch rescued baby elephants play, feed, and mud-bathe while keepers share their individual rescue stories. At the Giraffe Centre, you come face to face with endangered Rothschild giraffes, feeding them from an elevated platform as their long tongues gently wrap around food pellets in your hand. The Karen Blixen Museum, set in the farmhouse made famous by the film Out of Africa, transports you to colonial-era Kenya with panoramic views of the Ngong Hills. Combined with Amboseli’s sweeping savannah and majestic elephants, this safari captures the many faces of Kenya in just three well-paced days.

Trip Highlights

Giant elephant herds against Mount Kilimanjaro in Amboseli National Park
Visit the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage to meet rescued baby elephants
Hand-feed endangered Rothschild giraffes at the Giraffe Centre
Tour the Karen Blixen Museum with Ngong Hills views
Two game drives in Amboseli through prime wildlife territory
Blend of wild safari and urban conservation experiences
Perfect introduction to Kenya for first-time visitors
Comfortable lodge and city hotel accommodation

Day 01 :

Nairobi to Amboseli by Road

Your Amboseli Nairobi city safari begins with a morning departure from Nairobi, driving south through the Athi Plains and Maasai rangelands toward Amboseli National Park. The four-hour drive builds anticipation as Mount Kilimanjaro gradually emerges on the southern horizon, its distinctive snow-capped summit rising above the African plains. Upon arrival at your safari lodge, you enjoy lunch on a terrace overlooking the park before heading out for an afternoon game drive. Amboseli's open terrain and permanent springs draw incredible concentrations of wildlife, and your guide takes you to the heart of the action where large elephant families gather to drink and socialise against the Kilimanjaro backdrop. The afternoon light creates perfect photographic conditions as you also encounter zebra herds, giraffes, wildebeest, and the waterbirds that thrive in the park's marshlands. As the sun sets behind the mountain, you return to the lodge for a delicious dinner.

Day 02 :

Amboseli Game Drive and Return to Nairobi

Rise before dawn to catch the clearest views of Kilimanjaro as the first light illuminates the summit in soft pink and gold hues. After an early breakfast, you head out for a morning game drive through different sectors of Amboseli, searching for the resident lion pride in the acacia woodland and cheetah patrolling the open grasslands. Your guide visits Observation Hill for panoramic views across the entire park, providing a final sweeping perspective of Amboseli's diverse landscape. After the morning drive, you check out of the lodge and begin the four-hour return drive to Nairobi, arriving in the late afternoon. The evening is free to relax at your Nairobi hotel, enjoy the city's dining scene, and prepare for tomorrow's urban safari adventure.

Day 03 :

Nairobi City Wildlife and Culture Day

Your final day is a curated Nairobi city wildlife and culture experience. The morning begins with a visit to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust within Nairobi National Park, where you join the daily public viewing of orphaned baby elephants being raised for eventual release back into the wild. Watching the playful calves splash in mud baths while keepers share their rescue stories is an emotional and inspiring experience. From there, you drive to the Giraffe Centre in the leafy suburb of Langata, where you ascend to an elevated platform and hand-feed endangered Rothschild giraffes at eye level, one of Nairobi's most memorable wildlife encounters. After lunch at a nearby restaurant, you visit the Karen Blixen Museum, the colonial farmhouse that was home to the Danish author whose memoir became the award-winning film Out of Africa. The museum is set in beautiful gardens with views of the Ngong Hills, providing a peaceful conclusion to your safari. Your guide returns you to your Nairobi hotel or the airport by late afternoon.