Is this safari specifically designed for the Christmas period

Yes, this itinerary is timed for the Christmas holiday with special festive meals and celebratory touches included at the lodges on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Is December a good month for wildlife viewing in the Mara

December falls in the short rains season, which brings lush green landscapes, excellent birdwatching including migratory species, and newborn wildlife. Predator activity is excellent and crowds are significantly lower than during the July to October migration peak.

Can I see Mount Kilimanjaro clearly in December

December offers very good visibility for Kilimanjaro, particularly in the early mornings. The mountain is typically clearer in December than in the heavy rains of April and May.

Is this safari suitable for families with children

Absolutely. This safari is designed for families and groups. Children aged 6 and above are welcome. The combination of festive lodge celebrations and extraordinary wildlife makes it a truly memorable family Christmas.

Do I need to book early for Christmas safaris

Christmas safaris require early booking as lodge capacity in the Mara and Amboseli fills up months in advance during the festive period. We recommend booking at least four to six months ahead.

5 Day Christmas Safari Kenya Mara Amboseli Festive Tour

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Review

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Review

Overview

A Christmas safari Kenya holiday is one of the world’s most extraordinary ways to celebrate the festive season, swapping snow and city lights for golden savannah, Big Five encounters, and the magic of the African night sky. This 5-day journey takes you from Nairobi into the Maasai Mara National Reserve for thrilling game drives during the festive period when the reserve is draped in the green of the short rains and wildlife is at its most widely distributed. You then continue to Amboseli National Park where Christmas morning dawns with Mount Kilimanjaro rising above the mist as elephant herds move across the volcanic plains below. This Kenya Christmas safari is designed for families, couples, and groups who want to experience something genuinely unforgettable during the holiday season. Special festive touches throughout the journey — from Christmas Eve dinners under the stars to Christmas morning game drives with Kilimanjaro as your backdrop — make this one of the most memorable ways to mark the season anywhere in the world. The green season in the Mara brings extraordinary birdlife, newborn wildlife, and lush photographic conditions, with far fewer tourists than the peak migration months, meaning you often have game-viewing areas entirely to yourself. Amboseli’s December skies are typically clear enough for stunning Kilimanjaro views, and the park’s elephant herds are a constant presence in the swamp meadows and open volcanic plains. Every detail of this festive safari is carefully arranged, from special Christmas meals prepared by lodge chefs to personalised service that makes the occasion truly special.

Trip Highlights

Christmas safari in Africa's iconic Maasai Mara and Amboseli National Parks
Big Five game drives during the green festive season in the Mara
Christmas morning under Mount Kilimanjaro in Amboseli
Special festive lodge meals including Christmas Eve dinner under the stars
Large-tusked elephant herds on Amboseli's volcanic plains
Excellent birding with migratory species present in December
Lush green Mara landscape with newborn wildlife during short rains
Intimate game drives with fewer tourists during the festive season
Expert guides creating personalised holiday wildlife experiences

Day 01 :

Nairobi to Maasai Mara

Your Kenya Christmas safari departs Nairobi in the morning, heading southwest on the scenic seven-hour drive to the Maasai Mara National Reserve. The Rift Valley escarpment views are particularly green and dramatic during December, with fresh rains having transformed the landscape into lush, vivid colour. You arrive at your safari lodge for a welcome lunch, followed by an afternoon game drive across the Mara’s expansive grasslands. December in the Mara is a special time, with resident predators active across the plains and the reserve noticeably quieter than during the peak migration months. Your guide navigates the southern sectors where lion prides rest in the open, cheetah hunt on the open grasslands, and large elephant herds browse through the regenerating vegetation in the golden afternoon light. Return to the lodge for dinner as festive decorations and warm hospitality set the mood for the Christmas celebrations ahead.

8 hours

Lunch + Dinner

Day 02 :

Christmas Eve Game Drive in the Mara

Christmas Eve in the Maasai Mara is a truly magical experience. An early morning game drive catches the Mara in the cool green freshness of the December landscape, with migrant birds filling the acacia canopy and resident wildlife grazing on the lush new grass. Your guide focuses on the Mara River corridor where hippos bask in the mid-morning sun and Nile crocodiles lie motionless on sandbanks, conserving energy in the December warmth. After a midday break, the afternoon drive explores the open plains where topi antelopes stand sentinel on termite mounds and massive buffalo herds create dust clouds across the grassland. Return to the lodge as the sun sets, where the lodge team has prepared a special Christmas Eve dinner under the African stars with festive decorations, a warm convivial atmosphere, and cuisine that celebrates both the season and the culinary traditions of the Mara region.

12 hours

Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

Day 03 :

Christmas Day Drive to Amboseli

Christmas morning begins with breakfast at the Mara lodge before you check out and board your safari vehicle for the drive to Amboseli National Park, approximately five to six hours southeast via the main Nairobi corridor. The journey passes through scenic southern Kenya rangelands and Maasai countryside, with Kilimanjaro increasingly dominant on the horizon as you approach the park. You arrive at your Amboseli lodge for a Christmas lunch that your hosts have prepared with special festive touches. The afternoon Christmas game drive in Amboseli is extraordinarily atmospheric, with the great mountain framing every wildlife sighting and elephant herds moving peacefully through the golden afternoon light across the volcanic plains.

9 hours

Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

Day 04 :

Amboseli Full Day Game Drive

A full Boxing Day in Amboseli National Park begins with a morning game drive as Mount Kilimanjaro emerges from its night cloud in the early light, presenting one of the most iconic vistas in all of Africa. Your guide drives through the Enkongo Narok swamp where hippos bathe in large wallows and African spoonbills wade through the shallows. The open volcanic dustpans attract vast flocks of cattle egrets following elephant herds, while lions and cheetah hunt across the wide, flat terrain. The afternoon drive continues the exploration with visits to Observation Hill, offering a panoramic view of the entire park’s ecosystems from the park’s elevated central ridge, and along the swamp edges where bull elephants with remarkable tusks often congregate.

12 hours

Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

Day 05 :

Amboseli to Nairobi

Enjoy a final sunrise game drive in Amboseli before breakfast, capturing the last Kilimanjaro moments with your camera as the mountain glows in the early morning light. After breakfast you check out and drive back to Nairobi, arriving in the early afternoon. This festive safari closes with extraordinary memories of the African bush at Christmas and the kind of holiday experience that no hotel or resort in the world can replicate.

5 hours

Breakfast