6-Day Mara, Naivasha & Amboseli Balloon Safari

The safari leaves Nairobi by road for the Maasai Mara, travelling through the Rift Valley and the Narok area towards the reserve. The first afternoon game drive introduces the Mara’s broad grasslands, scattered acacias and riverine woodland. The guide follows the reserve tracks to look for the resident wildlife, stopping for observation and photographs as animals are encountered. The day’s programme combines the overland approach to the Mara with the first game-viewing circuit in the reserve.

Morning and afternoon game drives provide a full day in the Maasai Mara. The morning circuit explores the grasslands and riverine habitats, with time to look for predators, grazing herds and the smaller animals and birds encountered along the way. The later drive continues through the reserve’s open plains, allowing time to follow wildlife behaviour and changing activity through the day. The guide’s stops focus on observation and photography rather than a promised checklist of sightings.

The day begins with the included Maasai Mara hot-air balloon safari, offering an aerial perspective of the grasslands, river channels and wildlife encountered below. The balloon experience continues with its champagne bush breakfast before the road journey to Lake Naivasha. The lake visit combines a boat ride with a guided Crescent Island walk, bringing a change from vehicle-based game viewing to waterbird observation and a walk through the sanctuary’s grassland habitats.

The safari leaves Lake Naivasha for the road journey to Amboseli, moving from the Rift Valley lake landscape to the plains beneath Mount Kilimanjaro. Arrival introduces the Amboseli area and the first game-viewing circuit through its open country and wetland margins. The guide looks for wildlife along the park roads and stops for observation as animals are encountered. This is the transfer and arrival day; the itinerary’s following Amboseli stage provides the dedicated full game-drive day where listed.

Morning and afternoon game drives explore Amboseli’s open plains, acacia woodland and permanent swamp habitats. The wetland edges provide opportunities to look for elephants, hippos and waterbirds, while the open ground offers a different setting for observing the park’s other wildlife. The programme includes Observation Hill for a wider view across the Amboseli basin. Mount Kilimanjaro forms part of the landscape when visibility allows, and the day provides time to photograph both the wildlife and the changing mountain views.

The final stage leaves Amboseli for the road return to Nairobi. The journey brings the safari back from the southern plains to the capital after the Mara, Naivasha and Amboseli programme. The day is devoted to departure from the Amboseli area and the return transfer, finishing at the agreed Nairobi hotel or airport drop-off point. It completes the six-day route following two Mara nights, the Naivasha overnight break and two nights in Amboseli.