9-Day Mara, Naivasha, Amboseli, Tsavo East & Diani Grand Circle Safari

The journey starts with the transfer to Nairobi Wilson Airport and the flight to the Maasai Mara. At the arrival airstrip, the safari guide meets the party for the ground transfer and the first game drive. The afternoon introduces the Mara’s open grasslands and acacia woodland, with stops to observe wildlife encountered along the drive. The day combines the aerial arrival over the Mara landscape with the first exploration of the reserve by private safari vehicle.

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 safari leaves the Maasai Mara and continues to Lake Naivasha, changing from savannah game drives to the Rift Valley lake programme. The included boat ride explores the lake and its waterbird habitats, while the guided Crescent Island walk provides time to observe wildlife in the sanctuary’s grassland on foot. The sequence follows lake and site-access conditions. The stage ends at Naivasha, providing the overnight lake break before the road journey continues to Amboseli.

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 journey continues from Amboseli to Tsavo East, changing from the Amboseli basin to Tsavo’s red-earth plains and dry bushland. The arrival-day programme includes Mudanda Rock and a game drive through the park’s wildlife habitats. Mudanda Rock introduces one of Tsavo East’s distinctive rocky landscapes and water-associated wildlife areas. The drive continues through the park’s plains and river country, providing the first exploration of Tsavo East before the full game-drive day that follows.

Morning and afternoon game drives explore Tsavo East’s broad plains, dry bushland and Galana River habitats. The guide looks for elephants and other wildlife across these contrasting landscapes, with stops to observe and photograph animals and birds encountered along the tracks. The river corridor adds a different setting to the open-country drives, with opportunities to look for water-associated wildlife. The full day allows time to explore the park beyond the arrival circuit and follow wildlife activity through the day.

The safari leaves Tsavo East and continues by road to Diani Beach on Kenya’s south coast. The journey marks the change from the inland wildlife circuit to the Indian Ocean shore. After arrival at Diani, the remainder of the day is at leisure, with time to settle into the beach stay and enjoy the coastal setting. Water sports, snorkelling, diving and dhow excursions are optional activities with separate charges rather than included excursions in this arrival programme.

The coastal stay ends with checkout at Diani and the included local road transfer to the agreed onward departure point at Ukunda Airstrip or Mombasa Airport. This final stage takes the party from the beach stay to the booked onward departure. The nine-day Grand Circle programme finishes at the coast after its Mara, Naivasha, Amboseli and Tsavo East wildlife stages and the single Diani overnight.