Quick Facts
| Duration | 6 days / 5 nights |
|---|---|
| Style | Private safari — your own vehicle and guide |
| Vehicle | 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof |
| Parks Covered | Tsavo East, Amboseli, Masai Mara |
| Pickup | Watamu hotels |
| Price From | USD 1,150–1,950 pp (season-dependent, 2–6 people sharing) |
| Best For | First-time Kenya visitors on a coast holiday wanting a real safari without flying back to Nairobi to start, or repeat coast travellers ready to add Tsavo and Amboseli to a Mara bucket-list trip |
This 6-day safari links three of Kenya's best parks in one trip, starting and ending on the coast. You leave Watamu, drive into Tsavo East's red-dust wilderness, cross to Amboseli for Mount Kilimanjaro views and big elephant herds, then head to the Masai Mara for the classic Big Five game drives.
This is a private safari. You get your own 4x4 Land Cruiser, your own driver-guide, and a route built around your pace. No group vans, no shared seats, no fixed departure dates.
Safari Highlights
- 6 days / 5 nights across three parks, starting and ending on the coast
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- Tsavo East's red elephants, Galana River and Aruba Dam
- Amboseli's Kilimanjaro views, Observation Hill and swamp game drives
- Masai Mara Big Five game drives and Mara River predator action
- Optional flight upgrade between Amboseli and the Mara
- Optional hot-air balloon safari and Maasai village visits
- No routing through Nairobi to begin the trip
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Watamu – Tsavo East National Park
Early pickup from your Watamu hotel. Drive roughly 3 hours to Sala Gate. Enter Tsavo East, home of the red elephants.
Afternoon game drive covering the Galana River and Aruba Dam. Dinner and overnight at a lodge or camp inside or near the park.
Day 2: Tsavo East – Amboseli National Park
Morning game drive in Tsavo East. Check out after breakfast and transfer toward Amboseli, roughly 4–5 hours through Tsavo West's volcanic landscape and the Chyulu Hills.
Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive with your first Kilimanjaro views. Overnight in Amboseli.
Day 3: Full Day Amboseli National Park
Sunrise game drive when Kilimanjaro is usually clearest. Visit Observation Hill and the Amboseli swamps, where elephant herds gather.
Second game drive before sunset. Overnight in Amboseli.
Optional Add-Ons
A Maasai village visit in the afternoon, at an additional cost.
Day 4: Amboseli – Masai Mara National Reserve
This is the longest transfer day on the trip, roughly 8–9 hours by road via Nairobi. We build in a lunch stop and rest breaks. Arrive in the Mara by evening for check-in and dinner.
Optional Add-Ons
Travellers who want to cut this drive down can upgrade to a scheduled flight between Amboseli and the Mara, at an additional cost — ask us about this option when booking.
Day 5: Full Day Masai Mara National Reserve
Morning and afternoon game drives across the Mara's open plains. Target the Big Five, plus predator action along the Mara River. Picnic lunch in the park.
Optional Add-Ons
A hot air balloon safari at dawn, or a visit to a Maasai village, both at an additional cost.
Day 6: Masai Mara – Departure
Final sunrise game drive. Breakfast, then transfer to the airstrip for a flight to Nairobi, connecting onward to Malindi with a road transfer back to your Watamu hotel.
Road transfer all the way back is also available on request, though it adds a long final day.
Get Free Quote ›Tour Cost & Pricing
Rates are per person, land-only, in a private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a dedicated driver-guide. Based on mid-range lodges and camps on a full-board basis.
Season Guide
- Low SeasonApril, May, November
- High SeasonJune–October, December–March
- Peak SeasonMid-July to September, 20 December–3 January
Private Land Cruiser Safari Rates (Per Person)
| Season | 2 People | 4 People | 6 People |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Season | $1,450 | $1,250 | $1,150 |
| High Season | $1,750 | $1,500 | $1,350 |
| Peak Season | $1,950 | $1,700 | $1,550 |
What's Included & Excluded
| ✓ | Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof for game viewing |
| ✓ | Professional English-speaking driver-guide |
| ✓ | All park entry fees (Tsavo East, Amboseli, Masai Mara) |
| ✓ | 5 nights' accommodation, full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) |
| ✓ | All game drives per the itinerary |
| ✓ | Bottled drinking water in the vehicle |
| ✓ | Airport/hotel pickup and drop-off in Watamu |
| ✗ | International and domestic flights (unless flight upgrade is selected) |
| ✗ | Visa fees |
| ✗ | Travel insurance |
| ✗ | Tips for driver-guide and lodge staff |
| ✗ | Alcoholic and premium beverages |
| ✗ | Hot air balloon safari (optional add-on) |
| ✗ | Maasai village visit fees (optional add-on) |
| ✗ | Personal expenses (laundry, souvenirs, spa) |
Getting There
This safari starts and ends in Watamu, making it a straightforward add-on to a coast holiday. You don't need to route through Nairobi to begin.
By road from Watamu, Sala Gate, the entry point into Tsavo East, is roughly 2.5–3 hours from Watamu by road. We handle pickup directly from your hotel. If flying in, fly into Malindi Airport (from Nairobi or Mombasa) and we'll collect you from there, or from your Watamu hotel if you're already on the coast.
Returning from the Mara
The standard route flies you from the Mara airstrip to Nairobi, then on to Malindi, with a short road transfer to Watamu. This saves a full day compared to driving the whole way back. A full road return is available if you'd rather skip flights.
You travel in a private 4x4 Land Cruiser the entire way, including the coast-to-Tsavo leg. There's no switch to a different vehicle at any point.
