Tsavo East and Amboseli, 3 days
- How long
- 3 days / 2 nights
- Starting from
- Collected from your resort in Watamu
- Parks
- Tsavo East · Amboseli
2 parks that could not look less alike. Tsavo East is red earth, baobabs and space; Amboseli is open swamp and short grass, with Kilimanjaro filling the sky behind every photograph you take.
It is the shortest trip that gets you to Amboseli and back to the coast, and the elephant herds there are the reason people make the drive.
Day 1
Watamu to Tsavo East
Inland before dawn, into the park by mid-morning, and a second game drive that runs until the light goes.
- 06:00
Departure from your resort
We collect you at around 06:00, after a light breakfast, and head inland for Tsavo East National Park.
Tsavo is one of the most important protected areas in Kenya and one of the largest. Expect scrub, baobabs and a lot of sky, and among it elephants, zebras, giraffes, baboons, lions, cheetahs, leopards and a long list of others.
- 10:00
Into the park
We reach the gate at about 10:00 and start the first game drive straight away. It runs until roughly midday.
- 12:00
Lunch and the middle of the day
On to the lodge for lunch and to drop your bags. The hottest part of the day is yours — the animals are resting too.
- 16:00
Afternoon game drive
Your vehicle and guide are waiting at the lodge entrance at 16:00 for the afternoon drive, which runs through to sunset.
This is the good part of the day. Animals move again as the heat drops, and the hunting starts.
- Evening
Dinner at the lodge
Back after dark for dinner, and the night inside the park.
Day 2
Tsavo East to Amboseli
A game drive on the way out of Tsavo, the crossing to Amboseli, and an afternoon towards Lake Amboseli.
- 06:00
Breakfast, then a drive out
Breakfast at 06:00, and we game drive our way towards the gate rather than simply driving to it.
From there we cross to Amboseli National Park, watching for wildlife along the road as we go.
- 12:30
Camp at the foot of Kilimanjaro
We reach the tented camp or lodge at about 12:30, check in, and meet again in the restaurant for a buffet lunch.
The afternoon is for the pool or your room.
- 16:00
Towards Lake Amboseli
At around 16:00 we head out again, working towards the Lake Amboseli side of the park.
Amboseli is known for its big elephant herds, and for the mountain — whether you see the summit depends entirely on the cloud, and it is usually clearest early and late.
- Evening
Dinner at camp
Back to camp at the end of the drive for dinner and the night.
Day 3
Amboseli to Watamu
One more morning drive, an optional Maasai village, lunch at Voi and the road back to the coast.
- 06:00
The last game drive
Breakfast at 06:00, then a final drive that works its way gradually towards the park gate.
- Morning
A Maasai village, if you want it
If you would like to, we can stop at a Maasai village nearby. You see the manyatta — the traditional houses — hear about how the community lives, and can buy crafts directly from the people who made them.
Entry to the village is not included in the safari price and is paid on the day.
- 13:00
Lunch at Voi
Out of the park and on to the town of Voi, where we stop for lunch and a proper break.
- 15:30
The road back to Watamu
We set off again at about 15:30 and reach Watamu in the late afternoon. End of the safari.
The times in this itinerary are indicative. Roads, traffic, weather, what the animals are doing and the practicalities of running a safari all move them. The shape of the day holds; the clock bends around it.
Where you sleep
Subject to availability, and confirmed when you book.
Tsavo East
- Sentrim Tsavo Camp
- Voi Safari Lodge
- Voi Wildlife Lodge
- Manyatta Luxury Camp
Amboseli
- Sentrim Amboseli Camp
What the price covers
- All transfers in a 4x4 safari vehicle fitted out for photography, with an opening roof
- Entrance to Tsavo East National Park
- Game drives as set out in the itinerary
- A buffet lunch in the town of Voi, drinks excluded
- Bottled mineral water throughout every game drive
- A licensed, registered local guide working in Italian — ask us for English
- A professional local driver qualified for game driving
- Comprehensive safari insurance, including a replacement vehicle and rescue assistance
What it does not
- Drinks with meals
- Breakfast on the morning you leave, where the property does not serve it
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Entrance to a Maasai village
- Anything not written down under what the price covers
Worth putting in the bag
- Light summer clothing
- A hat or cap
- Something warm for the evening and the early starts
- Tropical insect repellent
- High-protection sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Swimwear
- A power adapter
- Binoculars
- A camera or a phone you like taking photographs with
And an adventurous spirit, obviously.
Ask about this trip
The price moves with the lodge or camp you pick and with how many of you are travelling. Send us your dates and we will come back with a figure.