Amboseli, Laikipia, and Maasai Mara

This Big Cat Safari takes you to some of Kenya’s most iconic locations including Nairobi National Park, Amboseli, Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia, and Ol Kinyei Conservancy adjacent to the famous Maasai Mara National Reserve. If you want to venture off the regular tourist route with exceptional safari guides and experience wildlife conservation first-hand, then this Kenya Big Cat Safari is for you! Our Kenya Big Cats Safari supports the work of our partners with local communities to protect habitats and wildlife, and our guests enjoy authentic interactions and superior game-viewing experiences!

Private Conservancies

All of our very comfortable small camps on this Big Cat Safari are in private conservancies which provide an important dispersal area for wildlife. The animals have discovered the tranquility of the conservancies in contrast to the busy national parks and game reserves, and the game viewing is just exceptional! Local communities also benefit from the conservancies with income from land leases, employment opportunities, and community support. A portion of the tour price for your Big Cat safari contributes to these initiatives. You’ll experience incredible game viewing well away from the masses of tourist vans in National Parks and Reserves. Explore the African wilderness and track animal footprints on guided walks with Maasai warriors. And after a day full of amazing wildlife encounters, relax in our wonderful small safari camps – just 6-8 spacious tents with very comfortable beds and en-suite bathrooms – and enjoy the delicious meals prepared by the camp chef.

Extra nights can be added at any camp. Alternatively, extend your stay by flying to the Kenya Coast or the Spice Island of Zanzibar to relax on the pure white beaches of the Indian Ocean.

IMPORTANT: The delightful camps on this safari are small and intimate, and can only accommodate a very limited number of guests. Early bookings are essential to secure your place!

Enjoy close views of both black and white rhinos in Nairobi National Park
Avoid the crowds by staying in small exclusive tented camps in private conservancies.
Each camp has just 6 – 8 spacious full-sized tents with comfortable beds and en-suite bathrooms.
Game drives in open 4×4 safari vehicles, perfect for wildlife viewing and photography.
Enjoy walks with Maasai guides, night game drives, picnics & sundowners.
Experience incredible wildlife encounters with no other vehicles around!
Fly between camps to avoid long drives on very rough roads – spend more time with the animals!

Arrival & Departure

Arrival: Nairobi, Kenya

Departure: Nairobi, Kenya

Price Includes

Arrival and departure transfers.
Quality accommodation in luxury tented camps in private conservancies.
Park and Private Conservancy fees
Game drives in open-sided 4×4 safari vehicles with qualified guides
Meals: Full board on safari.
Wine, beer, gin & tonics, soft drinks, mineral water
Nature walks and visit to Maasai village in Selenkay (Amboseli)
Night game drives
Flights between camps as per itinerary.

Price Excludes

International airfares
Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA)
Travel insurance (mandatory)
Any Personal Expenses
Tips & gratuities
Optional activites

Itinerary

Day 1Nairobi

Independent arrival at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport where you will be met and escorted to Nairobi Tented Camp. Your safari begins just 10 minutes from the international airport with a game drive through Nairobi National Park to our safari camp. Authentic and very comfortable, this camp in the heart of Nairobi National Park offers a superb alternative to staying in a hotel in the busy city centre. It’s the first accommodation of any sort to be allowed in this unique safari destination. A unique wilderness escape where you can experience the feeling of being in a riverine forest in the wilds of Africa, but right on the doorstep of the bustling city of Nairobi. Wildlife in the park includes lions, buffalo, both black and white rhinos, giraffes, and much more.

Day 2Amboseli

Early breakfast then transfer to Nairobi’s Wilson (domestic) airport for the 40 minute flight to Selenkay / Amboseli. Your guide and driver will meet you at the airstrip and you’ll enjoy a game drive to the nearby Porini Amboseli Camp, your home for the next 3 nights. After lunch, your guide will escort you on a walk to a nearby Maasai village, home to some of your camp staff. Here you’ll gain an insight into the life of the Maasai communities living outside the Selenkay Conservancy. Later you’ll drive back into the Selenkay Conservancy for a game drive. All of the big cats have been seen in the Conservancy as well as elephants and a wide range of species including large numbers of giraffe, zebra, and antelopes. Less common animals such as the long-necked gerenuk gazelle, lesser kudu, and African wildcat are also found in the conservancy. Enjoy a sundowner at a scenic spot overlooking Kilimanjaro then continue with a night game drive and return to camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 3Amboseli

Awake to the noisy calls of the birds. After an early breakfast, you will drive through the bush on a private track into Amboseli National Park, for a full morning of game viewing. Amboseli is famous for large herds of elephants and watching these gentle giants heading to the swamp to drink and cool off is a memorable experience. Following a picnic lunch in the park, return to camp later in the afternoon. In the evening you will enjoy a game drive in Selenkay Conservancy, stopping for a sundowner at a scenic viewpoint, followed by a night game drive back to camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 4Ol Pejeta

Early breakfast and then drive through the Conservancy to the airstrip for the flight to Wilson Airport, connecting onto the 10.20h flight to Nanyuki (arriving at 11.30h). You will be met at the airstrip and transferred to Porini Rhino Camp, located in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, in the foothills of Mount Kenya. Lunch and afternoon tea in camp and then head off on a game drive with your driver-guide in the camp’s 4×4 safari vehicle to explore the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Return to Porini Rhino Camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 5Ol Pejeta

Full day in Ol Pejeta with game drives and walking activities from camp. Other activities (optional and at a supplement) include a visit to the Endangered Species Boma which houses the World’s last two remaining Northern White Rhino and Lion Tracking. Dinner and overnight at Porini Rhino Camp.

Day 6Maasai Mara

Early morning game drive and breakfast, then transfer to the airstrip for the flight to the Maasai Mara. You will be met and transferred to Porini Mara Camp, arriving for lunch. In the afternoon you will have a game drive with a sundowner at a scenic spot followed by a night game drive with spotlights to search for nocturnal animals, including the elusive leopards which are resident in Ol Kinyei Conservancy, before heading back to camp for dinner. Overnight at Porni Mara Camp.

Day 7Maasai Mara

A full day to explore the Conservancy, or take an optional game drive in the famous Maasai Mara Reserve* with a picnic lunch in the park and then return to camp in the late afternoon. Later in the evening have a sundowner in the Conservancy and night drive then dinner and overnight at Porini Mara Camp.

* Optional reserve fee payable in advance at $100 per person from January to June 2024 and $200 per person from July to December 2024. NB for 1 July to 31 October we have already included a one day fee to view the Migration in the Reserve.

Day 8Departure

Early morning game drive in the conservancy returning for breakfast. Mid-morning transfer to the airstrip for the 11am flight back to Nairobi’s Wilson airport (arriving 12.15h) and transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward flight.