Areas of interest: Amboseli National Park, Tsavo West National Park, Mombasa City  

Activity: Game andBird Watching, Lodge Stay, Culture, Ethnic, Scenery, Wildlife, Photography, Relaxation, Historical City, Beach life

Country: Kenya

Amboseli National Park is Kenya’s first established game park and the word ‘Amboseli’ is the Masai word for “salt dust”.  It is situated on the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro very close to the Tanzanian border.  With the majestic backdrop of Mt. Kilimanjaro, spectacular displays of wildlife (lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, cheetah, and buffalo) and various plains' game, postcard perfect pictures are almost always guaranteed.

At nearly 22,000 sq km, Tsavo is the biggest national park in Kenya but for organizational purposes, it has been split into Tsavo West and East National Parks and has large populations of elephants, zebras, hippos, leopards and birds.  After spending your nights in comfortable lodges, it is only fitting that the safari ends in Mombasa – the gateway to luxurious coastal resorts. 

Day 1 – Amboseli National Park
We depart Nairobi in the morning and drive south through Masai country to the plains below Mt. Kilimanjaro where Amboseli is situated.  After a stopover lunch at the lodge we proceed into the scenic Amboseli National Park for a game drive returning to the lodge in the evening for a cool sun downer.   

The waters from melted snow drain down the mountain under lava flows and surface in Amboseli, creating a green belt of swampland amidst dusty plains.  Here, hippo, elephant and bird life can be seen against the backdrop of the magnificent snow-capped mountain.  At 329 sq km Amboseli is a small park and lacks the profusion of animal species found in the Mara, but the landscape provides limited cover so we have better chances of seeing some of the larger predators.  Buffaloes, lions, gazelles, cheetahs, wildebeest, hyenas, jackals, warthogs, Masai Giraffes, zebra, baboon, and waterbuck are all present in the park.

Day 2 – Tsavo West National Park
We drive early to Tsavo West National Park and a stop-over is made at Mzima Springs, the source of most of Mombasa’s fresh water; you can walk down to an underwater observation chamber where it is literally possible to watch hippo or crocodile swim along the floor of this crystal clear spring.  Tsavo is particularly famous for its large herds of elephants. Back at the lodge we enjoy a sun downer, dinner and a good night’s sleep.      

Day 3 – Mombasa City
We depart early for a morning game drive enjoying the African sunrise at the same time.  We return for breakfast and thereafter depart for the second largest city in Kenya and most significant port in East Africa – Mombasa, arriving in the afternoon. Pax are dropped off in the town area.    

Mombasa is a captivating city, rich in history and cultural influences. The tangled alleys of Mombasa’s Old town encourage slow exploration, whilst the earlier buildings - Mhandry mosque erected in 1570, and Fort Jesus built in 1898 are worth a visit.  There are a staggering amount of resorts and hotels within the coastal area to guarantee enjoyment of the sun, sand and relaxed atmosphere.