12-Day Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha & Amboseli — with a Zanzibar Coastal Retreat

Bush to Beach Family Kenya Luxury Wildlife & Big Five Zanzibar

Duration:

12 days

Guide Language:

English

Group Size:

2 - 10 people

Transport:

Flight, Safari Cars

Tour Meals:

Breakfasts, Lunch, Dinner

Tour Type:

Bush to Beach, Family, Kenya, Luxury, Wildlife & Big Five, Zanzibar

Accommodation:

Lodges, Resorts

Twelve days, three Kenyan landscapes, zero wasted time. Wake to lion tracks in the Mara, drift over the migration at dawn by balloon, watch elephants move beneath Kilimanjaro in Amboseli — each leg linked by private air, so the journey never loses momentum to the road. Then the itinerary does something rarer still: it stops. Twelve nights end on Zanzibar, where the only decision left is which stretch of sand to disappear onto.

Journey Highlights

The moments that make this journey unforgettable.

Zanzibar Retreat

Private Air, Every Leg

Mara Balloon Safari

Kilimanjaro Elephants

Naivasha's Still Waters

Itinerary

Day 1 — Arrive Nairobi

Upon arrival in Kenya, you’ll be met by your private Azure Safaris host and transferred directly to your hotel, where you’ll spend the night before the safari begins.

If you land early in the day, there’s no need to simply wait for the itinerary to start — your host can arrange a private excursion so you can begin exploring right away. Nairobi is East Africa’s bustling commercial hub, yet it offers a fascinating blend of urban energy and nature, including Nairobi National Park, right at the city’s edge. The city is alive with activity, and its vibrant mix of cultures gives it a unique atmosphere all its own.

Or, just as easily, you might prefer to do nothing at all — settle into your hotel and unwind by the pool, letting the anticipation of the days ahead set in before the wild begins in earnest.

Stay at: Argyle Grand Hotel or Hilton Garden Inn

Day 2 — Nairobi to Masai Mara

Today, the real adventure begins.

After breakfast, your Azure Safaris guide meets you at the hotel, and shortly after, you’ll board a private flight bound for the Masai Mara — the vast, unbroken plains synonymous with African safari at its finest.

Weather permitting, the flight itself becomes part of the experience. Just outside Nairobi, the land falls away into the Great Rift Valley, and from the air you’ll take in a view few travelers ever see: a vast fissure stretching from the Middle East to Mozambique, carved by geological forces so powerful that scientists believe it may one day split the continent in two.

As the plane descends toward the Mara, the landscape below shifts again — the valley gives way to open grassland, scattered acacia trees, and the first signs of the wildlife you’ve come for, visible even before you land.

You’ll touch down in the early afternoon, where lunch will be waiting at camp. Later that day, you’ll head out on your first game drive, guided by someone who knows this land intimately, for your first real encounter with the Mara’s incredible wildlife.

Back at camp, a delicious dinner awaits — the perfect close to a day that carried you from the skyline of Nairobi to the heart of the savannah.

Day 3 — Full Day, Masai Mara

A full day awaits in one of Africa’s most iconic wilderness areas, the Masai Mara.

Part of the greater Serengeti ecosystem, the reserve holds one of the richest concentrations of wildlife on Earth — elephant herds, giraffe moving calmly across the plains, and vast columns of zebra and wildebeest on their endless migration. With some luck, lion, a hunting cheetah, or a leopard resting in the shade may also cross your path.

This is safari as it’s meant to be felt, not scheduled. Nothing is planned in advance — your guide reads the land and the animals’ movement, often trading sightings with other guides in real time, so each day unfolds entirely on its own terms.

The Mara River threads through open plains and scattered acacia, the horizon nearly endless in every direction. Light shifts throughout the day, from cool, dew-laden mornings to warm afternoons hazed with dust. At midday, a picnic lunch in the open air lets the morning’s impressions settle before the drive continues.

No two days here repeat. It’s the combination of untouched wilderness, dramatic landscape, and genuine unpredictability that makes the Mara unlike anywhere else.

Day 4 — Masai Mara to Lake Naivasha

After days spent on the vast plains of the savannah, a short private flight carries you into strikingly different scenery — the golden tones of the Mara giving way to the lush, green landscape of the Great Rift Valley.

Here lies Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake set high in the valley at around 1,890 metres above sea level. Framed by acacia trees, its shores draw prolific birdlife and resident hippos, often visible from the water’s edge.

The atmosphere shifts entirely here. The pace slows, and the focus turns from the momentum of safari to something quieter — tranquil encounters with nature by the lake.

You’ll arrive in the early afternoon, with the rest of the day entirely your own. It’s the perfect moment to settle in and enjoy the calm surroundings of your lakeside lodge.

Day 5 — Lake Naivasha to Amboseli

The morning is entirely at your leisure. Ease into the day and soak up the calm of the lodge, or let your host arrange a private excursion if you’d like something extra before moving on.

Later in the morning, a private flight carries you onward toward Amboseli National Park, with a brief stop in Nairobi along the way — time enough for a relaxed lunch before continuing south.

You’ll arrive at camp in Amboseli in the late afternoon. If the skies are clear, the day closes with a striking sunset, Mount Kilimanjaro rising dramatically in the background.

Day 6 — Full Day, Amboseli

A full day of safari awaits in Amboseli National Park — modest in size, but never in the experiences it delivers.

One of Africa’s most iconic sights is elephants roaming open savannah with Mount Kilimanjaro rising behind them, and it’s this exact landscape that makes Amboseli unlike anywhere else.

The park is especially known for its large-tusked elephants, with open, sparse vegetation that makes wildlife easy to spot throughout the day. Beyond the elephants, expect rich birdlife and striking variations in scenery as you move through the park.

A packed lunch lets you spend the full day out in the wild, often taken from a viewpoint overlooking both lush wetland and dry plain — the contrast that defines Amboseli at a glance.

Late in the day, you’ll return to camp, where dinner awaits.

Day 7 — Amboseli to Zanzibar

After breakfast, you’ll bid farewell to Amboseli and Kilimanjaro, boarding a private flight back toward Nairobi. From there, the journey continues onward — this time by air to Zanzibar, where the wild gives way to the coast.

On arrival, you’ll be met and transferred directly to your coastal retreat, where the pace of the trip changes entirely.

Day 8–11 — Zanzibar Coastal Retreat

Your days on Zanzibar are entirely your own.

Set in the Indian Ocean, Zanzibar comprises the main island of Unguja — informally known as Zanzibar — along with Pemba and countless smaller islets. The main island pairs natural beauty with rich culture: powder-white beaches, turquoise water, and coral reefs, all under a warm, sunny climate year-round.

Its history runs deep, shaped by Arab sultans, Portuguese seafarers, and European explorers, whose influence is still visible in Stone Town — one of Africa’s most captivating cities, its narrow streets lined with intricate Arabic architecture.

Spend your days by the beach, or let your host arrange excursions around the island — the choice, like the rest of your coastal retreat, is entirely yours.

Day 12 — Departure Day

You’ll be collected from your hotel and transferred to the airport, where your journey home begins.

What’s Included

International flight coordination to Nairobi, with private transfer on arrival
Dedicated English-speaking guide throughout your Kenya safari
One night in Nairobi, breakfast included
Five nights across the Kenya safari legs, full board throughout
A welcome lunch in Nairobi
Masai Mara — home to the world’s greatest concentration of wildlife
Lake Naivasha, in the heart of the Great Rift Valley
Amboseli National Park, elephants moving beneath Kilimanjaro
Private 4WD Land Cruiser for every game drive, fitted with Wi-Fi and power outlets
Daily drinking water throughout every safari day
All national park and wildlife reserve fees
Private flight from Nairobi to Zanzibar, transfer included
Four nights at your Zanzibar coastal retreat, half board included
Option to extend your time at the coast
Private flight and transfer home from Zanzibar
A private journey — no shared group, guided exclusively for you
Full financial protection on your booking
A single 24/7 point of contact throughout your journey
No minimum group size — your journey departs on your dates, guaranteed

What’s Not Included

✗ International flights to and from Nairobi (quoted separately based on your preferred routing and cabin class)
✗ Visa fees and travel insurance
✗ Optional excursions beyond the itinerary — including the dawn balloon safari, Stone Town tour, spice tour, or dhow sailing

✗ Alcoholic beverages and premium drinks beyond what’s specified at each property
✗ Gratuities for guides, camp staff, and drivers
✗ Personal expenses — spa treatments, laundry, souvenirs, and similar
✗ Vaccinations and any required travel health documentation
✗ Any additional nights or extensions beyond the confirmed itinerary

Signature Experiences

Dawn balloon safari over the Mara — the migration laid out below at first light
Kilimanjaro at golden hour, Amboseli — Africa’s iconic elephant-and-mountain silhouette
Dhow sailing, Zanzibar — the coastal retreat’s slow finish, under sail
Stone Town by request — spice markets and Arabic architecture, added on the free days

Why Choose This Journey

Experience Kenya’s three most iconic landscapes — the Mara, the Rift Valley and Amboseli — connected by private air, not hours on the road
Feel the contrast fully: adrenaline on safari, then total stillness on Zanzibar, with no wasted transition between them
Encounter wildlife at its most abundant, from predators on the hunt to elephant herds framed against Kilimanjaro
Close the journey on Zanzibar’s powder-white beaches, where the crystal-clear water is the only itinerary left

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this trip suitable for first-time safari travelers?
Yes — it's designed as a complete introduction to Kenya, covering three distinct landscapes (open plains, Rift Valley wetlands, and elephant country beneath Kilimanjaro) before ending on Zanzibar's beaches, so nothing about East Africa is left unexperienced.
How does private air change this itinerary?
Every leg between Nairobi, Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli and Zanzibar is flown privately, replacing what would otherwise be full days of road transfer. The result is more time in each location and none lost in transit.
Can I add the hot air balloon safari?
Yes — a dawn balloon safari over the Mara can be arranged on either of your full days there, drifting over the migration at first light before a bush breakfast on landing.
Can I extend my time on Zanzibar?
Yes — the coastal retreat portion of this journey can be extended beyond the standard nights if you'd like more time at the beach before departing.
Is this a private journey, or will I be grouped with other travelers?
This is a private journey guided exclusively for you — no shared groups, no fixed departure schedule built around other guests.

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From Original price was: $3,600.00.Current price is: $3,479.00.

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From Original price was: $3,600.00.Current price is: $3,479.00.