Days 1 – 3: Chyulu Hill National Park

Transfer

Day 1 – Arrive in Nairobi, fly to the Chyulus, ease into safari life

On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you’ll be met by our representative, who will assist with formalities and luggage, then hand you over for your transfer to Wilson Airport. From there, you’ll take a morning flight to the Tsavo West airstrip and then onward to Ol Donyo Lodge.
Settle in, then start exactly as you mean to go on: ol Donyo is beautifully flexible, so you can choose a gentle first game drive, time at the waterhole hide, or simply relax by the pool and let the landscape (and Kilimanjaro views) sink in.

Day 2 – Choose-your-own-adventure safari in the Chyulu Hills.

These days are all about variety: mist-forest and lava fields, woodland and savannah, and the iconic kopjes — with no fixed routine. Pick your pace and your style: explore by vehicle, on foot, on horseback, by mountain bike, or even add a helicopter scenic for a true bird’s-eye perspective (additional cost).
Classic sunrise and late-afternoon game drives are available in open-sided Land Cruisers designed for photographers, and you can also enjoy wildlife viewing right from camp at the waterhole hide and log pile.

Day 3 – Deepen the experience: wildlife, culture, and the freedom to linger

Keep it wonderfully tailored: head out again on drives (or make it a longer day if sightings are too good to leave), add a guided walk with qualified walking guides, or opt for horse riding (from a gentle plains ride to longer, faster rides for confident intermediate riders).
If you feel like a cultural moment between wildlife adventures, you can also meet local Maasai and visit a school for a more personal sense of place.

Chyulu Hill National Park

Situated south of Nairobi between Tsavo West National Park and Amboseli National Park, Chyulu Hills National Park boasts striking and diverse landscapes. The Chyulus were formed by a 100-kilometre (62 miles) long series of ancient volcanic cones and craters, and now have one of the longest lava tubes in the world. It’s beautiful green rolling hills drop down into misty forests of Acacia tortillis and sweeping savannahs that have played backdrop to many iconic movies, including Out of Africa. The views towards Mt. Kilimanjaro are some of the best to be had. The local Maasai work together with conservation groups to minimise human-wildlife conflict with the nomadic pastoralists. Big Life is one of the well-known conservation groups that work in this area alongside some of the luxury boutique lodges situated in the Chyulu Hills. Activities in the greater Chyulus include exploring the area on foot, by vehicle, and by horseback, as well as cultural visits, day trips to Amboseli, and hiking to the highest points (around 182 meters/6000 feet high).

Days 4 – 5: Maasai Mara

Experience and Activities

Day 4 – Fly to the Mara & settle into camp
This morning, you’ll fly back to Wilson Airport (Nairobi) and then connect onwards to the Mara (Ol Kiombo Airstrip) for your transfer into Mara Toto Tree Camp.
Once you’ve arrived, the shift in scenery is immediate — big skies, classic Mara plains, and that electric feeling that anything could appear around the next bend. With the camp’s superb location, you’ll have access to both the Maasai Mara Reserve and the more private Mara North Conservancy, which often means fewer vehicles around sightings and a more exclusive safari rhythm.

Day 5 – Classic Mara safari days (with options that go beyond the reserve)
Today is all about getting the most out of this extraordinary ecosystem. Your guiding team can tailor the day to the wildlife and to your mood — from early starts to longer drives if the viewing is simply too good to leave.
The conservancy model is a big part of what makes this stay special: it protects vital space for wildlife while directly supporting Maasai landowners and local families, and it can also open the door to experiences not usually available in the central reserve (such as walking safaris and night drives, depending on conservancy rules and conditions).

Maasai Mara

The Mara conservancies are Maasai-owned group ranches that have combined to conserve a total area nearly the size of the Maasai Mara National Reserve itself, covering 1450 square kilometres (560 square miles) across fifteen conservancies. The wildlife in the conservancies can be comparable to the main Maasai Mara game reserve, and in fact, some areas have higher densities of predators than in the central reserve. Because there are fewer camps, the conservancies can offer a more exclusive experience than in the central reserve, with generally fewer game-viewing vehicles around sightings. There are opportunities in some conservancies to do night drives and walking safaris, as well as visits to some of the villages of the local Maasai who own the land. The conservancy approach is widely seen as the way forward for wildlife conservation and ecotourism in Kenya because it not only secures vital space for wildlife but also includes the local population as custodians of their national heritage. This has been vital not only for the conservation of the whole greater Mara but also for wildlife corridors and the prosperity of many hundreds of Maasai families. Nearly forty tourist camps contribute to employment amongst the communities and provide a presence, alongside Maasai anti-poaching units, for the protection of wildlife.

Days 6 – 7: Mara Naboisho Conservancy

Day 8: Ol Seki Airstrip-Wilson Airport

 A final Mara morning & fly back to Nairobi

Savour your last morning in the bush — perhaps an early game drive to catch the Mara at its most golden, or a slower start with coffee and the sounds of camp waking up around you. Then it’s time to say goodbye to the wild: you’ll transfer to the airstrip for your flight back to Wilson Airport, Nairobi, arriving in time for onward connections.

Accommodation on This Tour

Accommodation overview: Where you will be staying on this tour.

Why African Signature

Our Concierge Is Here To Help 

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask our concierge in the bottom right corner. They will assist you or put you in contact with one of our African Specialists.