Road & flight · three parks

Tsavo East, Tsavo West & Mara Safari

Dry-country Tsavo landscapes, a flight to the Mara and an unhurried plains stay. Compare the daily route, accommodation and included arrangements, then request a tailored seasonal quote.

8 days / 7 nights

Nairobi → Tsavo East → Tsavo West → Maasai Mara → Nairobi

From USD4,550per person sharing

Prices vary by season. From amounts are per adult sharing; dates, accommodation and party size determine your written quote.
A gazelle in Tsavo East National Park

Duration

8 days / 7 nights

Start & finish

Nairobi

Travel style

Private road safari plus a Tsavo–Mara flight

Stay options

Four Mara comfort levels; route-specific accommodation

Why choose this Tsavo safari?

Dry-country Tsavo landscapes, a flight to the Mara and an unhurried plains stay. This private itinerary is designed around contrasting wildlife settings and useful time in the Mara, with travel days shown as part of the holiday.

The private road journey covers Nairobi, Tsavo East and Tsavo West. A separately arranged private Mara vehicle and guide take over after the flight. The Tsavo vehicle’s operating and return logistics belong in the quoted total; a camp handover does not turn the wildlife drives into shared services.
The Tsavo West–Mara connection depends on the actual operating date and passenger minimum. The starting-price model allows for the published minimum rather than assuming a flight operates for two passengers alone. The complete routing and cost must be confirmed before booking. A different connection or charter requires an agreed complete quote; an unannounced flight surcharge is not part of this offer.

A gazelle in Tsavo East National Park

A distinct route

Dry-country Tsavo landscapes, a flight to the Mara and an unhurried plains stay.

Private ground experience

Your party has its own scheduled transfers, vehicle and professional guiding. Flights may be shared.

Clear daily arrangements

Activities, wildlife interests, meals and overnight stops are listed separately, with optional additions identified.

Your 8 days Tsavo safari itinerary

Tsavo East, Tsavo West & Mara Safari follows the route below. Transfer days and flight connections are shown honestly; arrival viewing fits the actual travel and entry arrangements. Full wildlife days can use separate drives with camp breaks or the agreed longer outing with a picnic.

Wildlife is free-ranging. The animals and bird groups listed are relevant interests for the destination, not guaranteed sightings. Your private guide adapts permitted routes to your camp location, conditions and what is encountered.

  1. Nairobi
  2. Tsavo East
  3. Tsavo West
  4. Maasai Mara
  5. Nairobi
A gazelle in Tsavo East National Park

Day 1

Nairobi to Tsavo East and a first look at the plains

Activities: Meet your private driver-guide at the agreed Nairobi pickup and travel to Tsavo East with the planned lunch and road breaks. Check in at your selected accommodation. If arrival and entry permit, take an introductory drive on the park’s permitted routes before dinner. The day includes a substantial road journey; no fixed afternoon sighting or early camp arrival is promised.

Wildlife to look for: Look for elephants, zebra, giraffe and antelope in the dry-country landscape. Dust can colour an elephant’s skin, while the wildlife actually encountered depends on the route and conditions.

Meals: Lunch · dinner

Stay: Selected Tsavo East accommodation

A gazelle in Tsavo East National Park

Day 2

Tsavo East: open-country wildlife and patient observation

Activities: Spend a full wildlife day with your private guide, scanning the open country and taking permitted routes suited to the selected camp. Allow time to watch grazing herds and elephants, and observe any predators the guide locates without crowding them. Coordinate camp lunch or an agreed picnic with the route, then continue afternoon viewing and return for dinner.

Wildlife to look for: Elephants, zebra, giraffe and plains antelope are possible subjects, with birds and occasional predator encounters adding variety. No rare-species checklist or guaranteed big-cat encounter is attached to the day.

Meals: Breakfast · lunch · dinner

Stay: Selected Tsavo East accommodation

Zebras in the bushland of Tsavo West National Park

Day 3

From Tsavo East to Tsavo West

Activities: After breakfast, leave for the private transfer to Tsavo West, using the confirmed gate and camp route. Break for the included lunch and check in at the next accommodation. Where arrival and access allow, take an afternoon drive through a contrasting landscape of bushland and volcanic scenery. Return for dinner and discuss the following day’s route with your guide.

Wildlife to look for: Look for giraffe, zebra, elephants and browsing antelope on accessible routes. Denser vegetation makes this a different viewing experience from Tsavo East; the guide follows actual sightings.

Meals: Breakfast · lunch · dinner

Stay: Selected Tsavo West accommodation

Zebras in the bushland of Tsavo West National Park

Day 4

Tsavo West wildlife and a permitted Mzima Springs visit

Activities: Use the day for private game viewing and the planned visit to Mzima Springs, subject to current access and official instructions. At the springs, follow the designated visitor route and any required ranger arrangements. Continue wildlife viewing on permitted park roads, fitting lunch and breaks around the route. Return for dinner. Closed visitor areas are not entered; any necessary change is explained by the guide.

Wildlife to look for: Look for hippos and water-associated life where the springs’ viewing conditions allow, with birds and mammals on the surrounding drive. Volcanic scenery is part of the contrast, but a close underwater animal view or rhino encounter is not guaranteed.

Meals: Breakfast · lunch · dinner

Stay: Selected Tsavo West accommodation

Zebras grazing on open plains below wooded hills

Day 5

Tsavo West airstrip transfer and flight to the Mara

Activities: Have breakfast and transfer privately to the confirmed Tsavo West airstrip for the booked Mara connection. Its operating date, passenger minimum, baggage and camp transfers are settled in the written quote before booking. Meet your private Mara guide and continue to camp, with lunch arranged around travel. Arrival viewing follows the actual flight and access timetable; finish with dinner.

Wildlife to look for: The flight introduces changing landscapes where visibility allows. On any arrival drive, look for zebra, giraffe, elephants and antelope. Scheduled aircraft cabins can be shared, while the wildlife vehicle remains private.

Meals: Breakfast · lunch · dinner

Stay: Selected Mara camp

Zebras grazing on open plains below wooded hills

Day 6

A full Mara day on the open plains

Activities: Set out after breakfast for a private game drive across the open plains. Pause at grazing herds and spend time with any predators your guide locates. Break for lunch at camp or take a picnic when the agreed route suits a longer outing. Continue wildlife viewing in the afternoon, looking at different grassland areas before returning for dinner. Your guide chooses permitted routes around the day's sightings and your camp location.

Wildlife to look for: Look for zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, gazelles, elephants and buffalo. Lions, cheetahs and spotted hyenas are possible encounters. Resident wildlife remains the focus even outside the main migration period.

Meals: Breakfast · lunch · dinner

Stay: Selected Mara camp

Elephants walking through golden grass

Day 7

River wildlife and your final full Mara day

Activities: Take a daytime drive towards an accessible river sector, with wildlife stops on the surrounding plains. Watch the water and banks from permitted viewing places, then explore nearby grassland and woodland routes with your guide. Use the planned picnic lunch or camp break to fit the route. In migration periods, spend time observing herds where they are present before continuing the afternoon drive and returning to camp.

Wildlife to look for: Look for hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds around the river, plus elephants or buffalo nearby. Zebra and wildebeest may gather on the plains; migration crossings depend on herd movements and conditions.

Meals: Breakfast · lunch · dinner

Stay: Selected Mara camp

A safari vehicle following a track through dry grassland

Day 8

Breakfast, checkout and the return to Nairobi

Activities: Have breakfast, check out and begin the direct early road journey to Nairobi. Take suitable road breaks, then continue to the agreed drop-off; lunch is not included. This standard departure is a transfer day, with no game drive or departure-day Reserve entry. Inside camps follow the confirmed early-exit and sector conditions; outside camps return without entering. A final morning drive can be added only through a separate quote covering applicable entry and revised logistics, subject to the return itinerary.

Expected sights: Enjoy changing countryside along the road journey. No Reserve wildlife viewing is planned today; the focus is your Nairobi return and any agreed onward connection.

Meals: Breakfast; lunch not included

Stay: Safari ends in Nairobi

Your private safari, with four Mara accommodation choices

Choose the Mara accommodation level that suits your priorities. Other overnight stops use appropriate camps, lodges or hotels for the route; comfort and facilities can differ between destinations. The quote names every property, room and board plan. Photographs illustrate accommodation styles, rather than guaranteeing a particular room.

Prices vary by season. From amounts are for two non-resident adults sharing a double or twin room, with private ground services, the listed itinerary and compulsory charges. Dates, availability, party size and rooming determine the final written quote.

A timber walkway leading to tents beneath trees

Budget

Simple comfort, more time outside

Straightforward full-board safari accommodation with the essentials for the route.

From USD4,550per person sharing

Twin beds inside a canvas tent with a timber floor

Mid-range

A comfortable Mara base

Comfortable camps and lodges, selected for the daily journey and wildlife areas.

From USD6,000per person sharing

A tent bedroom opening onto a green landscape

Luxury

Classic safari hospitality

A characterful luxury Mara stay paired with suitable accommodation at the other stops.

From USD8,950per person sharing

A spacious tent suite with seating and a view over the plains

Ultra-luxury

Space, privacy and considered service

An exceptional Mara stay, paired with appropriate premium rooms elsewhere on the circuit.

From USD17,750per person sharing

Flights are included only where this itinerary lists them. The quoted total includes scheduled park or conservancy entry, applicable activity charges and compulsory selected-property charges. Optional extras, premium drinks, single occupancy and child arrangements are quoted separately.

What your land package covers

Included

Excluded

The written quote identifies the actual routing, properties, flights where listed, private ground arrangements and full compulsory charges. Any itinerary change is agreed before booking rather than added as an unexpected arrival charge.

Wildlife and landscapes along your route

A gazelle in Tsavo East National Park
Elephants walking through golden grass
Zebras grazing on open plains below wooded hills

Choose dates for the whole route

Discuss the destinations and wildlife interests together when choosing dates. Rainfall, road and trail conditions, air services and camp availability can affect the practical plan. Accommodation seasons and park tariff calendars do not necessarily match.

Wildlife throughout the route

Resident wildlife remains a focus beyond the migration period. Different habitats create different opportunities; no animal or landscape photograph is guaranteed.

Migration interests in the Mara

Herd movements follow rainfall and grazing. A longer stay can provide more observation opportunities but cannot secure a crossing or a fixed herd location.

A complete seasonal quote

The offer uses the actual travel dates, operating flights where listed, selected properties and all compulsory charges. Child ages, rooming, equipment and mobility needs are considered before confirmation.

Details that make the trip work

The private road journey covers Nairobi, Tsavo East and Tsavo West. A separately arranged private Mara vehicle and guide take over after the flight. The Tsavo vehicle’s operating and return logistics belong in the quoted total; a camp handover does not turn the wildlife drives into shared services.

The Tsavo West–Mara connection depends on the actual operating date and passenger minimum. The starting-price model allows for the published minimum rather than assuming a flight operates for two passengers alone. The complete routing and cost must be confirmed before booking. A different connection or charter requires an agreed complete quote; an unannounced flight surcharge is not part of this offer.

Tsavo East’s open, dry-country setting differs from Tsavo West’s bushland, volcanic scenery and springs. Mzima Springs is a planned permitted visitor stop, subject to current access and official instructions. Follow the designated route and any ranger arrangements; this is not unrestricted walking among wildlife.

Do not plan this circuit around a guaranteed rhino, predator, underwater hippo view or river crossing. Use the variety of habitats and the two full Mara wildlife days to build a broader wildlife experience.

The standard road departure includes breakfast, checkout and the direct early return to Nairobi. It includes no departure-morning game drive or departure-day Reserve entry. Outside camps return without entering; inside camps follow the confirmed early-exit and sector conditions without game viewing. A previous day’s ticket does not automatically cover the next day, and free departure is not assumed.

A final morning drive costs extra, including applicable entry and changed guiding or transfer costs. It must fit the return journey and appear in the written quote. Final-day road lunch and late checkout are excluded. Share your onward flight details so the return can be planned realistically.

The journey changes from road to a light-aircraft sector, so follow the booked airline’s confirmed soft-bag and total weight rules from the start. Extra bags and specialist camera loads need advance arrangements. The final return from the Mara is by private road, not an included second flight.

Scheduled ground transfers, wildlife drives, vehicle and professional guiding are private to your party. Some properties use a separate private camp vehicle and guide after a handover. Dining rooms, pools and other communal areas may be shared with other guests; exclusive use of the camp is a separate arrangement.

The quote names the property, room and board plan. Camp location affects which wildlife areas are practical to reach. The comfort choice describes the Mara stay and appropriate accommodation elsewhere; not every regional overnight has the same facilities. Accommodation photographs illustrate the style of stay rather than a guaranteed room. A family room, single supplement, accessible room or adapted vehicle must be confirmed for the actual party; a comfort tier alone does not establish these facilities.

The meals listed for each itinerary day are included. A packed lunch can replace camp lunch on an agreed longer outing; it is taken at a permitted stopping place. Bottled drinking water is included. House drinks and laundry follow the selected camp’s quoted package; premium drinks and personal purchases are extra unless listed.

Tell us about allergies, dietary requirements and preferred rest breaks before booking. A specially hosted bush meal is included only when named in this itinerary; an ordinary picnic does not imply a separately hosted dining experience.

Mara drives explore grassland, woodland edges and accessible river habitats according to your camp location and interests. Grazing herds, elephants, birds and predators offer different subjects; named animals, hunts and repeat encounters cannot be guaranteed. River outings depend on a practical route and permitted access, rather than being an automatic visit to every crossing point.

Migratory herds respond to rainfall and grazing, and a river crossing has no fixed timetable. Outside the migration period, drives focus on resident wildlife. Your guide follows the applicable routes and viewing rules; private transport gives you a flexible pace, not unrestricted access. See the migration guide when choosing dates.

Bring layers, comfortable footwear, sun and insect protection, familiar binoculars or camera equipment, and protection from dust and rain. Keep essential medication and travel documents accessible. Discuss mobility needs before selecting the camp and vehicle. Check nationality-specific entry requirements and exemptions through Kenya’s eTA portal; document charges and comprehensive travel, medical and evacuation insurance are outside the package price.

Additional Nairobi accommodation and ground transfers outside the listed itinerary are separate unless expressly included. Share onward connections before booking so the return plan allows for the relevant roads, airport transfers and check-in arrangements.

Prices vary by season. The displayed From amounts are adult per-person sharing starting prices, not a child rate or a total for the whole family. Dates, accommodation availability, party size and rooming determine the final offer. Scheduled entry and compulsory selected-property charges belong in the quoted total; optional extras are identified separately.

An optional balloon flight normally uses a shared basket, even on a private ground safari. Eligibility, weather decisions and cancellation or rescheduling terms follow the selected operator. Community visits, spa treatments and other additions are included only when expressly listed.

MaasaiMara.ke quotes and books through authorised tour operator partners. You pay the operator named in the written offer, which plans and fulfils the trip. Review the named accommodation, meals, transport, access, payment and cancellation terms before confirming.

Use the form below to tell us your preferred dates, party size, rooming and interests. A written quote sets out the accommodation and the full price for your trip, so your safari is planned around the arrangements you choose.

Plan your Tsavo East, Tsavo West & Mara Safari

Tell us your travel dates, party size, ages, rooming and wildlife interests. Include arrival and onward flight details, mobility needs and any activity preferences so the full itinerary and seasonal quote can be tailored to your party.

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