Light safari aircraft on a bush airstrip in northern Kenya during a flying safari
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Kenya Flying Safari · 7 Days / 6 Nights

7 Days Flying Safari — Amboseli, Samburu & Mara

Kenya
Overview

A luxury flying safari connecting three of Kenya's most iconic and ecologically distinct ecosystems. Private light aircraft transfers mean you spend your time watching wildlife rather than watching roads. From Kilimanjaro-backdrop Amboseli to the rare northern species of Samburu to the world-famous Masai Mara, this is Kenya's definitive safari experience.

All accommodation is at premium luxury tented camps. The Mara segment (Days 5–7) aligns perfectly with river crossings when booked July–October, but delivers outstanding Big Five year-round.

Highlights

  • ◆Amboseli: Kilimanjaro views and Africa's most photogenic and relaxed elephant herds
  • ◆Samburu Special Five: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, beisa oryx, Somali ostrich
  • ◆Samburu community cultural engagement with local Samburu warriors and elders
  • ◆Masai Mara: Great Migration river crossings (July–October); year-round Big Five
  • ◆Three completely different Kenyan ecosystems in seven days
  • ◆Private light aircraft transfers between all three parks
  • ◆Premium luxury tented camps throughout with outstanding service

Day-by-Day Itinerary

  1. Nairobi (Wilson Airport) → Amboseli
    Day 1
    Nairobi (Wilson Airport) → Amboseli
    Day
    1

    Nairobi (Wilson Airport) → Amboseli

    Morning transfer to Wilson Airport, Nairobi's domestic aviation hub. 45-minute scenic flight south over the Athi-Kapiti plains to Amboseli airstrip — Mount Kilimanjaro fills the horizon. Met by your guide. Transferred to your luxury camp. Afternoon game drive at golden hour. Sundowner and camp dinner.

  2. Day
    2

    Full Day in Amboseli National Park

    Pre-dawn game drive — Kilimanjaro lit by the first sun as lions and hyenas are still active. Return for a full lodge breakfast. 10:00 optional guided bush walk. Afternoon game drive to the marshes. Night at camp.

  3. Amboseli → Samburu National Reserve
    Day 3
    Amboseli → Samburu National Reserve
    Day
    3

    Amboseli → Samburu National Reserve

    Morning flight north to Samburu (~1hr 15min). The landscape below shifts from green Amboseli plains to the ochre semi-arid wilderness of northern Kenya. Afternoon game drive: first encounters with Grevy's zebra and reticulated giraffe. Sundowner on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River.

  4. Day
    4

    Full Day in Samburu National Reserve

    Dawn game drive along the Ewaso Nyiro River. Morning: Samburu community cultural visit — meet Samburu warriors in traditional ochre and beadwork. Afternoon game drive: gerenuk feeding upright on thorn bushes, rare Somali ostrich crossing dry riverbeds.

  5. Samburu → Masai Mara National Reserve
    Day 5
    Samburu → Masai Mara National Reserve
    Day
    5

    Samburu → Masai Mara National Reserve

    Morning game drive. Mid-morning flight to the Masai Mara (~1hr). Endless plains, vast wildebeest herds (July–October). Afternoon game drive across the plains — lion prides, wildebeest, zebra.

  6. Day
    6

    Full Day in the Masai Mara

    Full day dedicated entirely to the Mara. Dawn game drive — cheetahs at first light. Full day with bush picnic lunch. Mara River crossing (July–October). Maasai village cultural visit. Farewell camp dinner.

  7. Masai Mara → Nairobi Departure
    Day 7
    Masai Mara → Nairobi Departure
    Day
    7

    Masai Mara → Nairobi Departure

    Final dawn game drive — the Mara at its most electric in the early light. Return to camp for a full breakfast. Transfer to the Mara airstrip for the 1-hour return flight to Wilson Airport, Nairobi. Arrive Nairobi early afternoon.

What’s Included

  • ✓All accommodation — luxury tented camps throughout
  • ✓All park, conservancy, and airstrip fees
  • ✓All meals: full board throughout
  • ✓All game drives in open 4x4 Land Cruisers
  • ✓Return light aircraft: Wilson–Amboseli–Samburu–Mara–Wilson
  • ✓All airstrip transfers
  • ✓Bottled water throughout safari

Not Included

  • ·International flights to/from Nairobi
  • ·Nairobi pre/post accommodation (we can arrange)
  • ·Travel insurance
  • ·Tips and gratuities
  • ·Hot-air balloon safari (available at premium in the Mara)
  • ·Personal items
About the Destination

Kenya — The Heart of Safari

Kenya is the quintessential African safari destination. From the sweeping red-oat grasslands of the Masai Mara — home to the greatest wildlife spectacle on Earth — to the elephant-studded marshes of Amboseli with Mount Kilimanjaro rising on the horizon, Kenya offers unparalleled wildlife viewing across more than 50 national parks and reserves.

Explore Kenya in full →

Frequently Asked Questions

Why fly instead of drive between these three parks?

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Amboseli, Samburu, and the Masai Mara aren't close to each other by road — driving between all three would burn one or two full days in transit. Light aircraft transfers turn those into 45–75 minute flights, so almost all seven days go to actual game viewing rather than the road.

What makes Samburu different from the Masai Mara?

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Samburu is drier, more remote, and home to species you won't see further south — the 'Samburu Special Five': Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, beisa oryx, and Somali ostrich. It also offers a genuinely different cultural encounter with Samburu communities, distinct from Maasai culture.

Is 7 days across three parks too rushed?

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It's a full trip, not a rushed one — each park gets two full days, which is enough to settle in properly rather than just passing through. If you'd prefer more time in fewer places, our 5-day Amboseli & Tsavo or 3-day Mara itineraries are better fits.

How far in advance should I book this itinerary?

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Aim for six to nine months ahead, especially for July–October travel when Mara camps fill first. Light aircraft schedules also have limited daily seats between these specific airstrips, so early booking secures the smoothest routing.