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This 6-day road safari through southern Kenya starts in Nairobi and works through three parks: Amboseli National Park, Tsavo West National Park and Tsavo East National Park. It suits travellers who love elephants and want a Kenya circuit that ends either back in Nairobi or on the coast at Mombasa, ready for a beach extension.
The first two days are in Amboseli, where large-tusked elephants feed in swamps fed by Kilimanjaro's meltwater and early mornings bring the clearest views of the mountain. Observation Hill gives you the whole park from above. On day three you head east to Tsavo West for Mzima Springs, where an underwater chamber lets you watch hippos and crocodiles, and the stark Shetani lava flows. Days four and five are in Tsavo East, following the palm-lined Galana River and visiting Mudanda Rock, where elephants coloured by the red soil come to drink. A sunrise game drive on day six closes the trip before the drive to Mombasa or Nairobi. Ask our Arusha team about lodges for each stop and any changes you would like.
Your 6-day adventure across Africa's most spectacular wilderness areas
Depart Nairobi early morning and drive southeast through the Athi Plains toward Amboseli National Park. As you approach, Mount Kilimanjaro's massive dome appears on the horizon. Check into your lodge and head out for an afternoon game drive, encountering Amboseli's famous large-tusked elephants set against the stunning Kilimanjaro backdrop.
Wake to a clear morning for the best Kilimanjaro views and spend the day on game drives through Amboseli's marshes and dry lake bed. The park's permanent swamps fed by Kilimanjaro's underground meltwater attract dense concentrations of elephants, hippos, and waterbirds. Visit Observation Hill for a sweeping panoramic view of the park and its surroundings.
After a morning game drive, depart Amboseli and head east to Tsavo West National Park, one of Kenya's largest and most scenically diverse parks. Visit the crystal-clear Mzima Springs, where hippos and crocodiles can be viewed through an underwater observation chamber. Explore the dramatic Shetani lava flows, a stark volcanic landscape formed just 200 years ago.
Cross from Tsavo West through the Tsavo River corridor into Tsavo East, a vast wilderness of red-soiled semi-arid plains. Tsavo East is famous for its red elephants — they dust-bathe in the park's distinctive red laterite soil, giving them a striking russet appearance. Game drive along the palm-fringed Galana River, a lifeline that draws wildlife from across the park.
A full day exploring Tsavo East's remote wilderness. Morning and afternoon game drives take you to the Mudanda Rock — a massive inselberg and natural water catchment that attracts hundreds of elephants — and along the Galana River where crocodiles bask on the banks. The park supports healthy populations of lion, cheetah, and the critically endangered hirola antelope.
After a final sunrise game drive in Tsavo East, depart for either Mombasa on the coast (ideal for a beach extension) or return to Nairobi. The drive to Mombasa passes through lush coastal vegetation, arriving by midday. Alternatively, the drive to Nairobi follows the Mombasa Highway, arriving by late afternoon. Your Tsavo circuit adventure concludes with unforgettable memories of elephants, volcanoes, and vast wilderness.
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The drier months, roughly June to October and January to February, are generally best, when elephants gather around Amboseli's swamps and Tsavo's rivers and water points, and the air is often clearer for Kilimanjaro views. The parks can be visited year round. There are no fixed departures for this circuit, so ask us for dates that suit you.
On clear days, yes, and early morning is the best time, before cloud builds around the summit. The mountain often appears on the horizon as you approach on day one, and day two begins with a morning set aside for Kilimanjaro views and photography. Observation Hill gives a wide panorama of the park, its swamps and the mountain behind.
Amboseli's permanent swamps, fed by underground meltwater from Kilimanjaro, draw large numbers of elephants, including big-tusked bulls, along with hippos and waterbirds. You have an afternoon game drive on arrival and a full day on the marshes and the dry lake bed, which gives time to watch family herds feeding and moving between the swamps.
Mzima Springs is a set of crystal-clear springs in Tsavo West National Park where an underwater observation chamber lets you watch hippos and crocodiles below the surface. You visit on day three after the drive from Amboseli. The same afternoon you explore the Shetani lava flows, a stark black volcanic landscape that contrasts sharply with the green springs.
They dust-bathe in the park's red laterite soil, which colours their skin a rusty shade. Days four and five follow the palm-lined Galana River and visit Mudanda Rock, a large rock outcrop that collects rainwater and draws elephants to drink. Tsavo East also holds lion, cheetah and the rare hirola antelope.
It starts in Nairobi with an early drive across the Athi Plains to Amboseli. After a sunrise game drive in Tsavo East on day six, you choose your finish: Mombasa on the coast, arriving around midday, or back to Nairobi along the Mombasa Highway, arriving in the late afternoon. Let us know your onward flight when you book.
Yes. Finishing in Mombasa on day six makes a beach extension on the Kenyan coast easy to add, since you arrive by around midday. Tell our team how many nights you would like by the sea and the style of stay you prefer, and we will plan it as part of the same booking.
The lodges are not fixed for this circuit, so we match them to your style and budget. Our Arusha team will suggest a lodge for each stop, in or near Amboseli, Tsavo West and Tsavo East, when you enquire, and can adjust the route or run it privately for your own group.
Entry rules for Kenya change from time to time, so check the current requirements for your passport before you travel, and we will advise when you enquire. Speak to a travel clinic about recommended vaccinations and malaria prevention for safari areas. Pack neutral layers, a hat, sunscreen and binoculars, as the Tsavo parks are hot and dusty.
The Amboseli & Tsavo Circuit is 6 days and 5 nights. The day-by-day itinerary on this page shows where you go and stay each day.
This trip visits Amboseli National Park, Tsavo West National Park and Tsavo East National Park.
It is rated moderate: a reasonable level of general fitness is enough.
It runs for groups of 2 to 12 travellers.
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