The trip
Every year, well over a million wildebeest, plus zebra and gazelle, move in a huge loop between Tanzania's Serengeti and Kenya's Masai Mara, following the rain and the grass. By August, much of the herd is usually on the Mara, and that's when the famous river crossings happen.
Here's what the documentaries don't tell you: a crossing can take hours of waiting. Thousands of animals gather at the bank, get nervous, back off, come back, and then suddenly one goes and the rest follow. Sometimes you wait all morning and nothing happens. We give the Mara four full nights, which is the biggest single factor in whether you see one. But nobody can guarantee it.
We build up to it. A day in Nairobi to meet the orphaned elephants, two nights in Amboseli for elephants with Kilimanjaro behind them, and two nights at Lake Naivasha, where you can walk among the giraffes on foot.
Highlights
- Feeding time at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage
- Amboseli's elephants with Kilimanjaro behind them at dawn
- A walking safari on Crescent Island, with no big predators
- Four nights in the Masai Mara during migration season
- A light-aircraft flight back to Nairobi over the plains
Day by day
Texas to Nairobi
A long journey through Europe or the Middle East, landing in Nairobi in the evening. Night at a garden hotel near the national park.
Nairobi
The elephant orphanage at feeding time, when the babies come charging in for their bottles. The Giraffe Centre, where endangered Rothschild's giraffes will lick food off your hand. Afternoon at the Karen Blixen Museum.
Amboseli
A drive south to Amboseli. Kilimanjaro, across the border in Tanzania, usually shows itself early in the morning before the clouds roll in. Game drives through the swamps, where some of Africa's biggest tuskers live.
Lake Naivasha
North into the Rift Valley. A boat trip among the hippos and fish eagles, and a walking safari on Crescent Island, where giraffes, zebras and wildebeest graze around you. Optional: a bike ride through Hell's Gate.
Masai Mara
Four nights in a tented camp in the Mara. Morning and afternoon game drives, with a full day out by the river when the herds gather. Lions, cheetahs, and probably a leopard if we're lucky. A visit to a Maasai village, arranged through the community, and an optional sunrise hot-air balloon ride.
Fly home
A light-aircraft flight back to Nairobi, then connections home, landing the next day.
What's included
✅ Included
- Round-trip international economy airfare, plus the light-aircraft flight from the Mara
- 9 nights in lodges and tented camps, double occupancy
- All meals on safari (full board from Amboseli on)
- Game drives in a pop-top safari vehicle with a guaranteed window seat, and a professional safari guide
- Park and conservancy fees, orphanage and Giraffe Centre entry, the Naivasha boat and walking safari
➖ Not included
- Kenya's eTA (electronic travel authorization) fee
- Optional balloon safari over the Mara (about $500)
- Tips for guides, drivers and camp staff
- Single supplement (from $1,690) and travel insurance
Good to know
Light aircraft in Kenya have strict luggage limits, usually 15 kg (33 lbs) in a soft-sided bag. We send a packing list that makes it work. See a travel clinic six to eight weeks ahead to talk about malaria pills and vaccines. You'll also need to apply for Kenya's eTA online before you fly.
