5 Days Amboseli National Park Safari

Day 1: Arrival, Lodge Check-in & First Afternoon Game Drive

Morning / Midday

• Touchdown & welcome: Your guide meets you at Amboseli airstrip (or at the park gate if you drove). Small charter flights from Nairobi take about 40–45 minutes – ideal if you want to maximize your time in the park.

• Transfer & check-in: Short drive from the airstrip to your lodge or camp. While you settle into your room, enjoy a welcome drink and a short orientation about park rules and today’s plan.

Afternoon

• First game drive: Head out for your first game drive in the late afternoon when light is warm and animals can be active. Amboseli’s swamps attract elephant herds, often with bulls that have very impressive tusks. Look for zebra, buffalo, giraffe and large bird flocks. Keep a lens ready for stunning Kilimanjaro backdrops on clear days.

Evening

• Return to camp for dinner. Evening brief from the guide covers tomorrow’s early start and optional activities (balloon, walking safari, Maasai visit).

Day 2: Full Day: Morning Game Drive, Picnic Lunch & Maasai Cultural Visit

Early Morning

• Sunrise game drive: Predawn drives are when predators may be active returning to cover, and light is perfect for photos. Expect close elephant encounters and views across the marshes.

Midday

• Picnic in the park: Many lodges arrange packed lunches at scenic locations. Bring sunscreen, a hat and binoculars.

• Option to relax at the lodge pool or catch a short siesta before afternoon activities.

Late Afternoon / Evening

• Maasai village visit: Meet Maasai hosts in a nearby boma (village) to learn about traditional beadwork, dress, herding life and singing/dancing. This cultural exchange is best approached respectfully – ask before photographing people and consider a small donation or buying locally made crafts to support the community.

Day 3: Walking Safari, Lodge Time & Afternoon Drive

Morning

• Guided walking safari: Head out on foot with an armed and expert ranger/tracker. Walking safaris in Amboseli focus on smaller details tracks, birds, insects, and the smaller mammals you miss from a vehicle. Rangers discuss ecology, elephant spoor and local plants. Walking gives a different sense of scale and quiet compared to game drives. Safety note: walking safaris are organized and escorted; never walk alone.

Midday

• Return to camp for a leisurely lunch and optional spa treatments or a nap. Many lodges offer sundowner suggestions for later.

Afternoon

• Second game drive: Explore different park zones – the open plains, the lakebeds and the swamp fringes. This is a great time to search for big cats, hyenas and diverse birdlife.

Day 4: Hot-Air Balloon Safari & Bush Breakfast

Pre-dawn

• Balloon pickup & briefing: You’ll be collected well before sunrise. Operators inflate the balloon while you enjoy tea/coffee and the first light. Kilimanjaro and Amboseli’s plains create dramatic sunrise panoramas. Balloon flights last roughly 45–60 minutes depending on winds and offer exceptional aerial wildlife viewing followed by a bush-style champagne breakfast. Book this early it’s a highlight and seats fill fast.

Late Morning

• Optional: short rest or additional game drive. After a bush breakfast many guests take a short nap or enjoy the lodge pool.

Afternoon

• Free time to enjoy lodge activities: photography lessons, nature talks, or a community visit. Many lodges also arrange private drives for more intimate sightings.

Day 5: Early Breakfast & Departure

• Early breakfast & check-out: Enjoy a final sunrise breakfast and one last glance at the plains.

• Transfer to the airstrip / drive back to Nairobi: Charter flight or road transfer depending on your booking and schedule. If returning by road, plan for a 4–5 hour drive from Nairobi with stops en route for photos or refreshments.