Package Overview

5-Day Tsavo East, West & Amboseli National Park Safari from Mombasa

Discover three of Kenya’s most spectacular wildlife sanctuaries on this carefully curated safari journey from Mombasa. This 5-day safari combines the vast wilderness of Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks with the iconic elephant herds and Mount Kilimanjaro vistas of Amboseli National Park.

Why This Safari Stands Out

The Tsavo-Amboseli circuit from Mombasa represents Kenya’s most diverse wildlife experience within a single journey. Unlike crowded Maasai Mara safaris, these parks offer authentic wilderness encounters with significantly fewer vehicles. You’ll witness the famous red elephants of Tsavo dusting themselves in ochre-colored earth, explore the underground viewing chamber at Mzima Springs where hippos glide overhead, and photograph elephants silhouetted against Africa’s highest peak.

This safari is designed for travelers already on Kenya’s coast, whether you’re extending a beach holiday in Diani, disembarking from a Mombasa cruise, or simply want to maximize your time without backtracking to Nairobi. The routing makes geographic sense: straight from the Indian Ocean coastline into Kenya’s wilderness heartland.

Complete 5-Day Safari Itinerary

 

Day 1: Mombasa to Tsavo East National Park

Your safari begins with an early morning departure from your Mombasa or Diani Beach hotel. The 150-kilometer journey to Tsavo East takes approximately 2.5 hours, transitioning from coastal humidity to the dry heat of Kenya’s interior.

You’ll enter Tsavo East through Bachuma Gate and immediately begin game viewing as you traverse toward your lodge. The Galana River ecosystem attracts heavy concentrations of wildlife, particularly during dry season months when water becomes scarce elsewhere. Watch for elephant herds moving toward the river, giraffe browsing on acacia trees, and the distinctive fringe-eared oryx that characterize this landscape.

Lunch is served at your lodge, followed by an afternoon rest during the hottest hours, safari wisdom dictates that wildlife activity peaks in early morning and late afternoon when temperatures moderate.

Your first evening game drive explores the riverine habitats and open plains surrounding your accommodation. Tsavo’s light vehicle traffic means animal behavior remains natural and undisturbed. Lion prides often hunt during these cooler hours, and leopards emerge from daytime rest to begin their nocturnal routines.

Overnight: Tsavo East safari lodge or tented camp

Day 2: Full Day Tsavo East Exploration

Dawn breaks over Tsavo at approximately 6:00 AM, the optimal moment to witness predators returning from night hunts and elephants emerging from woodland cover. Your morning game drive focuses on the Galana River region, where crocodiles bask on muddy banks and hippos vocalize from deeper pools.

Tsavo East’s birdlife reaches extraordinary diversity: carmine bee-eaters nest in riverbanks, martial eagles survey the plains from acacia perches, and during migration months (November to April), Palearctic species swell the count beyond 500 recorded species.

Midday returns you to your lodge for lunch and siesta. The African bush falls quiet during peak heat, and smart safari strategy recognizes this natural rhythm.

The afternoon game drive ventures deeper into the park’s interior. The vastness of Tsavo East becomes apparent, horizons stretch endlessly, broken only by baobab trees and scattered kopjes (rock outcroppings). This immensity creates a safari experience fundamentally different from smaller, busier parks. You might encounter entire elephant families without seeing another vehicle for hours.

Overnight: Tsavo East safari lodge or tented camp

Day 3: Tsavo East to Tsavo West National Park

After an early breakfast, you depart Tsavo East and travel westward toward Tsavo West, entering through one of the park’s northern gates. The landscape transformation is immediate, Tsavo West’s volcanic origin creates dramatic topography with the Chyulu Hills forming a verdant backdrop.

Your first stop is Mzima Springs, one of Kenya’s most unique wildlife viewing experiences. A series of four natural springs filters through porous volcanic rock, emerging as crystal-clear pools that supply Mombasa’s municipal water. An underwater observation chamber allows you to descend below the surface and watch hippos walking along the sandy bottom, seemingly weightless in the clear water. Barbel fish swarm in schools, and if fortunate, you’ll spot Nile crocodiles basking on rocks.

From Mzima Springs, your game drive continues to the Shetani Lava Flow, a black volcanic scar dating back approximately 200 years. The Swahili word “Shetani” means devil, reflecting local communities’ belief that the eruption represented supernatural activity. The flow stretches for miles, providing excellent photographic contrast against the surrounding greenery.

The afternoon explores Tsavo West’s central plains and acacia woodlands. Wildlife densities here often surpass Tsavo East due to more varied habitat and water sources. Elephant, buffalo, zebra, and numerous antelope specie, including the lesser kudu found rarely elsewhere, populate these regions.

Overnight: Tsavo West safari lodge or tented camp

Day 4: Tsavo West to Amboseli National Park

This morning’s journey takes you north toward Amboseli, approximately 3 hours of driving through rural Kenya and increasingly spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Weather permitting, the mountain reveals itself gradually, first as a cloud formation that resolves into Africa’s highest summit.

You’ll arrive in Amboseli around midday, checking into your lodge before an afternoon game drive. Amboseli’s ecosystem revolves around permanent swamps fed by Kilimanjaro’s melting snows. These wetlands attract extraordinary concentrations of elephants, sometimes gathering in herds exceeding 100 individuals.

The afternoon game drive positions you for photography during golden hour, when low-angle sunlight illuminates elephants against Kilimanjaro’s backdrop. This precise combination, the mountain, the elephants, the acacia trees, has become synonymous with African safari imagery worldwide.

Amboseli’s flat topography and open vegetation allow for exceptional Big Five viewing. Lions rest in open grassland, often visible from considerable distances. Buffalo herds graze near the swamps. Black rhinos, though rare, inhabit the drier peripheral zones. Leopards prove more elusive but are regularly spotted in the park’s limited woodland areas.

Overnight: Amboseli safari lodge or tented camp

Day 5: Amboseli Morning Game Drive and Return to Mombasa

Your final safari morning begins before sunrise. The early start serves multiple purposes: witnessing Kilimanjaro before clouds obscure its summit (typically by 9:00 AM), experiencing peak wildlife activity, and allowing sufficient driving time back to Mombasa.

Amboseli’s elephants often move in family groups led by matriarchs, their social structures visible in protective behaviors around calves. The park’s long-term elephant research means many individuals are known by name and age, their family trees documented across generations.

The Amboseli swamps attract prolific birdlife including crowned cranes (Kenya’s national bird), African spoonbills, pelicans, and during migration season, flamingos. Hippos inhabit deeper pools, and cheetahs hunt on the surrounding plains where open terrain suits their high-speed pursuit strategy.

After your morning game drive and breakfast at the lodge, you begin the return journey to Mombasa, arriving in the late afternoon with time to catch evening flights or continue your coastal holiday.

5-Days Tsavo Amboseli Safari Seasons

Safari | Tour Seasons

• Low Season: April to end of June

• Peak Season: July to October & 22nd December to 1st January

• High Season: November to March

Category of Lodges & Luxury Tented Camps

High Level Lodges / Luxury Camps

Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
Salt Lick Safari Lodge

Amboseli National Park
Amboseli Serena Lodge
Ol Tukai Lodge
Kibo Safari Camp

Tsavo West National Park
Kilaguni Serena Lodge
Severin Safari Camp
Voyager Ziwani Camp

Tsavo East National Park
Ashnil Aruba Lodge

Standard Level Lodges / Luxury Camps

Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
Taita Hills Safari Lodge & Spa

Amboseli National Park
Amboseli Sopa Lodge
Amboseli Sentrim Camp

Tsavo West National Park
Ngulia Safari Lodge

Tsavo East National Park
Voi Safari Lodge
Sentrim Tsavo Camp

5 Days Tsavo East, West & Amboseli Safari Prices

All safari prices below are per person sharing a safari vehicle and accommodation.
Single travellers or guests requesting single rooms will be subject to a single room supplement, to be confirmed at the time of booking.

High Level Lodges / Luxury Camps

Price per person sharing

Easter / Christmas / New Year Eve Supplements (per person per night)
Low Season: $35
Peak Season: $65

Standard Level Lodges / Luxury Tented Camps

Price per person sharing

Easter / Christmas / New Year Eve Supplements (per person per night)
Low Season: $25
High Season: $20
Peak Season: $35

Who This Safari Is Perfect For

This 5-day itinerary suits travelers seeking authentic wildlife experiences beyond standard tourist circuits. It’s ideal for:

• Beach holiday extenders already in Mombasa or Diani who want to add safari without flying to Nairobi
• Cruise passengers docking in Mombasa with 5-7 days before their next port
• Wildlife photographers seeking iconic African imagery, particularly the Kilimanjaro-elephant combination
• Families with older children (typically 7+) who can appreciate longer game drives
• Couples celebrating special occasions wanting romance and adventure combined
• First-time safari travelers who want diverse ecosystems in a single journey
• Return visitors who’ve already experienced the Maasai Mara and want different landscapes

The safari’s pacing balances game viewing with rest periods, avoiding the exhaustion that comes from excessive driving. Unlike budget camping safaris, lodge accommodations provide comfort after dusty game drives.

What You’ll See: Wildlife & Landscapes

Mammals

• Elephants (including Tsavo’s famous red elephants and Amboseli’s large tuskers)
• Lions (Tsavo prides and Amboseli’s swamp lions)
• Leopards (nocturnal sightings most likely in Tsavo West)
• Cheetahs (particularly in Amboseli’s open plains)
• Buffalo (large herds in all three parks)
• Black rhinos (Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary in Tsavo West, occasionally in Amboseli)
• Giraffes (Maasai giraffe subspecies)
• Zebras (plains zebra)
• Hippos (Mzima Springs, Galana River, Amboseli swamps)
• Crocodiles (Nile crocodile in rivers and springs)
• Diverse antelope: impala, Grant’s gazelle, Thomson’s gazelle, fringe-eared oryx, lesser kudu, waterbuck, eland

Landscapes

• Galana River ecosystem and Lugard Falls
• Mzima Springs underwater viewing chamber
• Shetani Lava Flow volcanic formations
• Chyulu Hills green volcanic range
• Mount Kilimanjaro viewpoints
• Amboseli wetland systems
• Acacia woodland and open savannah
• Baobab tree concentrations

Birdlife

Over 600 species across the three parks, including ostriches, secretary birds, kori bustards, martial eagles, lilac-breasted rollers, and seasonal migrants.