Watamu Safari Tsavo East Amboseli 3 Days 2 Nights

3 Days/2 Nights Tsavo East & Amboseli National Park Safari from Malindi/Watamu.  Tsavo National Park is separated from one of Kenya’s largest wildlife sanctuaries by the A109 highway, renowned for vast, arid plains, “red” elephants, and rich volcanic history. 

Tsavo East features the scenic Galana River and Lugard Falls, while Tsavo West offers dramatic landscapes, including Mzima Springs, Shetani lava flows, and endangered rhino sanctuaries. 

Tsavo East National Park Highlights

✓ Red Elephants: Large herds of elephants coated in red-oxide dust
✓ Yatta Plateau: The world’s longest lava flow, stretching over 300 km
✓ Galana River: Lush, palm-fringed river passing through arid landscapes
✓ Lugard Falls: A series of rapids and white water cascading over uniquely shaped rocks
✓ Mudanda Rock: A massive 1.6 km rock formation with a waterhole below, popular for game viewing

Amboseli National Park Highlights

✓ Birdlife: Over 400 species are recorded, including pelicans, Egyptian geese, and various raptors
✓  Plains Game: Frequent sightings of Maasai giraffes, zebras, and wildebeests, hyenas, and cheetahs
✓ Wildlife: Beyond elephants, Amboseli supports a wide variety of game, including the Big 4. While rhinos are absent, you can easily spot a lion, leopard, buffalo, and elephant
✓ Lake Amboseli: A vast, usually dry soda lake that gives the park its name (Maasai for “salty dust”). During heavy rains, it floods, attracting thousands of flamingos
✓ Cultural & Nearby Experiences: Maasai Cultural Visits: Many lodges can arrange visits to local Maasai villages to learn about their ancestral customs and beadwork
✓ Massive Elephant Herds: The park is home to over 1,500 elephants. You can watch them move daily from the acacia woodlands to the central swamps to bathe and feed
✓ Mount Kilimanjaro Views: Although the mountain is in Tanzania, Amboseli offers the world’s best views of its snow-capped peak. Sunrise is the best time for clear visibility before clouds often move in
✓ Observation Hill: This pyramid-shaped hill is the only place in the park where you can safely get out of your vehicle. It provides a 360-degree panoramic view of the swamps, plains, and the mountain
✓ Enkongo Narok & Ol Tukai Swamps: These lush wetlands are fed by underground springs from Kilimanjaro’s melting snow, attracting hippos, buffaloes, and large concentrations of birds

3-Days/2 Nights Tsavo East & Amboseli safari from Malindi or Watamu Itinerary

Day 1: Watamu/ Malindi to Tsavo East National Park

0600 Hours: Departure from Watamu/ Malindi resort
0930 Hours: – 1000 Hours: Arrival at Sala Gate (Tsavo East entry)
1015 Hours – 1230 Hours: Mid-morning game drive spotting “red” elephants and buffalo
1300 Hours  – 1530 Hours: Lunch and rest at your lodge (e.g., Ashnil Aruba Lodge)
1600 Hours – 1830 Hours: Sunset game drive near the Galana River
2000 Hours: Dinner and overnight stay

Day 2: Tsavo East to Amboseli National Park

0600 Hours: Breakfast and early morning game drive in Tsavo
0800 Hours: Departure for Amboseli National Park (approx. 4–5 hour drive)
1300 Hours: Arrival and lunch at your lodge (Ol Tukai Lodge/ Amboseli Serena Lodge)
1600 Hours – Sunset: Afternoon game drive with Mount Kilimanjaro views
0800 Hours: Dinner and overnight stay

Day 3: Amboseli to Watamu/ Malindi

0600 Hours: Early morning game drive to catch the peak of Kilimanjaro before clouds set in
0830 Hours: Breakfast at the lodge and check-out
0930 Hours: Start the long return journey to Watamu
1330 Hours: Stop for lunch in Voi Town
1700 Hours – 0630 Hours: Arrival back at your Watamu resort

Travel Summary

Experience nature up close on this short 3-day wildlife-focused Kenya safari tour, while visiting two of Kenya’s landmark destinations – Tsavo East National Park and Amboseli National Park.

This 3-day road safari begins in Watamu/Malindi, heads to Tsavo East National Park for one night, then to Amboseli National Park for one night, before returning to the Kenyan coastal towns of Watamu or Malindi.

Your tour opens in Tsavo East National Park, where you enjoy mid-morning and afternoon game drives. Tsavo West forms the largest protected area in Kenya and is home to most of the larger mammals, including vast herds of dust–red elephants, Rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard, pods of hippo, crocodile, waterbuck, lesser Kudu, and gerenuk, and the prolific bird life features 500 recorded species.

After spending a night at a lodge or camp of your choice in Tsavo East, you proceed by road the following day to Amboseli National Park, one of Kenya’s most popular parks. Amboseli not only offers great game viewing but is also the place to go for the best views of iconic Mount Kilimanjaro.

At only 392 km², Amboseli is a small park, and the range of animals is not as extensive as that of other parks in Kenya, but streams from Kilimanjaro flow through the center of Amboseli, creating wetlands that support a rich diversity of wildlife, and most of the classic big mammals are there.

The species list includes lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, spotted hyena, giraffe, and cheetah, and bird watchers will be happy with a list that tops 300 species.

“Amboseli” comes from a Masai word meaning “salty dust”, and it is one of the best places in Africa to view large herds of elephants up close.

Attractions in Amboseli include large Herds of Elephants, Mt. Kilimanjaro, game drives to see the Big Four (Lion, Elephant, Leopard and Buffalo), Observation Hill which allows an overall view of the whole park, especially the swamps and elephants, and the swamp below Observation Hill hosts many elephants, buffaloes, hippos, and a variety of water fowls like pelican, Egyptian goose

Activities include visiting the local Maasai community, who live around the park, and experiencing their authentic culture.

✓ Big old tuskers (Elephants)

✓ Majestic Mount Kilimanjaro backdrop

✓ Delta: an excellent place for bird-watching

✓ Large herds of Elephants – Amboseli is famous for its huge number of elephants. Nature lovers can explore five different habitats here, including the dried-up bed of Lake Amboseli, wetlands with Sulfur springs, the savannah, and woodlands.

✓ Maasai Culture and visit the Masai Villages: certainly, a great opportunity to see and enjoy Masai songs and dances, buy some Masai souvenirs, visit a Masai nursery children’s school, and take pictures of the Masai people

✓ Great views from Observation Hill: Amboseli National Park is predominantly flat except for several rocky outcrops and a small hill where you can get fabulous views of the national park and Mt Kilimanjaro. Observation Hill is great for both lookout and photo opportunities

✓ Amboseli swamps – A huge swamp which covers a large part of Amboseli National Park is fed by underground rivers from Mt Kilimanjaro’s melting snow. Elephants & hippopotami enjoy soaking in the cool water and are never short of food

Day 1: Watamu/ Malindi – Drive to Tsavo East National Park
Day 2: Tsavo East National Park – Amboseli National Park
Day 3: Amboseli National Park – Watamu/ Malindi

Overnight Accommodation: Ashnil Aruba Lodge, Voi Wildlife Lodge, or Similar
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 2: Tsavo East National Park – Amboseli National Park

Wake up for an early game and scenery viewing drive. Sunrise catches us with its splendor as the drama of the wild unfolds amid the freshness and beauty of the morning.

The greenery surrounding the springs is a welcome contrast to the harsh terrain that forms the bulk of Tsavo East.

Later, return to the hotel for breakfast, then depart for Amboseli. The 245 km journey will take us through the jungle to our base in Amboseli, in time for lunch.

We will freshen up, enjoy our buffet lunch, and while away the time until late afternoon, when we set out to explore Amboseli.

Enjoy an optional visit to a Masai village, followed by an afternoon safari game drive.

Overnight Accommodation: Ol Tukai Lodge, Amboseli Serena Lodge, or Similar
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 3: Amboseli National Park – Watamu

After an early morning breakfast, set out for an early game drive. The morning is always good to view Mount Kilimanjaro and herds of elephants returning to the swamp for morning feeding.

Return to the lodge and depart for Watamu, stopping for lunch in Voi Town.

Meal Plan {Breakfast & Lunch}

3 Day Tsavo East & Amboseli National Park  Safari from Malindi/ Watamu Prices Include

✓ Mineral water during the tour
✓ All meals included while on safari
✓ All applicable Game Park entrance fees
✓ Guaranteed window seating with an open-top Safari vehicle with mineral water
✓ Game drives with a professional, experienced driver-guide in Tsavo & Amboseli 
✓ Round-trip transport from Watamu/ Malindi to Tsavo East National Park and Amboseli National Park
✓ Accommodations of your choice for 1 night in Tsavo East National Park and 1 night in Amboseli National Park

Notes

* Safari transport/ game viewing drives are conducted in customized pop-up top safari mini-vans
* Customized pop-up top 4 x 4 Safari land cruiser jeeps are available at an extra cost

 3 Day Tsavo East & Amboseli National Park  Safari from Malindi/ Watamu Prices Exclude

✘ International Airfare
✘ Cost of obtaining a passport and visas
✘ Accommodations in Watamu/ Malindi
✘ Gratuity for your professional driver-guide
✘ Sundowner bush cocktails and bush dinner
✘  Gratuity for porters/ waiters at hotels, camps, and airports
✘ Personal expenses such as transfers to/ from the airport (supplement airport transfer cost applies for tours starting from the airport)
✘ Personal expenses such as traveling insurance, excess baggage fee, communication charges that include laundry, emails, faxes, and phone calls, beverages including luxury champagne, luxury spirits, beer, and wines during meals or meals not indicated in the itinerary

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