3 Days Amboseli Safari Overview
This three-day Amboseli safari starts in Nairobi and takes you to Kenya’s second-best national park – Amboseli National Park, graced by a backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. Its flowing streams water the grasslands, attracting elephants, zebras, gazelles, bushbucks, warthogs and other herbivores, along with the carnivores that hunt them. Amboseli has, of late, become a lovely place to stop and admire lesser flamingos that turn the swamps a beautiful pink hue. Amboseli is also a birdwatcher’s paradise. This 3-day safari is a nice escape from Nairobi city into the wilds of Africa.
Why take the 3-day Amboseli National Park safari?
Amboseli is a small national park with a high density of wildlife, making it quite easy to spot lots of wildlife within a short time. Animals to be seen here include cheetahs, wildebeest, zebras, Cape buffalo, lions, hyenas, lots of elephants, warthogs, Thomson’s gazelles and impala, amongst other wildlife.
Amboseli is also the traditional home of the Maasai tribe. You are welcome to visit the Maasai – they will gladly show you their lifestyle, teach you about their culture and make friends with you. Whether you are visiting Kenya with your family, are on a business trip with some time to spare, love travelling solo or are a photographer, this is one of the perfect safaris starting and ending in Nairobi.
Continue to the Kenyan coast
The same safari can start in Nairobi and end at Emali train station, where you can catch the train to Mombasa to visit the Kenyan coast or head on to Diani, Malindi or Watamu. The safari can also be extended into Tsavo East, Tsavo West, LUMO Wildlife Conservancy or any other location along the route towards the coast.
Summary of the Amboseli Safari
- Day 1: Pickup in Nairobi, drive to Amboseli, have lunch and an afternoon game drive.
- Day 2: Full-day game drive in Amboseli National Park, or a morning and afternoon game drive.
- Day 3: Early morning game drive, then depart to Nairobi after breakfast.
Amboseli Safari – 3 Day Itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi – Amboseli
Pick up from your hotel or the airport in the morning and drive south to Amboseli National Park, about four hours away via Namanga. We stop at a curio shop along the way for a rest and bathroom break. Arrive at your lodge or camp in time for lunch. After a short rest, head out for an afternoon game drive until sunset. Amboseli lies at the foot of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, which towers over the open plains. The park’s swamps are fed by underground springs carrying water from Kilimanjaro’s snow and rainfall, so there is water all year round. That draws large herds of elephants, zebras, wildebeest and giraffes, along with lions, hyenas and a rich variety of birds. This is the same landscape that inspired Ernest Hemingway’s short story The Snows of Kilimanjaro. Dinner and overnight at your chosen lodge or camp. (Lunch & Dinner)
Day 2: Amboseli Full Day
Rise early for a morning game drive, when the air is cool, the animals are active and Kilimanjaro is often at its clearest. Take a packed breakfast with you and stay out until about 10:30 AM, then return to the lodge for rest and lunch. In the afternoon, head out again and climb Observation Hill for a panoramic view over the park’s swamps, where elephants wade, hippos wallow and waterbirds gather. If you prefer, you can spend the whole day in the park with a packed lunch instead. You can also add a visit to a Maasai village as an optional extra. Return to your lodge or camp in the late afternoon to freshen up. Dinner and overnight at your chosen lodge or camp. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Day 3: Amboseli – Nairobi
Head out at dawn for a final game drive, when the soft early light makes it the best time to photograph Mount Kilimanjaro. Return to the lodge for breakfast and check out, then enjoy a game drive on the way out of the park before driving back to Nairobi. Drop-off at your hotel or the airport at around 4:00 PM. Alternatively, we can drop you at Emali station for the train to Mombasa. (Breakfast)
Amboseli in Pictures
3 Days Amboseli Safari Prices & Accommodation
Choose the lodge or camp that suits your style and budget. The more people travelling together, the lower the price per person.
- Low April – May
- Mid January – March & November – mid December
- High June – October & festive season
Amboseli Sopa Lodge
From $525 per person
| Group | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 people | $759 | $825 | $869 |
| 4 people | $589 | $649 | $679 |
| 6 people | $525 | $599 | $619 |
Amboseli Serena Lodge
or Kibo Safari Camp
From $620 per person
| Group | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 people | $855 | $910 | $1,050 |
| 4 people | $679 | $735 | $865 |
| 6 people | $620 | $675 | $799 |
Soroi Amboseli
From $1,179 per person
| Group | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 people | $1,415 | $1,575 | $1,765 |
| 4 people | $1,235 | $1,399 | $1,579 |
| 6 people | $1,179 | $1,339 | $1,515 |
Prices are in US dollars per person sharing, for a private safari with exclusive use of the vehicle. Solo traveller, child and festive-season rates on request.
Optional Extras
Maasai village visit
Meet the Maasai in their village and learn about their culture, homes and way of life.
Hot air balloon safari
An early-morning flight over Amboseli’s plains and swamps with Kilimanjaro on the horizon.
Extra night in Amboseli
Add a night for more game drives and another chance at a clear Kilimanjaro sunrise.
- Sopa Lodge from $329
- Serena / Kibo from $360
- Soroi from $719
End at Emali station
Finish at Emali and take the train to Mombasa for the coast. We help you book your train tickets.
Tsavo add-on
Continue into Tsavo East or Tsavo West on your way to the coast.
Extra night prices are per person sharing and vary by season.
Package Includes
- All park entrance fees
- Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary
- 1.5 litres of bottled water per person per day in the vehicle for use during the safari
- Services of an English-speaking, experienced driver/guide
- Transport in a 4×4 safari Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof for game viewing and photography
- Exclusive use of the safari vehicle throughout the trip
- All government taxes and levies
- Safari accessories (first aid kit, cooler box and fire extinguisher) and a 24-hour emergency number
- RF radio in all safari vehicles to help drivers locate wildlife
Package Excludes
- Expenses of a personal nature such as visas, driver tips etc.
- Balloon safari (available as an optional extra – see above)
- Maasai village visit (available as an optional extra – see above)
- AMREF Flying Doctors evacuation cover in case of life-threatening illness or injury – USD 10 per person
3 Days Amboseli Safari FAQs
When is the best time for a 3-day Amboseli safari?
Amboseli is good all year. The dry months, June to October and January to March, bring the best game viewing and the clearest views of Kilimanjaro. April and May are the rainy low season: the park is green, there are fewer vehicles and prices are lower.
Will I see Mount Kilimanjaro?
Most days, yes, but it is never guaranteed. The mountain is usually clearest at dawn and in the late afternoon and often hides in cloud around midday, which is why this safari includes early-morning game drives.
How long is the drive from Nairobi to Amboseli?
About 240 km, or roughly 4 hours, via Namanga. There is also an alternative route through Emali. We stop at a curio shop along the way for a rest and bathroom break.
Is this safari suitable for families with children?
Yes. It is a private safari, so the pace and stops are set around your family, and child rates are available on request. Children are welcome at all our lodges and camps, including Soroi Amboseli. The only exception is Soroi’s Star-Bed Deluxe Suite – with a star bed on the terrace, an outdoor shower and a private plunge pool – where children under 8 years are not allowed.
Can the safari end at the coast instead of Nairobi?
Yes, at no extra cost. We can drop you at Emali station for the train to Mombasa and help you book your tickets. The safari can also be extended through Tsavo East, Tsavo West or LUMO Wildlife Conservancy on the way to the coast.
What should I pack?
Layers for cool mornings and warm afternoons, a sun hat, sunscreen, binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens. A soft bag fits best in the safari vehicle. You do not need to bring drinking water: we provide 1.5 litres of bottled water per person per day in the vehicle.
