Kenya from Above | 8-Day Classic Flying Safari

8 Days Safari | 7 Nights | Kenya

Discover Kenya's remarkable wildlife on this eight-day flying safari through Nairobi, Amboseli and the Maasai Mara. From conservation encounters in the capital to elephant herds beneath Mount Kilimanjaro and the wildlife-rich plains of the Mara, this journey offers a rewarding introduction to Kenya's diverse landscapes and wildlife.

Beginning in Nairobi, the journey introduces Kenya's conservation heritage before continuing south to the Amboseli ecosystem, where open savannahs, wetlands and acacia woodlands provide a striking backdrop for wildlife viewing. The adventure continues to the Maasai Mara, where expansive grasslands and abundant wildlife offer excellent opportunities to observe big cats and other iconic African species

The itinerary combines scheduled domestic flights with stays in private wildlife conservancies, offering a more intimate safari experience away from the busier areas of the national parks and reserves. Supported by experienced local guides, the journey brings together traditional game drives, varied wildlife activities and the convenience of air travel.

Why We Designed It This Way

Choose this journey if you want to experience Kenya's celebrated wildlife destinations without lengthy road transfers, combining conservation experiences, scenic flights and the quieter surroundings of private conservancies.

We recommend beginning with two nights in Nairobi to recover from international travel before heading on safari. Two nights in Amboseli provide time to explore its elephant-rich landscapes, while three nights in the Maasai Mara allow more time for wildlife viewing. Scheduled flights reduce time spent travelling between destinations.

Unlike safaris based entirely within national parks and reserves, this itinerary includes stays in private conservancies, where fewer vehicles offer a quieter wildlife experience. These areas also allow guided walking safaris and night game drives, making the journey particularly suited to travelers seeking a more varied safari experience.

Journey Highlights

• 8-day Kenya flying safari with 7 nights of accommodation

• 2 nights at Kwetu Hotel in Nairobi

• Conservation visits to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Giraffe Centre

• 2 nights at Porini Amboseli Camp in the private Selenkay Conservancy

• Guided game drives in the Amboseli ecosystem, known for its elephant herds and Mount Kilimanjaro views

• 3 nights at Porini Lion Camp in the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy

• Wildlife viewing in the greater Maasai Mara ecosystem, known for its big cats and abundant plains game

• Opportunities for guided walking safaris and night game drives in the private conservancies

• Scheduled domestic flights connecting Nairobi, Amboseli and the Maasai Mara

• Experienced local safari guides, with activities and inclusions as specified in the package

At Tourwithpipi, we don’t just plan safaris we curate stories worth remembering. Every journey is crafted with heart, care, and authenticity.

From handpicked lodges to seasoned guides who know every secret corner of the savannah, we bring you closer to the true essence of Africa.

Expect seamless service, immersive experiences, and the kind of warmth that feels like traveling with family.

Arrival in the Green City in the Sun

Your Kenyan journey begins in Nairobi, where a TourWithPipi representative welcomes you and arranges your transfer to Kwetu Hotel. Settle in after your international flight, with the rest of the day left open to rest and adjust before the safari begins.

Nairobi sits at approximately 1,700 metres above sea level, giving the city a generally mild climate compared with Kenya's lower-lying regions. Your first evening is intentionally unhurried, leaving you time to settle into the hotel and prepare for the days ahead. Any dinner arrangements will be confirmed with your travel team.

Overnight: Kwetu Nairobi

Meals: Breakfast

Experience: Arrival in Nairobi and a relaxed introduction to Kenya.

A Conservation-Focused Day in the Capital

Your full day in Nairobi introduces you to Kenya’s wildlife conservation work before you leave the city for the bush. Mid-morning, visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for its public viewing hour from 11am to 12 noon, timed around the orphaned elephants’ milk feed and mud bath. The Trust is known for rescuing and raising orphaned elephants with the aim of returning them to the wild.

In the afternoon, continue to the Giraffe Centre to learn about efforts to protect the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. The centre offers an opportunity to observe these giraffes at close range from its raised platform. Together, the visits provide a different perspective on wildlife in Kenya, focusing on the work that supports animals beyond the national parks and reserves.

Return to Kwetu Hotel for your second night in Nairobi, with the rest of the evening available to relax before your flight to Amboseli the following day.

Overnight: Kwetu Nairobi

Meals: Half Board

Experience: Morning visit to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage and the Giraffe Centre.

From the City to the Open Plains of Southern Kenya

After breakfast, transfer to Wilson Airport for your scheduled flight to Selenkay Airstrip in the Amboseli area. Leaving Nairobi by air replaces a long road journey with a shorter transfer between destinations, allowing more of the day to be spent in the safari landscape.

On arrival, transfer to Porini Amboseli Camp and settle into your surroundings. After lunch, head out with your safari guide for your first game drive. Amboseli is known for its open terrain, wetlands and large elephant herds, with Mount Kilimanjaro forming a striking presence on the horizon when weather conditions allow.

Your first drive offers an introduction to the area’s habitats and wildlife. Sightings vary with the season and animal movements, so your guide will adapt the route to the conditions on the day before returning you to camp for the evening.

Overnight: Porini Amboseli Camp

Meals: Full Board

Experience: Scheduled flight to Amboseli and an afternoon game drive.

Elephant Country Beneath the Mountain

With a full day in Amboseli, there is time to explore without needing to move to another destination. Porini Amboseli Camp sits in the private Selenkay Conservancy, on Maasai-leased land just north of Amboseli National Park, so your drives take place away from the minibus traffic of the park itself. Selenkay is a wildlife dispersal area and a dry-season water source for animals moving out of the park, and it supports species that are less common in Amboseli National Park, such as African wild dog, gerenuk and lesser kudu. Sightings are never guaranteed, but elephants remain one of the region’s defining features, while buffalo, giraffes, zebras and other species may also be encountered.

The cooler hours of early morning and late afternoon are often rewarding times for game viewing, and your drives are led by Maasai guides from the surrounding community. When the weather is clear, Mount Kilimanjaro may be visible beyond the plains, although clouds can obscure the summit. Your guide will use current conditions and wildlife activity to shape the day’s drives.

Between outings, return to camp for meals and time to rest. The second night at Porini Amboseli Camp means you can enjoy the area at a measured pace before flying to the Maasai Mara tomorrow.

Overnight: Porini Amboseli Camp
Meals: Full board
Experience: Game drives exploring Amboseli's open plains, wetlands and elephant habitats.

A Change of Landscape and a New Wildlife Region

Today you leave Amboseli and fly directly from Selenkay Airstrip to Olare Orok Airstrip in the Maasai Mara, moving from the open plains of southern Kenya to one of the country’s best-known wildlife regions.

On arrival in the Mara, transfer to Porini Lion Camp, your home for the next three nights. The camp sits in the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy, part of the wider Maasai Mara ecosystem. After settling in and having lunch, set out on an afternoon game drive. The Mara’s grasslands, scattered trees and riverine habitats support a wide range of wildlife throughout the year, although the animals you encounter will depend on local conditions and seasonal movements.

Return to camp after the drive for dinner and your first evening in the Mara. With three nights ahead, you have time to explore the area over several drives rather than trying to cover it all in a single outing.

Overnight: Porini Lion Camp
Meals: Full board
Experience: Afternoon game drive in the Maasai Mara

Following the Wildlife Across the Plains

Your first full day in the Maasai Mara gives you time to explore beyond the areas you may have seen on yesterday’s arrival drive. Porini Lion Camp is situated in the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy, part of the greater Maasai Mara ecosystem. The conservancy’s open grasslands and varied habitats support a wide range of wildlife, including lions, elephants, buffalo, giraffes and cheetahs, though each drive unfolds differently according to wildlife movements and conditions.

For an unforgettable start to the day, you can add an optional hot-air balloon safari, a sunrise flight over the savannah followed by a champagne bush breakfast, before continuing with the day’s game viewing.

A full day allows greater flexibility in choosing where to spend time. Your guide can adjust the route according to recent sightings, the habitats you have already explored and the pace you prefer. Rather than focusing only on finding particular animals, the day can also reveal the way wildlife uses the landscape and responds to the changing conditions around it.

Enjoy a picnic bush lunch at a suitable designated location during the day’s outing, then continue exploring before returning to Porini Lion Camp. The evening offers time to relax and reflect on the day’s sightings ahead of another full day in the Mara.

Overnight: Porini Lion Camp
Meals: Full board, including picnic bush lunch
Experience: Full-day private game drive and picnic lunch in the Maasai Mara

More Time to Observe, Explore and Understand

With a second full day in the Maasai Mara, there is no need to treat yesterday’s sightings as your only opportunity. Head out again with your guide, revisiting areas of interest or exploring different parts of the landscape according to wildlife activity and the day’s conditions. The Mara’s open plains, seasonal waterways and varied habitats offer a changing picture as you move through the landscape.

This additional time gives the experience room to develop. You may have the opportunity to observe familiar animals again, notice different behaviour or discover wildlife in a new setting. Encounters are never guaranteed, but having several drives gives your guide more opportunities to respond to what is happening across the landscape.

For a different kind of experience, you can add an optional visit to a Maasai village, a chance to learn about local culture and daily life away from the game drives.

Return to Porini Lion Camp after your day’s activities for your final night in the Mara. Tomorrow, you fly back to Nairobi, bringing your time in Kenya’s principal safari landscapes to a close.

Overnight: Porini Lion Camp
Meals: Full board
Experience: A second full day of game drives, with flexibility to explore different wildlife areas.

One Last Look at Kenya's Wild Landscapes

After breakfast, transfer to Olare Orok Airstrip for your scheduled flight to Nairobi. As you leave the Mara, the flight offers a final aerial perspective of the landscape you have spent the past few days exploring on the ground.

On arrival at Wilson Airport, your safari concludes. Guests continuing on an international flight transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, while those extending their stay transfer to a Nairobi hotel. Onward services beyond the safari are not assumed to be included unless arranged separately.

Your journey ends with a week of contrasting experiences, from Nairobi’s conservation centres to Amboseli’s elephant country and the broad wildlife landscapes of the Maasai Mara.

Meals: Breakfast
Experience: Scheduled flight from the Maasai Mara to Nairobi.