7 Days Best Masai Mara Kenya Safari and Botswana Safari

Your Kenya Safari and Botswana Safari adventure begins with arrival and pick up at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya's bustling capital city. Our professional English-speaking driver-guide will meet you at the airport for a warm welcome and transfer you to your comfortable accommodation in Nairobi (45 minutes drive). Spend the rest of your day relaxing and preparing for the exciting Kenya Safari and Botswana Safari journey ahead. This initial day allows you to acclimatize to East African time zone while enjoying optional activities such as visiting the Giraffe Centre or Karen Blixen Museum, setting the perfect tone for your Kenya Safari and Botswana Safari expedition.

Transfer to the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve, departing Nairobi early morning for the scenic 5-hour drive (280 kilometers) through the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Your Kenya Safari and Botswana Safari adventure intensifies as you arrive at your luxury tented camp overlooking the Mara River around midday. After lunch and check-in, proceed to your first afternoon game drive in the Masai Mara, where vast savannahs teem with wildlife including lions, elephants, and countless antelope species. The Masai Mara's golden grasslands provide the perfect introduction to your Kenya Safari and Botswana Safari experience, with excellent opportunities for photographing Africa's iconic wildlife against stunning sunset backdrops.

Proceed to a comprehensive full-day safari exploration of the Masai Mara National Reserve, starting with an early morning game drive when predators are most active. Your Kenya Safari and Botswana Safari journey reaches new heights as you search for the Big Five - lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and the rare black rhino. The Masai Mara's diverse ecosystems, from riverine forests to open plains, support over 95 species of mammals and 400 bird species. Return to camp for a bush lunch before continuing your afternoon game drive, maximizing your Kenya Safari and Botswana Safari wildlife encounters in this UNESCO-recognized ecosystem that forms part of the greater Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.

Continue with intensive Masai Mara game drives focusing on the spectacular Great Wildebeest Migration (July-October) and the reserve's famous big cat populations. Your Kenya Safari and Botswana Safari experience reaches its peak as you witness dramatic river crossings at the Mara River, where crocodiles wait for migrating wildebeest and zebras. The Masai Mara hosts the world's largest populations of lions and spotted hyenas, making every game drive an thrilling adventure. Optional hot air balloon safari (additional cost) offers breathtaking aerial views of the migration herds, while cultural visits to traditional Maasai villages provide insights into local customs, enhancing your Kenya Safari and Botswana Safari cultural understanding.

Transfer to Botswana begins with an early morning flight from Masai Mara airstrip to Maun, Botswana (2-hour flight), marking the transition phase of your Kenya Safari and Botswana Safari adventure. Upon arrival in Maun, take a scenic light aircraft transfer (45 minutes) to your exclusive camp deep in the Okavango Delta's pristine wilderness. The Okavango Delta, known locally as "Moremi" meaning "the place of short rivers," welcomes you with crystal-clear channels and papyrus-lined waterways. Your Kenya Safari and Botswana Safari experience transforms as you settle into luxury safari tents elevated on wooden platforms, offering panoramic views of the delta's unique wetland ecosystem and its abundant wildlife.

Proceed to traditional mokoro (dugout canoe) safaris guided by expert local polers through the Okavango Delta's intricate network of channels and lagoons. Your Kenya Safari and Botswana Safari adventure takes on a completely different dimension as you silently glide through crystal-clear waters observing hippos, crocodiles, and over 400 bird species in their natural habitat. The delta's seasonal floodwaters (May-September) create a unique ecosystem supporting elephants, buffalo, and rare antelope species like red lechwe and sitatunga. Combine mokoro excursions with walking safaris on remote islands, where your Kenya Safari and Botswana Safari experience includes tracking wildlife on foot and learning about the delta's complex ecosystem from knowledgeable local guides.

Continue with morning game drives in Moremi Game Reserve, the Okavango Delta's most wildlife-rich area, famous for its population of white rhinos and diverse predator species. Your final Kenya Safari and Botswana Safari Day offers exceptional opportunities to spot leopards, African wild dogs, and large elephant herds in the mopane woodlands and floodplains. Moremi Game Reserve, covering 4,871 square kilometers, represents one third of the Okavango Delta and provides the perfect conclusion to your safari adventure. After your final game drive and bush breakfast, transfer to Maun Airport (1-hour flight) for onward connections, concluding your unforgettable Kenya Safari and Botswana Safari journey with lifetime memories of Africa's most spectacular wilderness areas.