I have NOT read the earlier responses - Jane, thanks for re-directing me to your "real" question - and here come my 2 cts:
- July over December for the migration in the Massai Mara! but late July/beg. of Aug would be best so in that case put the Mara at the end.
- logistically I would first go to Amboseli followed by Samburu and end in MM.
Canall be done on http://www.safarilink.com/
- Amboseli you should stay at TORTILIS (www.chelipeacock.com) from where you can see (lucky!) Kilimanjaro.
Amboseli is slso called "dust bowl" -
- it's peak peak season due to the wildebeast migration.
- December is better cost wise and you see plenty of animals (resident game/cats) in all three locations but you miss the migration and the "short" rains have started. Short rains doesn't mean pouring,. An occasional shower here and then . But that also might deliver dramatic clowds adding some special features to your photos.
Have a guess for which reason
- Samburu is totally different landscape from both: Ambo and Mara.
- Massai Mara you have savannah.
Maybe instead of Samburu, if wildlife is not your foremost concern/ priority you could also go to Meru (Elsa's kopje: www.chelipeacock.com) . Meru as well is great landscape (you have the doom palms here which I LOVE - but it's YOUR safari !) but Meru has TALL Elephant grass: tracking and spotting is difficult here. Nonetheless: Elsa's guides are excellent and find something for you You also could pay a visit to Elsa's grave (lioness Elsa, Joy and George Adamson).
One more option would be LAIKIPIA Plateau. Also great landscape bat wildlife not in abundance.
Here i watched a HUGE male lion RUN towards his ladies which were just visited by another lion. The mane flying in the wid - a sight I won't forget.
You can see special things here. But nothing is for granted as e.g. in the MM.
Doesn't matter what you choopse: You cannot get it wrong as long as you settle down to the appreciation of whatever comes along.
As you know from your visit to TAZ: It's not a zoo and wildlife is unpredictable.
Get away from the expectations to MUST see the big 5 - or the safari is a failure. Get yourself away from that attitude in order to enjoywhat ever you see. Travelling to Africa with a high/certain expctations just calls for disappointment.
If it were a "trip of a lifetime" I would go to Ambo, Samburu and MM.
If it's just another safari I would include Meru, Tsavo and Samburu, travel in early July (costwise it's good value as from 15 of July peak season starts) and Samburu is still cool(er).
The choice is yours.
Happy planning!