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Exclusive Safaris · Kenya
5-Day Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Naivasha Safari
About this journey
This 5-day Kenya safari from Nairobi combines the Maasai Mara with the lakes of the Great Rift Valley. After a night in Nairobi you spend two nights in the Mara, a night at Lake Nakuru or Lake Elementaita, and finish with a boat ride on Lake Naivasha or a guided bird walk before returning to the city.
Two nights in the Maasai Mara give you a full day on the plains for lion, cheetah, leopard, elephant and buffalo, with an optional sunrise balloon flight and the option of a Maasai village visit. Lake Nakuru National Park follows, a fenced rhino sanctuary where both black and white rhino are seen regularly, along with Rothschild's giraffe and rich birdlife.
The safari comes in five accommodation options, from the Serena collection (Nairobi Serena, Mara Serena and Lake Elementaita Serena) to Sopa lodges and tented camps. Depending on your option you either stay inside Lake Nakuru National Park or at Lake Elementaita, a quieter soda lake next door.
Best time to go: June to October and January to March are the driest months. The migration herds are usually in the Mara from July to October.
Who it suits: travellers who want more than the Mara alone, especially those keen to see rhino, which are hard to find in the Mara itself. It also suits birdwatchers: the Rift Valley lakes hold hundreds of species, from pelicans and fish eagles to kingfishers.
The first night in Nairobi means you start the safari rested after your international flight. Lake Elementaita, where options A and C stay, is a small soda lake in a quiet, hilly landscape, and the guided bird walk there on the last morning is a gentle contrast to the game drives.
Highlights
- Two nights in the Maasai Mara
- Rhino sanctuary at Lake Nakuru National Park
- Lake Naivasha boat excursion or guided bird walk
- Five accommodation options, including the Serena collection
- Airport pick-up and a first night in Nairobi
What's included
Included
- Nairobi airport arrival transfer
- Transport in a 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Game drives as per itinerary
- Park and sanctuary entry fees
- Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
- Lake Naivasha boat excursion or guided bird walk (by option)
Not included
- International flights
- Kenya eTA and visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Drinks, tips and personal expenses
- Hot-air balloon safari (optional, at additional cost)
- Hotel costs on the final day in Nairobi
Day by day
- Pick-up at the airport and transfer to your hotel
- Accommodation: your chosen Nairobi hotel
- Breakfast and safari briefing, then depart by 4x4 for the Maasai Mara with your fellow travellers
- Arrive at your lodge or camp for lunch, then an afternoon game drive
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: your chosen Mara lodge or camp
- Optional: sunrise hot-air balloon safari (at additional cost)
- Morning and afternoon game drives; a Maasai village visit can be included
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: your chosen Mara lodge or camp
- Early breakfast and drive to Lake Nakuru National Park
- Options A and C: picnic lunch and game viewing in the park, then on to Lake Elementaita
- Options B, D and E: lunch at your lodge inside the park, then an afternoon game drive
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: your chosen Nakuru or Elementaita lodge
- Option A: guided bird walk at Lake Elementaita
- Other options: morning boat excursion on Lake Naivasha
- Return to Nairobi and drop-off at a city-centre hotel for onward connections
- Meals: Breakfast
Where you stay
Choose one accommodation option for the whole safari; all include the same game drives.
| Location | Option A | Option B | Option C | Option D | Option E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi | Nairobi Serena Hotel | Tamarind Tree Hotel | Hilton Garden Inn | Ole Sereni Hotel | Mövenpick Hotel |
| Masai Mara (2 nights) | Mara Serena Safari Lodge | Pride Inn Mara Camp | Sentrim Mara Camp | Mara Sopa Lodge | Mara Maisha Camp |
| Lake Elementaita / Nakuru | Lake Elementaita Serena Camp | Sarova Lion Hill Lodge | Elementaita Sentrim Camp | Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge | Flamingo Hill Tented Camp |
Questions about this safari
How long is the 5-Day Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Naivasha Safari?
5 days and 4 nights. It starts in Nairobi and returns to Nairobi.
Is this a private or a shared safari?
It runs as a scheduled safari: you share the vehicle and game drives with other travellers on the same departure, which keeps the price down. We can also run it as a private safari on your own dates.
How do you travel?
By road in a 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for game viewing and photography.
Where will I stay?
In Nairobi: Nairobi Serena Hotel, Tamarind Tree Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn, Ole Sereni Hotel and Mövenpick Hotel. In Masai Mara (2 nights): Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Pride Inn Mara Camp, Sentrim Mara Camp, Mara Sopa Lodge and Mara Maisha Camp. In Lake Elementaita / Nakuru: Lake Elementaita Serena Camp, Sarova Lion Hill Lodge, Elementaita Sentrim Camp, Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge and Flamingo Hill Tented Camp. You pick one option, A to E, for the whole safari.
What is included in the price?
Nairobi airport arrival transfer, Transport in a 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof, Professional English-speaking driver-guide, Game drives as per itinerary, Park and sanctuary entry fees, Accommodation and meals as per itinerary and Lake Naivasha boat excursion or guided bird walk (by option).
Are park fees included?
Yes. Park, reserve and conservancy entry fees for every day of the itinerary are included in the price.
How far is the Maasai Mara from Nairobi?
The Maasai Mara is about 270 km west of Nairobi: five to six hours by road through the Great Rift Valley, or about 45 minutes by scheduled flight from Wilson Airport.
Can I see the Big Five on this safari?
Lion, elephant, buffalo and leopard are seen regularly in the Maasai Mara. Black rhino are few and shy, so all five are possible but never guaranteed.
When is the best time for this safari?
The Mara is good all year. July to October brings the Great Migration and Mara River crossings; January to March is quieter with excellent resident wildlife; April and May are green and the best value.
Can I add a hot-air balloon safari?
Yes. A sunrise balloon flight over the Maasai Mara with a champagne bush breakfast can be added at an extra cost. It needs booking in advance, as places are limited.
Can I customise this itinerary or upgrade the accommodation?
Yes. Choose any of the five accommodation options, A to E, and we can add nights, swap parks or arrange a private version on your dates.
What should I pack for this safari?
Pack neutral-coloured layers, a warm fleece or jacket for early-morning drives, a sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, binoculars and your camera with spare batteries. A soft-sided bag is best, and required on light-aircraft flights.
Do I need a visa for Kenya?
Most visitors need a Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), applied for online before travel. Check the requirements for your passport well before you fly.
Will I see flamingos at Lake Nakuru?
Flamingo numbers at Lake Nakuru rise and fall with the lake's water level, so they are never guaranteed. The park's rhinos, giraffe and water birds such as pelicans are reliable year-round.
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