6-day Kenya safari: Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli

Three parks, two weeks of wildlife in six days

A 6-day safari tour from Nairobi through Maasai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park and Amboseli National Park in a 4x4 jeep with an English-speaking guide, accommodation and all meals. You spend two full days in Maasai Mara hunting the Big Five across the savannahs, a morning at Lake Nakuru watching flamingos and rhinos, and two days in Amboseli tracking elephant herds with Mount Kilimanjaro in view. Airport pickup is included. Children from age 3 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Masai Mara

• Pick up from airport or hotel
• Drive to Maasai Mara with stopover
• Have picnic lunch en route
• Arrive at Masai Mara in afternoon
• Evening game drive
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 2: Full day in Masai Mara

• Early breakfast
• Full day exploring Masai Mara
• Visit Mara River border
• All meals and overnight at camp

Day 3: Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru

• Early breakfast
• Optional Masai village visit
• Depart to Lake Nakuru National Park
• Picnic lunch on the way
• Arrive at Lake Nakuru in evening
• Dinner and overnight at budget accommodation

Day 4: Lake Nakuru to Amboseli

• Breakfast
• Morning game drive in Lake Nakuru
• Leave Lake Nakuru
• Drive to Amboseli National Park
• Lunch en route
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 5: Full day in Amboseli National Park

• Breakfast
• Full day game viewing in Amboseli
• Optional Maasai village tour
• Meals and overnight at camp

Day 6: Amboseli to Nairobi

• Breakfast
• Last game drive in Amboseli
• Depart for Nairobi
• Picnic lunch en route
• Tour concludes

The experience

The route moves through three distinct ecosystems in six days, each one built around what lives there. Maasai Mara dominates the first half: you arrive on day one in the afternoon, then spend all of day two game driving the reserve's northern reaches where it borders the Serengeti. The Mara River crossing (where the reserve meets Tanzania) concentrates wildlife, especially during migration season. Lake Nakuru comes next, a single morning drive that trades the open savannah for a freshwater lake ringed with flamingos and lined with white and black rhinos. The park also holds over 450 bird species, from waterfowl to raptors. The final two days land in Amboseli, where the landscape opens again and Mount Kilimanjaro rises across the border in Tanzania: the park's signature view and the backdrop for watching large elephant herds.

You travel in a 4x4 jeep with an English-speaking guide and a small group. Accommodation is in tented camps at each stop (Sankale in Maasai Mara, Buraha Zenoni near Lake Nakuru, and either Amboseli Mountain View or Manjaro camp in Amboseli) each with hot showers and toilets inside the tents. All meals are included: early breakfasts before game drives, picnic lunches in the field, and dinners at camp. The itinerary builds in flexibility: on day three you can visit a Maasai village before leaving for Lake Nakuru, and on day five the same option exists in Amboseli so you can learn about traditional pastoral life firsthand. Airport pickup from Nairobi happens around 8:30 am on day one, and the tour ends with a final game drive and lunch on day six before the return to the city.

The budget format means shared accommodation and transport, not private vehicles or exclusive camps. What you gain is time: six days lets you see three parks instead of rushing one, and the two full days in Maasai Mara mean you can hunt specific animals rather than scanning from a car window. The Mara River and the flamingo lake are not quick stops. You spend hours there, which is how you see the behavior, not just the presence.

What’s included

• Accommodation in tented camps with hot showers and toilets.
• all meals from breakfast through dinner.
• game drives in a 4x4 jeep with an English-speaking guide.
• airport pickup from Nairobi around 8:30 am on day one.
• entry to Maasai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park and Amboseli National Park.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00Last departure this season: 31 Dec

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 to 85 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with back problems

Operated by JOCKY TOURS AND SAFARIS

Is this one for you?This 6-day tour suits travelers who want to see three distinct parks and wildlife habitats without the cost of a private vehicle or luxury lodge. The two full days in Maasai Mara give you time to track animals across the savannah rather than moving on after a few hours, and the route's pace (one park per day or two) means you're not exhausted by constant driving.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What animals will I actually see on this safari?

Maasai Mara holds the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo) plus zebra, gazelle, wildebeest and hyenas across the open savannah. Lake Nakuru is known for white and black rhinos, flamingos by the millions, and over 450 bird species including eagles and herons. Amboseli specializes in large elephant herds, and you'll see buffalo, zebra, gazelle and lions there as well. Sightings depend on season and daily movement, so no animal is guaranteed, but the parks are chosen because wildlife concentrates in them.

How much time do I actually spend game driving each day?

Day one includes a morning drive after arrival in the afternoon. Days two and five are full-day game drives in Maasai Mara and Amboseli respectively, starting after early breakfast. Day three is a morning drive in Lake Nakuru before you depart for Amboseli. Day four is a morning drive in Lake Nakuru, then travel to Amboseli. Day six is a final game drive before returning to Nairobi. Most days start around dawn when animals are most active.

Is the Maasai village visit included, or do I pay extra?

The village visits are optional on days three and five, so you choose whether to go. If you want to see how Maasai herders live and learn about their traditions, you can add it. If you prefer to spend that time on a game drive instead, you can skip it. The choice happens at the camp.

What's the accommodation like in the camps?

You stay in tented camps at each location: Sankale Tented Camp in Maasai Mara, Buraha Zenoni near Lake Nakuru, and either Amboseli Mountain View or Manjaro camp in Amboseli. Each tent has a hot shower and toilet inside, so you're not roughing it. Meals are served at the camp dining area, and the camps sit within or near the parks so you can hear the wildlife at night.

Does the price include everything, or are there costs I need to budget for?

The tour includes accommodation, all meals, game drives, the 4x4 jeep, the guide, and airport pickup from Nairobi. Gratuities for the guide and camp staff are not included, so you'll want to budget for those. The optional Maasai village visits, if you choose them, may carry a small additional fee paid directly at the village.