Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Amboseli: 6-Day Group Safari

Wild elephants at dawn, flamingos swirling on nakuru, laughter in the dusty maras

You’ll wake up to wild elephants under Kilimanjaro’s shadow, swap stories around campfires after spotting lions in Masai Mara, and watch flamingos turn Lake Nakuru pink at sunrise. With pickup from Nairobi, meals included and a local guide leading every step, this group safari is less about ticking boxes and more about sharing real moments: dusty boots, laughter, maybe even learning a new word or two.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve

• Meet at pick up location 7:30 am
• Drive to Masai Mara via Rift Valley viewpoint
• Have lunch enroute
• Check in at Lenchada camp
• Afternoon game drive in Masai Mara

Day 2: Full Day Game Drive in Masai Mara

• Breakfast at camp
• Full day game drive in Masai Mara
• Picnic lunch in the reserve
• Overnight at Lenchada camp

Day 3: Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru National Park

• Breakfast and optional Masai village visit
• Depart to Lake Nakuru National Park
• Picnic lunch on the way
• Arrive and overnight at Hill Court hotel

Day 4: Lake Nakuru to Amboseli National Park

• Breakfast at hotel
• Morning game drive in Lake Nakuru
• Depart to Amboseli National Park
• Lunch enroute
• Overnight at Manjaro Tented Camp

Day 5: Full Day Game Drive in Amboseli

• Pre-morning game drive with Kilimanjaro views
• Full day game drive in Amboseli
• Overnight at Manjaro Tented Camp

Day 6: Amboseli to Nairobi

• Pre-morning game drive with Kilimanjaro views
• Breakfast at camp
• Depart Amboseli to Nairobi
• Picnic lunch enroute
• Arrive Nairobi around 3 pm
• Drop off at pick up point or hotel

The experience

There’s this moment when you first roll down the window outside Nairobi: that dry, sweet-earth smell hits you, and you realize you’re really here for a Masai Mara safari. Our driver, Joseph, pointed out the Rift Valley drop-off as we curved along the road. I didn’t expect to feel so tiny watching that vast land open up. By noon we’d already swapped stories with two Aussies and a couple from Mumbai at our lunch stop (the chapati was warm and soft, I still think about it). The afternoon game drive felt like jumping into a wildlife documentary: lions lounging in the grass, wildebeest moving in these big restless herds. We ended up at Lenchada camp with dust on our shoes and a sky full of stars.

The next day was all about chasing shadows across the plains. Our guide had this sixth sense for finding cheetahs: he’d just stop mid-sentence and gesture quietly. At one point we sat by the Mara river eating picnic lunch while hippos grunted somewhere nearby. It’s noisy out there but also weirdly peaceful. I found myself just listening to wind in the grass. There was an optional visit to a Maasai village early on. I tried greeting someone in Maa but probably butchered it (they laughed anyway). The Masai Mara group safari thing means you end up sharing binoculars and snacks with people you barely know, which is actually kind of great.

Lake Nakuru surprised me, not just pink flamingos everywhere but also these flashes of white rhino moving through acacia trees. We arrived late after a long drive (the roads are bumpy, bring patience), checked into Hill Court hotel, and crashed hard. In the morning, birdsong woke us before breakfast: honestly louder than my alarm back home. Later that day we headed south toward Amboseli, stopping for lunch under a tree where monkeys eyed our sandwiches like seasoned thieves.

Amboseli itself felt different again: wide open space with Mount Kilimanjaro looming behind clouds. Pre-dawn game drives meant cold air on your face but also seeing those huge elephants, jumbos they call them here, walking right past our vehicle. We watched giraffes silhouetted against the mountain and tried to spot lions before breakfast back at Manjaro Tented Camp (coffee never tasted so good). On our last morning I didn’t want to leave. Something about that light over Kilimanjaro sticks with you longer than expected.

What’s included

Your journey includes pickup from Nairobi hotel or meeting point each morning, all park entry fees covered by your guide so you don’t have to worry about cash at gates, overnight stays at comfortable camps or hotel depending on location (Lenchada Camp near Masai Mara, Hill Court Hotel by Lake Nakuru, Manjaro Tented Camp close to Amboseli), plus daily meals: breakfasts before early drives and packed lunches eaten out on the savanna or roadside stops along the way.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30Last departure this season: 31 Dec

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 105

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go 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 17 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by JungleRoam Safaris (Kenya)

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

98 verified traveler reviews

5 ★98

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

How long is the Masai Mara & Amboseli group safari?

This tour lasts 6 days including travel from Nairobi through Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli.

Is hotel pickup included for this safari?

Yes, pickup from your Nairobi hotel or designated meeting point is included.

Are meals provided during the safari?

Yes, daily meals are included throughout the trip.

What kind of accommodation is provided?

You’ll stay in camps at Masai Mara and Amboseli and a hotel at Lake Nakuru.

Will I see elephants in Amboseli?

Yes, Amboseli is famous for its large elephant herds known as jumbos.

Is there an option to visit a Maasai village?

An optional Maasai village visit is available during your time in Masai Mara.

How many people are usually in each group?

This is a small group safari so expect to share with other travelers from around the world.

What animals can I see at Lake Nakuru?

You can spot flamingos, rhinos (black & white), buffaloes, zebras and many bird species at Lake Nakuru.