5-Day Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Naivasha Safari from Nairobi

Five days tracking the Big Five and migrating herds across Kenya's most famous reserves

This 5-day joining safari from Nairobi covers Masai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha with a live English-speaking guide, four nights in tented camps and lodges, all meals except day one breakfast and day three dinner, and hotel pickup and drop-off. The itinerary moves through the Great Rift Valley, stopping at flamingo-filled Lake Nakuru, Hell's Gate National Park and its geothermal springs, and the Mara River crossing point where wildebeest concentrate seasonally. Children from age 3 are welcome. The pace suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Masai Mara

• Pick up from airport or hotel
• Stop at Great Rift Valley viewpoint
• 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 at camp
• Full day exploring Masai Mara
• Visit Mara River border
• All meals and overnight at camp

Day 3: Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru

• Optional visit to Masai Village
• Late breakfast at camp
• Depart to Nakuru National Park
• Picnic lunch on the way
• Dinner and overnight at budget accommodation

Day 4: Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha

• Early breakfast at Nakuru
• Morning game viewing in Nakuru Park
• Depart to Lake Naivasha
• Picnic lunch en route
• Optional evening boat ride on Crescent Island
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Day 5: Lake Naivasha to Nairobi

• Early breakfast at lodge
• Visit Hell's Gate National Park
• Visit Geothermal Power Plant and Hot Springs
• Optional boat ride on Crescent Island
• Lunch
• Depart to Nairobi
• Drop off at hotel or airport

The experience

The tour picks you up from your Nairobi hotel or airport around 8:30 am on day one, then drives south toward Masai Mara with a stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint and a picnic lunch en route. You arrive in the afternoon and head straight into an evening game drive before dinner and overnight at Sankale Tented Camp, where the tent has an en-suite shower and toilet. Day two is a full day in the reserve: early breakfast, then a complete circuit of the park with a picnic lunch, focusing on the Mara River where animals gather in high concentrations, especially during the migration season.

Day three takes you out of the Mara after a late breakfast and south to Lake Nakuru, a national park built around the protection of endangered species. You spend the morning watching flamingos (about 350 bird species are recorded here), and looking for black and white rhinos, leopards, giraffes and plain antelope. After lunch you continue to Lake Naivasha, where an optional evening boat ride on Crescent Island lets you watch hippos and other wildlife from the water. Day four stays at Naivasha: the morning is free to rest or explore, and an optional boat ride is available if you want it. On day five, you drive to Hell's Gate National Park, the only Kenyan park where you can walk or cycle instead of staying in a vehicle. You visit the Geothermal Power Plant at Ol Karia and the hot springs, with an optional boat ride on Crescent Island to see hippos. After lunch you return to Nairobi, arriving around 3 pm for drop-off at your hotel or airport.

The guide is with you throughout and speaks English. Meals follow the itinerary: breakfast, lunch and dinner most days, except breakfast is not included on day one and dinner is not included on day three. Bottled water is provided. Accommodation moves between Sankale Tented Camp (nights one and two), a budget lodge near Lake Nakuru (night three), and Dove Nest Lodge or Chambai Safari Hotel at Lake Naivasha (night four). This is a joining tour, so you travel with other guests. The group size varies by departure.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from selected Nairobi hotels.
• four nights accommodation in tented camps and lodges.
• all meals except day one breakfast and day three dinner.
• bottled water throughout.
• English-speaking guide for the full five days.
• transport in a safari vehicle with game drives and park visits as per itinerary.

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 included in the booking

GroupUp to 7

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 yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for back problems

Operated by JOCKY TOURS AND SAFARIS

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to join a small group and keep costs down while covering the major reserves in one trip. The fixed itinerary and shared vehicle mean the days are structured and the price is set, so you're not arranging transport or timing yourself. You show up and the safari unfolds across five days.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

What animals will I actually see on this safari?

Masai Mara is home to the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino) plus wildebeest, zebra, giraffe and numerous antelope species. Lake Nakuru is known for its flamingos and also holds black and white rhinos, leopards and Columbus monkeys. Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate add hippos, crocodiles and a wider range of birdlife. What you see depends on the season and the animals' movement patterns. The migration typically concentrates in the Mara from July to October.

Do I need to book the optional activities in advance?

The boat rides on Crescent Island at Lake Naivasha and the visit to Hell's Gate are listed as optional, so you can decide when you arrive or arrange them at booking. The geothermal plant visit at Ol Karia is included on day five. Let the operator know your preferences when you book so they can arrange transport and timing.

What's included in the price and what costs extra?

The price covers four nights accommodation, all meals except day one breakfast and day three dinner, bottled water, the guide, transport throughout, and hotel pickup and drop-off from selected Nairobi hotels. Alcoholic drinks and souvenir photos are available to purchase. Gratuities are not included.

How long are the driving days and what's the pace like?

Day one is a full drive from Nairobi to Masai Mara with a rift valley stop and picnic lunch. Days two through four are based in one location with game drives or park visits from the camp. Day five is a morning at Hell's Gate followed by a drive back to Nairobi, arriving around 3 pm. The tour suits all fitness levels. You spend most time in a vehicle or on optional walks in Hell's Gate, which allows you to set your own pace.