Kenya Safari 7 Days: Masai Mara, Nakuru & Amboseli Budget

Seven Days Chasing the Big Five Across Kenya's Game Reserves

You get seven days moving through four major reserves — Masai Mara, Nakuru, Naivasha and Amboseli — with daily game drives, accommodation, meals and transport all sorted. The boat ride at Lake Naivasha breaks up the driving, and you'll see elephants against Kilimanjaro on the final mornings. Hotel pickup in Nairobi on day one, drop-off on day seven.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve

• Pick up from hotel at 8:00am
• Depart Nairobi to Masai Mara
• Enjoy Great Rift Valley viewpoint
• Have picnic lunch en route
• Arrive Masai Mara in afternoon
• Evening game drive
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 2 — Masai Mara Full Day Game Drive

• Early breakfast at camp
• Full day game drive in Masai Mara
• Visit Mara River and Serengeti border
• Picnic lunch during game drive
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 3 — Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru National Park

• Early breakfast at camp
• Optional visit to Masai village
• Depart to Lake Nakuru National Park
• Picnic lunch en route
• Arrive Lake Nakuru in evening
• Dinner and overnight at hotel

Day 4 — Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha

• Early breakfast at hotel
• Game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park
• See flamingos and rhinos
• Depart to Lake Naivasha
• Late lunch at Naivasha
• Boat ride on Lake Naivasha
• Dinner and overnight at hotel

Day 5 — Lake Naivasha to Amboseli National Park

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Hell's Gate National Park
• See Geothermal Power Plant and Hot Springs
• Depart to Amboseli National Park
• Picnic lunch en route
• Arrive Amboseli in early evening
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 6 — Amboseli National Park Full Day Game Drive

• Pre-morning game drive with Kilimanjaro views
• Full day game drive in Amboseli
• See elephants, giraffes, lions and wildlife
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 7 — Amboseli National Park to Nairobi

• Pre-morning game drive with Kilimanjaro views
• Breakfast at camp
• Depart Amboseli to Nairobi
• Picnic lunch en route
• Drop off at hotel in Nairobi

The Experience

So you're thinking about doing a Kenya safari but don't want to drop a month's rent on it — that's exactly what this seven-day trip is built for. You start in Nairobi on day one, get picked up from your hotel at 8am, and head straight into the Rift Valley toward Masai Mara. The drive takes most of the day, but there's a picnic lunch on the way and by afternoon you're rolling through the reserve on your first game drive. It's a lot of road, yeah, but the landscape shifts as you go — you see the valley drop away, and then suddenly you're in the park where the big cats actually live.

Day two is the full Masai Mara experience: early breakfast, then a whole day in the vehicle hunting for lions, leopards, buffalo, rhino and elephant — the Big Five that everyone comes for. The park sits at the northern edge of the Serengeti, so the animal density is real. You'll spend time at the Mara River where the migration happens, watching herds bunch up and cross. After that you move on to Lake Nakuru, a smaller park but dense with birds — around 350 species — and home to both black and white rhinos. Then Lake Naivasha gets a full afternoon: you do a boat ride on the water looking for hippos and water birds, which is a different kind of game drive and honestly a nice break from sitting in a vehicle. On day five you stop at Hell's Gate National Park to see the geothermal power station and hot springs before heading to Amboseli, which sits in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro. The last two days are all Amboseli — early morning game drives to photograph Kilimanjaro with the elephant herds in front of it, then a final dawn drive before you head back to Nairobi on day seven.

The whole thing runs in a small group, which keeps the vehicle from feeling like a tour bus. You're in a customized open-roof Land Cruiser, so you can stand up and shoot photos or just get a better angle on what's moving in the grass. Accommodation is in tented camps and basic hotels — nothing fancy, but clean and included. Meals are included too, plus bottled water and the boat ride at Lake Naivasha. If you've got the week and want to see the reserves without the premium price tag, this covers the ground.

What’s included

Transport in a customized open-roof Land Cruiser throughout the seven days, accommodation in tented camps and hotels at each stop, all meals from day one breakfast through day seven breakfast, bottled drinking water, a boat ride on Lake Naivasha, and all park entry fees. Hotel pickup in Nairobi at 8am on day one and drop-off at your hotel on day seven afternoon.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by JungleRoam Safaris (Kenya)

Is this one for you?Right for anyone with a week and a mid-range budget who wants to see the major reserves and the Big Five without arranging transport, permits and camp bookings separately — the fixed itinerary and small group mean you move through four parks in seven days without the logistics falling on you.

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Top questions

Do I need a visa to enter Kenya?

Most visitors need a visa, which you can arrange on arrival or in advance. Check your country's requirements with the Kenyan immigration office.

What's the best time to see the wildebeest migration?

The migration typically happens July to September in the Masai Mara. The tour runs year-round, but those months offer the highest concentration of animals crossing the Mara River.

Is malaria a concern?

Yes. The reserves are in malaria zones. Consult a travel clinic about prophylaxis and bring insect repellent and long sleeves for dawn and dusk.

What kind of camera gear should I bring?

A telephoto lens (200mm+) helps capture wildlife from a distance. The open-roof vehicle gives you good angles, but binoculars are just as useful for spotting animals first.

Are there age restrictions for children?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. Young children can go, but long driving days and early starts mean families with very small kids should plan accordingly.

What happens if I get sick during the tour?

Each camp has basic medical supplies and radio contact with larger towns. For serious illness, evacuation can be arranged, though it's expensive — travel insurance is strongly recommended.

Can I extend the tour or add other parks?

The itinerary is fixed at seven days, but you can arrange additional days in Nairobi before or after, or book separate trips to other parks like Tsavo or the Samburu reserves.