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Nairobi: Lake Nakuru, Naivasha & Maasai Mara 5-Day Safari

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Duration5d

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN · DE +3

PickupAt your hotel

Five days tracking rhinos, hippos and the big 5 across Kenya's three best reserves

You're picked up from your Nairobi hotel or airport at 8am and driven south through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru for two game drives and an overnight stay. Day two moves to Lake Naivasha with a boat ride among hippos and a walking safari on Crescent Island. Days three and four are spent in Maasai Mara on morning and afternoon game drives hunting the big 5, with full days to explore the reserve's vastness. You return to Nairobi on day five after an early game drive, arriving around 5pm. All lodges, meals, park fees, vehicle and experienced driver-guide are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Nairobi to Lake Nakuru National Park

Pick up from Nairobi hotel or airport
Drive via Great Rift Valley Viewpoint
Morning game drive at Lake Nakuru
Lunch at Lake Nakuru Lodge
Afternoon game drive
Dinner and overnight at Lake Nakuru Lodge

Day 2 — Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha

Early morning game drive at Lake Nakuru
Breakfast at Lake Nakuru Lodge
Drive to Lake Naivasha
Lunch at Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge
Afternoon boat ride on Lake Naivasha
Walking safari on Crescent Island
Dinner and overnight at Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge

Day 3 — Lake Naivasha to Maasai Mara Reserve

Breakfast at Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge
Drive to Maasai Mara National Reserve
Lunch at Maasai Mara
Afternoon game drive in Maasai Mara
Dinner and overnight at Mara Simba Lodge

Day 4 — Full day in Maasai Mara Reserve

Morning game drive in Maasai Mara
Lunch at Mara Simba Lodge
Afternoon game drive in Maasai Mara
Dinner and overnight at Mara Simba Lodge

Day 5 — Maasai Mara to Nairobi

Early morning game drive
Breakfast at Maasai Mara
Drive to Narok town
Lunch in Narok town
Drive to Nairobi
Drop off at Nairobi hotel or airport

The Experience

Your driver-guide meets you at the hotel or airport at 8am on day one, and the first thing he does is ask what animals you most want to see — then he actually listens. That kind of attention matters when you're spending five days in a Land Cruiser with someone who knows where the leopards hide and which birds call at dawn. The drive south from Nairobi takes you through the Great Rift Valley Viewpoint before you reach Lake Nakuru, where the morning game drive starts before lunch and the afternoon brings another push into the reserve. Rhinos are shy here, but they're there in the bushes, and the bird calls from the shoreline don't stop.

Day two moves you to Lake Naivasha, starting with an early game drive back at Nakuru before breakfast, then a scenic drive that crosses into Kenya's breadbasket. The afternoon is split between a boat ride threading through hippos on the water and a walking safari on Crescent Island, where you're on foot among the wildlife instead of behind glass. It's a different rhythm — slower, closer, and the guide reads the animals' movements in real time. Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge is where you sleep, and the meals come with the lodge's own rhythm, not a rushed schedule.

Days three and four are the Maasai Mara, the reserve most people come to Kenya to see. You arrive in time for lunch on day three, then the afternoon game drive starts the hunt for the big 5 — lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, elephant — and the Mara delivers on that promise more reliably than anywhere else in the country. Day four is a full day: morning game drive, afternoon game drive, all meals at Mara Simba Lodge. The vastness of the reserve and the sheer density of wildlife is what makes it different from Nakuru and Naivasha. The drama of survival plays out in front of you, and your guide uses the vehicle's RF radio to stay in touch with other drivers who've spotted something worth seeing. On day five, an early morning game drive before breakfast, then the drive back to Nairobi with a lunch stop in Narok town, arriving around 5pm.

The vehicle is a 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof for photography and game viewing, and it's yours alone — no shared seats, no other groups. Your guide speaks English and has the experience to spot animals most visitors miss. The lodges are mid-range, comfortable, and the meals are included throughout. Park entrance fees, taxes, drinking water during the game drives, first aid kit, cooler box — it's all in the price. If you travel with an infant, specialized seats are available.

What’s included

Pickup from your Nairobi hotel or airport at 8am on day one.
exclusive use of a 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof throughout all five days.
experienced English-speaking driver-guide.
accommodation at Lake Nakuru Lodge (night 1), Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge (night 2), and Mara Simba Lodge (nights 3–4).
all meals as per the itinerary.
all national park entrance fees.
1-liter bottled drinking water per person per day during game drives.
safari accessories including first aid kit, cooler box and fire extinguisher.
boat ride on Lake Naivasha.
walking safari on Crescent Island.
morning and afternoon game drives at each reserve.
return transport to Nairobi on day five with lunch in Narok town.
24-hour emergency support.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Explorer Kenya Tours and Travel Limited

Is this one for you?Choose this safari if you want to see Kenya's three most productive reserves in one trip without arranging transport, park permits, lodges or meals yourself — the five-day structure and private vehicle let you move at your own pace while the experienced guide handles the wildlife spotting and logistics.