Duration
4 NIGHTSBest For
First-time East Africa visitors and wildlife-first travelers.Group Size
2-6 guestsAccommodation
Lodge or tented camp (full-board)Safari Overview
Two premium parks, one unhurried circuit
Experience three of Kenya's most iconic safari destinations on this 5-day Kenya safari, combining thrilling wildlife encounters, breathtaking landscapes, and unforgettable cultural experiences.
Visit Lake Nakuru National Park, enjoy the tranquillity of Lake Naivasha, and explore the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve, home to the Big Five and the spectacular Great Wildebeest Migration (seasonal).
The Masai Mara — voted one of the 7 Wonders of the World — hosts the annual migration of roughly 1.3 million wildebeests between July and October, alongside reliable Big Five sightings across its vast plains.
Whether you prefer the affordability and social atmosphere of a group joining safari or the flexibility and exclusivity of a private safari, Kenya Wildlife Safari's itinerary offers the perfect adventure through Kenya's most iconic destinations.
5 Days Kenya Safari holiday is one of the most famous and unique for groups and private luxury safaris.
5 Days Kenya Big Five Safari Kenya is also available in a Luxury Kenya Safari option that combines breathtaking wildlife encounters, elegant lodges, scenic landscapes, and unforgettable adventures.
Travel in a comfortable 4x4 Land Cruiser with a professional safari guide as you explore Lake Nakuru National Park, Lake Naivasha, and the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve.
This itinerary is perfect for couples, families, honeymooners, photographers, and anyone seeking an exclusive African safari experience.
Kenya is famed for its wildlife, but travellers who stick to only one safari park miss out on the diversity of its flora and fauna. Visit no less than three natural reserves—Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, and Lake Naivasha—during this five-day, small-group journey from Nairobi.
Comfortable lodge accommodation is included, plus round-trip, door-to-door transportation from the capital. This Kenya safari holiday will give you a chance to interact with the Maasai community during a visit to a local village (at an extra cost).
Spot lions, leopards, hippos, elephants, and more during multiple game drives. Explore scenic Lake Naivasha by boat during an all-inclusive ride (at an extra cost) .
Tours include front-door pickup and drop-off in Nairobi by a 4 BY 4 safari land cruiser.
Transfers: Private 4x4 safari vehicle with dedicated guide from Nairobi
Safari Snapshot
5 Days Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru & Maasai Mara Safari – Experience Kenya's iconic wildlife destinations with Big Five game drives, Lake Naivasha boat rides, rhino tracking at Lake Nakuru, and unforgettable Maasai Mara adventures.
Safari Style
Classic Game Drives
Designed for quality sightings and unrushed pacing across key landscapes.
Trip Rhythm
3-6 Nights
Balanced travel days, golden-hour game drives, and restorative lodge downtime.
Destinations
Kenya
Route sequencing built around wildlife windows and smooth overland transitions.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A clear route plan with flexible pacing and private-guide support.
Day 1 · Nairobi to Lake Nakuru
Nairobi to Lake Nakuru National Park
Your safari begins with an early morning pickup from your Nairobi hotel or the airport. Drive through the scenic Great Rift Valley, stopping at a viewpoint to admire the dramatic escarpment and capture memorable photographs. Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch and a short rest before heading out on an afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park. Keep an eye out for both black and white rhinos, lions, leopards, buffaloes, zebras, waterbucks, and the endangered Rothschild's giraffes. The lake also attracts thousands of flamingos when water conditions are favourable, along with pelicans and many other bird species.
- Rift Valley viewpoint and Mount Longonot views
- Afternoon game drive for rhinos and flamingos
Day 2 · Lake Nakuru National Park
Full-Day Lake Nakuru Exploration
Begin with an early game drive targeting predators such as lions and leopards, plus colobus monkeys, hyenas, and waterbucks. Explore the biggest euphorbia forest in Africa, yellow acacia woodlands, and viewpoints including Lion Hill and Baboon Cliff. All meals at your lodge or camp.
- Dawn predator drive
- Euphorbia forest and Baboon Cliff viewpoints
- Over 500 bird species
Day 3 · Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara
Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara
After breakfast, head to the Masai Mara with a quick stopover at Narok town. Check in at your lodge for lunch, then enjoy a siesta before an afternoon game drive tracking nocturnal species as they begin their evening hunt. Dinner and overnight at your camp or lodge.
- Narok town stopover
- Afternoon game drive for nocturnal species
Day 4 · Masai Mara National Reserve
Full Day Masai Mara Game Reserve
Rise early for a dawn game drive, returning to your accommodation at mid-morning. After lunch, set off for another drive across the vast plains to spot the Big Five — lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards — plus crocodiles, hippos, gazelles, and wildebeests. Optional Maasai village visit or balloon safari at additional cost. Dinner and overnight at your lodge or camp.
- Dawn and afternoon game drives
- Big Five and wildebeest migration corridor
- Optional balloon safari or Maasai village
Day 5 · Masai Mara to Nairobi
Masai Mara to Nairobi
After a relaxed breakfast, start the journey back to Nairobi, crossing acres of wheat and barley and passing the Longonot Earth Satellite station. Upon arrival, lunch before drop-off at your hotel or the airport.
- Scenic return via Rift Valley
- Longonot satellite station en route
Route Map & Safari Points
Track the journey stop-by-stop. Mapbox static route rendering is enabled when your public token is set.
- 1
Day 1
Nairobi
Pick-up, briefing, and departure towards the Rift Valley.
- 2
Day 1
Great Rift Valley Viewpoint
Panoramic stop with views of Mount Longonot and the valley floor.
- 3
Day 1-3
Lake Nakuru National Park
Rhino sanctuary, flamingo shores, euphorbia forest, and Lion Hill viewpoints.
- 4
Day 3-5
Masai Mara National Reserve
Big Five country, wildebeest migration corridor, and vast savanna plains.
What's Included
- Transport in a 4WD safari jeep
- Pick up on day one in Nairobi and drop off on the last day in Nairobi
- Park entry fees
- All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
- Drinking water on all days
- Bath towels
- Professional guide
- All activities, unless indicated as optional
- Meals as specified in the day-by-day section
- Taxes and VAT
- Services of a professional tour guide/driver
- Government-imposed increase in taxes and/or park fees
Exclusions
- Hot-air balloon ride
- Maasai village visit
- Boat ride
- Tips and gratuities
- Beverages and alcoholic drinks
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Best Travel Window
Seasonality
Jul - OctJan - Mar
Frequently Asked Questions
Need more clarity before you book? Start here.
What makes this different from the 4-day Nakuru-Mara safari?
This route adds a full dedicated day at Lake Nakuru, giving you time for dawn predator drives, the euphorbia forest, and viewpoints like Lion Hill and Baboon Cliff that the shorter itinerary cannot cover in depth.
When is the wildebeest migration in the Mara?
The migration of roughly 1.3 million wildebeests typically passes through the Masai Mara from July to early October. Booking within this window gives you the best chance of witnessing the spectacle.
Can I do a balloon safari on this trip?
Yes. An optional hot-air balloon ride is available on Day 4 at additional cost, offering an aerial view of the reserve and its wildlife at dawn.
Planning Guides for This Route
Editorial notes and practical planning content relevant to this safari itinerary.
Lake Naivasha: Freshwater Rift Valley Paradise
Lake Naivasha is a 139 km² freshwater lake surrounded by swamp and fever tree forests, famous for its hippos and flamingos. It's a birder's paradise with over 400 species, and one of the few places where you can sail past hippos, bike with giraffes, and horseback-ride near impala in a single day.
Read GuideLake Nakuru National Park: Flamingos, Rhinos, and Rift Valley Scenery
Lake Nakuru sits on the floor of the Great Rift Valley and supports excellent birdlife including large flocks of pelicans and flamingos. Beyond birds, it's one of Kenya's best rhino-viewing parks, with introduced Rothschild's giraffe and the chance of tree-climbing lions and leopards.
Read GuidePlan Your Kenya Safari
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