5-Day Masai Mara, Nakuru & Naivasha Safari

Start your 5-day Kenya safari adventure with an early morning departure from Nairobi. Drive west through the majestic Great Rift Valley, pausing at scenic viewpoints for panoramic views of volcanic hills and rolling savannahs — ideal for photography and soaking in Kenya’s landscapes.

Arrive in the Masai Mara National Reserve in the afternoon and check into your lodge or tented camp. Experience your first sunset game drive, spotting giraffes, zebras, and possibly your first Big Five sightings.

Highlights:
• Scenic drive from Nairobi with panoramic Rift Valley views
• Arrival and check-in at lodge or tented camp
• Sunset game drive in Masai Mara

Distance & Drive Time: ~270 km | 5–6 hours

Accommodation Options:

Budget

Elangata Olerai Camp / Orng’atuny Mara King Camp / Enkorok Camp / Mara Chui Camp / Jambo Mara Safari Lodge 

Midrange

Zebra Plains Mara Camp / Mara Sopa Lodge / Mara Leisure Camp / Prideinn Mara Camp / Osero Camp / AA Mara Lodge / Sentrim Mara Lodge / Mara River Lodge / Basecamp Masai Mara / Sekenani River Camp / Azure Mara Haven Hotel / La Maison Royale Mara Camp / Olengoti Eco Safari Camp / Emayian Luxury Camp 

Upper Midrange

Sarova Mara Game Camp / Keekorok Lodge / Mara Serena Safari Lodge / Mara Simba – Tent Rooms / Mara Maisha Camp / Tipilikwani Mara Camp / Matira Camp / Loyk Mara Camp / Mara Engai Lodge / Mara River Camp / Ashnil Mara Camp / Karen Blixen Camp / Neptune Mara Rianta Luxury Camp / Fig Tree Camp-Ngamboli Tents / Mara Crossings Camp / Royal Mara Safari Lodge / Soroi Mara Bush Camp / Fairmont Mara Safari Club / Kandili Camp / Eagle View Camp / Mara Intrepids Camp / Governors Camp Masai Mara / Naserian Mara Camp 

Luxury

Sand River Mara Camp / &Beyond Kichwa Tembo Camp / Saruni Mara Camp / Olare Mara Kempinski Camp / Porini Mara Camp / Entumoto Safari Camp / Kicheche Mara Camp / Mara Bushtop Luxury Camp / Entim Mara Camp / Mara Explorer Camp / Mara Eden Safari Camp / IIkeliani Mara Camp / Mara Ngenche Safari Camp

Spend a full day exploring the Masai Mara plains, with morning and afternoon game drives guided by your professional KPSGA-certified driver-guide. Witness lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, and hippos in their natural habitats.

Optional Experiences:

• Hot-air balloon safari over the Mara (seasonal)
• Guided photography safari
• Maasai village cultural visit

Highlights:

• Morning and afternoon game drives in Masai Mara
• Optional hot-air balloon safari for breathtaking aerial views
• Maasai cultural encounter
• Sunset wildlife photography opportunities

Accommodation Options:

Same as Day 1 

After an early breakfast, depart Masai Mara and drive north to Lake Nakuru National Park, a world-renowned destination for flamingos, rhinos, and abundant wildlife.

Enjoy an afternoon game drive along the shimmering lake shores, spotting lions, giraffes, zebras, waterbucks, and white and black rhinos. Capture stunning photos of flamingo colonies and panoramic lake views.

Highlights:

• Scenic drive from Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru
• Afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park
• View flamingos, rhinos, and abundant wildlife

Distance & Drive Time: ~230 km | 5–6 hours

Accommodation Options:

Budget

Lake Nakuru Lodge

Midrange

Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge / Sarova Woodlands / Mbweha Camp

Upper Midrange

Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge / Flamingo Hill Tented Camp / Lake Elementaita Serena Camp

Luxury

Cliff Nakuru Lodge

Start the morning with an early game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, then drive to Lake Naivasha, a peaceful freshwater lake framed by papyrus reeds and acacia woodlands.

Enjoy a boat safari, spotting hippos, fish eagles, and other birds, or take an optional nature walk on Crescent Island Sanctuary, home to giraffes, zebras, and antelopes roaming freely.

Highlights:

• Morning game drive in Lake Nakuru
• Scenic drive to Lake Naivasha
• Boat safari with hippos and birdlife
• Optional Crescent Island nature walk

Distance & Drive Time: ~120 km | 2–3 hours

Accommodation Options:

Budget

Naivasha Kongoni Lodge

Midrange

Elsamere Lodge / Naivasha Crescent Camp

Upper Midrange

Lake Naivasha Sopa / Naivasha Simba resort / Lake Naivasha Country club / Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort / Sawela Lodge / 

Luxury

Kiangazi House / Chui Lodge

After breakfast, enjoy a leisurely morning at Lake Naivasha. Then, visit Hells Gate National Park, famous for its dramatic gorges, towering cliffs, and geothermal features. Take a short walking or cycling excursion through the park to see zebras, giraffes, and other wildlife amidst stunning scenery.

After your Hells Gate adventure, transfer back to Nairobi, stopping for a picnic lunch if desired. Arrive in the afternoon for hotel drop-off or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) departure.

Highlights:
• Leisurely morning at Lake Naivasha
• Visit and explore Hells Gate National Park
• Short walking or cycling safari amid spectacular gorges and wildlife
• Scenic drive back to Nairobi
• Hotel or airport transfer

Distance & Drive Time: ~90 km Lake Naivasha → Nairobi | 1.5–2 hours (Hells Gate detour adds ~20–30 minutes)