Private or Group Kenya safari
5 Days Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Lake Naivasha Safari
Two safari parks and a freshwater lake, at a pace that leaves room to breathe.
- 5 days / 4 nights
- Kenya
- Luxury
- Private or Group
Choose your level
One route, three ways to travel it.
The road, the parks and the day-by-day itinerary are the same at every level. What changes is where you sleep, what you travel in and what it costs.
Trip facts
- Duration
- 5 days / 4 nights
- Country
- Kenya
- Destinations
- Maasai Mara · Lake Nakuru · Lake Naivasha
- Safari level
- Luxury
- Travel type
- Private or Group safari
- Starts
- Nairobi
- Ends
- Nairobi
- Price
- On request
Overview
The journey at a glance.
This is the classic Kenyan week-minus-two: the Mara for plains game, Nakuru for rhino, and Naivasha to slow down before the drive home.
Naivasha is what makes it work. After three days of game drives, a boat ride among hippo and a walk or cycle through Hell's Gate change the rhythm completely — and Hell's Gate is one of very few Kenyan parks you are allowed to explore on foot.
The driving is sensible throughout. Nothing here is a long-haul transfer, and the road between the Mara and Nakuru is genuinely scenic.
RouteNairobi · Maasai Mara · Lake Nakuru · Lake Naivasha · Nairobi
Featured journeyThe shortest circuit that combines the Mara with two Rift Valley lakes, and one of the catalogue's priority routes.
Your route
5 points.
One unfolding story.
Where you stay, and for how long. The full route is listed in text below the line, so it reads the same however you are viewing this page.
- 01NairobiIn transit
- 02Maasai Mara2 nights
- 03Lake Nakuru1 night
- 04Lake Naivasha1 night
- 05NairobiIn transit
Day by day
5 days, read as a journey.
Timings are indicative and depend on road and park conditions on the day. Meals shown are those included in the safari price.
Day 1Nairobi → Maasai Mara
Down into the Rift and across to the Mara.
Morning collection in Nairobi, west over the escarpment with a viewpoint stop, then Narok and the last run to the reserve. Lunch at camp, then straight out for an afternoon game drive.
- Activities
- Rift Valley escarpment viewpoint · Afternoon game drive
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Maasai Mara · andBeyond Bateleur Camp
Day 2Maasai Mara
A full day on the plains.
Out after breakfast with a picnic lunch and back around sunset. The reserve's rolling grassland and good track network let your guide work different country through the day rather than circling one area.
- Activities
- Full-day game drive with picnic lunch · Mara river hippo pools
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Maasai Mara · andBeyond Bateleur Camp
Day 3Maasai Mara → Lake Nakuru
North along the valley floor.
An optional early visit to a neighbouring Maasai village, then breakfast and the drive north past Mount Longonot and Lake Naivasha, with lunch on the way. A game drive on arrival takes you through the park to your lodge.
- Activities
- Optional Maasai village visit · Game drive on arrival at Lake Nakuru
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Lake Nakuru · The Cliff — Lake Nakuru
- Optional
- Maasai village visit (USD 10 pp, paid locally)
Day 4Lake Nakuru → Lake Naivasha
Rhino in the morning, water in the afternoon.
A morning game drive at Nakuru for rhino, buffalo and waterbuck along the lake shore, then lunch and a short transfer to Lake Naivasha. The afternoon is yours: a boat ride among the hippo, or a walk on Crescent Island, both arranged locally.
- Activities
- Morning game drive at Lake Nakuru · Transfer to Lake Naivasha
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Lake Naivasha · Loldia House
- Optional
- Lake Naivasha boat ride, subject to current local rates
Day 5Lake Naivasha → Hell's Gate → Nairobi
On foot at Hell's Gate, then back to the city.
After breakfast you go into Hell's Gate National Park, where there are no resident large predators in the main gorge area and you are allowed to walk or cycle. Buffalo, zebra, eland and Thomson's gazelle move through the cliffs, along with a long raptor list. Lunch, then the drive back to Nairobi.
- Activities
- Nature walk in Hell's Gate National Park, with optional cycling · Road transfer to Nairobi
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Overnight
- The journey ends today
- Optional
- Bicycle hire at Hell's Gate, subject to current local rates
Accommodation · Luxury
A place to pause between chapters.
These are properties Ndurumo may recommend or use at this level on this route. Final accommodation is confirmed with your quotation and remains subject to availability.
Maasai Mara · Luxury2 nights
andBeyond Bateleur Camp
- or Cottar's 1920s Camp
Either of these luxury camps may be used, depending on dates and availability.
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safariLake Nakuru · Luxury1 night
The Cliff — Lake Nakuru
The Cliff is the recommended luxury option for Lake Nakuru nights.
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safariLake Naivasha · Luxury1 night
Loldia House
Loldia House is the recommended luxury option for Lake Naivasha nights.
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safari
Compare accommodation at all three levels
Budget
- Maasai Mara
- Miti Mingi Eco Camp
- Lake Nakuru
- Buraha Zenoni
- Lake Naivasha
- Leisure Apex
Midrange
- Maasai Mara
- Masai Mara Sopa Lodge
- Lake Nakuru
- Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
- Lake Naivasha
- Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort
Luxury
- Maasai Mara
- andBeyond Bateleur Camp, Cottar's 1920s Camp
- Lake Nakuru
- The Cliff — Lake Nakuru
- Lake Naivasha
- Loldia House
What you’ll experience
The character of this route.
- 01
A full day in the Maasai Mara
- 02
Black and white rhino at Lake Nakuru
- 03
Hippo and fish eagles on Lake Naivasha
- 04
Walking or cycling among the cliffs of Hell's Gate
- 05
Three distinct Rift Valley landscapes without a long transfer
Package detail
What the price covers.
These lists apply to the luxury version of this route. Optional extras are listed against the day they fall on.
What’s included
- Transport in a 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser
- Airport pick-up on arrival
- Accommodation as set out in the itinerary
- All meals while on safari (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Services of a professional Ndurumo driver-guide
- All park and reserve entrance fees
- All game drives listed in the itinerary
- Statutory taxes
Not included
- International flights
- Kenya or Tanzania visas and entry fees
- Travel and personal insurance
- Single-occupancy supplement
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Optional activities, including balloon safaris and village visits
- Items of a personal nature
- Tips for your guide and lodge staff
Pricing
Clear before you commit.
Price depends on travel dates, group size, accommodation level, park fees at the time of travel and vehicle arrangements.
We have not loaded a contracted rate for this tier yet, and we would rather quote you accurately than estimate. Price depends on dates, occupancy, park fees, vehicle arrangements and accommodation availability.
- Travel dates
- Required for a quotation
- Group size
- Required for a quotation
- Occupancy
- Per person sharing; single supplement quoted separately
- Child rates
- Quoted where the property applies them
This route, shaped around you
Begin with the journey already chosen.
Your enquiry carries this route and level automatically, so you only add the details we genuinely need to price it.
Is the Naivasha boat ride included?
No. It is an optional boat ride, arranged and paid locally, subject to current local rates. We confirm the rate for your dates.
Can you really walk in Hell's Gate?
Yes. The main gorge area has no resident large predators, which is why walking and cycling are allowed. Cycling is optional: bicycle hire is available at Hell's Gate National Park, subject to current local rates.
Is the price per person?
Yes. Published rates are per person sharing a twin or double room. Solo travellers pay a single-occupancy supplement, which we quote with the rest of the trip.
What does the final price depend on?
Travel dates, the number of people travelling, your accommodation tier, park fees at the time of travel and vehicle arrangements. We reprice every enquiry for the exact dates rather than working from a fixed sheet.
Can the itinerary be changed?
Yes. The route below is the standard shape of the trip. Nights can be added or moved, and destinations can be swapped, as long as the driving distances still work.
Are park fees included?
Yes. All park and reserve entrance fees for the parks in the itinerary are included in the quoted price.
What vehicle will we use?
Road safaris use a 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser. Private departures have their own vehicle; group departures share the vehicle with fellow travellers.
Can children join this safari?
Yes. Tell us your children's ages when you enquire and we will confirm which properties on the route suit them and whether child rates apply.
Continue exploring
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5 Days Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Lake Naivasha Safari
Let’s mark this route.
Share your dates and party, and we will come back with a quotation for this itinerary at the level you have chosen — or tell you honestly if a different route fits better.
A guided enquiry, not an instant booking. No obligation.
