Maasai Village Visit
A Maasai village visit may be arranged during the Masai Mara portion of the safari at an additional cost if timing allows. The village entry fee is not included in the safari price.
5-Day Kenya Safari from Nairobi
5 Days Kenya Safari: Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Lake Naivasha
Experience three distinct sides of Kenya in five days, from the wildlife-rich plains of the Masai Mara to the Rift Valley landscapes around Lake Naivasha and the rhino-conservation habitat of Lake Nakuru. The itinerary combines classic game drives with a change of scenery around Naivasha before returning to Nairobi.
Safari Overview
This five-day Kenya safari combines the Masai Mara with two contrasting Rift Valley areas, giving you more variety than a Mara-only itinerary while remaining compact enough to complete within five days.
The journey begins in Nairobi and travels through the Great Rift Valley toward the Masai Mara. An evening game drive introduces you to the reserve on Day 1, followed by a full day of wildlife viewing on Day 2. Day 3 begins with another opportunity to explore the Mara before continuing by road to the Lake Naivasha area.
Naivasha changes the pace of the safari. The area is known for its freshwater lake and nearby Hell's Gate National Park, whose cliffs, volcanic formations and geothermal landscape create a setting very different from the open plains of the Mara. Optional lake-based experiences may also be arranged at an additional cost.
The route then continues to Nakuru. Your final morning includes wildlife viewing in Lake Nakuru National Park, a protected Rift Valley landscape that plays an important role in the conservation of both black and white rhinos and supports varied birdlife and other wildlife.
By combining the Masai Mara, Naivasha area and Lake Nakuru, the itinerary offers wildlife viewing, changing scenery and a broader introduction to Kenya's safari landscapes. All wildlife encounters remain natural, and no particular species or sighting can ever be guaranteed.
Safari Highlights
- Travel from Nairobi through the Great Rift Valley to the Masai Mara.
- Enjoy an evening game drive after arriving in the Mara.
- Spend a full day exploring the Masai Mara with a picnic lunch.
- Begin Day 3 with an early wildlife-viewing opportunity before leaving the Mara.
- Spend a night in the Lake Naivasha area.
- Explore the dramatic Rift Valley scenery of Hell's Gate National Park.
- Request optional Lake Naivasha experiences such as a boat ride or Crescent Island visit.
- Continue from Naivasha to Nakuru for your fourth overnight stay.
- Explore Lake Nakuru National Park on the final morning.
- Experience three contrasting safari areas within one five-day road itinerary.
- Travel with a professional safari driver-guide.
- Return to Nairobi at the end of Day 5.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
- Day 1
Nairobi → Great Rift Valley → Narok → Masai Mara
Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve
Meet your driver-guide at your agreed Nairobi pickup point and begin the road journey toward the Masai Mara National Reserve.
Stop along the way for views across the Great Rift Valley escarpment before continuing toward Narok, where lunch is planned.
After lunch, continue to the Masai Mara and check in at your tented camp.
Later in the afternoon, enter the reserve for an evening game drive. Explore the open landscapes of the Mara and watch for wildlife as the day begins to cool.
Return to camp after the game drive for dinner and your first overnight stay.
- Meals
- Lunch & Dinner
- Overnight
- Miti Mingi Eco Camp or similar in the Masai Mara area
- Day 2
Masai Mara National Reserve
Full-Day Masai Mara Game Drive
After breakfast, depart with a picnic lunch for a full day of game viewing in the Masai Mara National Reserve.
Travel through different parts of the reserve with your driver-guide, allowing time to explore the Mara's grasslands, river systems and other wildlife habitats.
Your exact route will depend on wildlife movements, road conditions and your guide's judgement on the day.
A picnic lunch is planned during the game drive before wildlife viewing continues through the afternoon.
A Maasai village visit may be requested at an additional cost if timing allows.
Return to camp later in the day for dinner and your second overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Overnight
- Miti Mingi Eco Camp or similar in the Masai Mara area
A full day in the Masai Mara gives you time to explore different wildlife habitats before the itinerary continues into the Rift Valley. 
Wildlife activity varies throughout the safari, and each game drive offers a different opportunity to observe animals in their natural environment. - Day 3
Masai Mara → Lake Naivasha
Masai Mara to Lake Naivasha
Begin the morning with tea or coffee followed by an early wildlife-viewing opportunity in the Masai Mara.
Return to camp for breakfast, check out and begin the road journey toward the Lake Naivasha area.
Lunch is planned along the way.
Arrive in Naivasha later in the day and check in at your budget hotel.
If arrival time and conditions allow, an optional Lake Naivasha boat ride may be requested at an additional cost.
Spend the evening at your hotel before dinner and your overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Overnight
- Taphe Guest House or similar in the Lake Naivasha area
- Day 4
Lake Naivasha → Hell's Gate National Park → Nakuru
Lake Naivasha, Hell's Gate & Transfer to Nakuru
After breakfast, travel to Hell's Gate National Park for a morning visit.
Explore a landscape of cliffs, rock formations, open terrain and geothermal features that provides a very different experience from the vehicle-based wildlife viewing of the Masai Mara.
The exact activity format should be confirmed before travel. Depending on current park conditions, timing and your booking, cycling or other guided activities may be arranged at an additional cost.
Lake Naivasha activities such as a boat ride or Crescent Island visit are separate optional experiences and may also be requested at an additional cost if the itinerary timing allows.
After the Naivasha-area activities, continue toward Nakuru, with lunch planned during the day.
Arrive in Nakuru later in the day, check in at your budget hotel and spend the evening at leisure before dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Overnight
- City Max Hotel or similar in Nakuru
The Naivasha section introduces freshwater and wetland scenery between the Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru portions of the safari. - Day 5
Lake Nakuru National Park → Nairobi
Lake Nakuru National Park to Nairobi
After breakfast, depart for a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park.
Explore the park's lake, grassland and woodland environments with your driver-guide. Lake Nakuru is an important sanctuary for both black and white rhinos and also supports varied birdlife and other wildlife.
Individual wildlife sightings remain dependent on natural animal movements and conditions during your visit.
After the game drive, begin the road journey back to Nairobi, with lunch planned along the way.
Arrival in Nairobi is expected later in the day, followed by drop-off at your agreed hotel or airport transfer point.
- Meals
- Breakfast & Lunch
- Overnight
- None
Lake Nakuru National Park is an important sanctuary for black and white rhinos, although individual wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed. 
Flamingo numbers at Lake Nakuru vary with lake and environmental conditions, so a particular wildlife spectacle can never be guaranteed.
Accommodation
The Camp / Budget version of this safari includes four nights' accommodation.
The first two nights are planned at Miti Mingi Eco Camp or a similar self-contained budget tented camp in the Masai Mara area.
The third night is planned at Taphe Guest House or a similar budget property in the Lake Naivasha area.
The fourth night is planned at City Max Hotel or a similar budget hotel in Nakuru.
All accommodation remains subject to availability and final confirmation when your booking is made.
A Lodge / Mid-range rate is not currently published in the approved package catalogue and is available on request.
Pricing
The approved published price range for the Camp / Budget version of this safari is shown below. Your final quotation will be confirmed against your travel dates, party size and accommodation availability.
- Camp / Budget
- USD 625–850
- Published low-season to high-season package range.
- Lodge / Mid-range
- On Request
- Ask us for a current Lodge / Mid-range quotation for your travel dates.
The current approved catalogue does not state the charging basis, occupancy basis or exact seasonal date bands for this published range. These details must be confirmed in your personalised quotation before booking.
What's Included
- Road transport throughout the itinerary in a safari van with a hatch roof.
- Nairobi pickup and transfer arrangements as confirmed for your booking.
- Four nights' accommodation as described in the itinerary.
- Meals specified in the day-by-day itinerary.
- Park entrance fees for the included park visits described in the itinerary.
- Game drives and park visits described as included in the itinerary.
- Services of a professional safari driver-guide.
- Applicable statutory taxes included in the package.
What's Not Included
- Personal travel or medical insurance.
- Hot-air balloon safari.
- Maasai village entry fee.
- Lake Naivasha boat ride unless specifically added to your quotation.
- Crescent Island visit unless specifically added to your quotation.
- Bicycle hire or other optional activities at Hell's Gate unless specifically added to your quotation.
- Alcoholic drinks and soft drinks.
- Tips and gratuities.
- Personal purchases and other items of a personal nature.
- Any service or activity not specifically listed under What's Included.
Optional Experiences
Hot-Air Balloon Safari
A hot-air balloon safari in the Masai Mara is not included in the package price. Ask us about current availability, timing and how the activity would fit into your itinerary.
Lake Naivasha Boat Ride
A boat ride on Lake Naivasha may be requested at an additional cost, subject to weather, water conditions, timing and availability.
Crescent Island Visit
A Crescent Island visit may be requested as an additional Naivasha experience. Confirm the current operating arrangements, timing and cost before booking.
Hell's Gate Cycling
Cycling may be arranged at Hell's Gate National Park where current park conditions and operating arrangements allow. Bicycle hire and any associated optional charges are additional unless specifically included in your quotation.
Important Notes
- Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed because all game viewing takes place in natural environments.
- Days 1, 3, 4 and 5 include road travel between destinations.
- Day 2 is planned as a full wildlife-viewing day and may involve several hours in the safari vehicle.
- Lake Naivasha boat rides and Crescent Island visits are optional unless specifically included in your confirmed quotation.
- Hell's Gate activities depend on current park conditions, safety requirements, timing and the activities confirmed for your booking.
- Lake Nakuru is an important rhino sanctuary, but individual rhino sightings cannot be guaranteed.
- Flamingo numbers and other bird populations at Lake Nakuru vary according to lake and environmental conditions.
- Accommodation is subject to availability and is reconfirmed when your booking is made.
- The final quotation should confirm the applicable travel dates, accommodation, party size, charging basis and optional activities.
- Lodge / Mid-range accommodation is available on request rather than at a published catalogue rate.
- Game-drive routes may vary according to wildlife movements, road conditions and your guide's judgement.
Who This Safari Is Best For
This safari suits travellers who want a compact Kenya itinerary with more variety than a Masai Mara-only trip.
It is particularly suitable for first-time safari travellers, couples, friends and families who want classic Mara wildlife viewing together with a change of pace in the Lake Naivasha area and a final game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park.
The itinerary combines wildlife viewing with several road transfers and optional outdoor activities, so travellers should be comfortable with a moderately active five-day schedule.
Why Choose This 5-Day Kenya Safari?
Five days allows this itinerary to move beyond the Masai Mara without reducing the Mara experience to a single overnight stay.
You receive two nights in the Masai Mara, including an evening drive, a full wildlife-viewing day and an early opportunity for game viewing before departure.
The third night in Naivasha introduces a different side of the Great Rift Valley, with Hell's Gate providing dramatic geological scenery and optional lake experiences available nearby.
The final night in Nakuru positions you for a morning game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park before returning to Nairobi.
For travellers comparing the four-day Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru safari with this five-day option, the additional Naivasha section is the key difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What destinations are included in this 5-day Kenya safari?
The itinerary combines the Masai Mara National Reserve, the Lake Naivasha area, Hell's Gate National Park and Lake Nakuru National Park before returning to Nairobi.
How many nights are included?
The Camp / Budget itinerary includes four nights: two nights in the Masai Mara area, one night in the Lake Naivasha area and one night in Nakuru.
How much game-viewing time is included in the Masai Mara?
The itinerary includes an evening game drive on Day 1, a full day of game viewing on Day 2 and an early wildlife-viewing opportunity on Day 3 before departure for Naivasha.
Is a Lake Naivasha boat ride included?
A Lake Naivasha boat ride is treated as an optional activity unless it is specifically added to your confirmed quotation. Availability also depends on timing, weather and operating conditions.
Is Crescent Island included?
A Crescent Island visit is optional unless specifically included in your confirmed quotation. Ask for current operating arrangements and pricing when planning the safari.
What can I do at Hell's Gate National Park?
The itinerary includes a visit to Hell's Gate National Park. The park is known for its cliffs, rock formations, geothermal landscape and outdoor activities. Optional cycling or other guided experiences should be confirmed against current park conditions and your booking.
Will I definitely see rhinos in Lake Nakuru?
No. Lake Nakuru National Park is an important sanctuary for both black and white rhinos, but all wildlife encounters are natural and no individual species can be guaranteed.
Will I see flamingos at Lake Nakuru?
Flamingos may occur at Lake Nakuru, but their numbers and distribution vary with changing lake and environmental conditions. A specific flamingo spectacle should never be guaranteed.
Which meals are included?
The itinerary specifies lunch and dinner on Day 1; breakfast, lunch and dinner on Days 2, 3 and 4; and breakfast and lunch on Day 5.
Can I choose Lodge / Mid-range accommodation?
Yes. A Lodge / Mid-range option may be requested. The approved catalogue does not currently publish a numeric Lodge / Mid-range rate for this package, so a current quotation is required.
Continue Planning Your Kenya Safari
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