5 Days Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru Safari
from $2,850 per person
5 Days Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru Safari combines two of Kenya's most famous wildlife destinations in one carefully planned adventure. Explore Lake Nakuru National Park on game drives before continuing to the Maasai Mara for expansive savanna landscapes and memorable wildlife encounters. Over five days, you can look for lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras and other African wildlife while experiencing the distinctive scenery of the Great Rift Valley. This Kenya safari itinerary is suitable for travelers looking for a short but rewarding wildlife holiday from Nairobi.
Safari Details: 5 Days Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru Safari
Overview
Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights
Destinations: Maasai Mara National Reserve & Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya
Safari Type: Kenya Wildlife, Big Five & Scenic Safari
Start Point: Nairobi, Kenya
End Point: Nairobi, Kenya
Main Activities: Game drives, Big Five viewing, wildlife photography, bird watching, scenic sightseeing and cultural experiences
Accommodation: Luxury, Mid-range, or Budget Lodges & Tented Camps
Best Time to Visit: June to October & January to February
The 5 Days Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru Safari is an exciting Kenya wildlife safari combining two of the country's most popular wildlife destinations. This carefully planned 5-day safari takes you from Nairobi to the wildlife-rich plains of the Maasai Mara National Reserve and the scenic landscapes of Lake Nakuru National Park, offering excellent opportunities for game drives, Big Five viewing, photography, bird watching, and cultural experiences.
The Maasai Mara safari is the highlight of this Kenya wildlife adventure. Its expansive savannah plains provide a remarkable setting for spotting lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and numerous other wildlife species. During the Great Wildebeest Migration season, travelers may also have the opportunity to witness large herds moving through the Mara ecosystem.
Your Lake Nakuru safari adds a different wildlife experience to the itinerary. The park is known for its scenic lake, surrounding landscapes, birdlife, and rhino conservation. Game drives can provide opportunities to see black and white rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes, lions, leopards, zebras, and other wildlife while exploring one of Kenya's distinctive safari destinations.
This 5-day Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru itinerary is ideal for travelers who want to experience Kenya's wildlife without committing to a long safari. The combination of open savannah, diverse wildlife, scenic landscapes, and excellent game-viewing opportunities creates a varied Kenya safari experience within five days.
Whether you are planning your first Maasai Mara safari, looking for a short Kenya wildlife holiday, traveling as a couple or family, or seeking memorable opportunities for wildlife photography, this 5 Days Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru Safari offers a well-balanced introduction to Kenya's remarkable wildlife and landscapes.
Detailed Itinerary: 5 Days Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru Safari
Day 1: Arrival in Kenya and Transfer to Nairobi
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be welcomed by an Ababa Uganda Safaris representative and transferred to your hotel in Nairobi.
Depending on your arrival time, you may relax at the hotel or enjoy a short experience around Nairobi. You can explore the city, visit a local attraction, or simply rest and prepare for your safari.
Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in Nairobi.
Accommodation: Hotel in Nairobi
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Nairobi to Maasai Mara National Reserve – Afternoon Game Drive
After breakfast, depart Nairobi and travel southwest toward the famous Maasai Mara National Reserve.
The journey takes you through the scenic Great Rift Valley, with opportunities to stop at viewpoints and enjoy panoramic views of Kenya's dramatic landscapes.
Continue toward the Maasai Mara, arriving in time for lunch and check-in at your lodge or tented camp.
In the afternoon, head out for your first game drive across the reserve. Keep watch for elephants, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, antelopes, and other wildlife. With luck, you may also encounter lions, cheetahs, or leopards.
Return to your accommodation in the evening for dinner and relaxation.
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in Maasai Mara
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Full-Day Game Drive in Maasai Mara
Wake up early for a full-day wildlife adventure in the Maasai Mara.
After breakfast, set out across the reserve with your experienced safari guide. The Maasai Mara is renowned for its rich concentration of wildlife and expansive grasslands, offering excellent opportunities for game viewing.
Depending on the season and animal movements, you may encounter lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, hippos, and numerous antelope species.
You will have a picnic lunch in the reserve before continuing with your game drive through the afternoon.
The Mara is also famous for the annual wildebeest migration, when large herds move through the Mara ecosystem. Migration activity is seasonal, so sightings and river crossings cannot be guaranteed.
Return to your lodge or camp in the evening for dinner and relaxation.
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in Maasai Mara
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Maasai Mara to Lake Nakuru National Park – Wildlife Experience
After breakfast, depart the Maasai Mara and travel toward Lake Nakuru National Park.
The journey takes you through Kenya's scenic countryside and Rift Valley landscapes. Upon arrival in the Lake Nakuru area, enjoy lunch before heading out for a game drive.
Explore the park's diverse habitats in search of rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, waterbucks, antelopes, and other wildlife. Lake Nakuru is also known for its birdlife and scenic surroundings.
Depending on seasonal water levels and conditions, the lake and surrounding wetlands can attract a variety of waterbirds.
After the game drive, proceed to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Lodge or hotel near Lake Nakuru
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Lake Nakuru Game Drive and Return to Nairobi
Wake up early for a final game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park.
Explore the park's wildlife-rich areas while enjoying the changing morning light across the Rift Valley landscape. You may have opportunities to see rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and a variety of bird species.
After the game drive, return for breakfast before departing Lake Nakuru for Nairobi.
Continue to Nairobi, where you will be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your departure flight or to your preferred accommodation, depending on your travel arrangements.
Your 5 Days Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru Safari concludes with memorable wildlife encounters, scenic Rift Valley landscapes, and an authentic Kenyan safari experience.
Meals: Breakfast
5 Days Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru Safari Overview
From the open savannahs of the Maasai Mara to the scenic landscapes of Lake Nakuru, this 5-day Kenya safari combines two of the country's renowned wildlife destinations in one carefully planned adventure.
The safari offers opportunities to experience classic African game viewing, explore the Great Rift Valley, and encounter some of Kenya's iconic wildlife. Maasai Mara provides the main game-viewing experience, while Lake Nakuru adds a contrasting landscape with its lake, woodland, grassland, and wildlife habitats.
Whether you are a first-time safari traveler, wildlife enthusiast, photographer, couple, or family, this itinerary provides a balanced combination of game drives, scenic landscapes, and comfortable lodge or tented-camp stays.
Wildlife sightings naturally depend on season, weather, habitat conditions, and animal movements. Your experienced safari guide will help maximize your opportunities while ensuring that the itinerary remains comfortable and flexible.
Trip Includes
- Airport pickup and drop-off in Nairobi
- Private safari transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Services of an experienced English-speaking safari guide/driver
- 4 nights' accommodation in lodges or tented camps
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- All scheduled game drives in Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru
- Maasai Mara National Reserve entry fees
- Lake Nakuru National Park entry fees
- Great Rift Valley sightseeing stop, where time permits
- Bottled drinking water during game drives
- All applicable government taxes and service charges
- Accommodation and meals as specified in the itinerary
Trip Excludes
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- International and domestic flights
- Kenya visa and entry requirements
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls, and souvenirs
- Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, and lodge staff
- Optional activities not included in the itinerary
- Maasai village or cultural visits unless specifically included
- Alcoholic and premium beverages
- Any additional accommodation before or after the safari
- Medical, evacuation, or other personal insurance
- Any services not specifically mentioned under Includes
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What our travelers say
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Robert KVerified
Bucket list seeing the Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Just an awesome trip . Everything went smoothly from booking to the end . All was as promised never missed anything , always on time , friendly etc. resort that was recommended was perfect , great food , comfortable . Saw the gorillas easily all was perfect . Jonathan the owner even took me in Kampala to buy the right clothes , took me him self . Noel and driver were excellent , never an issue they really cared. I trust this company , will use them again and highly recommend .![]()
Maltes TravellerVerified
Highly recommended We had a wonderful experience with Jonathan. He welcomed us at the airport and took great care of us from the moment we arrived until the end of our trip. The selection of hotels was impeccable, and the route he designed was perfectly planned. Jonathan is extremely knowledgeable about wildlife and went the extra mile to make sure we saw lions and all of the Big Five during our visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park. He was always attentive, patient, and eager to make our experience unforgettable. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide — highly recommended!![]()
bharti nVerified
Exceptional experience, enriching and truly unforgettable. From the moment we landed we received a warm welcome. Jonathan was friendly and readily available to answer any queries throughout our trip. He was incredibly accommodating with our requests to visit schools, residences ensuring that we achieved everything we wanted from the trip. We had a great time with Jonathan and driver Isaac. Jonathan was very funny and very knowledgeable he became part of the family and the time just flew whilst we were there, we felt safe at all times. The food at each venue catered for all our needs. Definitely leant a lot on this trip. Just need to be aware that food ordered in restaurants do take a long time as they make it from scratch so if pushed for time might be advisable to pre order. We had unforgettable holiday and this company went above and beyond to make every moment special. I would recommend them to anyone.![]()
vjparVerified
Great service from this local company We done a road trip across East Africa from Uganda to Tanzania. Jonathan and his team facilitated our trip across Uganda and Kenya which proved to be a very enjoyable experience. Guided knowledge provided by Jonathan was excellent as was his humor and wit. We always felt safe and informed, he managed the journey very well indeed. We would definitely use Jonathan's services again.![]()
Adam John SmithVerified
Magical Uganda Safari Journey – February 2025! I had an unforgettable experience with Ababa Uganda Safaris! From the moment I arrived, everything was well-organized, and the team was incredibly friendly and professional. The tour guides were knowledgeable, sharing fascinating insights about the wildlife and culture. Seeing gorillas up close in Bwindi and exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park was a dream come true. The accommodations were comfortable, and every detail was taken care of. I truly felt immersed in Uganda’s beauty without any stress. If you're planning a trip to Uganda, I highly recommend Ababa Uganda Safaris for a seamless and memorable adventure!![]()
MadhviVerified
.gorilla trek Our KQ flight was horribly delayed. From 2.30 pm to arriving @ almost 3 am the following day. Jonathan kindly arranged for airport pick at this early hour of day and even rescheduled our departure for bwindi so we could get some rest. That was very accommodating.the drive to bwindi was a long drive -11 hrs- n he informed hotel of our late arrival. The lodge he chose for us was good and comfortable. However the vehicle for transporti g us could be better as it was quite hot without air conditioning. Gorilla trek was good but tough. Overall Ababa safaris were very accommodating. I wouldrecommend them. The hotel in Kampala- Speke hotel leaves a lot to be desired![]()
mo-marvinVerified
Such a wonderful experience!! My family and I contacted Jonathan to help us plan our first Murchison Falls safari. Jonathan arranged our transport from Kampala, with a stop at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary and guided game drives through Murchison falls. Ronnie, our professional driver and guide, was very knowledgeable and paid close attention to details to make us comfortable. He met with us a day before takeoff to answer any outstanding questions and recommended a time for us to set off to avoid any traffic. His experience made our trip even more enjoyable because we knew what to expect for entry fees into the park, where to stop to use clean washrooms, eat good food, and also what side of the boat cruise to sit on for the best views! We saw lions, elephants, giraffes, job, rhinos, buffaloes and many other animals. We would definitely go with them for our next safari in Uganda! They had great communication, value for money, professionalism, knowledge of the industry and were very reliable.![]()
Katelyn OVerified
A must-hire company! Punctual, professional, great communication. We used Ababa Safaris for a trip from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park. I would HIGHLY recommend! Our driver picked us up in a large safari vehicle with a pop up roof. The driver was very punctual and had excellent communication while preparing for the trip and during the trip. Ronnie took us to a nice restaurant for a rest stop that had clean bathrooms and good food. He was friendly with many people we met along the way at the Rhino Sanctuary, on the safari trails, and at our chosen lodging. It felt as though he had good connections with people, which we took as a good sign. Ronnie was very knowledgeable about the best places to see the animals and gave us a great safari experience. As the person in the family who does much of the planning, it was a very enjoyable experience to hand all of that over to Ababa and really get to enjoy myself.![]()
HoehlenhonkVerified
Animals and beautiful nature in Uganda and Rwanda From being picked-up from Entebbe airport in the middle of the night until the drop-off eleven days later in Kigali it was a perfect tour. Jonathan, our guide, and the driver Moses was a perfect team - very friendly, knowledgable and always in time. We visited Entebbe for a tour through the botanical gardens and the zoo, did safaris and boat trips in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth NP and did trekkings to the chimpazees in Kibale and to the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The primates are a must visit when you travel to this region. It's expensive but worth every dollar. The safari parks are of course not as rich in animals as for example the Masai Mara. But they are much cheaper, there are much lesser tourists and nevertheless it doesn't become boring regarding animal sightings. We saw a lot of different antelopes, beautiful giraffes, lions, many elephants, buffalos, a lot of hippos and crocodiles and much more. The choice of hotels was very good, simple and cheap where there was only a short overnight stay and a bit more expensive where it was worth to spend the money for staying close to the places of interest, e.g. close to the starting point for primate trekkings or in the middle of QENP and Murchison NP for not loosing game-drive-time.![]()
Dilip PVerified
UGANDA SAFARI WITH ABABA We had a nice holiday with ABABA SAFARI in Uganda it was a nice experience in Uganda and the travel agent as well especially Jonathan was our tour guide very nice person he was always very helpful and kind. we traveled about 1200km but had no problem I am a vegetarian and wherever we go he always arranges something for me i recommend them at and competitive price I give them a 5-star






