5 Day Kenya Camping Safari | Masai Mara, Naivasha & Nakuru

Duration

5 Days, 4 Nights

Tour Type

Kenya Camping Safaris

Activity

Game Drive, Wildlife

Safari Vehicle

Minivan / 4X4 Land Cruiser

Lake Naivasha National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve

5 Days Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha & Nakuru Camping Safari

This 5-day, 4-night private safari spends two nights in the Masai Mara, one at Lake Nakuru and one at Lake Naivasha. You choose budget, mid-range or luxury accommodation, travel in a 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof, and all park entry fees, full-board meals and game drives are included.

Three of Kenya’s best-known safari landscapes fit into five days here: the open plains of the Masai Mara, the flamingo-and-rhino shores of Lake Nakuru, and the hippo-filled waters of Lake Naivasha. It’s a good match for first-time visitors who want variety without a long trip, and for repeat travelers who want a well-paced route with the option to spend more or less on where they sleep.

Why This Itinerary Works

Three different landscapes in five days: Big Five savannah, a flamingo lake, and a freshwater lake with boat safaris
Two nights in the Masai Mara, so you get a full game-drive day rather than a rushed visit
Clear budget, mid-range and luxury options at every stop, so you can decide on cost without guessing
A relaxed final day at Lake Naivasha instead of a long return drive straight after game viewing

A private vehicle and guide, so the pace follows you

Where You’ll Stay

Location	Budget	Mid-Range	Luxury
Masai Mara (2 nights)	Enchoro Wildlife Camp / Oseki Mara Camp	Jambo Mara Safari Lodge / Mara Sopa Lodge	Mara Serena Safari Lodge / Keekorok Lodge / Entim Mara Camp
Lake Nakuru (1 night)	Buraha Zenoni Resort	Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge / Sarova Lion Hill Lodge	The Cliff Nakuru / Mbweha Camp
Lake Naivasha (1 night)	Chambai Hotel	Muthu Lake Naivasha Country Club	Enashipai Resort & Spa / Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort

This itinerary can be customized to your dates, budget and preferences, and alternative hotels can be arranged on request.

Details

Home to a variety of wildlife, the Masai Mara is the one reserve where you can see all the “Big Five” mammals in a single morning. The Masai Mara stretches out over a flat grassy plain and is most famous for its annual migration of millions of wildebeest.

Your guide collects you in Nairobi in the early morning. The route drops through the Great Rift Valley, with stops at viewpoints for photos, before you enter the Masai Mara. You arrive in time for lunch at your lodge or camp and some time to settle in, then head out on an afternoon game drive across the plains, where zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, elephant and predators preparing for the evening hunt are all possible. Dinner and overnight in the Mara.

Today is given entirely to the reserve. An early morning game drive catches wildlife at its most active, with good light for photographs and the chance to look for lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, buffalo and rhino. Lunch is at your lodge or as a packed picnic in the park. An optional Masai village visit gives a look at traditional Maasai life. The afternoon drive explores a different part of the reserve until sunset. Dinner and overnight in the Mara.

After breakfast, drive through the Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park, known for its birdlife and rhino sanctuary. The afternoon game drive looks for white and black rhinos, Rothschild's giraffes, pelicans, seasonal flamingos (numbers vary with water levels), leopards and tree-climbing lions. Dinner and overnight overlooking the lake.

After breakfast, drive to Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake ringed by greenery and escarpments. This is the relaxed day of the trip: take a boat safari among hippos and water birds, watch for African fish eagles, or add the optional Crescent Island walking safari, where you can walk among giraffes, zebras and antelopes. Dinner and overnight by the lake.

Enjoy breakfast with lake views, then a relaxed drive back to Nairobi. Optional stops for souvenirs or lunch are possible on the way. You are dropped at your hotel or the airport.

Inclusions

Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof
Professional, experienced safari guide/driver
All park entry fees as listed for the itinerary
4 nights’ accommodation (budget, mid-range or luxury as chosen)
Full-board meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Game drives as per the itinerary
Bottled drinking water during the safari

Exclusions

International and domestic flights
Travel insurance
Tips and gratuities
Alcoholic drinks and personal expenses
Optional activities (balloon safari, Masai village visit, Crescent Island walk)

Not sure whether two nights in the Mara is enough for you? Our guide on how many days you need in the Masai Mara compares 3, 5 and 7-day trips. You can also read more about each stop: Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha. Planning your budget? See our 17 Kenya Safari Mistakes to Avoid.

Destination

Amboseli National Park

Lake Naivasha National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park

Masai Mara National Reserve

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Samburu National Reserve

Tsavo National Park