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Kenya Safari, Masai Mara balloon ride by Wajahat Mahmood

Kenya Safari: Masai Mara & African Great Lakes

Tour Length6 days
Priced from pps $2220 R41996 £1758 2058 A$3407 C$3005 NZ$3716 Full pricing info
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Summary of this Exclusive Small Group Camping Safari

  • Max. Group Size 6 Travellers
  • Starts & ends in Nairobi, Kenya
  • Accommodation Guesthouse / B&B / Luxury Camping
  • Transport 4x4 Vehicle
  • Wildlife Big 5, Elephant, Leopards, Lions, Migration Safari (Seasonal) & More
  •  See Departure Dates

Quick Itinerary Overview

A memorable 6-day Kenya Private Safari to Masai Mara and African Great Lakes - Nakuru, Naivasha, and Bogoria. First, visit these scenic Great Rift Valley Lakes in Kenya and explore their important wildlife and bird sanctuaries. The sheer number of birds we see is awe-inspiring. Then, we head south via the beautiful Great Rift Valley to Kenya's top safari destination, Masai Mara National Reserve.

On our Masai Mara Safari, days are spent watching the abundant African wildlife that makes this Kenya national park one of the best game reserves in the world. We keep an eye out for the big cats of Africa that are particularly common in Kenya's famous Masai Mara, along with the Big Five. If we are lucky, we may get to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration - a wildlife event like no other.

Explore some of the finest scenic, birding, and wildlife spots in Africa on this Budget Kenya Safari with safari lodge and camping tour accommodation.

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Itinerary for this Tour

Day 1: Nairobi to Lake Bogoria - Kenya

This budget Kenya Safari to Masai Mara & African Great Lakes starts in Nairobi where you are collected from your pre-tour hotel at 07h30 in the morning.

Lake Bogoria is the first of the Great Rift Valley Lakes our tour visits. Our drive takes us northwest via the floor of the scenic Great Rift Valley. From the top of the escarpment, we get to look out over the Great Lakes dotted across the landscape below. This breathtaking vista provides the first glimpse of the natural splendors that lie ahead.

We arrive at our lakeside resort in time for lunch. Then we explore Lake Bogoria National Park in the afternoon.

Lake Bogoria is a soda lake that attracts massive seasonal flocks of pink flamingoes. Some call it ‘the new home of the flamingo' because of the migratory population of up to two million flamingoes that gather here at times. It is the high salt and mineral content of this pretty lake that attracts huge numbers of flamingos and other birds. Lake Bogoria is also known for its natural hot springs and geysers.

After exploring our first Great Lake of Africa we return to our lodge for dinner and a comfortable overnight stay.

Day 2: Lake Bogoria to Lake Nakuru - Kenya

After breakfast at the safari lodge, we drive south to the nearby Lake Nakuru National Park. Although the national park only covers 180 km² (69 mi²) it plays an important role in bird and wildlife conservation. This important wildlife sanctuary hosts endangered white and black rhinos, along with endangered Rothschild's Giraffes. Large African animals found in the park include lions, leopards, buffaloes, and zebras.

Lake Nakuru is an ornithologist's delight, hosting over 400 bird species. These include Great White Pelican, African Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Stork, Lesser, Greater Flamingo, and Long-crested Eagle.

We spend the second night of our Kenya Safari Tour at a comfortable safari lodge inside Lake Nakuru National Park. Enjoy the beautiful views of the shallow soda lake and surrounding bush, keeping an eye out for wildlife and birds.

Day 3: Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha - Kenya

Day three of our Budget Kenya Safari begins with breakfast at our lakeside lodge. Then we head out on a morning game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park. Mornings are an excellent time to spot birds and animals in the bush so keep your binoculars ready.

After our game drive, we travel south to the next African Great Lake our Kenya Safari visits, Lake Naivasha. We arrive at our safari lodge in time for lunch, followed by a guided walking safari in Crescent Island Game Sanctuary. This private reserve is on a peninsula that becomes an island in Lake Naivasha when water levels rise and is only accessible by boat. Our game walk on Crescent Island gives us a chance to spot wildlife and birds on foot, including wildebeest, zebra, various antelope species, and giraffes. Bird species to look out for include pelicans, cormorants, and fish-eagles.

Alternatively, this afternoon you can visit the nearby Hell's Gate National Park, which is ideal for hiking and cycling. After our afternoon of exploring the Lake Naivasha area of the Great Rift Valley, we return to the lodge for dinner and a relaxing evening.

Day 4: Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara - Kenya

We head south to the town of Narok, stopping for lunch before we continue to the spectacular Masai Mara National Reserve. The game-viewing highlight of our Kenya Safari, Masai Mara offers exceptional wildlife sightings year-round. As we make our way to our tented camp near Masai Mara, Kenya's top safari destination, we keep our eyes open for roaming animals.

This evening we have dinner at our safari camp beside a river and listen to the chorus of animal sounds in the African bush. Located in a private wildlife conservancy near the Masai Mara National Park, our luxury tented camp looks out over the hilly wilderness. We stay in permanent tents fitted with beds, featuring en-suite bathrooms.

Day 5: Masai Mara Safari - Kenya

Today it is time for our exciting full-day Masai Mara Safari! We set off early in the morning to spend the whole day game viewing in one of Africa's best wildlife parks. Our game drives take us in search of Africa's Big 5 (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo) and many other big mammals.

The Masai Mara Reserve covers 1510km² of iconic wide-open landscapes and fertile riverine woodlands, following the looping meanders of the Mara and Talek rivers in Kenya. One glimpse is enough to explain its appeal; it is quintessential African savannah, inhabited by a mass of wild animals fighting for survival. On clear days, the Masai Mara offers fantastic orange-tinted sunsets over the savannahs - a scene worth capturing on camera!

Wherever you go in the vast Masai Mara you will see a frequent amount of wildlife such as Masai giraffe, baboons, warthogs, bat-eared foxes, grey jackals, spotted hyena, topis, impala, hartebeests, wildebeest. Elephants, buffaloes, zebras, and hippos are also found in great numbers. It is also common to see lions either basking after a heavy meal or surveying the grassy plains for their next meal. Cheetahs and leopards are harder to spot but reasonably common.

The ultimate action here is, without doubt, the annual wildebeest exodus, the Great Migration. This migration usually peaks in July and August when millions of herbivores move north from the Serengeti in search of lusher grass before turning south again in October. Hot-air balloon trips are an entirely outstanding way of seeing the savannah plains teeming with wildlife. These Masai Mara balloon trips can be arranged at extra cost.

We overnight at the same comfortable camp near Masai Mara Reserve as on day five of our Budget Kenya Safari.

Day 6: Masai Mara to Nairobi - Kenya

Start day six of your Kenya safari with breakfast at the tented camp in the private Masai Mara Conservancy. Then it is time to say goodbye to the African bush and drive back to Nairobi.

This afternoon at about 15h00 we arrive in bustling Nairobi, where our Kenya Safari to Masai Mara & the African Great Lakes comes to an end.

Masai Mara Safari Accommodation

This budget Kenya Safari stays at a luxury tented camp inside a private conservancy close to the Masai Mara Game Reserve.

The tented safari camp overlooks the Oloolotikoshi Hills from its location on the banks of the Oloirigynyisho River. The river attracts elephants, wildebeests, zebras, and other animals, which are often spotted from the camp. The Ololaimutia gate of Masai Mara is only 2,5 km from the tented camp.

This intimate safari camp features 8 spacious walk-in tents which have been tastefully yet simply decorated and fitted with beds, linen, and mosquito nets. These permanent tents have en-suite bathrooms with flush toilets, washbasins, and hot showers. Each luxury tent has its own veranda where guests can sit back and watch the African bush.

Facilities include bar and lounge areas, a shop stocked with local products, and a spacious restaurant.

Kenya Safari Transport

This safari will be conducted in a custom-made 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof for game viewing. The 4x4 Land Cruisers are adapted for game viewing and fitted with refrigerators to keep your drinks cold out in the bush.

The maximum group size on this Kenya Safari is six people, to guarantee each person a window seat on game drives.

Wildebeest Great Migration Explained

Please note that the Wildebeest Great Migration is seasonal. As a natural wildlife phenomenon, it is fluid and unpredictable. For this reason, seeing the Great Migration cannot be guaranteed.

The wildebeest and other wild herbivores migrate between Masai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti in Tanzania. These herds move in a massive circular route covering some 1200 miles (1931km). It is a continuous movement of wildlife that can be seen in different areas at different times of the year. During certain phases of this annual trek the animals disperse or slow down, whilst at other times the migration picks up speed, with the herds becoming larger and denser. Not only does the Wildebeest Great Migration vary from place to place and season to season but the movement of these large wildlife herds varies from year to year.

Please talk to a travel expert from African Budget Safaris about seeing the Wildebeest Great Migration on your safari to find out more. Also, check out our detailed article about the Great Migration in Serengeti and Masai Mara.

Optional Extras and Excursions

For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.

  • Cultural tours 
  • Great Lake boat ride 
  • Masai Mara hot-air balloon safari

Child Policy

This tour does take children.

Children of all ages, travelling with accompanying parents or guardian, are accepted on this safari.

Please contact African Budget Safaris for further information.

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+Where does the tour go to?
+Optional Activities & Day Trips
For confirmed pricing on these optional items, please drop us an enquiry
  • Cultural tours 
  • Great Lake boat ride 
  • Masai Mara hot-air balloon safari
+Included in the Tour Price
  • Transport in a custom-made 4x4 van with a pop-up roof (guaranteed window seat per person)
  • Services of a professional English-speaking guide
  • Game drives as per the itinerary
  • Game reserve and national park entry fees
  • Accommodation in self-contained tents (linen provided)
  • 3 meals per day on safari
  • 1 liter of Mineral water per person per day
+Not Included in the Tour Price
  • Drinks and tips
  • Cultural visits to Maasai villages
  • Lake Naivasha boat ride
  • Personal items
  • Kenya Visas
  • Accommodation in Nairobi (pre-tour and post-tour)
  • Airport transfers in Nairobi
  • Travel insurance
+Departure Dates

This tour departs daily with a minimum of 2 people.

Scheduled Tour Departures
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If you do not see departures listed for your dates, please do contact us for further info.

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