5 Days 4 Nights Masai Mara & Lake Nakuru Mid-Range Safari

5 Day Masai Mara Lake Nakuru Safari Overview

Explore two of Kenya’s most rewarding wildlife destinations on this 5-day Masai Mara Lake Nakuru safari from Nairobi. Begin at Lake Nakuru National Park, where you can search for black and white rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes and varied birdlife, before continuing to the Masai Mara for three nights of classic savannah wildlife viewing.

The itinerary gives the Masai Mara the largest share of your safari time. After an afternoon game drive on arrival, you have two full days to explore different parts of the reserve. As a result, the safari offers more wildlife-viewing time than a shorter Mara and Nakuru itinerary without making the journey unnecessarily rushed.

You travel throughout the safari in a private customized 4×4 Land Cruiser and stay in selected mid-range accommodation. The package suits couples, families, friends, solo travelers and small private groups, while separate rates are available for Kenyan citizens, eligible residents and international visitors.

Safari Highlights

• 5 days / 4 nights from Nairobi
• 1 night at Lake Nakuru
• 3 nights in the Masai Mara
• Private customized 4×4 Land Cruiser
• Lake Nakuru afternoon game drive
• Masai Mara afternoon game drive on Day 2
• Full-day Masai Mara game drives on Days 3 and 4
• Opportunities to see black and white rhinos
• Excellent opportunities for lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes and other Mara wildlife
• Great Rift Valley scenery
• Professional English-speaking driver-guide
• Meals as listed in the itinerary
• Standard park fees included
• Bottled drinking water during the safari
• Private Nairobi pickup and drop-off
• Kenyan Citizen, Resident and Non-Resident rates available
• Optional hot-air balloon safari
• Optional Maasai cultural visit

Safari at a Glance

Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights
Destinations: Lake Nakuru & Masai Mara
Start & End: Nairobi
Safari Style: Private Mid-Range Safari
Vehicle: Private customized 4×4 Land Cruiser
Lake Nakuru Stay: 1 Night
Masai Mara Stay: 3 Nights
Accommodation: Mid-range lodge and tented camp
Game Drives: Day 1: Lake Nakuru; Day 2: afternoon Mara; Days 3 & 4: full-day Mara
Meals: As detailed in the itinerary
Park Fees: Included for the standard itinerary
Non-Resident Price: From USD 1,395 pp sharing
Kenyan Citizen Price: From KES 119,500 pp sharing
Customization: Available before booking

Safari Route

The safari starts in Nairobi and travels through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru. On Day 2, continue towards the Masai Mara, where you spend three nights before returning directly to Nairobi on Day 5.

Route: Nairobi → Lake Nakuru → Masai Mara → Nairobi

Driving times are approximate because traffic, weather, road conditions, and the location of the confirmed accommodation can affect the schedule.

Why Choose This 5 Day Safari?

This itinerary gives you more time where it matters most. Lake Nakuru offers a different wildlife environment and strong opportunities to see rhinos, while three nights in the Masai Mara provide an afternoon game drive followed by two full safari days.

Starting at Lake Nakuru also makes the journey smoother. The first drive from Nairobi is shorter, which means you can enjoy a meaningful game drive on Day 1 instead of spending most of the day on the road. You then continue to the Masai Mara, where the longer stay gives your guide more flexibility to explore different wildlife areas.

The private Land Cruiser adds another advantage. Your party doesn’t need to follow the schedule of unrelated travelers, giving you more flexibility for comfort stops and wildlife-viewing time while still following park rules and operating hours.

Wildlife Experience

Lake Nakuru National Park offers a different wildlife experience from the Masai Mara. The park is especially known for its black and white rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, buffaloes, waterbucks and varied birdlife. Flamingos may also appear around the lake, although their numbers change with water levels and feeding conditions.

The Masai Mara offers expansive grasslands and excellent opportunities to see lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, cheetahs, zebras, wildebeest and other plains wildlife. During the migration period, large herds may move through parts of the wider Mara ecosystem; however, migration timing, river crossings and specific wildlife encounters cannot be guaranteed.

Accommodation

Lake Nakuru – Lake Nakuru Lodge or Similar

Spend your first night at Lake Nakuru Lodge or a comparable mid-range property in or near the national park. The lodge provides comfortable en-suite accommodation, dining facilities and a convenient base after your afternoon game drive.

Staying close to the park also reduces unnecessary transfer time and keeps the first day focused on the safari experience.

Masai Mara – Mara Leisure Camp or Similar

Spend three nights at Mara Leisure Camp or a comparable mid-range tented property in the Masai Mara area. The camp provides comfortable safari accommodation, en-suite facilities and a convenient base for your afternoon and full-day game drives.

Tunza Tours will confirm both properties before final payment. If a preferred property is unavailable, the team will propose a comparable mid-range alternative and explain any price difference before making the change.

Transportation

The package includes a private customized 4×4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof for wildlife viewing and photography. Four-wheel drive is particularly useful on safari tracks where conditions can change after rain.

Because the vehicle remains exclusively with your party, you have more flexibility with comfort stops and wildlife-viewing time than on a group safari. However, park regulations, wildlife movements, safety requirements and road conditions still influence the day’s final route.

Soft-sided luggage is recommended because safari vehicles have limited storage space.

5 Day Masai Mara Lake Nakuru Safari Price

From USD 1,395 Per Person Sharing

This private safari starts from USD 1,395 per person sharing on selected low-season departures. The starting price is based on two adults sharing. It includes private 4×4 Land Cruiser transport, four nights of mid-range accommodation, meals listed in the itinerary, scheduled game drives, standard park fees, bottled drinking water and professional driver-guide services.

Prices change during the year because Masai Mara accommodation and reserve charges vary by season. Therefore, Tunza Tours uses seasonal rates instead of a single price year-round.

These are starting rates, not fixed prices. Your final quotation depends on your exact dates, number of travelers, room arrangement and confirmed accommodation.

Kenyan Citizen and Resident Rates

Eligible EAC and Kenya residents receive separate quotations because accommodation and park charges can differ according to residency category. Tunza Tours does not simply convert the international USD rate into Kenyan shillings.

Travelers booking citizen or resident rates should carry valid identification or residency documents accepted by the relevant park authorities.

Optional Activities

Masai Mara Hot-Air Balloon Safari

Add an early-morning balloon flight over the Masai Mara for an aerial view of the plains and wildlife. Balloon flights cost extra, depend on weather conditions and availability, and should be booked early during busy periods.

Maasai Cultural Visit

Tunza Tours can arrange a visit to a nearby Maasai community for an additional fee. The experience offers an opportunity to learn about local traditions and everyday life. Guests should always ask permission before photographing residents or private homes.

Accommodation Upgrade

Guests can request higher-category camps and lodges at both Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara. Tunza Tours will confirm the additional cost before booking.

Fly-Out from Masai Mara

Travelers who prefer to avoid the Day 5 road journey can request a scheduled flight from the Masai Mara to Nairobi. This option changes the transfer arrangements, baggage allowance and total safari price.

Best Time to Travel

Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara offer rewarding wildlife experiences year-round. January to March generally offers warm and relatively dry conditions, while April and May bring greener scenery, fewer visitors and potentially more attractive accommodation rates.

July to October attracts strong demand because seasonal wildebeest movements occur across the wider Mara-Serengeti ecosystem. However, herd locations and river crossings remain unpredictable. Lake Nakuru remains an important rhino and birding destination year-round, although flamingo numbers vary with ecological conditions.

Travelers visiting during migration season, Christmas or New Year should book earlier because accommodation availability and rates can change quickly.

What to Carry

• Passport or valid identification
• Proof of residency when booking a resident rate
• Soft-sided travel bag
• Small day bag
• Comfortable lightweight clothing
• Warm jacket or fleece
• Comfortable closed shoes
• Hat and sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Camera or smartphone
• Binoculars if available
• Power bank
• Personal medication
• Travel-insurance documents
• Reusable water bottle

Avoid oversized hard-shell luggage because safari vehicles have limited storage space.

Good to Know Before Booking

This package operates as a private mid-range safari. Your party has exclusive use of the Land Cruiser, although park operating hours, wildlife movements, weather, road conditions and safety regulations still influence the daily schedule.

Wildlife moves freely, so Tunza Tours cannot guarantee the Big Five, a predator hunt, large flamingo concentrations or a Great Migration river crossing. Your driver-guide will instead use recent sightings and local knowledge to provide the best responsible wildlife-viewing opportunities available.

Tunza Tours will confirm your accommodation, room category, park fees, meal plan and included experiences before payment.

Booking and Payment

To request an accurate quotation, provide your preferred travel dates, number of adults, children’s ages, nationality or residency status, room preference and Nairobi pickup location. Please also mention dietary requirements, special occasions, and any optional activities or accommodation upgrades.

Tunza Tours will check accommodation and private Land Cruiser availability before preparing the quotation. You will receive a clear breakdown of the confirmed safari price and any selected extras before payment.

Once Tunza Tours receives the required payment, the team will issue written confirmation together with your accommodation details, pickup arrangements and final safari information.

Cancellation and Changes

Cancellation and amendment conditions depend on your travel dates, confirmed accommodation and supplier policies. Migration-season and festive bookings may have stricter terms because camps and lodges often require earlier deposits.

Tunza Tours will provide the applicable conditions before payment. Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended to cover medical emergencies, cancellation, baggage problems and other unexpected travel disruptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much does the 5-day Masai Mara Lake Nakuru safari cost?

Non-resident rates start from USD 1,395 per person sharing on selected low-season departures. Regular-season rates start from approximately USD 1,595, while migration-season departures start from around USD 1,995.

2. Are Kenyan resident rates available?

Yes. Kenyan citizen rates start from approximately KES 119,500 per person sharing on selected low-season departures. Eligible residents receive separate quotations according to the rates that apply to their traveler category.

3. Are park fees included?

Yes. The package price includes standard Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara park fees required for the confirmed itinerary.

4. Is this a private safari?

Yes. Your party will travel in a private, customized 4×4 Land Cruiser with a dedicated driver-guide.

5. Where will I stay?

The preferred accommodation is Lake Nakuru Lodge for one night and Mara Leisure Camp for three nights. If either property is unavailable, Tunza Tours will propose a comparable mid-range alternative before you confirm your booking.

6. How many nights are spent in the Masai Mara?

You spend three nights in the Masai Mara and one night at Lake Nakuru.

7. How many Masai Mara game drives are included?

The itinerary includes an afternoon game drive on Day 2 and full-day private game drives on Days 3 and 4.

8. Why isn’t there a game drive on Day 5?

Another Masai Mara reserve entry would increase the safari price and delay the return to Nairobi. The itinerary already includes an arrival-afternoon game drive and two complete Mara wildlife days.

9. Can solo travelers book?

Yes. However, solo pricing is higher because one traveler carries the cost of the private Land Cruiser and single-room accommodation.

10. Can children join?

Yes. Child pricing depends on age, room arrangements, park fees and accommodation policies. Provide each child’s age when requesting your quotation.

11. Can I see the Big Five?

The Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru provide good opportunities to encounter many iconic African species, including members of the Big Five. However, wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.

12. Will I see flamingos at Lake Nakuru?

Flamingos occur at Lake Nakuru, but their numbers change according to water levels, food availability and other environmental conditions.

13. Can I see the Great Migration?

Seasonal wildebeest movements attract many visitors to the Masai Mara, particularly between roughly July and October. However, exact herd locations and river crossings vary naturally.

14. Can I add a balloon safari?

Yes. Tunza Tours can arrange a Masai Mara hot-air balloon safari at additional cost, subject to weather and availability.

15. Can I upgrade the accommodation?

Yes. You can request higher-category camps and lodges before booking.

16. Can I fly back from the Masai Mara?

Yes. A scheduled flight to Nairobi can replace the Day 5 road transfer at additional cost.

17. What luggage should I bring?

Soft-sided luggage is preferable because it fits more easily into safari vehicles and domestic aircraft if you add a flight.

18. What time will we return to Nairobi?

Most road safaris arrive during the afternoon. Traffic and road conditions can affect the exact time, so tell Tunza Tours about any fixed evening flight or onward connection before booking.

Why Book With Tunza Tours?

This safari combines two distinct wildlife experiences without rushing the itinerary. Lake Nakuru adds rhinos, Rift Valley scenery and varied birdlife, while three nights in the Masai Mara give you an afternoon game drive and two complete safari days.

You also travel in a private 4×4 Land Cruiser and receive a clear quotation covering your accommodation, meals and standard park fees before payment. Tunza Tours operates in Kenya under a Tourism Regulatory Authority License.

Request Your 5 Day Masai Mara & Lake Nakuru Safari Quote

Send Tunza Tours your preferred dates, number of travelers, children’s ages, residency category and room preference. The team will check accommodation and private Land Cruiser availability before preparing your complete quotation.

Get a Free Quote