6 Days 5 Nights Samburu, Lake Nakuru & Masai Mara Lodge Safari

Samburu Mara Lodge Safari Overview

Explore three contrasting Kenyan wildlife destinations on this Samburu Mara lodge safari from Nairobi. Begin with two nights in Samburu National Reserve, home to elephants and the rare Samburu Special Five. Afterward, travel through Kenya’s central highlands to Lake Nakuru for rhinos and Rift Valley scenery before finishing with two nights in the Masai Mara.

This is a private mid-range lodge safari with a customized 4×4 Land Cruiser reserved exclusively for your traveling party. The standard package includes five nights of selected lodge accommodation, private game drives, standard park and reserve fees, meals listed in the itinerary, bottled drinking water and Nairobi pickup and drop-off.

The itinerary suits couples, families, friends and small private groups who want more comfort than a budget safari without paying for a high-end luxury camp circuit.

Safari Highlights

• 6 days / 5 nights from Nairobi
• 2 nights in Samburu
• 1 night at Lake Nakuru
• 2 nights in the Masai Mara
• Private customized 4×4 Land Cruiser
• Afternoon and full-day Samburu game drives
• Opportunities to see the Samburu Special Five
• Lake Nakuru rhino-viewing game drive
• Afternoon Masai Mara game drive
• Full-day Masai Mara game drive
• Selected mid-range safari lodges
• Standard park and reserve fees included
• Meals as listed in the itinerary
• Bottled drinking water
• Professional English-speaking driver-guide
• Nairobi pickup and drop-off
• Kenyan Citizen, Resident and Non-Resident rates
• Luxury lodge and activity upgrades available

Safari at a Glance

Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
Destinations: Samburu, Lake Nakuru & Masai Mara
Start & End: Nairobi
Safari Style: Private Mid-Range Lodge Safari
Vehicle: Private customized 4×4 Land Cruiser
Samburu: 2 Nights
Lake Nakuru: 1 Night
Masai Mara: 2 Nights
Accommodation: Selected mid-range lodges
Meals: As listed in the itinerary
Game Drives: Private
Park Fees: Included for the standard itinerary
Starting Price: From USD 1,495 pp
Price Basis: 6–7 guests on selected low-season dates
Kenyan Citizen Rate: From KES 129,500 pp
Customization: Available

Safari Route

Nairobi → Samburu National Reserve → Lake Nakuru National Park → Masai Mara National Reserve → Nairobi

The itinerary starts in northern Kenya and then travels south through the Great Rift Valley before finishing in the Masai Mara. This sequence gives each part of the safari a different character and makes the Mara the final major wildlife experience.

Why Choose This Safari?

Samburu, Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara offer noticeably different wildlife environments. Samburu introduces dry-country species rarely seen farther south, while Lake Nakuru adds a strong rhino component. The Masai Mara then delivers classic savannah wildlife and big-cat viewing.

Because the safari is private, your Land Cruiser remains exclusively with your party. Your guide can manage photo stops, comfort breaks, and daily pacing around your group while following park rules and lodge schedules.

Wildlife Experience

Samburu is best known for the Samburu Special Five: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich. Elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs and many bird species also occur within the wider ecosystem.

Lake Nakuru provides opportunities to see black and white rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, buffaloes, waterbucks, zebras and varied birdlife. Flamingos may also appear, although their numbers change naturally with lake conditions.

The Masai Mara offers opportunities to see lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, cheetahs, zebras, wildebeest and other plains wildlife. During parts of the year, migration herds may enter the wider Mara ecosystem, although exact herd locations and river crossings cannot be guaranteed.

Accommodation

The standard package uses selected mid-range safari lodges with en-suite accommodation, restaurant facilities and established guest services.

Samburu – Samburu Sopa Lodge or Similar

Spend two nights at Samburu Sopa Lodge, Samburu Simba Lodge or a comparable property. The two-night stay allows time for an afternoon arrival game drive and one full safari day.

Lake Nakuru – Lake Nakuru Lodge or Similar

Spend one night at Lake Nakuru Lodge, Flamingo Hill Tented Camp or a comparable mid-range property serving the national park.

Masai Mara – Mara Sopa Lodge or Similar

Spend two nights at Mara Sopa Lodge, Mara Simba Lodge or a comparable mid-range property. The stay includes an arrival-afternoon wildlife experience and a full private game-drive day.

Tunza Tours will confirm the exact properties before payment. If one becomes unavailable, the team will propose a comparable lodge and explain any meaningful difference in location, standard or price before confirmation.

Transportation

The standard safari includes a private customized 4×4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof.

Your party has exclusive use of the vehicle for both road transfers and game drives. The Land Cruiser provides strong ground clearance and good wildlife visibility across the different road conditions encountered during the journey.

For groups of six or seven guests, we recommend soft-sided travel bags because luggage space remains limited.

Samburu Mara Lodge Safari Price

From USD 1,495 Per Person Sharing

The lowest advertised rate applies when 6–7 guests travel together in one private 4×4 Land Cruiser on selected low-season dates.

Smaller groups pay a higher per-person rate because fewer travelers share the private vehicle, fuel and driver-guide costs.

Non-Resident Private Safari Rates

Low Season: April-May
Regular Season: January-March & June
Peak Season: July-October
Christmas & New Year: On Request

Final pricing depends on travel dates, confirmed lodge availability, room arrangement, and traveler category.

Kenyan Citizen Rates

These are starting rates for larger private groups. Smaller groups receive a separate quotation.

Eligible residents should also request a dedicated resident rate because their conservation-fee category differs from both citizen and non-resident pricing.

What Your Quotation Will Confirm

Before payment, Tunza Tours will confirm the exact lodges, room arrangement, private Land Cruiser, applicable park and reserve fees, meals and complete safari price.

Optional Activities and Upgrades

Masai Mara Hot-Air Balloon Safari

Add a sunrise balloon safari during the Masai Mara stay at an additional cost, subject to availability.

Samburu Cultural Experience

We can arrange a community visit during the Samburu section at an additional cost.

Maasai Cultural Experience

A Maasai community visit can be arranged during the Masai Mara stay.

Luxury Accommodation Upgrade

Upgrade to properties such as Ashnil Samburu, Samburu Intrepids, Sarova Lion Hill, Mara Serena, Sarova Mara or other higher-end properties.

Additional Safari Night

You can add an extra night in either Samburu or the Masai Mara if you prefer a slower itinerary.

Best Time to Travel

The safari operates throughout the year. January to March generally offers warm, relatively dry conditions, while April and May bring greener scenery, fewer visitors, and the lowest lodge rates.

July to October is the busiest period in the Masai Mara and overlaps with the broader Great Migration season. However, reserve fees and lodge prices are also higher during this period.

November and early December can provide greener landscapes and fewer peak-season crowds. Wildlife sightings, flamingo numbers and migration movements remain natural and cannot be guaranteed.

What to Carry

• Passport or valid identification
• Residency documents when using a resident rate
• Soft-sided travel bag
• Lightweight safari clothing
• Warm jacket or fleece
• Comfortable closed shoes
• Hat and sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Camera or smartphone
• Binoculars
• Power bank
• Personal medication
• Reusable water bottle
• Travel insurance information
• Light rain jacket during wetter months

Good to Know Before Booking

This is a private lodge safari, so your Land Cruiser remains exclusively with your traveling party. However, road conditions, park regulations, wildlife movements and weather still influence the daily program.

The route includes several long transfers, particularly Nairobi to Samburu and Samburu to Lake Nakuru. The itinerary remains practical because each destination offers meaningful wildlife time rather than serving only as an overnight stop.

The standard package deliberately avoids an additional Masai Mara game drive on Day 6. This keeps the advertised park-fee structure transparent and allows a more reliable return to Nairobi.

Booking and Payment

To receive an accurate quotation, provide your preferred travel dates, number of adults, children’s ages, nationality or residency category and room preference.

Because this is a private safari, group size affects the per-person price. The USD 1,495 starting rate applies to 6-7 travelers sharing one Land Cruiser on selected low-season dates.

Before payment, Tunza Tours will confirm the accommodation, room arrangements, Land Cruiser, park fees and complete safari price in writing.

Cancellation and Changes

Cancellation and amendment conditions depend on your travel dates, confirmed accommodation and supplier policies. Peak, migration and festive bookings may have stricter deposit and cancellation conditions.

Tunza Tours will provide the applicable terms before payment. Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much does the Samburu Mara lodge safari cost?

Non-resident prices start from approximately USD 1,495 pp for 6–7 guests on selected low-season dates. A two-person private safari starts from approximately USD 1,895 pp.

2. Is the safari private?

Yes. Your traveling party has exclusive use of the standard 4×4 Land Cruiser.

3. Is this a luxury safari?

No. This revised package is a private, mid-range lodge safari. Luxury accommodation can be added separately.

4. What lodges are included?

Preferred options include Samburu Sopa Lodge, Lake Nakuru Lodge and Mara Sopa Lodge or comparable mid-range properties.

5. Are park fees included?

Yes. Standard Samburu, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara fees required for the confirmed itinerary are included.

6. How many nights are spent in Samburu?

Two nights, allowing an arrival-afternoon game drive and one full safari day.

7. What is the Samburu Special Five?

Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich.

8. How long do we stay at Lake Nakuru?

One night, with the main Lake Nakuru game drive scheduled for Day 3.

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

Two nights, with an afternoon arrival drive and one full private safari day.

10. Is there a game drive on Day 6?

Not in the standard package. This avoids another reserve entry and makes the return to Nairobi more reliable.

11. Are Kenyan citizen rates available?

Yes. Rates start from approximately KES 129,500 pp for larger private groups on selected low-season dates.

12. Are resident rates available?

Yes. Eligible residents receive a separate quotation based on the applicable rates.

13. Can children join?

Yes. Child prices depend on age, room arrangements and the applicable conservation-fee category.

14. Can solo travelers book?

Yes. However, solo pricing is higher because one traveler carries the vehicle and single-room costs.

15. Can we see the Great Migration?

Migration herds may enter the Masai Mara during parts of the wider migration season, but exact dates and river crossings cannot be guaranteed.

16. Can we upgrade the safari?

Yes. Luxury lodges, cultural experiences, a balloon safari and additional nights can all be quoted separately.

Why Book With Tunza Tours?

This six-day safari combines three distinct Kenya wildlife environments while maintaining comfortable lodge accommodation and private transport. Samburu provides rare northern species, Lake Nakuru adds rhinos and the Masai Mara finishes the safari with classic savannah wildlife.

The revised package also makes the important buying information clear before payment: lodge standard, private Land Cruiser, park-fee inclusion, seasonal pricing and the group-size basis of the starting rate.

Tunza Tours operates under a Tourism Regulatory Authority License.

Request Your Private Lodge Safari Quote

Please send Tunza Tours your preferred dates, number of travelers, children’s ages, nationality or residency category, and room requirements.

The team will confirm the Land Cruiser, lodges, park fees and exact safari price before payment.

Get a Free Quote