7 Days 6 Nights Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Amboseli Budget Camping Safari

7 Day Kenya Camping Safari Overview

Explore three of Kenya’s most rewarding wildlife destinations on this 7-day Kenya camping safari from Nairobi. Spend three nights in the Masai Mara, continue to Lake Nakuru for rhino and birdlife viewing, then finish with two nights in Amboseli, known for its elephant herds and views of Mount Kilimanjaro when conditions are clear.

This is a group-joining budget safari designed for travelers who want a longer Kenya wildlife experience at an affordable price. You travel in a shared pop-up-roof safari van with a professional driver-guide and stay in permanent budget tented camps in the Masai Mara and Amboseli, plus a simple hotel in Nakuru. This package includes standard park fees, scheduled game drives, and six nights of accommodation and meals listed in the itinerary.

Safari Highlights

  • 7 days / 6 nights from Nairobi
  • 3 nights in the Masai Mara
  • 1 night in Nakuru
  • 2 nights in Amboseli
  • Afternoon Masai Mara game drive
  • Two full-day Masai Mara game drives
  • Lake Nakuru rhino-viewing opportunities
  • Full-day Amboseli game drive
  • Shared pop-up-roof safari van
  • Maximum 7 safari guests per vehicle
  • Permanent budget tented accommodation
  • Standard park and reserve fees included
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary
  • Professional English-speaking driver-guide
  • Bottled drinking water during the safari
  • Nairobi pickup and drop-off
  • Kenyan Citizen, Resident and Non-Resident rates available
  • Private safari and 4×4 Land Cruiser upgrade available

Safari at a Glance

Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights
Destinations: Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Amboseli
Start & End: Nairobi
Safari Style: Group Joining Budget Camping Safari
Transport: Shared pop-up-roof safari van
Maximum Group Size: 7 safari guests per vehicle
Masai Mara: 3 Nights
Lake Nakuru: 1 Night
Amboseli: 2 Nights
Accommodation: Permanent budget tented camps + Nakuru hotel
Meals: As listed in the itinerary
Park Fees: Included for the standard itinerary
Non-Resident Price: From USD 900 pp
Kenyan Citizen Price: From KES 69,500 pp
Private Safari: Available on request
4×4 Land Cruiser: Available as an upgrade

Safari Route

Nairobi → Masai Mara → Lake Nakuru → Amboseli → Nairobi

The safari includes three nights in the Masai Mara, the route’s main wildlife destination. Lake Nakuru then adds a different Rift Valley ecosystem before the journey continues to Amboseli for two nights.

The Lake Nakuru–Amboseli transfer is the longest road section, so Day 5 is deliberately kept realistic rather than promising activities that may not fit comfortably into the schedule.

Why Choose This 7 Day Safari?

This itinerary offers more wildlife time than shorter group-joining circuits. Instead of spending only two nights in the Masai Mara, you have an arrival-afternoon game drive followed by two full safari days, giving the guide more opportunity to explore different areas based on recent wildlife activity.

Lake Nakuru then provides a strong contrast through its rhino habitat and lakeshore environment. At the same time, two nights in Amboseli allow a complete safari day rather than treating the park as a quick stop. Sharing the vehicle keeps the overall price lower than an equivalent private safari.

Wildlife Experience

The Masai Mara offers opportunities to see lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, cheetahs, zebras, wildebeest, hyenas and many other plains animals. Seasonal migration activity may occur during parts of the year, although herd locations and river crossings remain natural events and cannot be guaranteed.

Lake Nakuru is an important habitat for black and white rhinos and also supports Rothschild’s giraffes, buffaloes, waterbucks, zebras, baboons and diverse birdlife. Flamingos may be present depending on lake conditions. Amboseli is especially known for its elephant herds and wetlands, while Mount Kilimanjaro may be visible when weather and cloud cover allow.

Accommodation

The standard package uses practical budget accommodation rather than luxury lodges. In the Masai Mara and Amboseli, “camping” normally means permanent safari tents with proper beds rather than pitching your own tent.

Masai Mara – Miti Mingi Eco Camp or Similar

Spend three nights at Miti Mingi Eco Camp or a comparable budget permanent tented camp near the Masai Mara. The accommodation provides a simple safari base with essential facilities and convenient access to the reserve.

Lake Nakuru – Buraha Zenoni Hotel & Resort or Similar

Spend one night in Nakuru at Buraha Zenoni or a comparable value hotel. This allows a comfortable overnight before the Lake Nakuru game drive and the longer journey to Amboseli.

Amboseli – Nyati Safari Camp or Similar

Spend two nights at Nyati Safari Camp or a comparable budget tented property near Amboseli National Park. The camp provides a practical base for the full-day Amboseli safari.

Exact accommodation remains subject to availability. Tunza Tours will confirm the properties before payment and will advise you before making any significant substitution.

Transportation

The standard safari uses a shared customized safari van with a pop-up roof for road transfers and wildlife viewing. Tunza Tours should limit the vehicle to a maximum of seven safari guests so that each traveler has reasonable access to the viewing roof.

Because this is a group-joining safari, the vehicle and daily schedule are shared with other travelers. Pickup times, meal breaks, and game-drive schedules therefore offer less flexibility than a private safari. Guests who prefer exclusive use of a vehicle can request a private safari or 4×4 Land Cruiser upgrade.

7 Day Kenya Camping Safari Price

From USD 900 Per Person Sharing

The lowest advertised rate applies to selected low-season group departures using the shared safari van and standard budget accommodation described on this page.

You don’t need to bring six or seven people to qualify. Solo travelers and couples can join an existing departure, although a single-room supplement may apply where private accommodation is required.

Non-Resident Group-Joining Rates

Travel Period Starting Rate
Green / Low Season – Apr–May From USD 900 pp
Regular – Jan–Mar & June From USD 950 pp
Peak – Jul–Oct From USD 1,195 pp
Nov–20 Dec From USD 1,150 pp
Christmas & New Year On Request

The higher July–December price reflects the substantial increase in Masai Mara reserve fees and seasonal accommodation costs.

Kenyan Citizen Rates

Travel Period Starting Rate
Green / Low Season From KES 69,500 pp
Regular Season From KES 74,500 pp
Peak – Jul–Oct From KES 89,500 pp
Nov–20 Dec From KES 84,500 pp
Christmas & New Year On Request

Eligible Kenya and EAC residents receive separate quotations according to the park and accommodation rates applicable to their category. Travelers using citizen or resident pricing should carry the required identification documents.

What Your Quotation Will Confirm

Before payment, Tunza Tours will confirm your departure date, accommodation, room-sharing arrangement, park fees, safari vehicle, meals, and full price. Child rates will be calculated by age and accommodation arrangements rather than shown as a generic $0 rate.

Optional Activities and Upgrades

Masai Mara Hot-Air Balloon Safari

Add a sunrise balloon flight over the Masai Mara at additional cost. Advance booking is recommended, especially during migration and peak travel periods.

Maasai Cultural Visit

A community visit can be arranged near the Masai Mara or Amboseli at additional cost, subject to the group schedule.

4×4 Land Cruiser or Private Safari Upgrade

Travelers who want additional privacy and flexibility can request a private 4×4 Land Cruiser. The price will depend on the number of travelers and travel season.

Lake Naivasha Extension

You can add Lake Naivasha, Crescent Island, and Hell’s Gate to a private version. An additional night is recommended instead of trying to force the activities into the long Nakuru–Amboseli transfer.

Best Time to Travel

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

July to October is the busiest period in the Masai Mara because it overlaps with the broader migration season. However, wildebeest movements and river crossings depend on rainfall and grazing conditions, so they can’t be guaranteed. November and early December can still provide rewarding wildlife viewing, although the higher July–December Mara fee remains in effect.

What to Carry

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

Good to Know Before Booking

This is a group-joining safari, so you share the vehicle and daily schedule with other travelers. Departure times, comfort stops, and game-drive arrangements therefore cannot be customized in the same way as a private safari. Compact soft-sided luggage is recommended because vehicle storage is limited when several guests travel together.

The accommodation is value-focused rather than luxurious. “Camping” generally means permanent safari tents with beds rather than pitching your own tent. Wildlife remains unpredictable, so sightings of the Big Five, migration crossings, rhinos, or a clear view of Mount Kilimanjaro cannot be guaranteed.

Day 5 is the longest transfer day. Travelers who prefer a slower itinerary should consider adding Lake Naivasha or another overnight stop on a private version.

Booking and Payment

To check availability, provide your preferred travel date, number of adults, children’s ages, nationality or residency category, and room requirements. Tunza Tours will confirm the group departure, accommodation, applicable park fees, and final safari price before payment.

Child prices are always calculated by age and room arrangement. Solo travelers can join confirmed group departures, although a single-room supplement may apply.

Once we receive the required deposit, Tunza Tours will provide written confirmation showing your accommodation, pickup details, payment schedule, and balance due date.

Cancellation and Changes

Cancellation and amendment conditions depend on your travel date, group departure, accommodation, and supplier policies. Peak and festive bookings may carry stricter payment or cancellation terms.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much does the 7-day Kenya camping safari cost?

Non-resident prices start from USD 900 pp on selected low-season departures. Regular-season departures start from around USD 950, while July–October departures start from approximately USD 1,195.

2. Is this a group or private safari?

The standard package is a group-joining safari. We can arrange a private version at an additional cost.

3. How many people share the vehicle?

The standard safari van can carry up to seven safari guests.

4. What type of vehicle is used?

The standard package uses a customized pop-up-roof safari van. You can request a private 4×4 Land Cruiser separately.

5. Is this basic ground camping?

No. The standard package normally uses permanent budget safari tents in the Masai Mara and Amboseli, plus a simple hotel in Nakuru.

6. Where will we stay?

Preferred accommodation includes Miti Mingi Eco Camp, Buraha Zenoni and Nyati Safari Camp or comparable budget alternatives.

7. Are park fees included?

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

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

Three nights, providing an arrival-afternoon game drive and two complete wildlife days.

9. Why isn’t there a Mara game drive on Day 4?

Another game drive would require an additional reserve entry and would make the transfer to Nakuru unnecessarily late.

10. When do we visit Lake Nakuru?

The main Lake Nakuru game drive takes place on the morning of Day 5 before the transfer to Amboseli.

11. Why is there no Amboseli game drive on Day 7?

The itinerary already provides a full safari day in Amboseli on Day 6. Another park entry on Day 7 would increase the cost and make the return to Nairobi less predictable.

12. Are Kenyan citizen rates available?

Yes. Kenyan citizen rates start from approximately KES 69,500 pp on selected low-season group departures.

13. Can solo travelers join?

Yes, subject to a confirmed group departure. A single-room supplement may apply.

14. Can children join?

Yes. Child rates depend on age, accommodation arrangements and the relevant park-fee category.

15. Can we see the Big Five?

The route provides good opportunities to encounter the Big Five and many other species, but specific wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.

16. Can we see the Great Migration?

Seasonal wildebeest movements may occur in the Masai Mara during the broader migration period, but the timing and location of herds and river crossings vary naturally.

17. Can I add a balloon safari?

Yes. You can add a Masai Mara hot-air balloon safari at an extra cost, subject to weather and availability.

18. Can this safari include Lake Naivasha?

Yes. However, we recommend adding an extra night so the Nakuru–Amboseli section doesn’t feel unnecessarily rushed.

Why Book With Tunza Tours?

This itinerary gives the Masai Mara three nights instead of reducing Kenya’s best-known wildlife reserve to a short stop. Lake Nakuru then adds strong rhino-viewing opportunities, while two nights in Amboseli provide enough time for a complete safari day beneath Mount Kilimanjaro when conditions are clear.

The revised package also clarifies key details before payment: shared safari transport, maximum group size, accommodation standard, seasonal pricing, and standard park-fee inclusion.

Tunza Tours operates in Kenya under a Tourism Regulatory Authority License.

Check Group Availability

Send Tunza Tours your preferred travel dates, number of travelers, children’s ages, residency category, and room preference. The team will confirm the next available group departure, accommodation, and complete safari price before payment.

Get a Free Quote

Included/Excluded

  • Transport in a comfortable safari vehicle
  • Services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide
  • Accommodation throughout the safari
  • Meals as specified in the itinerary
  • Game drives as outlined in the itinerary
  • Park entry fees unless stated otherwise in your quotation
  • Bottled drinking water during the safari
  • Pick-up and drop-off within Nairobi
  • International and domestic flights
  • Visa fees where applicable
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, and souvenirs
  • Alcoholic and soft drinks unless otherwise specified
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Optional activities
  • Any item not listed as included

Tour Plan

Day 1 Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve

Approximate Distance: 270–290 km
Estimated Driving Time: 5.5–6.5 hours
Meals: Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Miti Mingi Eco Camp or similar

Your safari begins with an early morning departure from the confirmed Nairobi pickup or meeting point. Meet your driver-guide and the other travelers before driving through the Great Rift Valley towards Narok and the Masai Mara. A brief viewpoint stop may be made where timing permits.

Arrive around lunchtime or early afternoon, depending on traffic and road conditions. After check-in and lunch, enter the reserve for your first game drive, looking for elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes and predators such as lions and cheetahs. Return to camp later for dinner and overnight.

Day 2 Full Day in Masai Mara National Reserve

Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch & Dinner
Activity: Full-Day Shared Game Drive
Accommodation: Miti Mingi Eco Camp or similar

After breakfast, leave camp with a packed picnic lunch and spend the day exploring the Masai Mara. Your driver-guide will choose the route according to recent sightings, wildlife movements, road conditions and the agreed group schedule.

The day's game drive may cover open plains, river habitats and productive predator areas. During migration periods, herd movements can influence the route, although a Mara River crossing cannot be promised. Stop for lunch at an approved picnic area before continuing with afternoon wildlife viewing and returning to camp for dinner.

Day 3 Second Full-Day Game Drive in Masai Mara

Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch & Dinner
Activity: Full-Day Shared Game Drive
Accommodation: Miti Mingi Eco Camp or similar

Your second complete Mara day allows the group to explore areas not covered on Day 2. Depending on previous sightings, the guide may concentrate on predator territories, river systems, photography opportunities or areas where large herbivore herds have recently been seen.

Having two full safari days means you do not need to rush every sighting into one day. Enjoy a picnic lunch inside the reserve and continue the game drive through the afternoon before returning to camp for your final Mara dinner.

Day 4 Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru National Park

Approximate Distance: 230–260 km
Estimated Driving Time: 5–6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Buraha Zenoni Hotel & Resort or similar

After breakfast, check out and begin the journey towards Nakuru. The standard itinerary does not include another Masai Mara game drive on Day 4, which keeps the transfer practical and avoids an additional reserve entry charge.

Travel through the Great Rift Valley with suitable comfort and lunch stops along the route. Arrive in Nakuru during the afternoon, check in and relax before dinner. The main Lake Nakuru wildlife experience takes place the following morning.

Day 5 Lake Nakuru to Amboseli National Park

Approximate Distance: 350–400 km
Estimated Transfer Time: Approximately 7–8 hours after the game drive
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Nyati Safari Camp or similar

After an early breakfast, enter Lake Nakuru National Park for a morning game drive. Explore lakeshore, woodland and grassland habitats while looking for black and white rhinos, Rothschild's giraffes, buffaloes, waterbucks, zebras, baboons and birdlife.

After leaving the park, begin the long road journey towards Amboseli via Nairobi and the Nairobi–Mombasa highway. Suitable comfort and lunch stops will be made along the route. Arrival is expected during the evening, depending on traffic and road conditions, followed by check-in and dinner.

Day 6 Full-Day Game Drive in Amboseli National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch & Dinner
Activity: Full-Day Shared Game Drive
Accommodation: Nyati Safari Camp or similar

After breakfast, spend a full day exploring Amboseli National Park. The park's wetlands and surrounding plains attract elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos and numerous bird species, while lions and other predators may also be encountered.

When conditions are clear, Mount Kilimanjaro provides a dramatic backdrop beyond the park. Enjoy a picnic lunch during the safari before continuing through the afternoon. Return to camp later for dinner and your final safari night.

Day 7 Amboseli Morning Game Drive and Return to Nairobi

Approximate Distance: 200–230 km
Estimated Driving Time: 4–5 hours
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Enjoy breakfast before checking out and beginning the journey back to Nairobi. The standard package does not include another Amboseli game drive on Day 7, helping keep the park-fee structure transparent and providing a more reliable return time.

Travel through Emali and continue towards Nairobi with a suitable lunch stop. Arrival is normally expected during the afternoon, although traffic can affect timing. Drop-off will be at the agreed Nairobi location.

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