KENYA // THREE LANDSCAPES
6 Days Samburu, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara Safari
Dry northern bush in Samburu, rhino on the shores of Lake Nakuru and the open plains of the Masai Mara. Three very different parks in one week, with two nights in Samburu and the Mara.
6 Days / 5 Nights
DURATION
$1,210
FROM, PER PERSON
Samburu, Nakuru, Mara
DESTINATIONS
2 to 6
GROUP SIZE
ABOUT THIS SAFARI
About This 6 Day Kenya Safari
This 6 day Kenya safari links three of the country’s most different landscapes in a single loop from Nairobi. You begin in the semi arid north at the Samburu National Reserve, cross the equator to the Rift Valley and Lake Nakuru National Park, and finish with two nights on the grasslands of the Masai Mara National Reserve.
Samburu adds the species you will not find further south: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, beisa oryx and Somali ostrich. Lake Nakuru is a fenced sanctuary and one of the best places in Kenya for black and white rhino, and the Mara gives you the best chance of lion, cheetah and leopard, plus the wildebeest migration from July to October.
You travel in a private 4×4 Land Cruiser with your own driver guide, with full board and park fees included. The route suits second time visitors and first timers who want more than the classic circuit. For more time in the north, see the 8 Days Samburu to Masai Mara Safari, which adds Ol Pejeta and Lake Naivasha.
AT A GLANCE
Trip Summary
| Detail | This safari |
|---|---|
| Price from | USD 1,210 per person |
| Duration | 6 days / 5 nights |
| Safari style | Wildlife |
| Countries | Kenya |
| Parks visited | Samburu, Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara |
| Starts | Nairobi |
| Ends | Nairobi |
| Group size | Private departure. Typically 2 to 6 guests per vehicle |
| Best time to go | Jun to Oct and Jan to Feb |
| Difficulty | Easy |
ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
Your Route, Day By Day
| Day | Route | Overnight | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nairobi to Samburu | Lodge, Samburu | L, D |
| 2 | Full Day in Samburu | Lodge, Samburu | B, L, D |
| 3 | Samburu to Lake Nakuru | Lodge, Lake Nakuru | B, L, D |
| 4 | Lake Nakuru to the Masai Mara | Lodge, Masai Mara | B, L, D |
| 5 | Full Day in the Masai Mara | Lodge, Masai Mara | B, L, D |
| 6 | Masai Mara to Nairobi | Departure | B |
B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner. Accommodation is shown by type and area. We confirm the exact camp or lodge in writing with your quote.
DAY BY DAY
The Full Itinerary
Your driver guide collects you from your Nairobi hotel or the airport early in the morning. The road runs north through the central highlands, past the foothills of Mount Kenya and down into the dry country beyond Isiolo, about six hours to Samburu. You arrive at your lodge in time for lunch.
Your afternoon game drive follows the Ewaso Ng’iro river, where elephant herds come down to drink and the riverine forest shelters leopard. Look for reticulated giraffe and gerenuk feeding on the acacias as the light softens.
Activities: Drive to Samburu, afternoon game drive along the Ewaso Ng’iro river
Meals: Lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Samburu
An early start for a morning game drive, then a full day in the Samburu National Reserve with a packed lunch. Your guide looks for the Special Five: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and beisa oryx, along with the reserve’s lions and cheetahs.
The heat of the day is a good time for lunch by the river, where crocodiles bask on the sandbanks. A late afternoon drive brings you back to camp at sunset.
Activities: Full day game drive in Samburu with packed lunch
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Samburu
After breakfast you drive south west through Nanyuki and Nyahururu, crossing the equator and stopping at Thomson’s Falls on the way, about six hours to Lake Nakuru National Park. You arrive for a late lunch at your lodge.
The afternoon game drive searches the lake shore and acacia woodland for black and white rhino, Rothschild’s giraffe, buffalo and waterbuck. Flamingo numbers vary with the water level, but pelicans and many other water birds are here all year. You finish at Baboon Cliff for the view over the lake.
Activities: Drive across the equator, Thomson’s Falls, afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Lake Nakuru
A short morning drive in Nakuru, then the road south through Narok to the Masai Mara National Reserve, about five hours. You check in at your lodge in time for lunch.
Your first game drive in the Mara starts in the late afternoon, as lion prides wake and cheetah hunt on the open plains. Elephant, giraffe, topi and zebra are easy to see across the grassland.
Activities: Morning drive in Lake Nakuru, drive to the Masai Mara, afternoon game drive
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Masai Mara
A full day in the Mara with a picnic lunch, heading for the Mara River with its hippo pods and Nile crocodiles. From July to October the wildebeest migration gathers here and herds cross the river.
For an extra cost you can start with a balloon flight at sunrise, or visit a Maasai village in the afternoon. The Mara holds all of the Big Five, so every drive brings something new.
Activities: Full day game drive with picnic lunch, Mara River, optional balloon flight and Maasai village visit
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Masai Mara
A final early drive, then breakfast and check out.
The drive back to Nairobi takes five to six hours, and you arrive in the afternoon at your hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Activities: Early morning game drive, drive back to Nairobi
Meals: Breakfast · Overnight: Departure
THE ROUTE
Where This Safari Takes You
Nairobi → Samburu → Lake Nakuru → Masai Mara → Nairobi. Roughly 1,050 km of driving in total.
How To Get There
This safari starts and ends in Nairobi. Fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) and we collect you from the airport or your hotel on the morning of day 1.
The route is a loop by road in a private 4×4 Land Cruiser. Nairobi to Samburu takes about six hours, Samburu to Lake Nakuru about six hours via Nyahururu, Lake Nakuru to the Masai Mara about five hours and the Mara back to Nairobi five to six hours. The total is roughly 1,050 km.
To save time on the last day, you can fly from a Mara airstrip to Wilson Airport in about 45 minutes. Ask us to add it to your free quote.
WHAT IS COVERED
Included and Not Included
Included
- All park and reserve entrance fees
- Professional English speaking driver guide
- 4×4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- Full board accommodation as specified
- Bottled drinking water throughout
- Airport or hotel transfers
Not included
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Soft and alcoholic drinks
- Samburu and Maasai village visits
- Balloon flight
- Tips and gratuities
GOOD TO KNOW
6 Day Kenya Safari FAQs
Each park shows a different side of Kenya. Samburu has rare northern species, Lake Nakuru is a rhino sanctuary and the Masai Mara is the best place for big cats. Together they cover far more wildlife than one park.
Three of the travel days are five to six hours on good roads, broken up by stops such as the equator and Thomson’s Falls. Each travel day ends with a game drive, and you stay two nights in Samburu and the Mara.
Lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo are found in Samburu and the Mara, and Lake Nakuru gives you a very good chance of rhino, so the Big Five are well within reach on this route.
June to October and January to February are the driest months and the best for wildlife. July to October also brings the wildebeest migration to the Mara. Compare prices by month with our Kenya safari cost calculator.
This safari starts from $1,210 per person. The price depends on the season, the lodges and your group size. Read how much a Kenya safari costs or request a free quote.
Most visitors need a Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before travel. See our Kenya visa requirements page for details.
NO OBLIGATION
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Send us your dates and we will confirm availability and a firm price within 24 hours.
MORE IDEAS
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TAILOR MADE SAFARI
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Create an unforgettable memory with a customised Kenya or Tanzania safari. Tell us how you like to travel and our safari experts will shape the route around you, with no obligation.
Phone: +254 736 992 608
Email: info@solasafaritravels.com
