5-Day-Lake-Nakuru-Naivasha-Maasai-Mara-Safari-Kenya
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
5 days
Fitness Level
Suitable for travelers in reasonable health; involves long vehicle days and light walking or biking but no technical exertion
Overview
Five days across three iconic landscapes—Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha and the Maasai Mara—offer dramatic wildlife viewing, walking and biking in Hell's Gate, and a chance to witness the Mara's plains and rhino sanctuary at Nakuru. This compact safari is ideal for travelers short on time who want a diverse Kenyan experience.
5-Day-Lake-Nakuru-Naivasha-Maasai-Mara-Safari-Kenya
Select participants and date
The engine hums before dawn as Nairobi slips away behind a thin curtain of exhaust and city lights. By the time the road opens into Rift Valley country, morning sun has painted the escarpments a copper gold and the first giraffes of the trip are silhouettes against the plains. Over five days you move through three different rhythms of Kenyan wilderness: the jeweled shorelines of Lake Nakuru, the intimate wetlands and islands of Naivasha, and the vast rolling plains of the Maasai Mara, where predators and plains grazers stage their daily dramas.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Start early
Game activity peaks at dawn; plan for 5:30–6:30am departures and layer for cool mornings.
Bring binoculars
Binoculars let you pick out distant cats on a kopje and the fine color gradations in flamingo flocks.
Hydrate and sun-protect
High sun and dusty plains make sunscreen, a hat, and a refillable water bottle must-haves.
Cash for incidentals
Carry small bills for tips, village visit fees, and market purchases where cards may not be accepted.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Greater flamingo
- Black and white rhino
History
The Maasai Mara and surrounding conservancies have long been inhabited and managed by Maasai pastoralists; modern park boundaries were formalized during colonial mapping but community conservancies now play a growing role in land stewardship.
Conservation
Lake Nakuru operates as a rhino sanctuary with active anti-poaching measures, and many Mara conservancies are run as community partnerships that tie tourism revenue to habitat protection.
Select participants and date
Adventure Hotspots in Nairobi
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Binoculars (8x42)
Essential for wildlife spotting at distance in the Mara and on lakeshores.
Sturdy walking shoes
Comfortable shoes for short hikes, village visits, and rocky viewpoints at Hell's Gate.
Sun hat and high SPF sunscreen
Midday equatorial sun is intense on open plains and boat decks.
summer|null specific
Light rain jacket
Useful during short rains in March–May or October–December and cool early mornings.
spring|fall specific