A 5 day Mara Nakuru safari puts two very different parks on one road trip: the rhino and flamingo shores of Lake Nakuru, then three nights on the plains of the Masai Mara.
- FromUSD 1,390per person sharing, budget camp, 6 people, low season
- Duration5 days, 4 nights
- StartsNairobi
- Best forFirst timers who want rhino, flamingos and big cats in one trip
- StylePrivate 4×4, your own driver guide
Rated 5.0 on Google from 46 reviews. Price confirmed in writing before you pay.
You travel in your own pop up roof 4×4 with a driver guide. Nakuru gives you a gentle first day with close rhino sightings. The Mara gives you lions, elephants and wide open grass.
This page shows the day by day plan, what each camp tier gets you, the park fees inside the price and the best months to go. Send your dates on WhatsApp and we reply with a written quote.
Highlights
- Private pop up roof 4×4 and one driver guide for all five days
- Lake Nakuru National Park, home to white and black rhino
- Three nights in the Masai Mara with two full days of game drives
- Choose a budget camp, mid range tented camp or luxury lodge
- Nakuru and Mara park fees counted in the price
- Easy to add a balloon ride or a Maasai village visit
Day by day plan
- Day 1
Nairobi to Lake Nakuru
Your 5 day Mara Nakuru safari starts as you leave Nairobi at about 7 am and stop at the Rift Valley viewpoint above Kijabe. The road drops past Lake Naivasha and you reach Nakuru around lunchtime. After a late lunch you enter the park for an afternoon game drive. Look for white rhino, Rothschild giraffe, buffalo and waterbuck. You climb to Baboon Cliff for the lake view before sundown, then sleep at your Nakuru camp or lodge.
- Day 2
Lake Nakuru to the Masai Mara
You start early with a short morning drive at Nakuru, then leave for the Mara. The route runs through Narok and ends on a rough track to the gate. Plan for 5 to 6 hours with a lunch stop. You reach camp in the afternoon, settle in and head out for a first evening game drive. Dinner is by the fire, with the sound of the plains around you.
- Day 3
Full day in the Masai Mara
This is your first full Mara day. You leave at first light, when lions and cheetahs are most active. Your guide works the open plains near Talek, then follows the Mara River for hippos and crocodiles. You eat a packed lunch in the bush or return to camp for a rest. The afternoon drive runs until sunset and you are back for dinner.
- Day 4
Second full day in the Masai Mara
Today your 5 day Mara Nakuru safari gives you time to follow your own interests. Many guests ask for leopard spots along the riverine trees, or a long stay with a lion pride. Between July and October you can chase the Great Migration crossings. A hot air balloon ride at dawn is an optional extra, followed by a bush breakfast on the plains. You return to camp for sundowners and dinner.
- Day 5
Mara to Nairobi
You enjoy a last early game drive, then return for breakfast and check out. The drive back to Nairobi takes about 5 to 6 hours, with a lunch stop at Narok or Mai Mahiu. You reach the city in the late afternoon. Your guide drops you at your hotel or the airport. Book an evening flight only if you leave the Mara by 9 am, since this 5 day Mara Nakuru safari ends on the road.
5 Day Mara Nakuru Safari, guide price per person sharing, USD, low season
| Tier | 2 people | 4 people | 6 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget camp | USD 1,770 | USD 1,500 | USD 1,390 |
| Mid range camp | USD 2,180 | USD 1,890 | USD 1,730 |
| Luxury lodge | USD 2,690 | USD 2,370 | USD 2,150 |
- Guide price per person sharing, confirmed in writing on WhatsApp before any payment
- Low season (Jan to Jun) shown, with Mara tickets at USD 100 per day and Nakuru at USD 90
- Jul to Dec adds about USD 200 to 400 per person for the higher Mara fee and camp rates
- Christmas and New Year dates carry a surcharge, confirm at booking
Get my exact price on WhatsApp
Reserve this trip
Pick your dates and group. See the total. Hold it with a deposit.
Pay by Mpesa, bank transfer or card once we confirm in writing. Free changes until you confirm.
Included
- Private pop up roof 4×4 Land Cruiser with a driver guide
- 4 nights accommodation on full board in your chosen tier
- Lake Nakuru park fee and Masai Mara reserve fees for your days inside
- All game drives and bottled water in the vehicle
- Nairobi hotel or airport pickup and drop off
Not included
- International flights and your Kenya ETA
- Tips for your driver guide and camp staff
- Alcohol and drinks outside meals
- Travel insurance
- Optional hot air balloon ride and Maasai village visit
What a 5 day Mara Nakuru safari Really Covers
Five days is enough to see two parks without rushing. You spend one afternoon at Nakuru, two days on the road and two full days in the Mara.
That mix suits travellers who want rhino as well as big cats. Nakuru is one of the easiest places in Kenya to see both white and black rhino. If you only want the Mara, our 4 day Maasai Mara safari gives you more time on the plains for less money.
How Much Is a 5 day Mara Nakuru safari?
Our guide prices start at USD 1,390 per person for six people sharing a budget camp in low season. Two people in a mid range tented camp pay about USD 2,180 each. Two people in a luxury lodge pay about USD 2,690 each.
The price covers your vehicle, guide, four nights on full board and the park fees. Lake Nakuru costs USD 90 per adult. The Mara costs USD 100 a day from Jan to Jun and USD 200 a day from Jul to Dec.
Children 9 to 17 pay about half in the Mara and children 8 and under are free. See our Maasai Mara entry fees guide for the full table, or the Maasai Mara safari packages and prices page to compare lengths.
Lake Nakuru: Rhino, Flamingos and a Calm First Day
Lake Nakuru National Park is small and easy to drive. You can see most of it in an afternoon and a morning. Rhino are the big draw and the park holds one of Kenya’s largest rhino populations.
Flamingo numbers move with the lake level. Some years the shore turns pink and other years the birds move to other lakes. We tell you what the lake looks like before you pay.
Want to see Nakuru on its own? Try our Lake Nakuru day trip or the 4 day Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru safari.
Which Camp Tier Fits You
The camp you pick changes your comfort more than your wildlife. All three tiers put you in the same reserve with the same guide.
On a 5 day Mara Nakuru safari, location matters. Camps inside the reserve save you the morning gate queue and get you onto the plains at sunrise. Camps outside cost less but add 20 to 40 minutes each way.
- Budget camp: simple tents or small rooms, hot water, full meals, shared facilities in some
- Mid range camp: large tents with private bathrooms, a lounge and good food, often with a river view
- Luxury lodge: spacious suites, a pool and bar and the best views and service
Best Time for a 5 day Mara Nakuru safari
Jul to Oct brings the Great Migration to the Mara, with river crossings in the best weeks. It also brings the highest fees and the most vehicles. Jan to Mar is hot and quiet and big cats are easy to find.
Nov and Dec bring short rains and green plains. Apr and May are wet, cheaper and empty. Read our best time to visit the Maasai Mara for a month by month view, or the Great Migration calendar if the crossings are your main goal.
Road Time, Comfort and Pace
This trip has two long road days. The Nakuru to Mara leg takes 5 to 6 hours and the last stretch is rough. Your guide drives slowly and stops where the view is good.
Prefer less driving? Look at our Maasai Mara fly in safari. For a longer circuit that adds Amboseli, the 5 day Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha safari and the 6 day Kenya safari are good next steps.
What You Can Expect to See
The Mara is Kenya’s best big cat country. Lions live in large prides, cheetahs hunt on the open grass and leopards rest in riverside trees. Elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, topi and hippo are daily sights.
On this 5 day Mara Nakuru safari you also add rhino at Nakuru. Together that gets you close to a full Big Five tally. Our guide to the Big Five in Kenya shows where each animal is easiest to find.
Birders enjoy Nakuru too. Pelicans, fish eagles, storks and many waders gather along the shore. Photographers love the rhino at dusk and the lions at first light in the Mara.
What to Pack and How to Stay Healthy
Bring neutral clothes, a warm layer for cold mornings, a hat, sunscreen and binoculars. Nakuru can be cool at dawn and the Mara is hot at noon.
The Mara is a malaria area, so talk to your doctor early and read our Kenya vaccinations and malaria guide. Our Kenya safari packing checklist covers every item.
- Closed shoes and sandals for camp
- Light rain jacket for Nov to May trips
- Camera, spare card and a dust cover
- Power bank, since vehicle charging is slow
Meeting the Maasai
Many Mara camps sit beside Maasai land and a village visit is an easy add on to your 5 day Mara Nakuru safari. You see traditional dancing, a boma and a short talk about daily life. Expect to pay about USD 20 to 30 per person, paid at the village.
Our Maasai village day tour shows how we run these visits with respect. You can also add a short Nairobi stop at the Giraffe Centre and Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage tour on the day you arrive or leave.
Book Your 5 day Mara Nakuru safari
Send your dates, group size and budget for the 5 day Mara Nakuru safari on WhatsApp at +254 720 731957. We reply with a written quote and a camp shortlist, usually within a few hours.
Book Jul to Oct trips three to six months ahead. Low season trips often work with two or three weeks notice. Browse the full list of our safari packages to compare other lengths.
How to book your 5 day Mara Nakuru safari
Booking your 5 day Mara Nakuru safari with us takes about five minutes of your time. The rest is our job. Here is exactly what happens, step by step, so there are no surprises along the way.
- Send your dates. Message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates, how many people are coming and the ages of any children. Tell us if you have a budget in mind. We plan with it, not around it.
- Get a written quote. We reply with a clear price per person, what it includes and what it does not. No hidden park fees and no vague extras. If a cheaper camp or a shorter route makes more sense, we say so.
- Tweak it until it fits. Change a camp, add a night or swap a park. Ask as many questions as you like. Changes cost nothing until you confirm.
- Confirm with a deposit. A deposit holds your vehicle, guide and rooms. You get a written confirmation with every detail and the date the balance is due.
- Travel day. Your driver guide meets you at your hotel or the airport with a name board. You have their number and ours for the whole trip.
What every trip with us includes
Every 5 day Mara Nakuru safari plan we put together comes with the basics done properly. You ride in a safari vehicle with a pop up roof, with a professional driver guide who knows the parks. Water is in the cooler box and park fees are sorted in advance so you do not stand in a queue at the gate.
We also stay reachable. If something changes on the road, a flat tyre, a closed route or a sudden storm, we sort it and keep you posted on WhatsApp.
Paying safely
We share payment details in writing only and every payment gets a receipt. The payment options and the balance date sit on your written quote, so nothing is left to memory or a phone call.
Why book with a Nairobi team
We live here. We drive these roads all year, we know which camps are honest about their photos and we know when a park is too busy to enjoy. That local knowledge is what turns a good 5 day Mara Nakuru safari into a great one. Our Google rating sits at 5.0 from 46 reviews and we plan to keep it that way.
Ready when you are. Send us a message and we will put a plan together for you shortly.
Questions people ask
Is a 5 day Mara Nakuru safari too much driving?
You spend about 12 hours on the road across the five days, split over three travel days. That is normal for a Kenya road safari. The Rift Valley and Narok views make the drive part of the trip and your guide stops often. Flying into the Mara is possible if you want less road time.
How much does a 5 day Mara Nakuru safari cost?
Our guide price starts at USD 1,390 per person for six people in a budget camp in low season. Mid range runs about USD 1,730 to 2,180 and luxury about USD 2,150 to 2,690. Park fees are included. Peak season adds about USD 200 to 400 per person.
Will I see rhino on a 5 day Mara Nakuru safari?
Very likely. Lake Nakuru has one of the densest rhino populations in Kenya and your guide knows where to look. White rhino are common in the open grass and black rhino appear at dusk or in the bush. The Mara has rhino too, but they are harder to find.
Are flamingos always at Lake Nakuru?
No. Flamingo numbers change with the water level and food supply. In some years the lake is pink and in others the birds move to Bogoria or Elmenteita. Pelicans, fish eagles and many other birds stay, so the shore is always worth a drive.
When is the best time for a 5 day Mara Nakuru safari?
Jul to Oct for the Great Migration, Jan to Mar for quiet reserves and big cats and Nov to Dec for green landscapes. Apr and May are wet and cheaper. Fees double in the Mara from July, so budget travellers often pick Jan to Jun.
Can I add a balloon ride to a 5 day Mara Nakuru safari?
Yes, on Day 3 or Day 4. A hot air balloon ride costs about USD 450 to 550 per person and includes a bush breakfast. Tell us at booking, because seats sell out in peak months. See our Maasai Mara hot air balloon safari page for what to expect.
Is a private 5 day Mara Nakuru safari better than a group trip?
If you want your own pace, yes. You choose the sightings, the start time and the photo stops. If budget matters most, see our group joining safaris, which cost less per person with fixed departures.
Official information: Magical Kenya, the official Kenya tourism site.
Ready when you are. Send your dates and group size. We reply with a clear price and a plan you can change.
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