6 Day Kenya Safari: Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli

A 6 day Kenya safari gives you enough time to see the big names without rushing every morning. You cover the Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli in one loop, with a private driver guide and a pop up roof 4×4 the whole way.

This route suits a first Kenya trip. You get open plains and big cats in the Mara, flamingos and rhino at Nakuru, and Amboseli’s elephant herds under Kilimanjaro. Six days is long enough to settle in but short enough to fit a normal leave allowance.

We build every 6 day Kenya safari around your dates and budget, from simple tented camps to small luxury lodges. See our full safari cost breakdown for how we price a trip. We confirm the exact figure in writing on WhatsApp before you pay anything.

Highlights

• Three signature parks in one trip: Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli
• Private pop up roof 4×4 with your own driver guide for all 6 days
• Big cat sightings in the Mara plus rhino and flamingo at Nakuru
• Elephant herds and Kilimanjaro views in Amboseli
• Flexible camp and lodge choice from budget to small luxury
• Park fees itemised and confirmed in writing before you pay

Day by day plan

1. Day 1

   Nairobi to the Maasai Mara

   Early pickup from your Nairobi hotel or the airport. The drive west runs through the Rift Valley and takes about 5 to 6 hours with a stop for tea and views. You reach camp by lunch, then head out for an afternoon game drive as the light softens and the plains wake up. Overnight in the Mara.

2. Day 2

   Full day Maasai Mara

   A full day in the reserve with two game drives, one early and one late, and a rest at camp through the heat of midday. Your guide reads the grass and the radio chatter to find lion, cheetah and the resident herds. If the wildebeest are in the Mara during your dates, a river crossing is possible. Overnight in the Mara.

3. Day 3

   Maasai Mara to Lake Nakuru

   After a last dawn game drive you leave the Mara and cross the highlands to Lake Nakuru, about 4 to 5 hours away. Nakuru sits inside a fenced national park, so rhino, both black and white, are almost guaranteed, along with buffalo, giraffe and often pink fringes of flamingo on the shore. An afternoon game drive covers the lake shore and the euphorbia forest. Overnight near Nakuru.

4. Day 4

   Lake Nakuru to Amboseli

   A long travel day, roughly 7 to 8 hours, cutting back past Nairobi and out toward the Tanzania border. It is the price of covering three parks on one 6 day Kenya safari without flying. We break the drive with lunch and a stretch stop. You arrive at Amboseli in the late afternoon in time to settle into camp before dark.

5. Day 5

   Full day Amboseli

   Amboseli is famous for two things: big elephant families and, on a clear morning, Kilimanjaro rising over the swamps. Two game drives take in the marsh edges where elephants gather, plus open plains with giraffe, zebra and buffalo. Afternoon light over the swamps with the mountain behind is the shot most guests remember. Overnight in Amboseli.

6. Day 6

   Amboseli to Nairobi

   A final short game drive at sunrise, then breakfast and the drive back to Nairobi, about 4 hours. We drop you at your hotel or JKIA in time for an evening flight. This closes out your 6 day Kenya safari with one last look at the mountain before you go.

6 day Kenya safari, private 4×4, per person sharing

• Low season rates (Jan to Jun, when the Mara ticket is USD 100). Jul to Dec rates run about USD 150 to 250 more per person because the Mara ticket doubles to USD 200.
• A shared group joining version of this route runs about USD 805 to 1,531 per person depending on season and camp. Ask us on WhatsApp for the next departure date.
• Park fees, camp full board, all game drives and a private driver guide are included in every tier.

Get my exact price on WhatsApp

What a 6 day Kenya safari covers

This 6 day Kenya safari is built around three parks that between them show you Kenya’s classic wildlife scenes. The Mara gives you the plains and the predators. Nakuru gives you rhino in a smaller, easier landscape. Amboseli gives you elephants and the mountain.

It is a road trip, not a fly in safari, so a good share of the days involve driving. We think that trade is worth it because you see the country between the parks, not just the parks themselves. If time is tighter, ask about a fly in version instead.

How much does a 6 day Kenya safari cost in 2026

A 6 day Kenya safari on this route starts from about USD 1,290 per person sharing in a group of 6, at budget camps in low season. Two people travelling alone pay more per head because the vehicle and driver cost is split fewer ways.

The price covers your driver guide, vehicle, park fees, accommodation and all meals at camp. What changes the number most is the season, since the Mara ticket price alone jumps from USD 100 to USD 200 per person from July, and your choice of camp. Compare this route against our other Maasai Mara safari packages if you want more Mara time and less driving.

• Budget: simple tented camps, shared bathrooms in some, full board
• Mid range: en suite tented camps or small lodges with a pool
• Luxury: boutique camps with better food, guiding and locations

Best season for the Mara, Nakuru and Amboseli route

January to June is the cheaper half of the year because the Mara ticket sits at USD 100 rather than USD 200. The short rains fall in April and May, which cools the dust and greens up Amboseli, though some back roads get slippery.

July to October is peak season with the wildebeest herds in the Mara and dry, dusty conditions at Amboseli that favour long views of Kilimanjaro. Check our migration calendar or full month by month guide before you pick your dates for this 6 day Kenya safari.

Private safari or group joining

Most guests take this as a private 6 day Kenya safari, which means your own vehicle, your own pace and no waiting on other travellers. It costs more per person at low pax counts but gives you full control of stops and photo time.

A shared group joining safari option exists on set departure dates for a lower price. You share the vehicle with other travellers on the same route. Prefer full control instead? Read about our private safaris and ask us on WhatsApp which dates have group joining seats open.

Driving distances and how much time you spend on the road

Across the full 6 day Kenya safari you spend roughly 20 to 24 hours in the vehicle, spread over 4 travel days and 2 full park days. The longest single leg is Nakuru to Amboseli at 7 to 8 hours.

• Nairobi to Maasai Mara: about 5 to 6 hours
• Maasai Mara to Lake Nakuru: about 4 to 5 hours
• Lake Nakuru to Amboseli: about 7 to 8 hours
• Amboseli to Nairobi: about 4 hours

Can we shorten the driving

Yes. Swap the Nakuru to Amboseli leg for a short flight from Nairobi and you cut a full travel day. Read our road versus flight guide and our note on the Land Cruiser versus van choice before you decide.

What to pack for this route

Pack neutral colours, a warm layer for early morning game drives, sunscreen and a hat. Nakuru and the Mara highlands can be cool at dawn, while Amboseli stays warm and dusty most of the year.

• Light layers plus one warm fleece or jacket for early starts
• Comfortable closed shoes for camp walks
• Binoculars, a good camera and spare memory cards or storage
• Malaria prophylaxis after a chat with your doctor
• A dust mask or buff for the drier months

Who this 6 day Kenya safari suits

This route suits first time visitors, couples and small families who want variety over a single week and are happy with a fair amount of driving. It also suits photographers who want rhino, big cats and elephants on one trip without flying between parks.

If you have less time, look at our 3 day Maasai Mara group joining safari instead. Travelling with children? Our Kenya family safaris page covers child rates and lodge picks for this same route.

Health, visas and practical notes

Most nationalities need a Kenya ETA before arrival, applied for online. Yellow fever vaccination is required if you are arriving from a country where it is endemic, and malaria prevention is recommended for all three parks on this route.

Mobile signal is patchy inside the parks but usually fine at camp. Read our vaccinations and malaria guide and our tipping guide so you know what to budget for beyond the price of your 6 day Kenya safari.

How to book your 6 day Kenya safari

Booking your 6 day Kenya 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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 6 day Kenya 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 6 day Kenya 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

Official information: KWS park fee schedule.

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