A 6 day Masai Mara safari lets you ease into Kenya’s wildlife: two Rift Valley lakes first, then three nights in the Mara.
- FromUSD 1,590per person sharing, budget camp, 6 people, low season
- Duration6 days, 5 nights
- StartsNairobi
- Best forTravellers who want lakes, rhino and three nights in the Mara
- 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. Naivasha gives you boats, hippos and a walking safari. Nakuru gives you rhino and giraffe. The Mara gives you the big cats and the plains.
This page shows the day by day plan, what each tier gets you, the fees in the price and when to go. Send your dates on WhatsApp and we reply with a written quote.
Highlights
- Lake Naivasha boat ride and walk among giraffe on Crescent Island
- Lake Nakuru National Park for white and black rhino
- Three nights in the Masai Mara with two full game days
- Short first drives that ease you into the trip
- Choose a budget camp, mid range camp or luxury lodge
- Park and reserve fees counted in the price
Day by day plan
- Day 1
Nairobi to Lake Naivasha
You leave Nairobi at about 8 am and stop at the Rift Valley viewpoint. You reach Naivasha in about two hours. After lunch you take a boat ride to see hippos and fish eagles, then walk among zebra and giraffe on Crescent Island. You sleep at a lakeside lodge or camp. Your 6 day Masai Mara safari starts at a gentle pace.
- Day 2
Naivasha to Lake Nakuru
You can start with a morning at Hells Gate, where you walk or cycle between cliffs and see zebra and eland. After lunch you drive about 90 minutes to Lake Nakuru National Park. On your afternoon game drive you look for white rhino, buffalo and Rothschild giraffe. You climb to Baboon Cliff at sundown for the view.
- Day 3
Nakuru to the Masai Mara
After a short morning drive at Nakuru you leave for the Mara. The road 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 and head out on a first game drive. Dinner is under the stars.
- Day 4
Full day in the Masai Mara
You leave at first light for the best hours of the day. Your guide works the plains and the Mara River, where hippos and crocodiles wait. You take a packed lunch in the bush or rest at camp. The afternoon drive ends at sunset. Between July and October you can watch wildebeest herds cross the river.
- Day 5
Second full day in the Mara
Today you set the pace. Many guests ask for a long stay with a lion pride, or a quiet search for leopard along the riverine trees. A hot air balloon ride at dawn is an optional extra, followed by a bush breakfast. You return to camp for lunch and rest, then take a last afternoon drive.
- Day 6
Mara to Nairobi
You enjoy a last early game drive and breakfast, then check out. The drive 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.
6 Day Masai Mara Safari, guide price per person sharing, USD, low season
| Tier | 2 people | 4 people | 6 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget camp | USD 2,020 | USD 1,720 | USD 1,590 |
| Mid range camp | USD 2,480 | USD 2,150 | USD 1,970 |
| Luxury lodge | USD 3,050 | USD 2,680 | USD 2,440 |
- 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 250 to 450 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
- 5 nights accommodation on full board in your chosen tier
- Nakuru and Mara park fees for your days inside
- Lake Naivasha boat ride and Crescent Island walk
- 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
- Hells Gate entry and bike hire
- Tips for your driver guide and camp staff
- Alcohol and drinks outside meals
- Travel insurance and optional balloon ride
What a 6 day Masai Mara safari Really Gets You
A 6 day Masai Mara safari is a slow build. You start with lakes and walks, move to rhino at Nakuru and finish with three nights in the Mara. That order keeps road days short at first and saves the big show for the end.
It suits families, older guests and anyone who dislikes a long first day on the road. If you prefer to go straight to the Mara, our 4 day Maasai Mara safari is faster and cheaper.
How Much Is a 6 day Masai Mara safari?
Our guide prices start at USD 1,590 per person for six people sharing budget camps in low season. Two people in mid range camps pay about USD 2,200 each. Two people in luxury lodges pay about USD 3,050 each.
The price covers your vehicle, guide, five nights on full board and the park fees. The Mara costs USD 100 a day from Jan to Jun and USD 200 a day from Jul to Dec. Nakuru costs USD 90.
See our Maasai Mara entry fees guide for the full Mara table, or the Maasai Mara safari packages and prices page to compare lengths.
Lake Naivasha: Boats, Hippos and Giraffe
Naivasha is a freshwater lake that attracts hippos, fish eagles and hundreds of bird species. A boat ride gets you close to the hippos at a safe distance. Crescent Island is a private sanctuary where you walk among giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and impala.
Prefer a day trip? See our Lake Naivasha boat ride and Crescent Island walk page. Hells Gate is a short drive from the lake and is covered in our Hells Gate and Lake Naivasha day trip.
Lake Nakuru: Rhino and Birds
Lake Nakuru National Park is small and rich in wildlife. It is one of the best places in Kenya to see white rhino and black rhino. Buffalo, waterbuck, Rothschild giraffe and baboons are everywhere.
Flamingo numbers vary from year to year. Pelicans, storks and fish eagles stay. Read our Lake Nakuru day trip for a one day view, or the 4 day Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru safari for a shorter route.
Best Time for a 6 day Masai Mara 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, dry and quiet. Nov and Dec are green and full of young animals.
Apr and May are wet, cheap and empty. Our best time to visit the Maasai Mara gives a month by month view and the Great Migration calendar shows the crossing months.
Camp Tiers: Budget, Mid Range and Luxury
On a 6 day Masai Mara safari, you sleep in five different places, so tiers matter. A budget stay uses simple camps and small lodges with clean rooms and hot water. A mid range stay gives you private bathrooms, lounges and better views. A luxury stay gives you large suites, pools and bars.
Our guide to lodges, tented camps and camping compares lodges, tented camps and camping in plain words.
- Budget: simple rooms or tents, full meals, shared facilities in some
- Mid range: private bathrooms, a lounge and often a river or lake view
- Luxury: large suites, a pool, a bar and the best service
What You Can Expect to See
At Naivasha you see hippo, giraffe, zebra and fish eagle. At Nakuru you see rhino, buffalo and many birds. In the Mara you look for lion, cheetah, leopard, elephant, topi and hyena.
On a 6 day Masai Mara safari, you can tick off the Big Five on a good run, with rhino at Nakuru and the rest in the Mara. Our guide to the Big Five in Kenya explains where each animal lives and our Kenya safari animals guide lists the rest.
Why Start with the Lakes
Starting with Naivasha and Nakuru gives your body time to adjust. The altitude is about 1,900 metres at Naivasha, the days are cool and the drives are short. Many guests sleep better here than on a first night in the Mara.
It also spreads the cost. Lakes cost less than the Mara, so a 6 day Masai Mara safari often costs less per day than a Mara only trip of the same length. Tell us if you want to skip a lake and add a Mara night instead.
Hotels at Naivasha and Nakuru also have hot water, power and wifi, which helps if you need to check email on Day 1.
Is a Fly In Option Possible
If you do not want to drive from Nakuru to the Mara, we can arrange a flight from Nairobi. The flight takes about 45 minutes from Wilson Airport. It costs more than the road trip and changes the route.
Read our Maasai Mara fly in safari for current rates, or the Nairobi to Maasai Mara guide to compare road and air.
Health, Packing and Comfort
The Mara is a malaria area, so speak to your doctor about tablets and pack repellent. Naivasha and Nakuru are cooler at dawn, so bring a warm layer. Evenings in the Mara can also be cool.
Our Kenya safari packing checklist and our Kenya vaccinations and malaria guide cover the details.
- Neutral clothes, closed shoes and a warm layer
- Binoculars and a camera with a spare card
- A hat, sunscreen and a refillable bottle
- A power bank, since vehicle charging is slow
Book Your 6 day Masai Mara safari
Send your dates, group size and budget for your 6 day Masai Mara 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 for other lengths.
How to book your 6 day Masai Mara safari
Booking your 6 day Masai Mara 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 6 day Masai Mara 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 Masai Mara 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 6 day Masai Mara safari better than a shorter trip?
It gives you more variety. A 6 day Masai Mara safari adds two lakes and a full extra Mara day compared with a 4 day plan. If you are short on time, a shorter trip is fine. If you have a week, six days gives you a calmer pace and more wildlife.
How much does a 6 day Masai Mara safari cost?
Our guide price starts at USD 1,590 per person for six people in budget camps in low season. Mid range runs about USD 1,880 to 2,200 and luxury about USD 2,440 to 3,050. Park fees are included. Peak season adds about USD 250 to 450.
How long are the drives on a 6 day Masai Mara safari?
The longest drive is Nakuru to the Mara, about 5 to 6 hours. Other legs are two hours or less. The drive back to Nairobi on Day 6 takes about 5 to 6 hours. Your guide stops for views, meals and toilets.
Can I skip Hells Gate on a 6 day Masai Mara safari?
Yes. Hells Gate is optional and costs about USD 50 for entry, with extra for bike hire and gorge guides. If you skip it, you have a slower morning on Day 2 and more time for Naivasha. Tell us your preference at booking.
When is the best time for a 6 day Masai Mara safari?
Jul to Oct for the Great Migration, Jan to Mar for quiet plains 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?
Yes, on Day 4 or Day 5. A hot air balloon ride costs about USD 450 to 550 per person and includes a bush breakfast. Seats sell out in peak months, so tell us early. See our Maasai Mara hot air balloon safari page for what to expect.
Is a 6 day Masai Mara safari good for families?
Yes. Short first days suit children and the boat ride and walking safari at Naivasha are popular. Mara fees for ages 9 to 17 are about half and ages 8 and under are free. See our Kenya family safaris for lodges with kids activities.
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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