Experience two of Kenya’s most popular wildlife destinations on this 4-day Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru safari from Nairobi with Timken Tours Kenya.
This carefully planned safari combines 2 nights in the Masai Mara National Reserve with 1 night in Lake Nakuru National Park, giving you plenty of time for game drives in the Mara while also experiencing the wildlife and scenic beauty of the Great Rift Valley.
Travel in a private 4×4 Land Cruiser safari vehicle with an experienced English-speaking driver-guide. Search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and other wildlife in the Masai Mara, followed by a game drive in Lake Nakuru in search of rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes and other species.
Highlights
- 4 day private Masai Mara & Lake Nakuru safari
- Travel in a private 4x4 Land Cruiser safari vehicle
- Opportunity to see rhinos and flamingos
- Opportunity to see the Big Five
- Search for lions, buffaloes, giraffes and zebras
- 3 nights in a safari lodge or tented camp
- Scenic Great Rift Valley landscapes
- Optional hot-air balloon safari in Masai Mara
Your 4-day Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru safari begins with an early morning pickup from your Nairobi hotel, residence or airport.
Depart Nairobi and drive towards the Great Rift Valley, enjoying scenic views along the way. You may make a short stop at a Rift Valley viewpoint before continuing towards the Masai Mara.
Continue through the Kenyan countryside and arrive at the Masai Mara area around lunchtime.
Proceed to your lodge or tented camp for check-in and lunch.
After lunch, begin your first afternoon game drive in Masai Mara National Reserve.
Explore the rolling grasslands in search of wildlife. The Mara is renowned for its large populations of lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and numerous antelope species.
Continue the game drive until sunset before returning to your accommodation.
Dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Wake up early and enjoy breakfast before heading out for a full-day game drive in Masai Mara National Reserve.
The Mara's open grasslands provide excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing. Your safari guide will use their knowledge of the reserve and recent wildlife movements to identify promising areas for game viewing.
Look for the Big Five — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino — as well as cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, hippos, wildebeest, gazelles and many other species.
Enjoy a picnic lunch in the reserve before continuing your afternoon game drive.
The Masai Mara is also famous for the Great Wildebeest Migration, which takes place seasonally. If your safari coincides with the migration period, you may have opportunities to witness large herds moving through the Mara ecosystem. The exact timing and location vary from year to year.
Optional Experiences
You may choose to add a hot-air balloon safari for a spectacular early-morning aerial view of the Mara.
Alternatively, a Maasai village visit can be arranged to learn about local culture, traditions and daily life.
Return to your lodge in the evening.
Dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Wake up early and enjoy breakfast before departing the Masai Mara.
Drive towards Lake Nakuru National Park, passing through scenic landscapes and rural communities.
Arrive in the Lake Nakuru area around lunchtime and check in at your accommodation.
Enjoy lunch before heading out for an afternoon game drive.
Lake Nakuru is well known for its rhino conservation and diverse wildlife. Search for black and white rhinos, lions, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, waterbucks and other wildlife.
The park is also home to a variety of bird species. Flamingos may be seen around the lake depending on water levels, food availability and seasonal conditions.
Continue exploring the park before returning to your lodge in the late afternoon.
Dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Wake up early for breakfast before setting out on your final morning game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park.
The cooler morning hours offer another opportunity to search for wildlife and enjoy the park's beautiful landscapes.
Look for rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, lions and other wildlife before exiting the park.
Begin your journey back to Nairobi.
Enjoy lunch en route or in Nairobi before being dropped off at your hotel, residence or airport.
Your 4-day Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru safari ends in Nairobi in the afternoon or early evening, depending on road and traffic conditions.
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
Safari Ends: Nairobi
- Private safari in a 4x4 Land Cruiser
- Professional English-speaking safari driver/guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Nairobi hotel, residence or airport, where applicable
- 3 nights accommodation in a safari lodge/tented camp
- Full-board meals during the safari
- Game drives as indicated in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water during game drives
- Lake Nakuru national park & Masai Mara national reserve entry fees
- All applicable government taxes and levies
- International flights
- Domestic flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic and other premium drinks
- Tips and gratuities
Frequently Asked Questions
Lake Nakuru National Park offers opportunities to see rhinos, lions, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, waterbucks and many other wildlife species. Wildlife sightings depend on animal movements and conditions on the day.
Yes. The safari can be operated as a private safari in a 4x4 Land Cruiser, allowing you to travel with your own group and enjoy greater flexibility during game drives.
Flamingos are associated with Lake Nakuru, but their numbers and location vary depending on water levels, food availability and other environmental conditions. Therefore, sightings cannot be guaranteed.
The Masai Mara offers opportunities to see lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, hippos and many other species. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed because animals move freely throughout the reserve.
Yes. This safari can be a convenient family safari, particularly for travelers staying at Nairobi. Children's ages should be provided when booking so appropriate accommodation arrangements can be made.
Yes. A Masai Mara hot-air balloon safari can be arranged as an optional activity, normally starting very early in the morning.
The Great Wildebeest Migration is a seasonal natural event. If your safari dates coincide with the migration period, your guide can help identify areas where wildlife activity is taking place. Migration timing and locations vary from year to year.
Yes. You can extend the itinerary to include Lake Naivasha, Amboseli, Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru or Diani Beach.