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A male lion resting in tall grass.

Wildlife safari · Kenya

5-Day Aberdare · Lake Nakuru · Maasai Mara

Forest, lake and savanna in five days: a night at a tree lodge in the Aberdares, rhino and birdlife at Lake Nakuru, then a full day on the open plains of the Maasai Mara.

  • 5 days
  • Kenya
  • Wildlife safari
  • Quoted to your dates
Get a free quoteAsk on WhatsApp
4.9/5 from 31 traveller reviews on SafariBookings (opens in a new tab)

The journey

A closer look at your trip.

Forest, lake and savanna in five days: a night at a tree lodge in the Aberdares, rhino and birdlife at Lake Nakuru, then a full day on the open plains of the Maasai Mara.

Maasai MaraLake NakuruAberdareNairobi
Duration
5 days
Countries
Kenya
Trip style
Wildlife safari
Transport
4x4 Land Cruiser
Start
Nairobi
End
Nairobi
Price
On Request

Choose your safari style

The same route, at the level you want to travel.

This journey follows the same wildlife route whichever style you choose. What changes is where you sleep, the level of service and how the trip is quoted.

Choose your safari style

Budget: where you stay

Suggested accommodation

Suggested accommodation is subject to availability. A property of a similar standard may be proposed where necessary.

What this style means

  • Practical camps and lodges, and public campsites inside the Tanzanian parks. The wildlife itinerary, the guiding and the 4x4 Land Cruiser are the same as on the upgraded styles of this route.
Price
On Request
Catalogue reference
Product 6
Enquire about the budget option

Midrange: where you stay

Suggested accommodation

Suggested accommodation is subject to availability. A property of a similar standard may be proposed where necessary.

What this style means

  • Upgraded rooms, dining and a higher service level throughout, with a 4x4 Land Cruiser for game drives.
Price
On Request
Catalogue reference
Product 63
Enquire about the midrange option

Trip highlights

The places that shape this journey.

  • 01

    Maasai Mara

  • 02

    Lake Nakuru

  • 03

    Aberdare

  • 04

    Nairobi

Your route

Across Kenya.

Nairobi → Aberdare → Lake Nakuru → Maasai Mara → Nairobi

We will confirm the day-by-day sequence and overnight stops in your detailed proposal.

KENYATANZANIANairobiAberdareLake NakuruMaasai Mara

Schematic route · See the day-by-day programme for travel details.

Day by day

5 days in East Africa.

  1. Day 1

    Nairobi – Aberdare National Park / Treetops

    After breakfast at your Nairobi lodge, drive north towards the Aberdare range, arriving at the base hotel outside the park in time for lunch. In the afternoon the transfer continues into Aberdare National Park to a tree lodge built beside a floodlit waterhole and salt lick. Game viewing here is from the lodge itself: elephant, buffalo, bushbuck and, with luck, a giant forest hog or rhino visit through the evening and night. Dinner and overnight at the tree lodge.

    Overnight
    KWS public campsite, AberdareThe Ark, Aberdare
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  2. Day 2

    Aberdare National Park – Lake Nakuru National Park

    Leave the tree lodge after breakfast and drive west across the highlands and down into the Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park, arriving in time for lunch at the lodge. The afternoon is spent on a game drive in the 4x4 Land Cruiser around the lake and its wooded slopes, looking for rhino, buffalo, waterbuck and the flamingos that gather on the alkaline shoreline in varying numbers. Return for dinner and settle in for the evening.

    Overnight
    Buraha Zenoni, Lake NakuruLake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  3. Day 3

    Lake Nakuru – Maasai Mara

    Breakfast is followed by a final game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park before leaving for the Maasai Mara. The route runs south-west through Narok and onto the open grassland of the reserve, arriving at the lodge in time for lunch. An afternoon game drive gives a first look at the Mara's plains, river lines and resident wildlife as the day cools. The day ends with dinner and time to unwind.

    Overnight
    Miti Mingi Camp, Maasai MaraZebra Plains Mara Camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  4. Day 4

    Maasai Mara Full Day

    A long morning game drive in the 4x4 Land Cruiser covers the reserve while animals are active, followed by a restful afternoon by the pool or a second drive if you prefer. The Mara is the northern end of the Serengeti ecosystem, and when the wildebeest migration is resident, generally between July and October, huge herds spread across much of the reserve. A dawn balloon flight is available as an optional extra on request. Meals are provided and the evening is yours before the night.

    Overnight
    Miti Mingi Camp, Maasai MaraZebra Plains Mara Camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    A male lion and lioness resting in grass at sunset.
    The Maasai Mara — the heart of this journey.

  5. Day 5

    Maasai Mara – Nairobi

    Start with a pre-breakfast game drive while the plains are still cool and the cats are most likely to be on the move, then return to the lodge for breakfast and check-out. The drive back to Nairobi climbs out of the Mara through Narok and up the Rift Valley escarpment, arriving in the afternoon. Drop-off is at your hotel or the airport, so share your flight details when booking and we will time the departure from the Mara to suit them.

    Meals
    Breakfast

What is included

Your written quotation itemises every one of these for your dates, so you can compare it line by line with any other:

  • Park, reserve and conservancy entry fees
  • Accommodation for each night, named
  • Meals on each day
  • Game drives in the 4x4 Land Cruiser, with its seating
  • Driver-guide and fuel
  • Airport or hotel pick-up and drop-off
  • Whether the vehicle is private or shared

What to allow for

Most travellers also budget separately for the items below. Your quotation confirms which apply to this trip.

  • International flights
  • Kenya eTA and any Tanzania visa
  • Travel and medical insurance (Tanzania now requires inbound cover)
  • Optional activities such as a balloon flight
  • Drinks and tips for guides and camp staff
How safari prices and park fees work →

When to travel

Seasonal considerations.

Game viewing across Kenya is at its most reliable in the dry months, roughly June to October and again in January and February, when the grass is shorter and animals concentrate around permanent water. The long rains fall around April and May and the short rains in November; both bring green country, fewer vehicles and lower rates, at the cost of some unpredictability on the roads. There is no month in which this journey cannot run.

Read the full season guide →

Who it suits

Is this the right journey?

  • Travellers who want more than a sampler: enough days to settle into each area rather than moving on every morning.
  • Travellers at different budgets — this route is sold as Budget, Midrange, with the same wildlife itinerary throughout.
  • Parties who want the vehicle and the pace to themselves; this journey is arranged privately.

Pricing

Plan with the details in view.

On Request

Published catalogue reference rate. Confirm availability and the final quotation for your travel dates.

This itinerary can also be arranged privately in a 4x4 Land Cruiser on request. A private departure is quoted separately and confirmed with your dates and group size.

Request a quotation

Free quotation

Get a quote for this trip.

Tell us when and how many. We will reply with a written quotation for the 5-Day Aberdare · Lake Nakuru · Maasai Mara in the style you selected above, and adjust the pace, parks or accommodation if you would like something different.

4.9/5 from 31 traveller reviews on SafariBookings (opens in a new tab)
  1. 01

    Tell us your dates

    Send the quick form or a WhatsApp message. It is free and commits you to nothing.

  2. 02

    Get a written quotation

    Our Nairobi team checks availability and sends a quotation stating the route, accommodation and exactly what is and is not included.

  3. 03

    Adjust it until it fits

    Change the pace, the style of accommodation or the parks. Ask anything before you decide.

  4. 04

    Book when you are ready

    Nothing is reserved or charged until you accept the quotation in writing.

Rather talk it through? Ask on WhatsApp

Free and without obligation. Nothing is booked or charged until you accept a written quotation.

Your questions, answered.

How do I request a quotation?

Send your travel dates, party size and accommodation preferences. We will confirm availability and send a written quotation before you book.

Can I customise this trip?

Ask our team about adjustments to the itinerary, accommodation and pace. We will explain what is practical for your dates and confirm any price changes.

What is the published price for this 5-day trip?

On Request. Ask us to confirm the quotation for your dates and group size.

What vehicle is used for game drives?

Safari game drives use a 4x4 Land Cruiser. Your quotation will confirm whether your trip is private or shared and specify any separate transfer arrangements.

Before you choose

Understand the places, stays and practical details.

Read the destination guides alongside this itinerary to compare access, wildlife habitat and accommodation position. The named comfort option and written quotation confirm the actual overnight stays, meals and activities.

Places on this route

Useful preparation

Keep exploring

Related journeys.

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