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A male lion resting in tall grass.

Budget safari · Kenya

8-Day Kenya Maasai Mara · Nakuru · Naivasha · Amboseli Safari

Two full days in the Maasai Mara, then Lake Nakuru at sunrise, Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate, and a full day in Amboseli — an unhurried eight-day loop of Kenya's southern parks.

  • 8 days
  • Kenya
  • Budget safari
  • From USD 1,050
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.

Two full days in the Maasai Mara, then Lake Nakuru at sunrise, Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate, and a full day in Amboseli — an unhurried eight-day loop of Kenya's southern parks.

Maasai MaraAmboseliNairobiLake NakuruLake NaivashaHell’s Gate
Duration
8 days
Countries
Kenya
Trip style
Budget safari
Transport
4x4 Land Cruiser
Start
Nairobi
End
Nairobi
Price
USD 1,050 (Jan-Jun) / USD 1,350 (Jul-Dec)

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
USD 1,050 (Jan-Jun) / USD 1,350 (Jul-Dec)
Catalogue reference
Product 11
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 68
Enquire about the midrange option

Luxury: 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

  • Premium camps and lodges with elevated service, delivered in a private-style format with a 4x4 Land Cruiser.
Price
On Request
Catalogue reference
Product 99
Enquire about the luxury option

Trip highlights

The places that shape this journey.

  • 01

    Maasai Mara

  • 02

    Amboseli

  • 03

    Nairobi

  • 04

    Lake Nakuru

  • 05

    Lake Naivasha

  • 06

    Hell’s Gate

Your route

Across Kenya.

Nairobi → Maasai Mara → Lake Nakuru → Lake Naivasha → Hell’s Gate → Amboseli → Nairobi

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

KENYATANZANIANairobiMaasai MaraLake NakuruLake NaivashaAmboseli

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

Day by day

8 days in East Africa.

  1. Day 1

    Nairobi – Maasai Mara

    Leave Nairobi at 8am for the Maasai Mara National Reserve, with a stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint and another in Narok town for refuelling and lunch. Arrive at the eco camp at about 2pm and check in. From 3pm to 6:30pm the 4x4 Land Cruiser takes you on an evening game drive, tracking a range of animals and birds as the plains cool and the herds drift out from the shade. Dinner is served before the night, with an early wake-up call arranged for tomorrow's full day.

    Overnight
    Miti Mingi Camp, Maasai MaraZebra Plains Mara CampGovernors' Camp, Maasai Mara
    Meals
    Lunch and dinner

  2. Day 2

    Maasai Mara Full Day

    Rise early for breakfast so that you are entering the reserve by 6:30am, catching sunrise and making the most of a full day's game viewing. All of the Big Five live in the Mara alongside topi, wildebeest and countless smaller species, and from June to October the great migration may be in the reserve. Picnic lunch is by the Mara River, where hippo and crocodile idle in the water, then the drive continues to the Kenya–Tanzania boundary and game viewing until evening. Dinner and overnight at camp.

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

  3. Day 3

    Maasai Mara Full day on the plains

    A second full day on the plains. After breakfast, return to the reserve for sunrise and the early activity that follows, then use the hours to cover parts of the Mara you missed yesterday and to look for species still outstanding. Lunch is again taken beside the Mara River, where vervet monkeys keep a close eye on picnics. The afternoon continues in the 4x4 Land Cruiser until the light fades, then it is back to camp for dinner and the final night in the Mara.

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

  4. Day 4

    Maasai Mara To Nakuru

    After a relaxed breakfast and check-out, visit a Maasai village to learn about the community's culture, listen to its songs and watch its dances, including a demonstration of lighting a fire without matches. Then drive north-east out of the Mara towards Nakuru. On the way, an optional boat ride on Lake Naivasha (extra cost) is a quiet way to see the prolific birdlife and hippo from the water. Arrive in Nakuru in the evening, in time for dinner and the night.

    Overnight
    Buraha Zenoni, Lake NakuruLake Nakuru Sopa LodgeThe Cliff Nakuru
    Meals
    Breakfast and dinner
    A male lion and lioness resting in grass at sunset.
    The Maasai Mara — the heart of this journey.

  5. Day 5

    Lake Nakuru To Naivasha

    An early breakfast and check-out put you in Lake Nakuru National Park at sunrise, when flamingos can turn the shoreline pink and the light is ideal for photographs. The park is a rhino sanctuary where black and white rhino thrive, and leopard, cheetah, buffalo and hippo are also found here. Leave the park later in the morning and drive back to Naivasha, check in to your hotel and take the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Dinner is served on arrival, and the evening is free before the night.

    Overnight
    Leisure Apex, Lake NaivashaLake Naivasha Sopa ResortEnashipai Resort & Spa, Lake Naivasha
    Meals
    Breakfast and dinner

  6. Day 6

    Hell’s Gate To Amboseli

    After breakfast, check out and head to Hell's Gate National Park, where designated walking or cycling activities follow current park rules and guide instructions (bike hire optional). Cliffs and gorges frame the walk, with zebra, buffalo, giraffe and eland grazing below and rock hyrax crowding around Fischer's Tower. Leave the park and drive south to Amboseli with lunch on the way, arriving in the late afternoon. Check in, freshen up after the long drive, and enjoy dinner before an early night.

    Overnight
    Nyati Safari Camp, AmboseliKibo Safari Camp, AmboseliElewana Tortilis Camp, Amboseli
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  7. Day 7

    Amboseli Full Day

    Breakfast, then a full day of game viewing in Amboseli National Park, where wildlife is seen at close quarters on the open plains and around the swamps. The park's elephants are among the largest in Kenya and the main draw, and on a clear day Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, rises behind them. A picnic lunch is taken in the park. An optional visit to a local village can be arranged at extra cost. Return for dinner and settle in for the evening.

    Overnight
    Nyati Safari Camp, AmboseliKibo Safari Camp, AmboseliElewana Tortilis Camp, Amboseli
    Meals
    Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner
    Elephants on open grassland with a snow-capped mountain behind them.
    Amboseli, and its elephant herds beneath Kilimanjaro.

  8. Day 8

    Amboseli To Nairobi

    An early morning game drive in the 4x4 Land Cruiser gives a last look at Amboseli and its residents while the light is soft and the mountain most likely to be clear. Afterwards, leave the park and drive north to Nairobi with lunch en route, arriving in the afternoon. Drop-off is at your hotel or the airport, which marks the end of this eight-day safari; tell us about your onward flight when booking so the departure from Amboseli can be timed to suit.

    Meals
    Breakfast and lunch

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.

The Great Migration is a natural phenomenon, not a scheduled event. The herds move through the Serengeti and Maasai Mara with the rainfall, so their position shifts from month to month and year to year, and river crossings can never be guaranteed on a given date. Broadly, the calving months in the southern Serengeti fall around January to March, the western and central plains hold the herds from roughly April to June, and the northern Serengeti and the Mara are the usual focus from about July to October. We plan around the most current reports rather than a fixed calendar.

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, Luxury, 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.

USD 1,050 (Jan-Jun) / USD 1,350 (Jul-Dec)

Seasonal published prices in US dollars
Travel periodPublished price
January–JuneUSD 1,050
July–DecemberUSD 1,350

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 8-Day Kenya Maasai Mara · Nakuru · Naivasha · Amboseli Safari 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 8-day trip?

USD 1,050 (Jan-Jun) / USD 1,350 (Jul-Dec). 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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