5 Day Kenya Safari: Naivasha, Mara and Nakuru

Our 5 day Kenya safari packs three of the country's best-loved destinations into one easy loop from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. You begin with a boat ride and walking safari at Lake Naivasha, spend two nights among the big cats of the Masai Mara, and finish with rhinos and pelicans at Lake Nakuru before returning to the airport.

This 5 day Kenya safari is designed for first-time visitors who want variety without long hours on the road each day, and for families and couples who enjoy mixing game drives with experiences on foot and on the water. Prices for 2, 4 and 6 guests sharing a double room are shown in the table above for low, mid and peak season.

In This Guide

• Safari at a Glance
• Day-by-Day Itinerary
• Where You Stay
• The Three Destinations
• Wildlife You Can Expect
• What Is Included
• Seasons and When to Go
• Tips for Your Safari
• Frequently Asked Questions

5 Day Kenya Safari at a Glance

• Duration: 5 days, 4 nights
• Route: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Lake Naivasha (1 night), Masai Mara (2 nights), Lake Nakuru (1 night), JKIA
• Accommodation: Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort, Masai Mara Sopa Lodge and Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge, all on full board
• Vehicle: private 4x4 pop-up roof Land Cruiser with a professional English-speaking driver-guide
• Highlights: Crescent Island walking safari, Masai Mara game drives, a Maasai village visit, rhinos at Lake Nakuru
• Group sizes priced: 2, 4 or 6 guests sharing double rooms
• Best for: first-time visitors, families, couples and photographers

Because this 5 day Kenya safari starts at Lake Naivasha, only a couple of hours from the airport, your first day is relaxed even after a long flight. The Mara sits in the middle of the trip for the best game viewing, and Lake Nakuru breaks the return journey with a final morning game drive.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi (JKIA) to Lake Naivasha

Your driver-guide meets you at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and drives you north-west out of Nairobi, climbing onto the edge of the Great Rift Valley. A viewpoint on the escarpment gives you your first sweeping view of the valley floor, with Mount Longonot rising in the distance.

You arrive at Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort in time for lunch. In the afternoon, a boat takes you across the lake past hippos, fish eagles and drowned acacia trees to Crescent Island, a private sanctuary where you walk with a guide among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and waterbuck. It is a gentle and memorable start to your 5 day Kenya safari. Dinner and overnight at the resort, where hippos often graze on the lawns at night.

Meals: lunch and dinner. Overnight: Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort.

Day 2: Lake Naivasha to the Masai Mara

After breakfast, you drive south-west through Narok to the Masai Mara, arriving at Masai Mara Sopa Lodge for lunch. In the afternoon you set out on your first game drive in the Masai Mara National Reserve. The late afternoon light is ideal for photography, and lions, elephants, giraffes and herds of zebra and antelope are often seen. Return to the lodge at sunset for dinner.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight: Masai Mara Sopa Lodge.

Day 3: A Full Day in the Masai Mara and a Maasai Village Visit

Today is the heart of your 5 day Kenya safari. After an early breakfast, you spend the whole day exploring the reserve with a picnic lunch. Your guide follows the movements of the herds and the latest sightings, searching for lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants and buffaloes. From July to October, you may visit the Mara River in the hope of seeing the wildebeest crossings of the Great Migration.

In the late afternoon you visit a Maasai village, where your hosts welcome you with traditional songs and the jumping dance and share how they live alongside wildlife. Return to the lodge for dinner.

Meals: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner. Overnight: Masai Mara Sopa Lodge.

Day 4: Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru

After breakfast, you leave the Mara and drive north into the Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park, checking in at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge for lunch. In the afternoon you go on a game drive in the park, home to white and black rhinos, Rothschild's giraffes and buffaloes. Along the shore, pelicans and other water birds gather in large numbers, and Baboon Cliff offers a wonderful view over the lake. Return to the lodge for dinner.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge.

Day 5: Lake Nakuru to Nairobi (JKIA)

Enjoy an early morning game drive for a last chance to see rhinos and lions in the soft dawn light, then return for breakfast. After check-out, you drive back to Nairobi, stopping for lunch en route. Your 5 day Kenya safari ends with a drop-off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Meals: breakfast and lunch en route.

Where You Stay

Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort (1 night)

Set in wide lawns on the lake shore beneath yellow fever trees, Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort offers spacious cottages, a swimming pool and a restaurant. Hippos come ashore to graze at night, and staff escort guests after dark for safety.

Masai Mara Sopa Lodge (2 nights)

Masai Mara Sopa Lodge stands on a hillside near the Oloolaimutia gate, with thatched round cottages, a pool and terraces overlooking the hills. The reserve management treats the lodge as part of the reserve, so reserve fees apply for each night, and these are included in your price.

Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge (1 night)

Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge is inside the national park on the western escarpment, with views over the lake from rooms with private balconies. Park fees for the night you stay are included.

All meals on this 5 day Kenya safari are on a full board basis, so breakfast, lunch and dinner are taken care of throughout.

The Three Destinations

Lake Naivasha

Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake in the Great Rift Valley, surrounded by papyrus, fever trees and volcanic hills. It supports large numbers of hippos and more than 400 bird species. Crescent Island, a private sanctuary on the lake, is one of the few places in Kenya where you can walk freely among giraffes and zebras. On this package, Crescent Island is reached by boat, and both the boat ride and island entry are included. Read our guide to Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island.

The Masai Mara National Reserve

The Masai Mara National Reserve covers about 1,510 square kilometres of grassland and riverine forest, managed by Narok County Government with the Mara Triangle run by the Mara Conservancy. It is famous for its big cats and for the Great Migration, which usually reaches the Mara between July and October. Read our Masai Mara safari guide.

Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park, managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service, is a fenced rhino sanctuary around a shallow alkaline lake. It is part of the Kenya Lake System UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known for rhinos, Rothschild's giraffes, pelicans and, at times, flamingos. Read our guide to flamingos in Lake Nakuru National Park.

Wildlife You Can Expect on a 5 Day Kenya Safari

• Big cats: lions and cheetahs in the Mara, with leopards possible in both the Mara and Lake Nakuru.
• Rhinos: white and black rhinos at Lake Nakuru, one of the best places in Kenya to see them.
• Elephants and buffaloes: common in the Masai Mara.
• Hippos and crocodiles: in Lake Naivasha and the Mara River.
• Giraffes: Masai giraffes in the Mara, Rothschild's giraffes at Nakuru and giraffes on foot at Crescent Island.
• Birds: fish eagles, pelicans, cormorants, kingfishers, flamingos and hundreds of other species.

With savannah, lakes and a rhino sanctuary in one trip, this 5 day Kenya safari gives you an excellent chance of seeing four of the Big Five. Learn more in our guide to the Big Five in Kenya.

What Is Included in Your 5 Day Kenya Safari

Included

• Airport pick-up and drop-off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
• All accommodation: 1 night at Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort, 2 nights at Masai Mara Sopa Lodge and 1 night at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge, sharing a double room
• Full board meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner, including a picnic lunch on the full game-drive day
• En route lunch on the last day before your airport drop-off
• All park and reserve entry fees for the Masai Mara National Reserve and Lake Nakuru National Park
• Activity fees: Lake Naivasha boat ride, Crescent Island walking safari and Maasai village visit
• Transport in a private 4x4 pop-up roof Land Cruiser
• Services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide
• Drinking water in the vehicle during the safari

Not Included

• International and domestic flights
• Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) and travel insurance
• Drinks at the lodges, tips and items of a personal nature
• Optional activities such as a hot air balloon safari
• Room upgrades, suites and festive or Easter season supplements

Before you travel, apply for your Kenya eTA and read our Kenya visa guide.

Seasons and When to Go

The price table at the top of this page shows rates for three seasons, based on the dates used by the lodges:

• Low season: 1 April to 31 May, the green season during the long rains.
• Mid season: 2 January to 31 March, 1 to 30 June and 1 November to 21 December.
• Peak season: 1 July to 31 October and 22 December to 1 January.

Masai Mara reserve fees are higher from July to December, so guests travelling between 1 November and 21 December pay a small supplement per person, shown in the note under the price table. A 5 day Kenya safari on this route works well all year: July to October brings the migration, January to March offers dry weather, and April to May brings green landscapes and quieter parks.

See our guide to the best time to visit Kenya month by month.

Tips for Your 5 Day Kenya Safari

• Pack for changing temperatures: the Rift Valley lakes can be cool in the morning, while the Mara is warm by midday.
• Wear closed shoes: for the walk on Crescent Island.
• Bring binoculars and a zoom lens: for birds on the lakes and big cats on the plains.
• Use soft luggage: it fits more easily into the Land Cruiser.
• Carry small notes: for tips and crafts at the Maasai village.
• Listen to your guide: stay in the vehicle during game drives and follow safety advice around hippos at Naivasha.

For a full checklist, read our Kenya safari packing list, and if this is your first trip, our guide to your first game drive in Kenya.

Why Choose This 5 Day Kenya Safari

This 5 day Kenya safari balances the excitement of the Masai Mara with two very different Rift Valley lakes. Driving times are split into comfortable sections, so you are never too tired to enjoy the afternoon activities. The mix of game drives, a boat ride, a walking safari and a cultural visit keeps every day fresh.

A private Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof gives everyone a clear view and the freedom to linger at sightings. Your driver-guide stays with you from the airport pick-up to the final drop-off and adapts each day to your interests, whether that is photography, birds or finding a particular animal.

The loop also avoids backtracking: Naivasha, the Mara and Nakuru follow one another naturally, so you see more while spending less time in the vehicle than on many other 5 day Kenya safari routes.

Roads, Driving and Comfort

Driving is part of every Kenyan road safari, and this 5 day Kenya safari is planned so that no single day feels too long. The roads from Nairobi to Naivasha and from Nakuru back to Nairobi are tarmac, while the final stretch into the Mara can be bumpy, especially after rain. The Land Cruiser is built for these conditions, with high clearance, comfortable seats and plenty of space for luggage.

Your driver-guide will stop for comfort breaks, curio shops and viewpoints along the way, and drinking water is always available in the vehicle. Many guests find the journeys an enjoyable part of the trip, passing rural markets, farms, Maasai herders and the dramatic scenery of the Rift Valley.

If you prefer to reduce driving time, we can arrange a short scheduled flight between the Mara and Nairobi as an alternative ending to your 5 day Kenya safari. Ask us for details when you book.

Travelling as a Family

This 5 day Kenya safari is one of our most popular choices for families. The first afternoon at Naivasha is short and relaxed, which helps children recover from the flight, and the walk on Crescent Island lets young travellers see giraffes and zebras up close without being confined to a vehicle. In the Mara, the pop-up roof means children can stand and see clearly, and the Maasai village visit is a highlight for curious minds.

The lodges offer reduced rates for children sharing with adults, and swimming pools at all three properties are perfect for a break in the heat of the day. Read our guide to the best adventures for families with kids for more ideas.

Extend Your Safari

• Add Amboseli and Kilimanjaro with our 7 Day Kenya Safari: Amboseli to Masai Mara
• Add the wild north with our 8 Day Kenya Safari: Samburu to Masai Mara
• Finish on the beach using our Kenya safari and beach holiday guide
• Add a sunrise hot air balloon safari over the Mara

Frequently Asked Questions

How long are the drives on this 5 day Kenya safari? JKIA to Naivasha takes about two to three hours, Naivasha to the Mara about four to five hours, the Mara to Nakuru about five to six hours, and Nakuru to JKIA about three to four hours.

Is the boat ride included? Yes. Crescent Island is reached by boat on this package, and both the boat and island entry are included.

Can children join this 5 day Kenya safari? Yes. The lodges offer reduced rates for children sharing with adults. Contact us for a family quote.

Will we see the Great Migration? The herds are usually in the Mara between July and October, but timing depends on the rains and cannot be guaranteed.

What should I wear on safari? Neutral colours such as khaki, green and beige are best, with a warm layer for early mornings and a hat for the midday sun.

Is the vehicle private? Yes. Your group has its own 4x4 pop-up roof Land Cruiser and driver-guide throughout.

Can I change the order of the destinations? Yes. We can tailor your 5 day Kenya safari to suit your flights or preferences.

Book Your 5 Day Kenya Safari

Ready to explore Naivasha, the Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru? Check the price table above for your travel dates and group size, then send us a booking request using the form below, or contact us with any questions. You can also browse more Kenya safari packages.