4 days - Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru
Four days in the Masai Mara for its big cats and the Big Five, then Lake Nakuru National Park for its flocks of pink flamingos, returning to Nairobi on the last day.
The journey
The herds are in the Mara and river crossings are possible. Clear, dry days make this one of the best months for the trip.
The Masai Mara, then Lake Nakuru National Park for its flamingos, and back to Nairobi.
On arrival at Nairobi airport your guide meets you and drives you south-west to the Masai Mara. Along the way you pass local settlements and begin to get a feel for life in the region.
At the lodge you rest, then set out on your first game drive. The Masai Mara is home to the Big Five: elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and rhino, and it is common to see several species at once. If you are here at the right time of year, your guide can take you to see the wildebeest migration, which arrives from the Serengeti.
In the evening, over a glass of wine, you can look through the day’s photographs.
Sunrise is the best time for a safari, when the animals are most active and you can even witness a hunt. You go on a game drive before breakfast, then return to the lodge for breakfast and a rest.
The rest of the day is yours to shape. Before the evening drive you can visit a Maasai village and a traditional manyatta to learn about local traditions (excursion at an extra charge), spend lunch by the pool with a cocktail, or give the whole day to the animals, setting off straight after breakfast with lunch served in the bush.
After breakfast you drive to Lake Nakuru National Park, and you may still see animals on the way out of the Mara gates.
Lake Nakuru is known for its birdlife, particularly its pink flamingos. Filmmakers love it too, and many African wildlife stories have been shot on its shores. Zebras, rhinos, lions, giraffes and monkeys live in the park. After a game drive you go to your lodge for dinner and the night.
You wake to birdsong and a sunrise over the lake, have breakfast and set out. Your guide-driver takes you to Nairobi for your international flight home, or for a domestic flight if you plan to extend your stay on the coast. You can also stay on in Nairobi and explore the area.
The detail
When reading about Kenya's National Parks, it's hard to choose what you want to see more. Flocks of pink flamingos in their natural environment, or the big cats of the Masai Mara. So, we've combined these two parks into one 4-Day Masai Mara and Nakuru itinerary, and we're sure you'll be pleased with this trip!
Masai Mara Park is a must-visit Kenya safari. With a large population of animals in a small area, the game drives here are some of the most exciting. With a little care and luck, you are the lucky owner of a collection of photos of the Big Five, collected personally.
Good to know
Photographs from the route, not stock library scenery.
Work down the list. Each step depends on the one above it.
The practical detail that decides whether a trip runs smoothly.
Drives leave at first light, often before breakfast, when the animals are most active. Mornings in an open vehicle are cool, so bring a fleece and a windproof layer.
A visit to a traditional Maasai manyatta is available on day 2 at an additional charge. Tell us before you travel if you would like to add it.
The journey between Nairobi, the Mara and Lake Nakuru is part of the experience: your guide stops for local settlements and wildlife along the way. Keep a water bottle and a light scarf in the vehicle.
Binoculars help at Lake Nakuru, where flamingos feed along the shore, and in the Mara for distant cats. Bring a zoom lens, spare batteries and a cover for dusty drives.
Guides and lodge staff are usually thanked with a tip at the end of the stay. Your final documents give a guide; amounts vary with the lodge and the size of your group.
Plan this journey
Every journey is planned around your dates and your party. Tell us who is travelling and when, and a specialist will come back with a tailored itinerary and a quote. Payment is by invoice.
