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Masai Mara & Lake Naivasha – 4 Days Big Five Safari
What's Included for You
Day-by-Day Breakdown
Your safari begins with a pickup from your Nairobi hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at around 7:30 AM. The drive to the Masai Mara National Reserve takes about 5 to 6.5 hours, and on the way you stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint, with the valley floor and its old volcanoes stretched out far below.
You arrive at your camp, check in and enjoy a freshly prepared hot lunch with a little time to relax. In the afternoon you go out on your first game drive across the savannah, looking for the Big Five and the many other animals of the Mara: lions, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras and topi. You are back by early evening to freshen up before dinner.
At a glance: Time needed: ~3 hrs game drive · Travel: ~5–6.5 hrs driving · Pace: Full
Schedule
• Morning (around 7:30 AM): Pickup from your Nairobi hotel or the airport and drive towards the Mara.
• Mid-morning: Great Rift Valley viewpoint stop for photos, about 20–30 min.
• Early afternoon: Arrive at your camp, check in and have a hot lunch.
• Afternoon (around 3:30–6:00 PM): First game drive in the Masai Mara.
• Night: Dinner and overnight at camp.
Travel for the day
• Nairobi → Masai Mara ~5–6.5 hrs by 4x4 vehicle.
• The final one-hour stretch is on a corrugated and bumpy road, which may be uncomfortable for guests with back problems. Travellers seeking a smoother journey may consider flying directly to and from the Mara.
Tips & what to carry
• If flying in the same morning, pick a flight that lands well before 7:30 AM.
• Drinking water (2 litres per person per day) is provided.
• Carry your yellow fever card; India asks for it when you return from Kenya.
• Wear neutral colours and keep a scarf handy for dust.
Included today
• Airport Transfers
• Professional English Speaking Driver
• Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Masai Mara
Note: Hotels shown are indicative. Final hotels are confirmed in the same category once your travel dates are fixed, and dates can affect the overall price.
You wake to the sounds of the bush, and the day's plan is flexible, shaped with your guide around your interests. Photographers usually choose the early game drive, when the light is soft, wildlife is most active and predator-prey encounters are more likely. You return to camp for breakfast and a rest, then go out again in the afternoon with a packed lunch.
The alternative is a leisurely breakfast and a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch, covering different regions of the reserve and its viewpoints in search of lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes and zebras. Either way you return to camp in the evening for dinner and a second night in the Mara.
At a glance: Time needed: ~8 hrs game drives · Travel: All within the reserve · Pace: Full
Schedule
• Morning (around 6:00 AM): Option 1: early morning game drive, about 2.5–3 hrs, then breakfast and rest at camp.
• Afternoon: Option 1 continued: afternoon safari with a packed lunch.
• Optional: Option 2: leisurely breakfast, then a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch, back by evening.
• Optional: Sunrise hot-air balloon flight or a Maasai village visit (not included; paid locally).
• Night: Dinner and overnight at camp.
Travel for the day
• Game drives within the Masai Mara by 4x4 vehicle.
Tips & what to carry
• For photography, a 100–400 mm zoom is ideal. A bean bag on the window helps steady the camera.
• Early mornings are cold in the vehicle; dress in layers.
• Stay seated and keep arms inside the vehicle near animals.
• The Great Migration is usually in the Mara from around July to October.
Included today
• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• 4 x 4 Vehicle with English speaking guide
Overnight: Masai Mara
After breakfast you check out and begin the drive to Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, about five hours through farmland and small towns.
On arrival you check in and have the rest of the day at leisure. After two days of game drives, this is a welcome slow afternoon: sit by the lake, watch the birds in the fever trees or simply rest. In the evening you have dinner at your lodge.
At a glance: Time needed: Travel day · Travel: ~5 hrs driving · Pace: Easy
Schedule
• Morning: Breakfast and check out of your camp.
• Noon: Drive to Lake Naivasha, about 5 hrs.
• Afternoon: Check in. Free — rest or walk in the lodge grounds.
• Night: Dinner and overnight in Naivasha.
Travel for the day
• Masai Mara → Lake Naivasha ~5 hrs by air-conditioned vehicle.
Tips & what to carry
• Hippos graze on lakeside lawns after dark. Do not walk outside without an escort at night.
• Naivasha is cooler in the evening; keep a fleece out.
• A good evening to charge batteries and back up your photos.
Included today
• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Air-Conditioned Vehicle
• English Speaking Driver
Overnight: Lake Naivasha
After breakfast you head down to the lake for a boat ride across its calm waters, where hippos rest in the shallows and fish eagles, pelicans and kingfishers work the shoreline.
The boat lands at Crescent Island for a guided nature walk. With no big predators here, you walk on foot alongside freely roaming zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, waterbucks and antelopes, a very different feeling from watching them from a vehicle. After the walk you return by boat to the mainland for lunch at your lodge, then drive back to Nairobi for drop-off at the airport.
At a glance: Time needed: ~2.5 hrs boat and walk · Travel: ~2–2.5 hrs driving · Pace: Easy
Schedule
• Morning (around 8:30 AM): Breakfast and check out. Boat ride on Lake Naivasha, about 45 min–1 hr.
• Late morning: Guided nature walk on Crescent Island, about 1–1.5 hrs.
• Noon: Boat back to the mainland and lunch at your lodge.
• Afternoon: Drive to Nairobi, about 2–2.5 hrs, and transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Travel for the day
• Lake Naivasha → Nairobi Airport ~2–2.5 hrs by road.
Tips & what to carry
• Wear closed shoes and a hat for the walk; there is little shade on the island.
• Life jackets are provided on the boat.
• Tips for guides are not included; it is customary to tip at the end of the safari.
• An evening flight home works best after this morning.
Included today
• Breakfast & Lunch
• English Speaking Guide
• Airport Transfers
How we’ll design yours
A quick call to understand your pace, must-dos, budget and who's travelling.
A day-by-day shaped around you — not pulled off a shelf.
Tweak it as much as you like until every day feels right.
Reservations handled, and a real person on WhatsApp the whole way.
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Everything to know before you book
- You will be added to our Travel WhatsApp Channel for continuous support and real-time updates throughout your journey.
- We will collect the required documents such as Passport, Aadhaar, PAN, or any additional ID needed for your trip.
- For international travel, please ensure your passport has a minimum validity of 180 days from your return date.
- Hotels and flights will be booked within a 3-hour SLA window after payment confirmation and shared with you.
- In case of non-availability, we will suggest the closest alternative options without affecting your budget and proceed after your approval.
- The Visa process will be initiated as per the required timeline for the destination country.
- The next steps and a clear travel timeline will be shared with you for complete transparency.
- All necessary hard copies, including travel vouchers and gift vouchers for future travel, will be dispatched to your address for easy access during the trip.
Everything you need
to know.
Common questions about Masai Mara & Lake Naivasha – 4 Days Big Five Safari.
The best time to explore Kenya will be from October to December.
Our Kenya tour packages start from 89,950 INR per person.
Yes, Kenya is the safest country to explore for Indians.
Yes, Indians need a visa to visit Kenya. To learn about the process, visit our Kenya tour package.
To explore Kenya, our Wilderness Wonders of Kenya: 5-day Safari Experience, this Kenya itinerary will be the ideal choice.
Must-visit places included in our Kenya tour packages: Maasai Mara, Nairobi City, Amboseli National Park, Lake Naivasha, and Mombasa Beaches.
Our Kenya tour packages included breakfast and dinner for the day, which you can customize. We also provide Indian food for Indian travelers.
There is no one weather condition throughout the year; Kenya has four different varieties.
Yes, you can customize your Kenya tour package with us on your interest and budget, our tour operators will guide you to select the ideal destinations.
Yes, there is a wide range of vegetarian food options available in Kenya.