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4-Day Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara Explorer

Duration

4 days, 3 nights

Parks

Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara

Travel style

Private, mid-range

Vehicle

4×4 Land Cruiser

Best time

Jun to Oct, Jan to Feb

Overview Route Itinerary Lodges Prices What’s included Reviews FAQ

Trip overview

This four-day safari covers two of Kenya’s most famous wildlife destinations at mid-range pricing. You’ll visit Lake Nakuru for rhinos and flamingos before spending two nights in the Masai Mara for Big Five game viewing.

Lake Nakuru delivers reliable wildlife sightings in a compact park that is easy to cover. Both black and white rhinos are present in good numbers, and leopards are regularly spotted. The lake itself can hold thousands of flamingos when alkalinity levels are right. From there you head west to the Masai Mara for the main attraction.

Two nights in the Mara gives you a full day of uninterrupted game viewing plus arrival and departure drives. This is enough time to cover good ground and see the Mara’s resident wildlife. Between July and October there’s a chance of catching migration river crossings, though game viewing remains excellent year-round.

The accommodations are mid-range, comfortable and well-positioned without luxury pricing. Both properties sit inside or directly adjacent to their parks, keeping access times short.

Accommodations:

Lake Nakuru: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge or Flamingo Hill Tented Camp (1 night)
Masai Mara: Mara Sopa Lodge or similar mid-range tented camp (2 nights)

Your route

Lake Nakuru 1 night · Masai Mara 2 nights. Starts and ends in Nairobi.

Long drive days? Ask about flying between parks instead. It can save most of a day.

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Lake Nakuru National Park

Drive Time: 3-4 hours · Meals: Lunch & Dinner

Morning pickup from your Nairobi hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport around 7:30 AM. Drive northwest through Nairobi’s outskirts, climbing the escarpment with views over the Rift Valley. Stop at the viewpoint for photos before descending into the valley.

Arrive at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge or Flamingo Hill Tented Camp around midday. Lake Nakuru Sopa sits on a hillside inside the park with lake views. Flamingo Hill is also inside the park with good positioning. After check-in and lunch, afternoon game drive around the lake.

Lake Nakuru is compact and fully fenced, which has helped rhino populations recover. Both black and white rhinos are reliably seen. Flamingo numbers fluctuate but can be impressive. Leopards are regularly spotted in trees around the park. Also look for Rothschild’s giraffe, waterbuck, buffalo, and lions hunting on the open grassland.

Dinner and overnight at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge or Flamingo Hill Tented Camp.

Day 2: Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara National Reserve

Drive Time: 5 hours · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Early morning game drive in Lake Nakuru before breakfast. Best time for predators and active rhinos. Return to lodge for breakfast, check out, then drive west to the Masai Mara through Narok town. Scenery opens into Maasai grazing land approaching the reserve.

Arrive at Mara Sopa Lodge or similar mid-range tented camp for lunch. Mara Sopa sits on a hillside at the eastern edge of the reserve. After settling in, late afternoon game drive into the Mara.

Wildlife density is immediately noticeable. Lions, elephants, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and plains game within the first couple of hours. Your guide knows the area and will position you for good viewing. The Mara’s resident populations stay year-round regardless of migration timing.

Dinner and overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge or similar.

Day 3: Full Day in Masai Mara National Reserve

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Full day exploring the Mara with morning and afternoon game drives. Early start around 6:30 AM when animals are most active. Lions in large prides are almost guaranteed. Leopards require patience but sightings happen regularly near riverine areas. Cheetahs hunt on the open plains. Buffalo in massive herds, rhinos less common but present.

Between July and October the wildebeest migration dominates. Over a million animals from the Serengeti create dramatic river crossings. Timing is unpredictable but guides maintain radio contact and will position you when activity builds. Outside migration season resident wildlife provides excellent viewing.

Optional Maasai village visit or hot air balloon safari (AUD $650 per person, booked in advance).

Dinner and overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge or similar.

Day 4: Masai Mara to Nairobi, Departure

Drive Time: 5 hours · Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Final early morning game drive before breakfast. Last chance for Mara wildlife at dawn. Return to lodge for breakfast and check out, then drive back to Nairobi arriving mid to late afternoon.

Drop off at your Nairobi hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Evening flights to Australia via Dubai, Doha, or Bangkok work well with this timing.

Where you'll stay

beautiful swimming pool at Masai Mara Sopa Lodge — Mara Sopa Lodge, Masai Mara

Bed at Mara Sopa Lodge — Mara Sopa Lodge, Masai Mara

Swimming pool at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge — Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge, Lake Nakuru

Views of outside from lake nakuru sopa lodge — Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge, Lake Nakuru

“Or similar” means we may swap a lodge of the same standard if one is full on your dates. We always tell you before you book.

Prices for 2026 and 2027

Season	2 people	3	4	5	6
Jan to Jun	AUD $1,850	AUD $1,600	AUD $1,450	AUD $1,400	AUD $1,300
Jul to Dec	AUD $2,550	AUD $2,200	AUD $2,000	AUD $1,850	AUD $1,800

Prices are per person sharing in Australian dollars. Single supplements and child rates on request.

What's included

Included

Park entry fees for Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara
Accommodation (3 nights)
All meals from lunch Day 1 through lunch Day 4
Game drives per itinerary
Professional driver-guide
Road transfers in 4x4 safari vehicle
Bottled water during game drives
Government taxes

Not included

International flights
Kenya eTA (electronic travel authorisation) and Kenya’s mandatory travel insurance
Travel insurance
Tips for guides and camp staff
Premium drinks at lodges
Personal expenses
Optional activities
Single supplement

Deposit: 30% to confirm your lodges
Balance: due 60 days before travel
Cancellation: full refund if you cancel more than 60 days before travel. Full cancellation policy

Reviews from our guests

    
 
 
       Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Cameron M 
 
 
 
 Verified A Couple in December 2025 - 5 Stars
We booked with Stanley and Majestic Safari for the 6-day luxury tour through Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha and Amboseli. The trip completely exceeded our expectations, even despite it not being ‘peak season’ we were able to tick off Africa’s Big 5 on the very first game drive. This was in no small part down to our guide, Bonnie, who was an essential part of tracking these animals - you have to request him if booking through Majestic. Each accommodation also exceeded our expectations in terms of location, comfort, quality and service of the staff. Being a first time safari for us, we weren’t sure what to expect - but selecting the luxury option was well worth it. All aspects of travel and organisation was seamless. Once booked, there was next to nothing for us to think about as we were in experienced hands - and we were glad to have partnered with Majestic as there was significantly more organisation required in the background than we originally realised. Stanley also went above and beyond the itinerary, picking us up from the airport late at night despite the tour not starting until a few days later and ensuring we had some food to take into the hotel. This was after providing us with in-depth packing lists and general guidance on exploring Nairobi. I couldn’t recommend Majestic enough and hope to arrange another trip with Stanley in the future.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Coastal66646927528 
 
 
 
 Verified A Beautiful Safari with an Excellent Guide – Just Check the Route First
Majestic Kenyan Safaris gave us a wonderful Kenya experience, and our guide was genuinely lovely. He was calm, kind, and extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife, parks, and local environment, which made the safari both engaging and meaningful. One thing worth noting for future travellers is the itinerary structure. Over the six-day safari, the route involved long drives in a zig-zag pattern rather than a simple circular loop. This meant more transit time on some days. This was not the fault of the company or the guide, as the itinerary was clearly outlined, but something we wish we had paid closer attention to when booking. Overall, Majestic Kenyan Safaris were professional, warm, and well organised. With careful attention to route planning beforehand, they offer a truly memorable safari experience.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Anouchka905 
 
 
 
 Verified The most Unforgettable Safari
Stanley Gichuki crafted the journey of dreams Thanks to our incredible guide, Bonie whose fearless spirit turned every mile into magic. He welcomed us in Samburu National Park and led us off the beaten path with a deep, soulful knowledge of the land, its stories, its rhythms, its wild heart. Samburu was our favorite in terms of landscape. We stood in awe in Samburu as reticulated giraffes swept across the horizon, watched Grevy’s zebras stride with quiet elegance, and felt the earth tremble beneath African elephants. We held our breath as a cheetah emerged from the tall grass, and we followed Kamau Boniethrough wet, treacherous tracks to where lions rule their hidden kingdom. Our journey continued into Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a sanctuary of hope, where we encountered the gentle wisdom of chimpanzees at the Jane Goodall, Sweetwater Chimpanzee Sanctuary, and witnessed the immense beauty of both white and black rhinos, alongside more elephants, more lions… and countless unforgettable moments. Our journey ended in the Maasai Mara . Our last drive was unforgettabel as we watched a cheetah devouring a thompson gazelle, leaving the rest of the kill to a fight between two jackals and a flock of vultures. We had a brief encounter with a leopard walking down a river and watched more lions enjoying their buffalo lunch. Truly memorable experiences. Kenya, you are once in a lifetime. Thank you
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   goort g 
 
 
 
 Verified Safari with Majestick Kenya
We just returned from a 9 days safari, and we enjoyed it very much. Everything was arranged very well, our driver/guide Bonnie was outstanding. The tour company did everything to be helpfull in picking up from the airport, taking us with their jeep to all the place we visited, and we had very nice game drives. We went to Samburu, Oj Pejeta, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara. The lodges were great, good value for money and we were upgraded in 2 places. Thank you Majestick, and al your staff. We highly recommend you.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Sam G 
 
 
 
 Verified Amazing Safari Experience!
Just got back from an amazing 7-day safari with Majestic Kenya Safaris! Our guide Samuel was fantastic - incredible wildlife knowledge and spotted animals from miles away. We saw the Big Five, including a pride of lions with cubs in the Maasai Mara. Everything was perfectly organized from airport transfers to accommodations. The mix of lodges and tented camps was great, and falling asleep to African bush sounds was magical. Vehicle was comfortable for the longer drives between parks. One activity got cancelled due to weather, but they quickly arranged something even better. Would definitely recommend to anyone planning a Kenya safari - unforgettable experience!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Tejl Kercova 
 
 
 
 Verified Best Safari experience!
Majestic Kenya Safaris in Nairobi exceeded all my expectations! From the moment we booked, their team was incredibly professional and attentive, ensuring every detail was taken care of. The safari itself was breathtaking—our guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and knew the best spots for wildlife viewing. We saw the Big Five up close, along with stunning landscapes that felt like something out of a dream. The accommodations were luxurious yet blended seamlessly with nature. What stood out most was their genuine passion for conservation and community support. I highly recommend Majestic Kenya Safaris for an unforgettable, world-class experience in Kenya!