Big Five Complete
The complete Kenya — Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli in one unhurried week.
7 days · 6 nights · Best Jun – Oct & Jan – Mar
About this experience
This is the trip people picture when they say 'Kenya safari'. Seven nights across the three parks that, between them, hold all of the Big Five and the country's most iconic scenery: the Mara's big cats and endless plains, Nakuru's rhino and flamingo, and Amboseli's elephant herds beneath Kilimanjaro. We pace it properly — two or three nights in each so you're never just passing through.
Best for
- First-time safari
- Big Five seekers
- Once-in-a-lifetime trips
Trip features
- Private vehicleYour own 4x4 and driver-guide
- Starts any dayPick your own date, 7+ days ahead
- Can be tailoredChange lodges, add days or parks
- Children welcomeAges 3–12 at half price
- Pickup in NairobiAirport or your hotel
- English · Swahili · French · German · Spanish · ItalianGuide languages
Signature experiences
Optional extras we can add to this trip. Prices are per person and confirmed when you book.
Lift off at dawn over the plains, drift silently above the herds, and land to a champagne bush breakfast. The definitive Mara morning.
A boat out among the hippos and fish eagles of Naivasha, then a walk on Crescent Island where the game roams free.
Spend an hour in a working manyatta — the jumping dance, fire-making, and a look at daily Maasai life, hosted by the community itself.
A lantern-lit table set out under the stars, your own chef and a crackling fire — the safari dinner people remember for years.
Day by day
What each day looks like, from pickup in Nairobi to drop-off.
Morning drive (or optional flight) to the Mara. Afternoon game drive across the plains — lion, elephant and buffalo on day one is normal here.
Dawn-to-dusk in the world's greatest big-cat reserve. Cheetah on the termite mounds, leopard in the riverine forest, and (Jul–Oct) the migration river crossings.
Final Mara drive, then transfer to Lake Nakuru via the Rift Valley. Afternoon drive for rhino — both black and white — and Rothschild's giraffe.
Morning around the lake, then the long, scenic transfer south to Amboseli (we break it with a proper lunch). Evening drive as the light goes gold.
Sunrise drive for Kili before the cloud arrives. The great elephant herds in the Enkongo Narok swamp. Observation Hill at sunset.
A relaxed day — game drives morning and afternoon, optional Maasai community visit, and a lantern-lit bush dinner under the stars.
Dawn game drive, brunch, then road transfer back to Nairobi for your onward connection.
What's included
Included
- 6 nights full-board accommodation
- All park & reserve entry fees
- Private 4x4 · experienced driver-guide throughout
- All inter-park transfers
- Bottled water & sundowners
- 24/7 WhatsApp support
Not included
- International flights
- Kenya eTA (USD 30 government fee — we help you apply)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Optional Mara-leg flight (+$190 pp on road packages; already included in the Luxury package)
- Tips for guide & staff
Route & pickup
Where the trip goes, and where we meet you. Pickup is confirmed the day before you set off.
Drag to pan · pinch or buttons to zoom
- 01 NairobiDay 1 · City
- 02 Maasai MaraDay 1 · National park & reserve
- 03 Lake NakuruDay 3 · Rift Valley lakes
- 04 AmboseliDay 4 · National park & reserve
- 05 NairobiDay 7 · City
Good to know
Bookara started running trips in 2026, so there are no guest reviews on this trip yet. Ask us anything on WhatsApp before you book; you'll talk to one of the two founders.
A 30% deposit holds your dates, and the balance is due 45 days before you travel (book closer than that and you pay in full). Cancel 90+ days before departure for a full refund, 60–89 days before for 50% back. Full terms.
Common questions
Is seven nights too long, or about right?+
About right for first-timers who want the complete picture without rushing. You get two or three nights in each park, so you actually settle in. If you only have time for one park, the Mara alone is the move.
Should I drive or fly between parks?+
The drives are scenic and included. Flying the Mara leg saves roughly half a day each way for about $190 pp — worth it if your schedule is tight. We're happy to mix and match.
Will I genuinely see all of the Big Five?+
Across these three parks the odds are very high — lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino are reliable; leopard is the only one that's ever shy. Most guests tick all five. We never guarantee wildlife, but this itinerary is built to maximise it.
When is the best time to go?+
June to October is peak (dry, great game viewing, Mara migration). January to March is excellent and quieter, with the clearest Kilimanjaro views. We run it year-round except the heaviest April rains.
Book on WhatsApp
Your chat opens with the trip pre-filled — no payment needed now. Our team replies between 7am–10pm EAT.
Request saved
WhatsApp is opening with your details pre-filled — just hit send.
- 1 Send the pre-filled messageYour trip details are already written for you.
- 2 Confirm in chat — or pay the deposit onlineSame reference either way. Our team replies 7am–10pm EAT.
- 3 Instant confirmationWhatsApp message + email receipt the moment your deposit lands.
Your request ref becomes your booking reference once the deposit is paid.
Book direct with the operator
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Licensed & certified
Kenya-registered operator in Nairobi with experienced driver-guides.
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Run from Nairobi
We plan and run your trip ourselves, with driver-guides we know, and stay reachable on WhatsApp throughout.
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Secure payment
Card or Apple Pay through Paystack (USD). Taxes and park fees are in the price you see.
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Flexible cancellation
Full refund up to 90 days before departure; a 30% deposit holds your dates.
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