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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

New First departures 2026 · Mara · Nakuru · Amboseli
7 days / 6 nights
Duration
Max 6
Group size
EN · SW · FR · DE · ES · IT
Languages
Free cancel
Up to 90 days before Before 90 days

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.

Highlights

  • First-time safari
  • Big Five seekers
  • Once-in-a-lifetime trips
  • Hand-picked lodges with great reviews
  • Private vehicle and experienced driver-guide

Signature experiences

Optional add-ons our specialists can build into this trip. Prices are per person, confirmed on request.

Hot-air balloon safari from$450
Signature experience

Lift off at dawn over the plains, drift silently above the herds, and land to a champagne bush breakfast. The definitive Mara morning.

Lake boat ride & walking from$30
Signature experience

A boat out among the hippos and fish eagles of Naivasha, then a walk on Crescent Island where the game roams free.

Maasai village visit from$20

Spend an hour in a working manyatta — the jumping dance, fire-making, and a look at daily Maasai life, hosted by the community itself.

Private bush dinner from$60

A lantern-lit table set out under the stars, your own chef and a crackling fire — the safari dinner people remember for years.

Included

  • 7 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 eVisa ($51 — 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

Price breakdown

6 nights full-board · mid-range lodges & camps $1320
Private 4x4 throughout · experienced guide · 7 days $812
Park fees · Mara $100/day, Nakuru & Amboseli $90/day $660
Bookara planning, 24/7 support & secure booking included

The plan, day by day

From pickup to drop-off — exactly what your trip looks like.

Printable itinerary →
Day 1
Day 1 Nairobi → Maasai Mara

Morning drive (or optional flight) to the Mara. Afternoon game drive across the plains — lion, elephant and buffalo on day one is normal here.

Day 2
Day 2 Full day in the Mara

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.

Day 3
Day 3 Mara → Lake Nakuru

Final Mara drive, then transfer to Lake Nakuru via the Rift Valley. Afternoon drive for rhino — both black and white — and Rothschild's giraffe.

Day 4
Day 4 Nakuru → Amboseli

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.

Day 5
Day 5 Amboseli & Kilimanjaro

Sunrise drive for Kili before the cloud arrives. The great elephant herds in the Enkongo Narok swamp. Observation Hill at sunset.

Day 6
Day 6 More Amboseli, fly-camp dinner

A relaxed day — game drives morning and afternoon, optional Maasai community visit, and a lantern-lit bush dinner under the stars.

Day 7
Day 7 Final drive, return to Nairobi

Dawn game drive, brunch, then road transfer back to Nairobi for your onward connection.

What travelers say

Guest reviews →
5.0

Bookara guest rating

Meeting point

Your full route across Kenya — pickup confirmed the day before departure.

Drag to pan · pinch or buttons to zoom

EQUATOR Tsavo West Tsavo East Diani Coast Mombasa Mount Kenya Laikipia Ol Pejeta Lewa Samburu Chyulu Hills Aberdare Meru 1 Nairobi 2 Maasai Mara 3 Lake Nakuru 4 Amboseli
Pickup
Your hotel or the airport · Nairobi
You choose at checkout — JKIA or Wilson on arrival, your hotel, or an address you give us. Confirmed 24 hours before, and your driver-guide messages you on WhatsApp.
Your route · 7 days · 5 stops
  1. 01
    Nairobi
    Day 1 · City
  2. 02
    Maasai Mara
    Day 1 · National park & reserve
  3. 03
    Lake Nakuru
    Day 3 · Rift Valley lakes
  4. 04
    Amboseli
    Day 4 · National park & reserve
  5. 05
    Nairobi
    Day 7 · City
Open route in Google Maps

Good to know

Free cancellation up to 90 days before

Cancel for any reason up to 90 days before your departure and receive a full refund. After that, our standard partial-refund schedule applies — see 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.

Why book with us

Book direct with the operator

  • Licensed & certified

    Kenya-registered operator in Nairobi with experienced driver-guides.

  • Our own vehicles & guides

    Trips run end to end by Bookara staff — never handed to a third party.

  • Secure payment

    Card or Apple Pay through Paystack (USD). Park fees included in the price you see.

  • Flexible cancellation

    Free cancellation up to 90 days before departure; 30% deposit holds your dates.

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