6-Day Budget Camping Safari — The classic Rift Valley circuit on a backpacker budget — Mara, Nakuru and Naivasha over six days in serviced campsites, with the same parks and wildlife for a fraction of the price
6 days · 5 nights · Year-round
About this experience
Kenya's great parks don't have to cost a fortune. This six-day camping safari runs the classic Rift Valley loop — three nights in the Maasai Mara, and nights at Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha — staying in serviced public campsites with a cook who handles the meals. You share a 4x4 with a small group, which keeps the cost right down while you still see the lions, the rhino, the flamingo and the migration. The most popular way for younger travellers and overlanders to do Kenya.
Highlights
- Budget travellers
- Backpackers & overlanders
- Young & first-time
- 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.
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.
Included
- Full-board accommodation (serviced camping / basic lodges)
- All park & reserve entry fees
- Shared 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Experienced English-speaking driver-guide
- Bottled water in the vehicle
- 24/7 WhatsApp support
Not included
- International flights
- Kenya eVisa ($51 — we help you apply)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Optional experiences (see below)
- Sleeping bags, drinks, tips & personal expenses
Price breakdown
The plan, day by day
From pickup to drop-off — exactly what your trip looks like.
Drive down to the Mara, camp set up on arrival, and an afternoon game drive.
A full day of game drives in the reserve with a picnic lunch — big cats and, in season, the migration.
A final Mara drive, then north to Lake Nakuru. Afternoon drive for rhino and flamingo.
Morning around Nakuru, then to Lake Naivasha. Afternoon boat ride among the hippos.
A walking safari on Crescent Island and an optional cycle through Hell's Gate.
A relaxed morning, then the short drive back to Nairobi.
What travelers say
Guest reviews →Bookara guest rating
Meeting point
Your full route across Kenya — pickup confirmed the day before departure.
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 Lake NaivashaDay 4 · Rift Valley lakes
- 05 NairobiDay 6 · City
Good to know
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
What's the camping like?+
Serviced public campsites — dome tents (provided), shared ablutions with cold/hot showers, and a safari cook who prepares all the meals. It's simple but comfortable, and the value is unbeatable.
Is the safari itself any different from a lodge trip?+
No — same parks, same game drives, same wildlife. The savings come from the accommodation and the shared vehicle, not from seeing less.
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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Our own vehicles & guides
Trips run end to end by Bookara staff — never handed to a third party.
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Secure payment
Card or Apple Pay through Paystack (USD). Park fees included in the price you see.
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Flexible cancellation
Free cancellation up to 90 days before departure; 30% deposit holds your dates.
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