6-Day Mara, Nakuru & Samburu Safari
A south-to-north run across Kenya on a sensible budget: two nights in the Maasai Mara, a night by Lake Nakuru, then two nights in the dry north at Samburu.
6 days · 5 nights · Year-round · best Jun – Oct & Jan – Mar
About this experience
This trip links three very different corners of Kenya in six days. You start with a full day on the open grassland of the Maasai Mara, cross the Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru for its birdlife and rhino sanctuary, then head north to Samburu, where the wildlife changes to species you won't find further south, such as Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe and gerenuk. The stays are simple, comfortable camps and a hotel, and you travel in your own 4x4 with a pop-up roof and a driver-guide. The last day loops home past Mount Kenya with lunch in Nanyuki.
Best for
- Value-minded travellers
- Seeing north and south Kenya
- First-time safari
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
- EnglishGuide language
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.
We collect you from the airport or your Nairobi hotel and drive west, stopping at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint and in Narok on the way. After lunch at camp and a short rest, you head out on your first game drive in the Mara.
Miti Mingi Eco Camp · Full-board
A long day out in the reserve, giving your guide time to cover the open plains and scattered woodland in search of lion, elephant, cheetah, buffalo, giraffe and the plains herds. It's a good day for photography, with plenty of time at each sighting.
Miti Mingi Eco Camp · Full-board
After breakfast you leave the Mara and drive to Lake Nakuru National Park in time for lunch. The afternoon game drive follows the lakeshore for flamingos and pelicans, and the park's rhino sanctuary gives you a good chance of seeing rhino, along with giraffe and warthog.
Buraha Zenoni Hotel · Full-board
A long but varied drive north through Kenya's farming heartland, with a picnic lunch at Thomson's Falls along the way. You reach Samburu, on the edge of the semi-arid north, in the late afternoon, watching for wildlife on the final stretch before checking in.
Umoja Camp · Full-board
A day exploring Samburu along the Ewaso Nyiro river, the reserve's lifeline. Look out for the northern species, such as reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, gerenuk and Somali ostrich, as well as elephant, lion, cheetah, buffalo and crocodile.
Umoja Camp · Full-board
An early game drive before breakfast, then the road south through the Mount Kenya region with a lunch stop in Nanyuki at the foot of the mountain. You arrive in Nairobi in the early evening and we drop you at your hotel or the airport.
Where you'll stay
Lodges we book on this trip. If one is full on your dates, we'll offer a comparable property before you pay anything.
What's included
Included
- 5 nights in comfortable camps and a hotel, as listed in the itinerary
- All meals on safari: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- All national park and reserve entry fees
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof and driver-guide
- All game drives as per the itinerary
- Pickup from Nairobi airport or hotel, and drop-off at the end
- 24/7 WhatsApp support from the Bookara team
Not included
- International and domestic flights
- Kenya eTA (government fee — we help you apply)
- Travel insurance
- Tips for your guide and camp staff
- Optional activities and excursions
- Drinks and personal expenses
Route & pickup
Where the trip goes, and where we meet you.
- 01 NairobiDay 1 · City
- 02 Maasai MaraDay 1 · National park & reserve
- 03 Lake NakuruDay 3 · Lake
- 04 SamburuDay 4 · National park & reserve
- 05 Mount KenyaDay 6 · Mountain region
- 06 NairobiDay 6 · City
Good to know
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
Will we share the vehicle with anyone?+
No. This is a private trip, so the 4x4 and driver-guide are yours for the whole six days and nobody else joins you.
Why go as far north as Samburu?+
Samburu is drier and wilder than the Mara and has animals you won't see in the south, including Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and Somali ostrich. Pairing it with the Mara gives you two quite different safaris in one trip.
Can we change the route or the camps?+
Yes. The route and stays can be adjusted on request. Message us with what you have in mind and we'll quote it.
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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