4 Day Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru Budget Camping Safari in Kenya
Short Getaway Kenya Safari
Explore Kenya’s top parks on a 4-day budget adventure. Spot the Big Five in the Masai Mara, flamingos and rhinos at Lake Nakuru, enjoy daily game drives, and stay at authentic campsites with meals included. Perfect for first-time safari travelers and budget explorers seeking wildlife, stunning landscapes, and Maasai cultural experiences.
Key information
- Group safari
- Group size: Maximum 30 people
- Children policy: Children from the age of 3 years are allowed to participate under the supervision of a parent or guardian.
- Starts and ends in Nairobi
- Language: English-speaking guides
- All park fees are included.
Highlights
- Unlimited sunrise and sunset game drives in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Explore Kenya’s top parks: Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru
- Spot the Big Five, rhinos, flamingos and large herds
- 3 nights' stay in dome tents with shared facilities and hotel with fresh meals
- Capture wildlife and landscapes — perfect for photography
- Birdwatching with 400+ species at Lake Nakuru
- Relax around campfires under the African stars
- Airport transfers included, all-inclusive experience
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Types
4 activity days in English
Accommodation
Maasai Mara National Reserve: Lenchada Tourist Camp or similar
Lenchada Tourist Camp is a budget safari camp just outside the gates of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Accommodations in self-contained Tents fitted with camp beds and linen are provided.
Lake Nakuru National Park: Hotel Citymax (budget hotel)
Hotel Citymax is a budget hotel located in Nakuru town, near Lake Nakuru National Park. The hotel offers stylish accommodation, restaurant services, and conference facilities. The hotel provides free internet access and a gorgeous rooftop that puts you close to the town’s major attractions.
Program
Day 1: Nairobi → Masai Mara
Depart Nairobi early, driving through the scenic Great Rift Valley with photo stops. Arrive at your budget campsite in the Mara for lunch, then enjoy your first afternoon game drive spotting elephants, zebras, and lions. Dinner and campfire under the stars.
- Included: Rift Valley viewpoint, afternoon game drive
- Accommodation: Lenchada Tourist Camp or similar (budget dome tents)
- Meals: Lunch and dinner
Day 2: Full-Day Masai Mara Safari
Full-day game drives across the Mara plains to spot the Big Five, antelopes, and seasonal wildebeest migration (Jul–Oct). Picnic lunch in the park. Optional Maasai village visit or hot-air balloon ride (extra cost). Evening dinner at camp.
- Included: Full-day game drives, picnic lunch
- Optional: Maasai village visit, hot-air balloon safari
- Accommodation: Same as Day 1
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: Masai Mara → Lake Nakuru
Drive to Lake Nakuru National Park after breakfast. Afternoon wildlife exploration to see flamingos, rhinos, and other wildlife. Capture Rift Valley views before checking into your budget hotel in Nakuru.
- Included: Afternoon game drive
- Accommodation: Hotel CityMax Nakuru or similar (budget hotel)
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Lake Nakuru → Nairobi
Early morning game drive along Lake Nakuru’s shores for flamingos and gazelles. Depart for Nairobi with picnic lunch en route. Drop-off at your hotel or JKIA.
- Included: Sunrise game drive, return transfers
- Distance: ~160 kilometers | ~3 - 4 hours
- Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Location
Maasai Mara National Reserve
The Maasai Mara is an African safari at its most iconic, a seemingly endless landscape filled with the drama of nature. Predators are thrillingly abundant and the big cats define the rhythm on the plains every single day. Ungulates are diverse and plentiful, and astonishing numbers of four-hooved animals cross the grasslands. Then there are the other giants, the elephants, giraffe, buffalo, hippos, even the elusive black rhino.
This vast expansive unfenced savannah grassland covering over 1,500 square kilometers is a true wildlife haven. The Mara is also home to the richest concentration of wildlife, including the “Big Five” (elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffalos), zebras, antelope, gnus, Oribis, hyenas, giraffes, warthogs, gazelles, hartebeests, hippos, crocodiles, and other. The park has the largest concentration of African lions, including the black-maned lion.
Birdlife is as plentiful as wildlife at the Maasai Mara, which boasts over 400 different bird species. The Maasai Mara provides the best view of the famous wildebeest migration as the animals cross the Mara River between July and August. The park experiences a hot and dry climate with a regular rainfall season twice a year. The reserve’s topography is mainly open savannah (grassland) with clusters of acacia trees along the southeastern area of the park. The Mara and Talek rivers grace the rolling plains of the reserve. Myriad seasonal rivers appear during the rainy season but dry out once the rains are gone.
Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park is approximately 164 kilometers from Nairobi, a two-hour drive from Nairobi city. It is a gentle undulating terrain with open bush and woodlands, typical of the dry Rift Valley vegetation. 27% of the park is composed of the Lake Nakuru waters. The park has a large reserve of over 400 species of birds, which makes it an ideal site for bird lovers. The park is also a sanctuary of rhinoceros with approximately 45 black and 31 white rhinoceros and Rothschild's giraffe.
Food
Your meals will consist of two breakfasts, three lunches, and two dinners. Drinking water will also be provided. During your safari, you may expect to enjoy a picnic lunch with the hippos and crocodiles.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Lactose Free
- Other dietary requirements on request
Things to do (optional)
- A visit to a local Maasai Village (20 USD per person)
- Balloon ride with champagne-style breakfast - 450 USD per person
What's included
- Safari 4×4 with pop-up roof and guide
- Park fees
- 3 nights in budget dome tents
- Meals (B/L/D)
- Daily game drives
- Camping gear
- Bottled water
- Local taxes
- Airport transfers
What's not included
- Flights
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Optional Maasai village visit
- Hot-air balloon rides
- Drinks
- Tips
- Personal expenses
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer included
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
174 km away from your destination
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 20% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 15 days before arrival.
Reviews
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