Nairobi – Masai Mara National Reserve

Your 6-Day Private Kenya Big Five Safari begins with a morning pickup from your hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. After a brief introduction by your professional safari guide, you’ll start your journey towards the world-renowned Masai Mara National Reserve. Along the way, a stop at the Great Rift Valley Viewpoint provides an opportunity for photos and an introduction to one of East Africa’s most iconic geological features.

The drive offers views of sprawling farmlands, local homesteads, and picturesque landscapes as you approach the plains of the Masai Mara—one of Africa’s best game-viewing destinations. The Masai Mara is known for its abundance of wildlife and as the northern extension of the Serengeti ecosystem. It is especially famous for the Great Wildebeest Migration, which occurs between July and September, and for its year-round presence of the Big Five.

On arrival, you’ll check in to Sentrim Mara Camp, a mid-range tented lodge offering en-suite tents, hot showers, and buffet-style meals. In the afternoon, you’ll embark on a brief game drive, offering a first look at the diverse wildlife, including zebras, lions, giraffes, and wildebeests. Return to camp for a relaxing evening, followed by dinner and overnight stay.

• Main Destination: Masai Mara National Reserve
• Accommodation: Sentrim Mara Camp (Mid-range tented camp)
• Meals & Drinks: Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Full Day in Masai Mara National Reserve

Your second day of the 6-Day Private Kenya Big Five Safari is devoted entirely to exploring the vast expanse of Masai Mara National Reserve. After an early breakfast, head out for a full-day game drive with a packed picnic lunch that allows you to spend the entire day inside the park.

The Masai Mara National Reserve is celebrated for its sweeping savannahs and incredible wildlife density. You will have the opportunity to spot the African Big Five—lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhino—as well as other iconic species such as cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, warthogs, and impalas. During the migration season, millions of wildebeests and zebras cross the Mara River, creating dramatic scenes as crocodiles lie in wait beneath the surface.

Your guide will lead you to the Hippo Pool, an ideal picnic stop where you can observe hippos and Nile crocodiles basking in the river. In the evening, you may opt to visit a Maasai village for a cultural tour (additional fee applies). Learn about traditional Maasai customs, dress, and lifestyle—a fascinating experience that adds cultural depth to your safari.

Return to Sentrim Mara Camp in the evening for dinner and overnight.

• Main Destination: Masai Mara National Reserve
• Accommodation: Sentrim Mara Camp (Mid-range tented camp)
• Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Masai Mara – Lake Nakuru National Park

On the third day of your 6-Day Private Kenya Big Five Safari, enjoy an early morning game drive in Masai Mara, perfect for catching predators on the hunt and herbivores grazing in the cool morning light. After breakfast back at camp, you’ll check out and begin your journey towards Lake Nakuru National Park.

This scenic drive traverses the Rift Valley, offering beautiful views of Mount Longonot and Lake Naivasha in the distance. You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch along the way and, if time permits, you can take an optional boat ride on Lake Naivasha—a peaceful freshwater lake known for its birdlife and hippo population.

By late afternoon, you’ll arrive at Ziwa Bush Lodge, a mid-range lodge set in a tranquil environment near Lake Nakuru. The lodge offers cozy rooms with ensuite bathrooms and excellent local cuisine. The remainder of the day is yours to relax and prepare for a full day of exploration in Lake Nakuru National Park tomorrow.

• Main Destination: Lake Nakuru National Park
• Accommodation: Ziwa Bush Lodge (Mid-range lodge)
• Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Lake Nakuru – Amboseli National Park

Day 4 of your 6-Day Private Kenya Big Five Safari starts with a hearty breakfast followed by a morning game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, a UNESCO-recognized bird sanctuary famed for its once-vast populations of flamingos. Though flamingo numbers fluctuate, the park remains a top spot for birders and wildlife enthusiasts.

In addition to birds, the park is home to black and white rhinos, lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras, and warthogs. A highlight of your drive will be the panoramic views from Baboon Cliff, where you can see hippos in the lake and buffalo herds along the shore.

Following the game drive, you’ll travel south towards Amboseli National Park, with lunch en route. The journey takes you through varying landscapes—from highland forests to dry savannahs—arriving in Amboseli in the late afternoon. If time allows, you will enjoy a short evening game drive to get a preview of the park’s wildlife.

Check in at Sentrim Amboseli Lodge, where your comfortable tented accommodations await, complete with hot showers and exceptional views.

• Main Destination: Amboseli National Park
• Accommodation: Sentrim Amboseli Lodge (Mid-range tented camp)
• Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Full Day in Amboseli National Park

On the fifth day of the 6-Day Private Kenya Big Five Safari, you rise early for a pre-breakfast game drive in Amboseli National Park, one of the best places in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants. The park offers stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, which looms dramatically over the savannah.

Amboseli is a photographer’s paradise and a haven for animal lovers. Expect to see large elephant herds, as well as lions, cheetahs, hyenas, wildebeests, giraffes, and zebras. The park also boasts more than 400 bird species, including pelicans, kingfishers, and egrets.

Enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the designated picnic sites within the park, surrounded by nature. In the afternoon, continue with another game drive, exploring different habitats including marshes, woodlands, and open plains.

Return to Sentrim Amboseli Lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight as you reflect on the magic of the day.

• Main Destination: Amboseli National Park
• Accommodation: Sentrim Amboseli Lodge (Mid-range tented camp)
• Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Amboseli – Nairobi (End of Safari)

The final day of the 6-Day Private Kenya Big Five Safari begins with an optional sunrise game drive in Amboseli, offering a last chance to capture the early light over Kilimanjaro and spot nocturnal predators heading to rest.

After breakfast, you will check out and begin the return journey to Nairobi, carrying with you unforgettable memories and a deeper appreciation for Kenya’s natural treasures. Along the way, you’ll stop for a picnic lunch, and enjoy the last scenic drive through the Kenyan countryside.

On arrival in Nairobi in the late afternoon, you’ll be dropped off at your hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, marking the end of your 6-Day Private Kenya Big Five Safari.

• Main Destination: Nairobi (City)
• Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
• Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch (Dinner not included), Drinking water (Other drinks not included)