5 Day Big Five Safari | Lake Nakuru National Park & Maasai Mara

Designed for first time safari travelers seeking an introduction to Kenya’s iconic wildlife, combining Big Five encounters, diverse landscapes, and two of the country’s most celebrated safari destinations into one thoughtfully planned journey.

Experience the highlights of Kenya on a five-day safari through Lake Nakuru National Park and the Maasai Mara. Begin in Nairobi before travelling through the dramatic landscapes of the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru, where rhino sightings, abundant birdlife, and diverse wildlife offer an engaging introduction to Kenya’s natural heritage.

From Lake Nakuru, continue south to the Maasai Mara, where vast golden plains and abundant wildlife create an entirely different safari experience. Travel by road between these iconic destinations, allowing you to experience Kenya’s changing landscapes while enjoying carefully planned game drives along the way.

Journey Highlights

• Explore the wildlife rich landscapes of Lake Nakuru National Park

• Look out for rhinos, lions, buffalo, and abundant birdlife

• Travel through the scenic Great Rift Valley

• Search for the Big Five across the iconic plains of the Maasai Mara

• Experience unforgettable game drives in one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife destinations

• Discover two of Kenya’s most renowned safari landscapes in one thoughtfully designed journey

Your Journey

Your safari begins in Nairobi, where you’ll travel through the Great Rift Valley towards Lake Nakuru National Park. Here, wildlife viewing takes place against a scenic backdrop of escarpments, lake landscapes, and open plains, with opportunities to encounter rhinos, buffalo, lions, and a remarkable variety of birdlife.

From Lake Nakuru, continue to the Maasai Mara, where open savannahs and abundant wildlife create an entirely different safari experience. Spend your days exploring the Mara on game drives in search of lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and the many other species that make this one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife destinations.

At the end of your safari, return to Nairobi, bringing together five days of wildlife, diverse landscapes, and some of Kenya’s most memorable safari experiences.

All that remains is for you to experience Kenya.

At Tourwithpipi, we don’t just plan safaris we curate stories worth remembering. Every journey is crafted with heart, care, and authenticity.

From handpicked lodges to seasoned guides who know every secret corner of the savannah, we bring you closer to the true essence of Africa.

Expect seamless service, immersive experiences, and the kind of warmth that feels like traveling with family.

After breakfast, depart Nairobi for Lake Nakuru National Park with a scenic drive through the Great Rift Valley, a region renowned for its dramatic escarpments, shimmering alkaline lake, and thriving rhino sanctuary.

Your afternoon game drive explores acacia woodlands, open grasslands, and lakeshore plains, where endangered black and white rhinos, Rothschild's giraffes, buffalos, zebras, and an abundance of birdlife thrive.

Depending on the season, witness vibrant flocks of flamingos painting the lake's shoreline pink. Keep an eye out for a rhino grazing against the golden horizon, pelicans gliding across the water, or a fish eagle circling overhead.

Pause for a relaxed lodge lunch, then continue your exploration as the afternoon light shifts and softens over the lake. Arrive at Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge for dinner and a quiet evening overlooking the water.

Overnight: Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge

After breakfast, depart Lake Nakuru National Park for the iconic Maasai Mara National Reserve, a region renowned for its vast savannahs, exceptional wildlife density, and world-famous safari experiences.

Your afternoon game drive explores sweeping open plains, rolling grasslands, and acacia-dotted landscapes, where lions, elephants, cheetahs, giraffes, and an abundance of plains game roam freely. Watch for a pride of lions basking in the late afternoon sun, elephants crossing the savannah in loose formation, or a cheetah scanning the horizon from a termite mound.

Pause for a leisurely lunch on arrival at camp, then continue exploring as the light turns gold across the plains. Settle in at Sarova Mara Game Camp for dinner and an evening beneath the Mara's open skies.

Overnight: Sarova Mara Game Camp

After breakfast, depart Sarova Mara Game Camp for a full day of game drives across the iconic Maasai Mara National Reserve, a region renowned for its vast savannahs, remarkable biodiversity, and extraordinary wildlife encounters.

Your full day game drive explores rolling grasslands, riverine forests, and open plains, where the Big Five, abundant plains game, and diverse birdlife thrive.

Depending on the season, you may witness the Great Migration as thousands of wildebeest and zebras cross the Mara in search of greener pastures. Watch for a river crossing in motion, a cheetah stalking its prey, hippos lounging along the Mara River, or a leopard resting in the branches of a fig tree.

Pause for a picnic lunch in the heart of the reserve, then continue exploring as the afternoon light deepens across the landscape. Return to Sarova Mara Game Camp for dinner, fireside storytelling, and a relaxed evening under the stars.

Overnight: Sarova Mara Game Camp

After breakfast, depart Sarova Mara Game Camp for another full day of game drives across the iconic Maasai Mara National Reserve, a region renowned for its endless savannahs, extraordinary wildlife, and authentic safari experiences.

Your full day game drive explores rolling plains, riverine forests, and acacia-dotted landscapes, where towering giraffes, elusive leopards, elephants, lions, and abundant plains game roam. Keep watch for sunrise breaking over the savannah, a herd of wildebeest stretched across the horizon, or a leopard resting in the shade of a riverine tree.

Pause for a picnic lunch in the bush or return to camp for a leisurely lodge lunch, then continue exploring as the light shifts through the afternoon. Guests may also choose an optional cultural visit to a traditional Maasai village, offering insight into the community's heritage, customs, and way of life.

Close the day at Sarova Mara Game Camp with a farewell dinner and a final evening reflecting on the days spent in the Mara.

Overnight: Sarova Mara Game Camp

After breakfast, depart the Maasai Mara for Nairobi with a scenic drive through Kenya's countryside, taking in one last stretch of the landscapes that shaped the safari.

As the journey concludes, take with you the wildlife, landscapes, and moments that defined your time in Kenya, from the shores of Lake Nakuru to the plains of the Maasai Mara.