6 Days Masai Mara, Serengeti & Lake Nakuru Safari

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Lake Nakuru – Afternoon Game Drive

You leave Nairobi early, and the landscape starts shifting immediately. The road winds down into the Great Rift Valley, where escarpments fall away and acacias mark the edges of the land. By early afternoon, you’re in the Masai Mara.

After lunch, your first game drive begins. It doesn’t take long. Zebras cross the track. Wildebeest shift in massive numbers. And lions — they’re here, calm but watchful.

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation Options:
Budget: Rhino Tourist Camp
Mid-range: Jambo Mara Safari Lodge
Luxury: Mara Serena Safari Lodge / Ashnil Mara Camp

Day 2: Lake Nakuru – Masai Mara

After breakfast, you say goodbye to the Mara and begin the journey to Lake Nakuru. The road climbs back into highlands and drops into a basin surrounded by wooded hills and acacia forest.

You arrive by afternoon and head straight into the park. Flamingos ring the lake like paint. Rhinos — both black and white — graze slowly near the tracks. Giraffes browse among the yellow-barked trees. It’s a quiet contrast to the drama of the Mara.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation Options:

Budget: Lake Nakuru Lodge
Mid-range: Sarova Lion Hill
Luxury: The Cliff Nakuru / Mbweha Camp

Day 3: Full-Day Safari in Masai Mara

The Mara doesn’t wake up and neither does it ever sleep. At dawn, you’re already on the move but, before that, you need to have breakfast then embark on a morning game drive to follow lions trailing a buffalo herd.

Or pause near the Mara River, where crocodiles lie still and hippos grunt from the water. There is so much to explore here in Masai Mara.

By midday, you stop for a picnic in the bush and enjoy your lunch in the silence as part of the experience. In the afternoon, you head a different direction further in search of more wildlife including cheetahs, elephants, and hyenas before returning to accommodation for dinner, relaxation and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation Options:

Budget: Lake Nakuru Lodge
Mid-range: Sarova Lion Hill
Luxury: The Cliff Nakuru / Mbweha Camp

Day 4: Masai Mara to Serengeti via Isebania – Transfer into Tanzania

Today is a travel day with a sense of transition. You shall leave Kenya with great memories and embark on a transfer to Tanzania through the Isebania border. The drive maybe long, but scenic — a blend of farmland, mountains, and shifting cultures.

You’ll clear immigration at Isebania and switch to your Tanzanian guide and vehicle on the other side. From there, continue to a nearby lodge in the northern Serengeti as you spend the rest of your evening watching the animals graze – right from the comfort of your safari lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation Options:

Budget: Serengeti Bush Camp
Mid-range: Embalakai Camp
Luxury: Ole Serai / Lemala Kuria Hills

Day 5: Serengeti – Full-Day Safari

Compared to Masai Mara, this side is remote, wide, untamed, and rich in wildlife. Your guide knows the landscape — rocky outcrops where leopards rest, riverbanks where crossings might happen, valleys where lions stalk.

You move through the plains slowly, with patience and presence. There’s no rush here — just wild beauty and time to follow the rhythm of the bush as you enjoy the unrivaled Serengeti.

After a series of adventure, return to your lodge for dinner, relaxation and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation Options:

Budget: Serengeti Bush Camp
Mid-range: Embalakai Camp
Luxury: Ole Serai / Lemala Kuria Hills

Day 6: Serengeti to Arusha – Flight Option Available

After breakfast, you’ll enjoy the every best of Serengeti just before bidding farewell. Driving as you exit with a series of other game sighting, you shall drive through the scenic Ngorongoro and later proceed to Arusha arriving intime for a drop off at your hotel or airport.

The safari ends, but the feeling of it stays — dust on your boots, lions in your memory, and space in your heart.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Travel Tips

Border Crossing: A valid East Africa Tourist Visa is recommended for seamless travel
Travel Style: Fly-in options available for final day from Serengeti to Arusha
Best Time to Travel: June to October for dry season and Great Migration in Mara and Northern Serengeti
What to Pack: Neutral clothing, light layers, binoculars, wide-brim hat, good camera