6-Day Budget Safari: Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Amboseli, Kenya

From

$300

Duration

Tour Type

Honeymoon & Romantic Getaways, Photography & Film Tours, Safari Tours

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Overview

This 6-day budget safari in Kenya combines three of the country’s most spectacular safari destinations: the Maasai Mara National Reserve, the flamingo-filled Lake Nakuru National Park, and the breathtaking Amboseli National Park, famous for its herds of elephants against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. The itinerary is designed for travelers who want an affordable yet immersive safari, blending the thrill of game drives with comfortable stays in Kenya safari lodges and tented camps. From rhinos at Nakuru to the Big Five safari Kenya is world-renowned for, every day is packed with unforgettable encounters.

Included/Exclude

Park fees(For non-residents)
All activities(Unless labeled as optional)
All accommodation(Unless listed as upgrade)
A professional driver/guide
All transportation(Unless labeled as optional)
All Taxes/VAT
Meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)
Drinks(As specified in the day-by-day section)

International flights(From/to home)
Roundtrip airport transfer
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
Tips(Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
Personal items(Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees

Tour Plan

Day 1: Nairobi – Maasai Mara National Reserve

Your adventure begins with a pick-up from Nairobi in the morning by your professional driver-guide. You’ll travel across the dramatic landscapes of the Great Rift Valley before arriving at the Maasai Mara, Kenya’s premier safari destination. On arrival, check into your budget-friendly Kenya safari lodge or tented camp, where a warm lunch awaits. In the late afternoon, set out for your first game drive across the golden savannah, home to elephants, giraffes, zebras, and prides of lions. This is your first introduction to the Mara’s vast wildlife density, which makes it one of the best places for a private safari in Kenya. Dinner and overnight at your camp.

Day 2: Full-Day Safari in Maasai Mara

After an early breakfast, spend a full day exploring the Maasai Mara on extended game drives. With a packed picnic lunch carried into the wild, you’ll have time to reach further into the reserve in search of the Big Five — lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhino. If you’re traveling between July and October, you may witness the Great Wildebeest Migration, where millions of wildebeest and zebras thunder across the Mara River. Your experienced guide will position you at the best vantage points for photography and storytelling. In the evening, return to your budget tented camp in Maasai Mara, enjoy dinner, and relax under a starlit African sky.

Day 3: Maasai Mara – Lake Nakuru National Park

After breakfast, depart for Lake Nakuru National Park, arriving in time for lunch. Known as a birdwatcher’s paradise, the park was once famed for its flamingos, but today it is equally celebrated for its thriving rhino sanctuary. In the afternoon, embark on a game drive around the shores of the alkaline lake, where you may encounter rhinos grazing, Rothschild’s giraffes browsing among the acacias, and predators like lions and leopards. Lake Nakuru is also home to over 400 bird species, making it a diverse safari stop. Overnight at a budget Kenya safari lodge near Lake Nakuru, where dinner will be served.

Day 4: Lake Nakuru – Amboseli National Park

Rise early for breakfast, then set off for Amboseli National Park, one of the most iconic safari destinations in Kenya. The journey takes you through Nairobi and southwards towards the border with Tanzania, arriving in Amboseli in time for a hot lunch at your lodge or tented camp. In the afternoon, enjoy your first game drive in Amboseli, known as the “Land of Giants” for its large herds of free-roaming elephants. The park offers some of the best views of Mount Kilimanjaro, making it a photographer’s dream. Dinner and overnight at your budget Amboseli tented camp or lodge.

Day 5: Full-Day Safari in Amboseli

Spend a full day in Amboseli National Park, with morning and afternoon game drives exploring the park’s varied habitats — from swamps to open plains. Amboseli is renowned for its elephant families, but you’ll also spot cheetahs, hyenas, buffalo, and an array of birdlife. Between game drives, relax at your camp and soak in views of Africa’s highest mountain. This day offers a slower pace, giving you time to truly connect with Amboseli’s landscapes and wildlife. In the evening, enjoy dinner and overnight at your lodge, surrounded by the sounds of the African night.

Day 6: Amboseli – Nairobi

After breakfast, enjoy a short morning game drive to catch final glimpses of Amboseli’s wildlife, often most active at dawn. With memories of elephants silhouetted against Mount Kilimanjaro, you’ll drive back to Nairobi, arriving in the afternoon. You’ll be dropped off at your hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, marking the end of your affordable Kenya safari adventure.