5 Days Big Five Safari Kenya

Five days across three of Kenya’s most rewarding parks, built specifically around giving you the best realistic shot at all five of Africa’s Big Five in a single short trip. This safari opens in Amboseli National Park, famous for its elephant herds set against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, continues to Lake Nakuru National Park for both black and white rhino alongside flamingo-lined shores, and finishes in the legendary Maasai Mara for lion, leopard, and buffalo across some of Africa’s most iconic open grassland.

Tour Highlights

Elephant herds photographed against Mount Kilimanjaro in Amboseli National Park, black and white rhino sightings and flamingo-lined shores at Lake Nakuru, and lion, leopard, and buffalo across the open plains of the Maasai Mara come together across this trip, alongside the chance to see the wildebeest migration if your dates fall within the July-to-October window. Scenic drives through the Great Rift Valley connect each stop, adding some of Kenya’s best roadside viewpoints to the trip alongside the wildlife itself.

Day One: Arrival in Nairobi & Transfer to Amboseli

Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where your driver-guide meets you for the drive south to Amboseli National Park, with views across the Rift Valley and changing landscapes as you approach Kilimanjaro’s foothills. Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive as your first taste of the park’s wildlife. Overnight: Amboseli area

Day Two: Full Day Game Drives in Amboseli

A full day exploring Amboseli’s swamps and marshland, which draw large concentrations of elephants and other wildlife even in the dry season, with morning and afternoon game drives focused on catching the park’s famous Kilimanjaro backdrop in good light. Overnight: Amboseli area

Day Three: Transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park

A scenic drive north, often routed via Nairobi, to Lake Nakuru National Park, arriving in time for an afternoon game drive. Nakuru is known for its birdlife, with flamingos and pelicans crowding the shoreline in good years, and for both black and white rhino. Overnight: Lake Nakuru area

Day Four: Transfer to the Maasai Mara National Reserve

Drive to the Maasai Mara, descending into the Great Rift Valley with stops at scenic viewpoints along the way. Arrive in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive across the reserve’s open plains. Overnight: Maasai Mara

Day Five: Morning Game Drive & Departure

An early morning game drive in the Mara for the best light and wildlife activity, with a final chance to spot lion, leopard, and buffalo before the drive back to Nairobi for your departure flight, marking the end of your 5 Days Big Five Safari Kenya.

What’s Included

Ground transport throughout in a safari vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide, accommodation on a full-board basis for 4 nights, park entrance fees for all listed activities, and bottled drinking water while on the road are all included, along with airport transfers in Nairobi.

What’s Not Included

International flights, Kenya visa fees, tips for your guide and lodge staff, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks not listed, travel insurance, and optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary, such as a hot air balloon safari over the Mara, are not included.

Accommodation Options

This itinerary can be arranged at Budget, Mid-Range, or Luxury level throughout, with lodges and camps adjusted accordingly at each stop. Let us know your preferred style when enquiring and we’ll build the quote around it.

A Note on Seeing All Five

Rhino sightings in Lake Nakuru are considerably more reliable than in the Mara, which is why this itinerary routes through Nakuru specifically rather than relying on the Mara alone to complete the Big Five. Leopard remains the most elusive of the five throughout Kenya, given its solitary, largely nocturnal habits, so while our guides know the best areas to look, sightings can never be fully guaranteed on any single trip. Travelers hoping to also witness the wildebeest migration should aim for July through October, when herds are typically present in the Mara in large numbers.

Best Time to Travel

The dry months from June to October and January to February generally offer the easiest wildlife viewing across all three parks. Travelers hoping to combine this trip with the Great Wildebeest Migration should time the Maasai Mara leg for July through September, when herd numbers and river crossing activity in the reserve are at their highest.

Ready to Book?

Every safari we run is tailored to your dates, budget, and interests. Contact our team to get a full quote for this 5 Days Big Five Safari Kenya, or browse our Kenya destination guide and full range of tours for other ways to explore the country.