Tour Gallery
Overview
This 8-day budget safari offers an extended and immersive exploration of Kenya's most prized wildlife reserves: Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha (including Hell's Gate), and Amboseli. It is tailored for adventurous travelers seeking an affordable yet comprehensive Kenyan wildlife journey, including opportunities to see the Big Five, unique birdlife, and stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro, all while staying in basic but clean budget camps and hotels with experienced local guides.
Tour Suitability:
- Traveler Profile: Ideal for budget-conscious explorers, solo travelers, students, and groups desiring an in-depth Kenyan safari experience without a hefty price tag, comfortable with basic yet characterful accommodations.
- Pace of Travel: Action-Packed, covering significant ground across four major wildlife and scenic areas, offering a rich diversity of experiences.
- Interests: Extensive Big Five viewing in Masai Mara (with multiple full-day drives), rhino and birdlife at Lake Nakuru, boat trips and active exploration (walking/cycling) at Lake Naivasha/Hell's Gate, observing large elephant herds and Kilimanjaro vistas in Amboseli, and experiencing authentic African bush camping.
- Comfort Level: Budget Camping/Hotel, utilizing basic tented camps like Goshen Mara Camp and Nyati Safari Camp, and budget hotels such as Buraha Zenoni Hotel (Nakuru) and Leisure Apex Resort (Naivasha).
- Focus: A value-driven, comprehensive safari that delves deep into Kenya's classic wildlife circuit, emphasizing maximum wildlife encounters, varied activities, and authentic, affordable lodging.
Key Tour Highlights
- Extended Masai Mara Immersion: Multiple full-day game drives in the world-renowned Masai Mara, famous for its abundant predators and the Great Migration.
- Lake Naivasha & Hell's Gate Adventure: Enjoy boat trips on Lake Naivasha and explore Hell’s Gate National Park, with options for cycling or walking amongst wildlife.
- Lake Nakuru's Rhino & Avian Wonders: Discover Lake Nakuru National Park, a sanctuary for rhinos and known for its (seasonal) flamingo flocks.
- Amboseli's Elephants & Kilimanjaro Backdrop: Witness large elephant herds with the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro providing a stunning backdrop in Amboseli National Park.
- Affordable Accommodations: Stays in budget-friendly tented camps and hotels, ensuring essential comforts throughout your adventure.
Accommodation Style
Accommodation includes stays at budget tented camps such as Goshen Mara Camp (Masai Mara) and Nyati Safari Camp (Amboseli), offering basic but clean walk-in tents. Budget hotels like Buraha Zenoni Hotel & Resort (Nakuru) and Leisure Apex Resort (Naivasha) provide essential room facilities. This combination ensures an affordable yet rewarding safari experience, focusing on the adventure and diverse wildlife encounters.
Featured Destinations & Attractions
- Masai Mara National Reserve: Kenya's premier park for Big Five sightings, cheetahs, and the Great Wildebeest Migration. The Mara River is a key attraction.
- Lake Nakuru National Park: A rhino sanctuary also celebrated for Rothschild's giraffes, (seasonal) flamingos, and diverse birdlife.
- Lake Naivasha & Hell's Gate National Park: Offers boat trips, bird watching, hippo sightings, and unique opportunities for cycling and walking safaris amidst dramatic landscapes.
- Amboseli National Park: Famous for its large elephant herds, breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro, and rich birdlife.
- Great Rift Valley Viewpoint: Scenic stop for photography and appreciating the vastness of the valley.
Itinerary
Depart from Nairobi and head west towards the Masai Mara, enjoying scenic views of the Great Rift Valley with a stopover at a viewpoint. A second stopover will be in Narok for hot lunch before reaching your camp. After checking in and refreshments, prepare for dinner. Meals are served buffet style and can cater to preferences. (Meals: Lunch & Dinner, Drinking water)
Accommodation: Goshen Mara Camp or similar budget tented camp.
After breakfast, set off for a full-day game drive in the Mara, enjoying the savannah landscape. This area is best known for the seasonal wildebeest migration (July-September). Look for the Big Five and diverse birdlife. A picnic lunch will be provided. An optional evening visit to a Maasai village is available (extra cost, approx. USD 10 pp). (Meals: All meals included, Drinking water)
Accommodation: Goshen Mara Camp or similar budget tented camp.
Enjoy another full-day game drive after breakfast, further exploring the rolling hills and plains of the Masai Mara. Continue your search for the Big Five and other resident wildlife. A picnic lunch allows for maximum time in the reserve. (Meals: All meals included, Drinking water)
Accommodation: Goshen Mara Camp or similar budget tented camp.
After breakfast, proceed to a Maasai village for a cultural glimpse (if not done previously, cost is extra). Then, leave for Nakuru with lunch in Mai Mahiu. Enjoy views of Mount Longonot and Lake Naivasha en route. An optional boat ride at Lake Naivasha can be arranged. Proceed to your budget hotel near Nakuru for dinner. (Meals: All meals included, Drinking water)
Accommodation: Buraha Zenoni Hotel & Resort or similar budget hotel.
Enjoy a morning game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for flamingos and as a rhino sanctuary. Spot buffaloes, crocodiles, and hippos from viewpoints like Baboon Cliff. Have a picnic lunch. Later in the day, travel to the Naivasha area for your overnight stay. (Meals: All meals included, Drinking water)
Accommodation: Leisure Apex Resort or similar budget hotel.
After breakfast, visit Hell's Gate National Park for walking or cycling (optional activities, extra cost) through its gorges and appreciating the unique vegetation. Later, have lunch and depart for Amboseli National Park via Nairobi, arriving in the evening for dinner. (Meals: All meals included, Drinking water)
Accommodation: Nyati Safari Camp or similar budget tented camp.
After breakfast, set out for a full-day game drive in Amboseli, the second-best park in Kenya for wildlife viewing. Meet the large elephants of Amboseli and listen for the roars of lions. Enjoy views of Mount Kilimanjaro. A picnic lunch will be provided. An optional village visit is available (extra cost). (Meals: All meals included, Drinking water)
Accommodation: Nyati Safari Camp or similar budget tented camp.
Enjoy an early morning game drive for a final look at the park and its residents. Then, depart for Nairobi, with lunch en route. You will be dropped off at your hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). (Meals: Breakfast & Lunch, Drinking water)
Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour).
Inclusions and Exclusions
Inclusions
- Professional guide
- Activities (as written in the itinerary)
- Entry fee
- Taxes
- A bottle of drinking water
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Exclusions
- Meals and drinks
- Personal expenses
- Tips and gratuities
- Visas