4-Day Kenya Safari Holiday – Masai Mara & Lake Nakuru Private Safari

Karibu Kenya! Depart Nairobi after an early breakfast and begin a scenic drive that climbs the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley — a photographic stretch of sweeping panoramas, acacia-studded ridgelines and patchwork farmland. Pause at a high viewpoint for panoramic photos, stretch your legs and breathe in the wide-open air before continuing toward the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve. Arrive at your chosen camp or lodge just in time for lunch, then set out on your first afternoon game drive as the Mara unfolds in late-afternoon gold; watch zebras graze, elephants move in family groups and keep your binoculars ready for a leopard or a lazy pride of lions settling on termite mounds. Return to camp as the sun sinks, enjoy a warm dinner, and fall asleep to the sounds of the African night — the perfect introduction to a classic Mara safari.
Safari Highlight: First afternoon game drive and golden-sky welcome to the Mara.

Distance & Drive Time: Nairobi → Masai Mara: ~250–270 km | ~5–6 hours.

Accommodation Options:

• Budget: Miti Mingi Eco Camp / Rhino Tourist Camp / Lenchada Tourist Camp
• Midrange: Mara Sopa Lodge / Jambo Mara Safari Lodge / Zebra Plains Mara Camp
• Upper Midrange: Basecamp Masai Mara / Ashnil Mara Camp / Mara Leisure Camp
• Luxury: Mara Serena Safari Lodge / Sand River Mara by Elewana / Entim Mara Camp

Rise before dawn for an exhilarating early-morning game drive when predators are most active and the Mara’s plains glow with milk-gold light; your expert Pita Safaris driver-guide will track wildlife patterns so you witness authentic predator-prey interactions, watch cheetahs sprint across open grass, and photograph elephants and giraffes framed by endless skies. Spend mid-day enjoying a bush breakfast or a shaded picnic as guides interpret animal behaviour, then continue into the late afternoon in search of the Big Five. If you travel between July and October, you may experience the thunder of hooves and the dramatic Mara River crossings during the Great Wildebeest Migration — a visceral, once-in-a-lifetime moment. Return to camp for sundowners and share the day’s highlights around the campfire.
Safari Highlight: Full-day wildlife immersion and potential Great Wildebeest Migration sightings (July–Oct).

Accommodation Options:

• Budget: Miti Mingi Eco Camp / Rhino Tourist Camp / Lenchada Tourist Camp
• Midrange: Mara Sopa Lodge / Jambo Mara Safari Lodge / Zebra Plains Mara Camp
• Upper Midrange: Basecamp Masai Mara / Ashnil Mara Camp / Mara Leisure Camp
• Luxury: Mara Serena Safari Lodge / Sand River Mara by Elewana / Entim Mara Camp

Begin the day with a final early-morning game drive across the Mara’s golden plains to capture last wildlife moments in soft morning light; after a leisurely breakfast at camp, depart southward towards the highlands and scenic lakes of the Rift Valley, arriving at Lake Nakuru National Park in the early afternoon. Upon arrival, settle into your chosen lodge before heading out for an afternoon game drive where the landscape changes from sweeping savannah to a compact, wildlife-rich sanctuary famous for its flamingo-fringed shoreline (seasonal) and an active rhino sanctuary. Watch rhinos graze in protected areas, scan the trees for resident Rothschild’s giraffes and look for lions and grazing buffalo against the glittering lake — Lake Nakuru’s intimate game viewing is a memorable complement to the vastness of the Mara. In the evening, enjoy tranquil lake views and a relaxed dinner.
Safari Highlight: Flamingo-framed lake vistas, rhino sanctuary, and intimate wildlife viewing at Lake Nakuru.
Distance & Drive Time: Masai Mara → Lake Nakuru: ~180–220 km | ~4–5 hours (approx.).

Accommodation Options:

• Budget: Lake Nakuru Budget Camps / Camping options near Nakuru
• Midrange: Flamingo Hill Tented Camp / Lake Nakuru Lodge / Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge
• Upper Midrange: Mbweha Camp / Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge / The Cliff Lake Resort
• Luxury: Sarova Woodlands Hotel & Spa (Nakuru area) / The Emashauri Lodge

Enjoy an early morning game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park to catch the park at its most active; birds fill the reed beds, and the cooler hours bring greater mammal movement — this is a wonderful time to photograph waterbirds, search for black and white rhino in the sanctuary and take in the peaceful shoreline vistas. After a hearty breakfast at your lodge, depart for Nairobi with a scenic picnic lunch en route, reflecting on the contrasts between Mara’s sweeping plains and Nakuru’s shimmering lake landscapes. Arrive in Nairobi in the late afternoon and conclude your safari with an optional drop-off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for onward flights or at your Nairobi hotel if you prefer to stay on — Pita Safaris’ driver-guides will assist with timely transfers and final arrangements.
Safari Highlight: Morning rhino sightings and birdlife at Lake Nakuru; relaxed return with picnic lunch.

Distance & Drive Time: Lake Nakuru → Nairobi: ~150–180 km | ~3–3.5 hours (approx.).

Optional Drop-Off: Guests can choose airport (JKIA) or Nairobi hotel transfer on arrival — Pita Safaris will coordinate timing to match flights or hotel check-ins.