7‑Day Kenya Budget Camping Safari – Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Naivasha & Amboseli

Start your Kenya wildlife safari adventure with an early-morning drive from Nairobi to the world-renowned Masai Mara. Travel through the Great Rift Valley, enjoy panoramic viewpoints, and learn about the region’s geology and culture.

Arrive in the Masai Mara in the afternoon and proceed to your basic budget campsite. Settle into dome tents equipped with mattresses and sleeping bags, with shared bathrooms and hot meals provided by your safari chef.

After check-in, head out for a sunset game drive to spot elephants, zebras, antelopes, giraffes, lions — and possibly your first Big Five encounter.

Highlights: Enjoy breathtaking views of the Great Rift Valley, settle into your authentic budget campsite, and begin your Kenya safari holidays with an unforgettable sunset game drive across the Masai Mara plains.

Distance & Drive Time: ~270 km | 5–6 hours

Accommodation Options:

Miti Mingi Eco Camp, Lenchada Tourist Camp, Manyatta Camp, Rhino Tourist Camp, Enchoro Wildlife Camp

Begin the day with a sunrise game drive when predators are most active. Explore the Mara’s wildlife corridors and look for lions, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, hippos, and more.

Choose between returning to camp for breakfast or spending the entire day on a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch in the bush — the classic Masai Mara safari experience.

Optional (extra cost):

• Maasai village visit
• Hot-air balloon safari
• Guided photography session

Return to camp for dinner and relax around the campfire.

Highlights: Experience the Mara at sunrise when wildlife is most active, enjoy classic bush picnics during a full-day game drive, and take the opportunity to immerse yourself in Maasai culture during an optional village visit.

Accommodation Options:

Same as Day 1

After breakfast, enjoy an optional visit to a traditional Maasai village (extra cost) to learn about Maasai culture, dances, and beadwork. Later, depart the Masai Mara and travel through the scenic Great Rift Valley, with a hot buffet lunch en route. Arrive in the afternoon at Lake Nakuru National Park, a UNESCO-listed park, famous for flamingos, black and white rhinos, buffaloes, leopards, and dramatic Rift Valley viewpoints. After the game drive, proceed to your budget accommodation in Nakuru for dinner and overnight.

Highlights: Travel through scenic Kenyan landscapes into Lake Nakuru National Park, explore acacia woodlands and lakeshores during your afternoon game drive, and discover thriving rhino populations and diverse birdlife.

Distance: ~250 km | Drive Time: ~5–6 hours

Accommodation Options:

Hotel CityMax Nakuru, K.W.C guest House, Tumaini Budget Camp, Lanet Matfam Resort

After breakfast, begin with an early morning game drive around Lake Nakuru National Park, spotting flamingos, gazelles, rhinos, and other wildlife along the lakeshore. After the game drive, depart for Lake Naivasha, a peaceful freshwater lake surrounded by acacia trees and dramatic volcanic landscapes in the Great Rift Valley.

On arrival, enjoy a boat safari across the lake’s calm waters, getting up close to hippos, pelicans, cormorants, and African fish eagles. Continue to Crescent Island for a guided walking safari, where you can safely walk among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and gazelles — a rare and unforgettable wildlife experience in Kenya.

Spend the afternoon relaxing at your budget-friendly lakeside lodge, enjoying scenic views, fresh air, and a freshly prepared dinner by the lake.

Highlights: Crescent Island is one of the few places in Kenya where you can walk freely among wildlife — offering a truly magical and intimate safari experience.

Distance: ~80 km | Drive Time: ~2–3 hours

Accommodation Options:

Camp Carnelley’s Camp, Fisherman’s Camp, Naivasha Crayfish Camp, Chambai Safari Resort

Depart after breakfast for Amboseli National Park, Kenya’s best destination for close encounters with elephants and iconic views of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Check in at your campsite and enjoy an afternoon game drive showcasing large elephant herds, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, zebras, and incredible landscapes.

Highlights: Journey toward Amboseli’s open plains, settle into your campsite beneath Mount Kilimanjaro, and enjoy an afternoon game drive featuring large elephant herds and dramatic sunset photography moments.

Distance & Drive Time: ~370 km | 6–7 hours

Accommodation Options:

Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives searching for elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, and countless bird species.

Optional (extra cost):

• Sundowner setup
• Guided nature walk near Kimana

Return to camp for dinner.

Highlights: Spend the entire day exploring Amboseli’s expansive wildlife zones, follow massive elephant families through the marshlands, and capture classic Kenya wildlife safari shots with Kilimanjaro in the background.

Accommodation Options:

Same as Day 5

Enjoy your final sunrise game drive in Amboseli before returning to camp for breakfast. Depart with a packed picnic lunch and drive back to Nairobi, where you’ll be dropped at your hotel or the airport.

Highlights: Start your day with a magical sunrise game drive, enjoy a picnic lunch on your journey back, and conclude your safari with a smooth drop-off in Nairobi or at the airport.

Distance & Drive Time: ~240 km | 4–5 hours