This five-day circuit is one of Kenya's most rewarding introductions to East African wildlife, sweeping you from the energy of Nairobi through the sweeping savannah of the Maasai Mara and on to the flamingo-fringed shores of Lake Nakuru. Along the way you will pause at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint, scan the Mara for the Big Five, and watch the Mara River come alive during the legendary Great Wildebeest Migration between July and late September. Africompass handles every detail, from your airport welcome to your final Nairobi drop-off, so all you need to bring is a sense of wonder. Our multilingual guides, fluent in English, Spanish, Chinese, German and French, ensure every guest feels at home on the road.
Your Africompass journey begins the moment you land at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where our representative will be waiting to welcome you and transfer you comfortably to your hotel in the city. You will have the rest of the day at leisure to settle in, freshen up, and take in your first impressions of Nairobi before the adventure ahead.
After breakfast you will depart Nairobi and make your way towards the world-famous Maasai Mara, with a rewarding stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint where dramatic escarpment scenery unfolds across the horizon. Arriving in time for lunch at the camp, you will head out on your first afternoon game drive through the reserve, where vast grasslands teem with wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, gazelle, antelope and a spectacular variety of birdlife.
Today is dedicated entirely to the Maasai Mara, one of Africa's most celebrated wildlife arenas, with a full-day game drive that takes you deep into the reserve at picnic lunch in hand. You will venture towards the iconic Mara River, where between July and late September the Great Wildebeest Migration reaches its dramatic peak as thousands of animals brave the crocodile-filled waters. The reserve's resident Big Five, lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino, offer extraordinary sightings throughout the day.
The day will begin with an early morning game drive through the Mara, making the most of the golden dawn light and the reserve's active wildlife before breakfast back at camp. After checking out you will travel north to Lake Nakuru National Park, arriving for a lakeside lunch before an afternoon game drive reveals the park's celebrated flocks of flamingo and pelican, along with white rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo and waterbuck.
Your final safari morning will begin with an early game drive inside Lake Nakuru National Park, offering a last chance to spot white rhino grazing at the water's edge, flamingos painting the lake pink, and waterbuck moving through the acacia woodland. After the drive you will return to the lodge for a leisurely breakfast before checking out and beginning the scenic road journey back to Nairobi, where your memorable Africompass safari will conclude.
All rates are per person and vary by travel season. Choose your season below to view the applicable pricing.
| Adult (per person) | USD 1,154 |
Tell us your dates and dream, and a local specialist will craft your trip.
It depends on what you want to see. For the Great Migration river crossings in the Maasai Mara, visit between July and October, when the herds cross the Mara River in search of fresh grazing. For calving season and dense predator activity, January to March is excellent, particularly around the southern Serengeti. Kenya's two dry seasons (June to October and January to February) generally offer the clearest skies and easiest game viewing across Amboseli, Tsavo, and Samburu, since animals gather around limited water sources. The 'green season' (November and April to May) brings lush scenery, migratory birdlife, and lower rates, though some rural roads can be muddy. Tell us your travel dates and priorities, and we will recommend the destinations that fit best.
Most nationalities need a Kenya eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), applied for online before you fly; Tanzania and Zanzibar require their own separate visa, available online or on arrival depending on your nationality. Entry requirements change from time to time, so confirm the current rules for your passport a few weeks before departure. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is mandatory if you are arriving from, or have transited through, a Yellow Fever risk country, and we recommend it in general along with being up to date on routine vaccinations (MMR, tetanus, hepatitis A and B). Most safari areas are malaria zones, so antimalarial medication is strongly advised. Always check final requirements with your doctor or a travel health clinic, and ask us for the latest entry rules when you book.
Every itinerary we build is private and tailor-made by default: your own vehicle, driver-guide, and schedule, with no strangers added to your trip. That means you can linger an extra morning at a favourite lodge, adjust the route on the go, or add a visit to the Emmanuel New Hope Rescue Centre we support. If you would rather share costs or travel as a solo guest, we can also arrange a scheduled group departure and match you with other travellers on similar dates. Either way, your safari is planned by our Nairobi-based specialists around your budget, dates, and interests, not a fixed package.
Safari costs vary widely depending on where you stay and how you travel. Budget camping safaris in parks like Amboseli or Lake Nakuru can start from around USD 150 to 250 per person per day, mid-range lodge safaris typically run USD 250 to 450 per day, and luxury tented camps in the Maasai Mara or Serengeti can exceed USD 750 per day. Your quote always includes a private vehicle, driver-guide, park fees, and accommodation as specified in your itinerary. Since every trip we build is tailor-made, tell us your budget and travel dates and we'll show you exactly what it buys, with no hidden extras.
Pack light, neutral-coloured clothing (khaki, olive, beige) for game drives, since bright colours and dark blue can attract tsetse flies in some regions. Bring layers for early morning drives, which can be cold even near the equator, plus a hat, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen. A good pair of binoculars, a camera with a zoom lens, and a portable charger make a real difference to the experience. Comfortable closed shoes are more useful than sandals, and most lodges offer laundry service, so you rarely need more than a week's worth of clothing even on a longer trip. We send a full packing checklist tailored to your specific itinerary and season once you book.
Yes. Alongside our guided safaris, we offer both self-drive car hire and chauffeur-driven vehicles for clients who want more flexibility around Nairobi, the coast, or shorter road trips. Self-drive suits experienced drivers comfortable with Kenyan road conditions, while a chauffeur-driven car is the better choice for game-viewing routes, night driving, or if you'd simply rather relax and let a local expert handle the roads. All our vehicles are well-maintained 4x4s suited to both tarmac and rougher safari tracks. Let us know your route and dates and we'll recommend the right option.
Millions of visitors travel safely to Kenya and Tanzania every year, and the main tourist circuits, national parks, and coastal resorts are well-established and closely monitored. As with any international travel, sensible precautions apply: use a reputable operator (we're KATO-verified), avoid displaying valuables in cities, and follow your guide's advice in wildlife areas, where the real risk is animals, not crime. We stay in regular contact with our clients throughout their trip, and our drivers know the routes and current conditions well. If you have specific safety questions about your itinerary, we're happy to talk them through before you book.
Absolutely, it's one of our most popular combinations. A typical itinerary pairs 4 to 7 days on safari in the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, or Serengeti with 3 to 5 days unwinding on the beach in Zanzibar or Diani Beach, taking advantage of short connecting flights between the two. We handle all the logistics, including domestic flight bookings and airport transfers, so you go straight from game drives to the Indian Ocean without the stress of planning it yourself. Tell us how many days you have and we'll suggest a balance between wildlife and beach time that fits your trip.
