Itineraries. Updated November 2026. 4 min read.
Five days is enough for the Maasai Mara, a Rift Valley lake and a proper Nairobi dinner, as long as you are honest about the road. This is the short route we run most: one night in Nairobi, two nights in the Mara, one night on Lake Naivasha, and home on the evening flight. It is a sample route we tailor to you, not a fixed departure, so your dates, your camp and your pace are yours to set.
The short answer to the question most people ask: yes, five days in Kenya is worth it, and the Mara is the place to spend it. You will see big cats, elephants and the plains on two full game-drive days. What you give up is variety. Amboseli, the north and the coast need more time, and our 7-day plan adds them without rushing.
Who five days suits
- Travelers with a long weekend plus two days, or a week that includes the flights
- Business travelers adding a safari to a Nairobi meeting, who already have the long flight paid for
- Couples who want a first taste of safari before committing to a longer trip next year
- People flying in on the morning nonstop from New York, which gives you most of day 1 on the ground
It suits young children less well. Two long road days in five is a lot for small travelers, and the fly-in version below is the kinder choice for families. If you have seven days, take them: our 7-day route adds Amboseli and Kilimanjaro for two more nights.
Why this route and this order
We go to the Mara first because it is the reason you came, and two nights there gives you a dawn drive, a full day and a second dawn if you want it. Naivasha sits on the road back to Nairobi, so it turns the long return into two shorter drives with a boat ride and a night by the water in between. You end an hour and a half from the airport, which takes the worry out of an evening flight home.
The one leg worth flying is Nairobi to the Mara. Light aircraft leave Wilson Airport, Nairobi's domestic airport, and land on a Mara airstrip in about 45 minutes. Flying in on day 2 and out on day 4 saves around 10 hours of road and adds about $350 to $450 per person. Mind the soft-bag luggage limit on those planes.
Drive and flight times on this route
| Leg | By road | By air | Our note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi to the Maasai Mara | 5 to 6 hours via Narok | About 45 minutes from Wilson | The road after Narok is slow and bumpy; flying saves your back |
| Maasai Mara to Lake Naivasha | 4 to 5 hours | Not usually flown | Break for lunch in Narok |
| Lake Naivasha to Nairobi | 1.5 to 2 hours | Not needed | Traffic into Nairobi decides the time |
| Fly-in version, Wilson to Mara and back | Saves about 10 hours | 2 flights | Adds about $350 to $450 per person |
Swaps and add-ons
- Fly both ways: Nairobi to the Mara and back to Wilson, and drop Naivasha for a third night in the Mara
- Lake Nakuru instead of Naivasha: rhinos inside a fenced national park, with flamingos when the water levels allow
- A conservancy instead of the main reserve: fewer vehicles, walks and night drives, at a higher nightly rate
- Hot-air balloon over the Mara at dawn: about $450 to $550 per person, with a champagne breakfast after
- Add two days: our 7-day route puts Amboseli and Kilimanjaro views in front of the Mara
When to go
The Mara is good all year because its lions, cheetahs and leopards do not migrate. The wildebeest herds usually arrive from about late July and stay into October, which is the most famous and most expensive window, and the one to book earliest. January to March is dry, green-tinged and quieter, often with lower camp rates. April and May bring the long rains: roads get muddy, some camps close, and prices drop. Our seasons guide goes month by month, and the Mara is busiest in August, so if you want quieter game drives in peak season, ask us about a conservancy camp, where vehicle numbers are limited.
What is included
- Airport pickup and drop-off in Nairobi
- All accommodation on the route, in the tier you choose
- Meals on safari (full board in the Mara), and breakfast in Nairobi
- A private safari vehicle with a pop-up roof and a professional Kenyan driver-guide, or light-aircraft flights on the fly-in version
- Park and conservancy fees for the days on the plan
- Game drives, the Naivasha boat ride and the Crescent Island walk
- Drinking water in the vehicle, and our 24-hour support while you travel
What is not included
- International flights to and from Nairobi
- Your Kenya eTA, vaccinations and travel insurance
- Optional extras: the balloon flight, a Maasai village visit, spa treatments
- Tips for guides and camp staff (see our tipping guide)
- Drinks outside the camp's inclusive list, and personal items
How to book this trip
Tell us your dates, how many of you are traveling and whether you would rather drive or fly. We tailor the route, pick a camp that matches your budget, and send a written quote that lists every fee. Prices change with the season and park fees, so the figures here are a starting point, not a promise. You can pay in full or monthly with no deposit, and a specialist replies within two business days. If you would rather travel with others on fixed dates, see our dated group departures.
