In this 5-day circular safari in Kenya, we will visit two of the most beautiful places in the country: Lake Naivasha and the Maasai Mara.
Where will we go during our 5-day Kenya safari?
In this safari in Kenya we will visit Lake Naivasha and the Masai Mara. We will spend a night in a lodge in front of Lake Naivasha, and then go to the Masai Mara where we will stay in an eco-sustainable lodge run by Maasai people who dedicate their profits to the community.
We will see what a more traditional safari is like in Lake Naivasha, and how a safari in Maasai land is much more adventurous, less touristy, and closer to the local communities that inhabit the area.
Advantages of doing a safari in a Conservation Area in the Masai Mara.
The safari in the Maasai Mara will take place in a conservation area with much less tourists than in the National Reserve. There is the possibility to mix and do a full day safari in the Mara National Reserve, but it is advisable to extend the stay a little longer (minimum one more night) to be able to go to the Reserve.
The Maasai Mara is divided into conservation areas and a National Reserve where most of the tourism is concentrated. If you are looking to do an animal friendly safari, without thousands of cars around the lions, or racing to see who gets the best position to take a picture, if you are looking for this, then you will like doing the safari in the Lemek Conservation Area much better. During the safari you will be able to see animals in freedom, you will be able to leave the roads, cross the savannah and get closer to the animals without having to comply with the strict rules of the Reserve. If we see a lion 100 meters away, our Maasai guide can approach it, even if there is no track approaching it. The explanation is very simple. The Masai still live in the Conservation Area, they are the “owners of the land” (that is why it is called Masái Mara, land of the Masai). The Masai can move freely in the area, so they can leave the roads to look for animals in the wild.
Who is your guide during your 5-day safari in Masai Mara and Lake Naivasha?
Your guide is a recognized Maasai, who is an official guide for National Geographic in the Maasai Mara. He is perhaps the best guide in the world that we have had in Trip to Help, and surely the best guide you can have in the Maasai Mara. His personal story, from when he was a child and dreamed of doing something with tourism to be able to help his community, how he became a Maasai leader, and how he is now a reference throughout the country.
If you want a documentary recommendation where he appears and was the guide of the photographers, you can watch on Netflix: Tales by light (season 2).
During the safari in Lake Naivasha, your guide will be one of the massis who work for him in the same NGO dedicated to responsible tourism.
5-day safari tour in Lake Naivasha & Masai Mara
We will start the safari from Nairobi where we will be picked up early in the morning for our first safari at Lake Naivasha. That same day we will make a first safari around the lake. At sunset, we will go to our accommodation overlooking the lake.
The next day, we will continue the safari, do some morning game viewing and start the trek to the Masai Mara, arriving before sunset. If we arrive in time we will be able to see the first sunset in the Masai Mara. A truly unique experience and highly recommended.
We will spend two days in the Masai Day, where we will visit a Rhinoceros sanctuary, guarded by poaching. But perhaps one of the star activities that you will not forget is the lunch in the middle of the savannah, with no one around us, only nature. Not to be confused with the meals that take place in areas inside the parks. We are talking about something similar to a picnic in the middle of nature, us and the Maasai.
Prices 5-day safari in Lake Naivasha and Masai Mara
The price of the Kenya safari starts at 1,995 euros per person sharing a room (traveling as a couple). If you travel in high season (from July 1, 2024 to September 30, 2024), the price is 2,150 euros per person. From October 1st, the price is 1,995 euros per person. If you want to travel during Christmas, please consult final price.
