The Masai Mara belongs on every first safari in Kenya. After that, the choice depends on what you want to see: Amboseli for elephants under Kilimanjaro, Samburu for species you will not find further south, Ol Pejeta for rhino, and the Rift Valley lakes to break up the drive.
Below is what each place offers, how long it takes to reach by road from Nairobi, how many nights to spend there and which lodges we recommend.
1. Masai Mara National Reserve
- Drive from Nairobi: 5 to 6 hours, or under an hour by light aircraft
- Nights: at least 3
- Where to stay: Governors’ Camp, Angama Mara, Sanctuary Olonana
Kenya’s best-known reserve holds resident lion, leopard and cheetah all year. From around July to October, the Great Migration herds of wildebeest and zebra arrive from Tanzania’s Serengeti and cross the Mara River, often with crocodiles waiting.
The Mara Triangle, in the west of the reserve, tends to be quieter and sits close to several crossing points. Outside migration season the Mara is still excellent, with fewer vehicles and lower park fees from January to June. Add a sunrise balloon flight if you can; it is the best way to grasp the size of the plains.
2. Amboseli National Park
- Drive from Nairobi: about 4 hours
- Nights: 2
- Where to stay: Ol Tukai Lodge, inside the park
Amboseli is the place for big-tusked elephants with Kilimanjaro behind them. The mountain is usually clearest early in the morning and late in the afternoon, so plan game drives around those hours. Swamps fed by Kilimanjaro’s snowmelt keep parts of the park green in the dry season and draw hippos, buffalo and waterbirds.
Amboseli pairs well with the Mara on a one-week trip, or with a flight on to the coast.
3. Samburu National Reserve
- Drive from Nairobi: about 6 hours
- Nights: 2
- Where to stay: Elephant Bedroom Camp, on the river
Samburu is dry, red and remote, following the Ewaso Ng’iro river. It is the best place to see the “special five”: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich. None of them live in the Mara. Elephant herds come down to drink every afternoon, and leopard sightings along the river are common.
It is hotter than the southern parks, so midday is for resting by the pool. Samburu suits second-time visitors and anyone who wants a different side of Kenya.
4. Ol Pejeta and Mount Kenya
- Drive from Nairobi: about 3.5 to 4 hours
- Nights: 2
- Where to stay: Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, Nanyuki
Ol Pejeta sits on the equator below Mount Kenya. It holds black and white rhino, the Big Five, and a chimpanzee sanctuary. It is also home to Najin and Fatu, the last two northern white rhinos on Earth, whom visitors can see with the rangers who guard them.
Combine Ol Pejeta with Samburu for a northern circuit, then head south through the Rift Valley to Nakuru and the Mara.
5. Lake Nakuru National Park
- Drive from Nairobi: about 3 hours
- Nights: 1
- Where to stay: Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge
A compact park on the Rift Valley floor with a good chance of rhino, plus Rothschild’s giraffe, buffalo and lions that sometimes rest in the acacia trees. Flamingo numbers vary with water levels. Nakuru makes an easy overnight stop between Nairobi or Samburu and the Mara. Read more in our Lake Nakuru guide.
6. Lake Naivasha
- Drive from Nairobi: about 2 hours
- Nights: 1
- Where to stay: Enashipai Resort and Spa
A freshwater lake with hippos, fish eagles and lakeside lodges with spas. Take a boat ride, then walk among giraffe, zebra and wildebeest on Crescent Island, where there are no big predators. Naivasha is a relaxed first night after the flight from London, or a last night before flying home.
7. The Kenyan Coast: Diani and Lamu
- From Nairobi: about an hour by air
- Nights: 3 to 5
Most luxury safaris end on the Indian Ocean. Diani has a long white beach, resorts and villas, and suits families. Lamu is a car-free Swahili island town, quieter and slower, a good match for couples. Both are best from December to March and July to October.
How to Combine Kenya’s Safari Parks
| Trip length | Suggested route | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 5 days | Masai Mara | Maximum time with big cats; no long transfers |
| 7 days | Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli | Big Five, rhino and Kilimanjaro in one week |
| 9 to 10 days | Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Nakuru, Masai Mara | The widest range of species, north to south |
| 10 to 14 days | Mara and Amboseli, then Diani | Safari first, beach to finish |
All of these routes run by road in a private Land Cruiser, with flights on any leg if you would rather save time. A common choice is to drive out to the Mara via Naivasha or Nakuru, then fly back to Nairobi. You see the Rift Valley on the way in and save five hours on the way out.
See sample routes and prices on our luxury Kenya safari packages page.
Which Places Suit Which Travellers?
- First safari: Masai Mara plus Amboseli
- Photographers: Mara in August and September, Amboseli at dawn
- Families: Naivasha, Ol Pejeta and the Mara, then Diani
- Honeymooners: the Mara with a balloon flight, then Lamu
- Return visitors: Samburu and Ol Pejeta for different species
Where to Go: Quick Questions
Can I see the Big Five in one park?
Yes. The Masai Mara and Ol Pejeta both have all five: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. Rhino are easier to find at Ol Pejeta and Lake Nakuru than in the Mara.
Is the Masai Mara worth it outside migration season?
Yes. The big cats are resident all year, and from January to June park fees are half the peak rate and there are fewer vehicles.
How much driving is involved?
Most legs are 2 to 6 hours with stops for views and lunch. We plan routes so you are not on the road two days in a row unless you choose to be.
Plan Your Route
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Last updated: 6 October 2026
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