Luxury 
4-Day Luxury Lake Nakuru & Maasai Mara Safari
A polished four-day pairing of Lake Nakuru's rhino country and the Maasai Mara's classic Big Five viewing.
A polished four-day private safari pairing two of Kenya’s finest wildlife destinations. The route opens among Lake Nakuru’s rhino, giraffe and birdlife, before continuing to the Maasai Mara for classic Big Five viewing and a full day on the savannah.
The pace is relaxed enough to enjoy each stage, with every day still rich in wildlife and scenery.
Departures run on any day subject to availability, and the trip suits children of all ages, with under thirteens discounted and under threes travelling free. It is not available to solo travellers. Rates are dated and depend on party size; see the schedule below.
The route, stop by stop
What you are likely to see
Solid tone means often seen on this route. Outline means possible, and worth the patience. Sightings vary with season and luck, and nothing wild is guaranteed.
The ground this safari covers
4 days, in order
Each day lists the route, the meals included and the lodge for that night. Ask us for the expected driving time on any day.
Nairobi to Lake Nakuru
Nairobi to Lake Nakuru
The driver-guide and a company representative meet the party at a Nairobi hotel or at the airport, and the safari heads straight out of the city. At Mai Mahiu the road reaches the edge of the Great Rift Valley, and the stop there is the first memorable moment of the trip: the ground falls away, and the valley floor stretches for miles below, dotted with old volcanoes.
By lunch the vehicle has reached Lake Nakuru and Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge. After a short rest, the game drives begin, following the lake shore, where buffalo and waterbuck graze, and the acacia woodland, home to Rothschild's giraffe and the rhino that Nakuru is famous for. The day ends with the light going soft over the water.
Accommodation
One night
6 photos
Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge
Inside Lake Nakuru National Park, on the slopes above the lake Lodge · 6 photos
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The only lodge on Lion Hill itself, inside the park, so the game drives start at the door. Chalets step down the ridge and look across the soda lake.
Lake Nakuru to the Maasai Mara
Lake Nakuru to Maasai Mara
After breakfast the road runs south west across the Rift Valley and up onto the plains of the Maasai Mara, arriving at Sarova Mara Game Camp in time for lunch.
The afternoon game drive gives the first real taste of the Mara. All of the Big Five live here, and the plains carry huge numbers of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle and topi, with a rich variety of birds in between. The vehicle stays out until the sun begins to set, and the drive back to camp is often the moment a lion or an elephant family appears close to the track.
Accommodation
Night 1 of 2
4 photos
Sarova Mara Game Camp
Maasai Mara National Reserve Tented camp · 4 photos
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A luxury tented camp inside the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Canvas tents on raised decks with hardwood floors, four poster beds under netting and a private veranda facing the bush.
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Maasai Mara National Reserve
With a packed lunch on board, the whole day belongs to the Mara. The vehicle can follow the animals wherever they lead, stopping for lunch in the shade of an acacia far out on the plains, and staying with a good sighting for as long as it lasts.
For anyone who wants to see the reserve from above, an early morning hot air balloon safari can be arranged at extra cost, lifting off as the sun rises over the grass. In the evening there is an optional visit to a Maasai village, which leads into a traditional bonfire evening with Maasai songs, a warm and memorable close to the last full day.
Accommodation
Night 2 of 2
4 photos
Sarova Mara Game Camp
Maasai Mara National Reserve Tented camp · 4 photos
View lodge & photosClose
A luxury tented camp inside the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Canvas tents on raised decks with hardwood floors, four poster beds under netting and a private veranda facing the bush.
Maasai Mara to Nairobi
Maasai Mara to Nairobi
After breakfast the road leaves the Mara and climbs back over the Rift Valley escarpment, the open plains giving way to farmland and forest on the approach to Nairobi.
On arrival, lunch is at Carnivore, the famous Nairobi restaurant where meat is roasted over charcoal and carved at the table, and it is included. Afterwards the transfer runs to a city hotel or to the airport, and the safari comes to an end.
The price, in full
Written plainly so there are no surprises at the airport. Anything optional can be added to the quote before you pay.
Included
Already in the price you see.
- Park fees for non-residents
- All activities unless marked optional
- All accommodation unless listed as an upgrade
- A professional driver-guide
- All transportation unless marked optional
- All taxes and VAT
- Round-trip airport transfer
- Meals as specified
- Drinking water throughout the tour
Not included
Budget for these separately.
- International flights
- Additional accommodation before or after the safari
- Tips, published guideline US$10 per person per day
- Personal items, souvenirs, travel insurance and visa fees
- Government-imposed increases in taxes or park fees
- Some meals, as specified in the itinerary
| Travel dates | Solo | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | 5 people | 6 people | 7+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 11 to Sep 30, 2026 | n/a | $2,306 | $2,306 | $1,940 | $1,940 | $1,796 | Quote |
| Oct 1 to 31, 2026 | n/a | $1,969 | $1,969 | $1,606 | $1,606 | $1,461 | Quote |
| Nov 1 to Dec 19, 2026 | n/a | $1,887 | $1,887 | $1,523 | $1,523 | $1,379 | Quote |
| Dec 20, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | n/a | $2,306 | $2,306 | $1,940 | $1,940 | $1,796 | Quote |
| Jan 4 to Feb 28, 2027 | n/a | $1,682 | $1,682 | $1,367 | $1,367 | $1,265 | Quote |
| Mar 1 to 31, 2027 | n/a | $1,590 | $1,590 | $1,292 | $1,292 | $1,176 | Quote |
| Apr 1 to 6, 2027 | n/a | $1,682 | $1,682 | $1,367 | $1,367 | $1,265 | Quote |
| Apr 7 to May 31, 2027 | n/a | $1,522 | $1,522 | $1,225 | $1,225 | $1,096 | Quote |
| Jun 1 to 14, 2027 | n/a | $1,590 | $1,590 | $1,292 | $1,292 | $1,176 | Quote |
| Jun 15 to 30, 2027 | n/a | $2,048 | $2,048 | $1,752 | $1,752 | $1,715 | Quote |
| Jul 1 to Sep 30, 2027 | n/a | $2,379 | $2,379 | $2,018 | $2,018 | $1,883 | Quote |
| Oct 1 to 31, 2027 | n/a | $2,002 | $2,002 | $1,648 | $1,648 | $1,513 | Quote |
| Nov 1 to Dec 20, 2027 | n/a | $1,913 | $1,913 | $1,559 | $1,559 | $1,380 | Quote |
| Dec 21, 2027 to Jan 3, 2028 | n/a | $2,379 | $2,379 | $2,018 | $2,018 | $1,883 | Quote |
Rates are per person in US dollars and exclude international flights. Bookings of seven or more are quoted on request.
Questions, answered
What travellers ask us most about a safari like this one. Anything else, ask below and a specialist in Nairobi replies within one business day.
Is this a private safari?
Yes. This safari is private: your own vehicle and guide for the whole trip, and we never merge your party with another to cut costs.
How do we book, and how much is the deposit?
Press Book this safari. You can hold your dates for three days without paying while a specialist checks availability with the lodges and parks, or pay a deposit of 30, 40 or 50 percent, or the full amount, by credit or debit card through Pesapal. You can also pay by bank transfer, or in person at our Nairobi office by card. The standard schedule is a 30 percent deposit to confirm and the balance 60 days before arrival; bookings made within 60 days of departure, and gorilla or chimpanzee permits, are paid in full at booking. Card details go to Pesapal, never to Volcan.
Will we see the Great Migration and a river crossing?
The herds usually reach the Maasai Mara around July and stay until about October, crossing the Mara River many times in that period. For the rest of the year they are in the Serengeti in Tanzania. The timing is set by the rains, so no operator can promise a crossing on a given day, but our guides follow the reports every morning and position you as well as experience allows.
Do we need a visa?
Kenya: most visitors need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), applied for online before travel at etakenya.go.ke. Rules depend on your passport and change from time to time, so check them before you book flights, and always apply through the official government portal, never a third-party agent. We tell you what applies to your route when we confirm your trip.
Which vaccinations and health precautions do we need?
See a travel clinic at least six weeks before you go. Malaria is present in most safari areas of East Africa, so ask about antimalarials, insect repellent and cover-up clothing for the evenings. A yellow fever certificate can be required depending on your route and where you arrive from.
What vehicle will we travel in?
A Toyota Land Cruiser from Volcan’s own fleet, in the company’s colours, with the same driver-guide from the first day to the last. It is yours alone for the whole safari, and every vehicle carries reusable water bottles.
Can children come on this safari?
Yes, and a private vehicle makes it easy to set the pace around them. Child rates depend on the lodges, and some camps and activities set minimum ages, so tell us the ages of everyone travelling and we confirm what applies before you pay anything.
What happens if we need to cancel?
Tell us in writing as early as possible. The cancellation charges for your trip are set out in your written booking confirmation. Gorilla permits, internal flights and non-refundable lodge deposits already paid on your behalf cannot be recovered, so they are charged in full. Refunds go back to the card or account the payment came from. The detail is in our Booking & Payment Terms.
Plan this safari with us
Send your dates and who is travelling. A specialist checks availability with the lodges and parks and replies within one business day with an itemised price.
- Free, and no obligation
- Ask about changing the dates, lodges or pace
- Answered by the team in Nairobi who plan the trip

4-Day Luxury Lake Nakuru & Maasai Mara Safari
Dates are held for 72 hours without payment while you check flights. Nothing is charged until the itinerary is confirmed in writing.
Prices are for guidance and are confirmed against current lodge and park rates before any payment.
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All prices shown are estimates. Your final price is confirmed in your written quote.