Mid-range 7-Day Mid-Range Kenya Safari
$2,070 / personPrivate · lowest rate, US$, subject to availability
View itinerary
Kenya
7-Day Amboseli, Lake Nakuru & Maasai Mara Safari
Three signature Kenyan destinations in one carefully paced itinerary, from the Great Rift Valley to the southern plains.
Duration7 days6 nights
From$2,790per person, US$, lowest date and party-size rate. Estimate, subject to availability
Trip overview
A seven-day Kenyan safari built around three of the country’s most celebrated wildlife landscapes. Private travel in a pop-up-roof 4×4 runs from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara, onward to Lake Nakuru and finally to Amboseli, where vast elephant herds move beneath the striking silhouette of Kilimanjaro.
The route combines classic game viewing with guided nature experiences and authentic cultural encounters, for a well-balanced safari from the Great Rift Valley to Kenya’s southern plains.
Departures run on any day subject to availability.
CountryKenyaMaasai Mara · Lake Nakuru · Amboseli
Duration7 days6 nights
ArrangementPrivateyour own vehicle and guide
Starts & endsNairobi
From$2,790Per person in US dollars, from $2,790 up to $4,080 depending on travel dates and party size. Subject to availability. All prices shown are estimates. Your final price is confirmed in your written quote.
Map route
The route, stop by stop
1
Nairobi
Day 1 · Departs Nairobi
2
Maasai Mara
Days 1 to 4 · 3 nights
3
Lake Nakuru
Day 4 · 1 night
4
Amboseli
Days 5 to 7 · 2 nights
5
Nairobi
Day 7 · Ends here
What you are likely to see
Elephant
Lion
Buffalo
Zebra
Giraffe
Wildebeest
Rhino
Leopard
Cheetah
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.
Gallery
The ground this safari covers
Day by day
7 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.
01
Nairobi to the Maasai Mara
Nairobi to Maasai Mara
After breakfast in Nairobi, the road heads west and soon reaches the edge of the Great Rift Valley, where a stop at the viewpoint shows the valley floor stretching away for miles below. From there the road drops down and runs on to the Maasai Mara, arriving in time for lunch at Mara Sopa Lodge.
The afternoon game drive goes out as the savannah takes on its golden evening light, with lion, leopard, cheetah and a host of other predators and plains animals all possible. The day ends with dinner and an evening around the campfire.
Rift Valley viewpointAfternoon game driveAll meals
Day 12 photos
Accommodation
Night 1 of 3
6 photos
Mara Sopa Lodge
Oloolaimutia Hills, south-eastern boundary of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, near Oloolaimutia Gate Lodge · 6 photos
View lodge & photosClose
Cottages set on a hillside near the eastern gate, with a large pool and long views over the reserve. Close enough to the gate to be out on the plains quickly in the morning.
02
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Full day in the Maasai Mara
The start is early, to catch the Mara at its most active. In the first hours of the day the predators are still on the move and the herds are spreading out across the plains to graze, and giraffe, elephant, buffalo, zebra, hippo and lion are all likely.
In migration season, the reserve can add one of the most extraordinary sights in nature: the wildebeest gathering on the banks of the Mara River, and then plunging across in their thousands.
Morning wildlife movementsAll meals
Day 22 photos
Accommodation
Night 2 of 3
6 photos
Mara Sopa Lodge
Oloolaimutia Hills, south-eastern boundary of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, near Oloolaimutia Gate Lodge · 6 photos
View lodge & photosClose
Cottages set on a hillside near the eastern gate, with a large pool and long views over the reserve. Close enough to the gate to be out on the plains quickly in the morning.
03
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Maasai Mara and guided nature walk
A sunrise game drive comes first, in the cool of the morning, and then lunch back at the lodge. In the afternoon, a visit to a Maasai boma, a traditional homestead, gives the chance to meet Maasai families, see how they live and learn about their customs and way of life.
The day finishes with an evening game drive in the late afternoon, returning around sunset.
Sunrise game driveMaasai Boma visitAll meals
Day 32 photos
Accommodation
Night 3 of 3
6 photos
Mara Sopa Lodge
Oloolaimutia Hills, south-eastern boundary of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, near Oloolaimutia Gate Lodge · 6 photos
View lodge & photosClose
Cottages set on a hillside near the eastern gate, with a large pool and long views over the reserve. Close enough to the gate to be out on the plains quickly in the morning.
04
Maasai Mara to Lake Nakuru
Maasai Mara to Lake Nakuru
After breakfast the road leaves the Mara and runs north east to Lake Nakuru National Park, arriving in time for lunch at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge.
The afternoon brings an extensive game drive in search of black and white rhino, leopard and Rothschild's giraffe. The lake itself is a magnet for birds, with flamingo, pelican and cormorant along the shore among the more than 600 species recorded in the park.
Extensive afternoon game driveLunch and dinner
Day 42 photos
Accommodation
One night
5 photos
Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
Inside Lake Nakuru National Park, on hills along the western side of the lake Lodge · 5 photos
View lodge & photosClose
Set above the park on the rift valley wall, with the soda lake and its flamingo shallows spread out below the pool terrace.
05
Lake Nakuru to Amboseli
Lake Nakuru to Amboseli
A morning safari of around four hours makes the most of Nakuru, and then the road turns south toward Amboseli. On the way, a hot lunch is taken at Nairobi's famous Carnivore Restaurant, before the long, scenic drive south to the foot of Kilimanjaro.
An introductory evening game drive follows if time allows, before the night at Amboseli Sopa Lodge.
Carnivore Restaurant lunch stopScenic drive
Day 52 photos
Accommodation
Night 1 of 2
4 photos
Amboseli Sopa Lodge
Kimana area, foothills of Kilimanjaro, about 20 minutes' drive from Amboseli National Park Lodge · 4 photos
View lodge & photosClose
Thatched cottages spread through the grounds just outside the park, several rooms opening onto a private view of Kilimanjaro on a clear morning.
06
Amboseli National Park
Full day in Amboseli
A dawn game drive catches the best light of the day for wildlife and photography, with Kilimanjaro often clear above the plains. The drive explores the marshes and open plains, where elephant herds gather, and lion and leopard are sometimes found.
Around midday, Observation Hill gives a sweeping view across the whole park, the green swamps shining among the dusty plains. The afternoon continues across the ancient lake beds in search of cheetah and the park's rich birdlife.
Dawn game driveObservation HillAll meals
Day 63 photos
Accommodation
Night 2 of 2
4 photos
Amboseli Sopa Lodge
Kimana area, foothills of Kilimanjaro, about 20 minutes' drive from Amboseli National Park Lodge · 4 photos
View lodge & photosClose
Thatched cottages spread through the grounds just outside the park, several rooms opening onto a private view of Kilimanjaro on a clear morning.
07
Amboseli to Nairobi
Amboseli to Nairobi
After breakfast, an optional visit to a Maasai homestead shows the traditional manyattas and the famous jumping dance. Then comes the comfortable drive back to Nairobi, with a last look at Kilimanjaro, which closes the safari.
Optional Maasai homestead visitBreakfast and lunch
The price
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 specifically 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 in the itinerary
- 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 expenses including souvenirs, travel insurance and visa fees
- Government-imposed increases in taxes or park fees
Rates by travel date
| Rate range | Per person |
|---|---|
| Published range | $2,790 to $4,080 |
Rates are per person in US dollars and exclude international flights.
Before you book
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.
Enquire
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
Availability
7-Day Amboseli, 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.
From
$2,790
Per person in US dollars, from $2,790 up to $4,080 depending on travel dates and party size. Subject to availability. All prices shown are estimates. Your final price is confirmed in your written quote.
Prices are for guidance and are confirmed against current lodge and park rates before any payment.
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