5-Day Laikipia & Masai Mara Safari – Wildlife Tracking & Night Drives

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

5-Day Laikipia & Masai Mara Safari – Wildlife Tracking & Night Drives

Kenya’s Laikipia Plateau and the Masai Mara represent two distinct safari worlds, each offering a unique perspective on Africa’s wildlife. Laikipia is Kenya’s conservation frontier, where private conservancies operate under different rules than national parks. Off-road game driving, guided bush walks, and night drives reveal a world most travelers never see, including elusive nocturnal species like aardvarks, genets, and hunting leopards. The Masai Mara offers the classic safari experience, with endless savannahs teeming with lions, elephants, and, in season, the dramatic river crossings of the Great Migration. This 5-Day Laikipia & Masai Mara Safari combines these two worlds for the ultimate Kenyan wildlife experience.

This 5-Day Laikipia & Masai Mara Safari includes private transfers, 4 nights’ accommodation at handpicked lodges and camps, all meals, expert guides, and game drives. In Laikipia, you’ll enjoy activities unavailable in national parks: off-road game driving, night drives with red-filtered spotlights, and rhino and lion tracking with conservation researchers. Then, fly to the Masai Mara for classic game drives in one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife reserves. With expert guides and exclusive access to conservancies, this safari delivers Kenya’s finest wildlife experiences.

Highlights

Day 1: Arrival – Transfer to Laikipia Plateau
Day 2: Full Day in Laikipia – Wildlife Tracking & Rhino Conservation
Day 3: Laikipia – Fly to Masai Mara
Day 4: Full Day in Masai Mara – Big Five Safari
Day 5: Masai Mara – Return to Nairobi

Day 01 :

Arrival – Transfer to Laikipia Plateau

Your Laikipia & Masai Mara safari begins with a morning pickup from your Nairobi hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Drive to Wilson Airport for a scheduled light-aircraft flight to the Laikipia Plateau (approximately 45 minutes). Upon arrival at the airstrip, your guide transfers you to your conservancy lodge or camp. After settling in, enjoy a delicious lunch and some relaxation. In the afternoon, embark on your first game drive in the conservancy. Laikipia is home to all of the Big Five, including lion, rhino, leopard, elephant, and buffalo, plus Grevy's zebra, wild dogs, and over 300 bird species. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight. Overnight at your Laikipia conservancy lodge. Meals: Lunch & Dinner.

Day 02 :

Full Day in Laikipia – Wildlife Tracking & Rhino Conservation

Rise early for a morning game drive when wildlife is most active. Laikipia holds one of the largest populations of African wild dog in East Africa, alongside a significant population of both black and white rhino. Your guide knows the plateau's rhythms, reading the landscape, following fresh tracks, and listening for the wild dogs' distinctive calls. Participate in rhino and lion tracking with conservation researchers, learning about the efforts to protect these endangered species. Return to the lodge for lunch and rest. In the late afternoon, set out for a guided bush walk with an armed naturalist guide, learning to read animal tracks and signs from the ground up. After dinner, the real adventure begins, a night drive across the conservancy.

Day 03 :

Laikipia – Fly to Masai Mara

After breakfast, enjoy a final morning game drive or activity in Laikipia. Then transfer to the airstrip for your light-aircraft flight to the Masai Mara (approximately 1 hour). The flight offers spectacular views of the Great Rift Valley and the savannah plains below. Upon arrival, your guide transfers you to your camp or lodge in time for lunch. In the afternoon, set out for your first Masai Mara game drive. The reserve is famous for its high density of predators, including lions, cheetahs, and leopards, and its vast herds of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles. Depending on the season, you may witness the Great Migration's dramatic river crossings (July-October). Return to your camp for dinner and overnight. Overnight at your Masai Mara camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 04 :

Full Day in Masai Mara – Big Five Safari

Spend a full day exploring the Masai Mara, one of Africa's most celebrated wildlife reserves. An early start catches the cats still active in the cool morning light, with lions and cheetahs hunting on the plains. Your guide knows the reserve's resident prides and territories, ensuring exceptional sightings. Visit the Mara River, where hippos and Nile crocodiles lurk in the deep pools, and, in season, witness wildebeest and zebra crossing the crocodile-infested waters. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the reserve, surrounded by the endless savannah. In the afternoon, continue your game drive, exploring different areas of the reserve and searching for species you may have missed. Return to your camp for dinner and overnight. Overnight at your Masai Mara camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 05 :

Masai Mara – Return to Nairobi

Enjoy a final morning game drive in the Masai Mara, catching last glimpses of lions, elephants, and the vast landscape. Return to camp for breakfast, then transfer to the airstrip for your light-aircraft flight back to Nairobi. Upon arrival at Wilson Airport, you'll be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your departure flight, or back to your Nairobi hotel. As you leave, you'll carry with you the unforgettable memories of Kenya's most exclusive safari experiences, from nocturnal encounters to Big Five sightings. Meal Plan: Breakfast.