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Kenya Budget
8 days / 7 nights camping safari: Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Naivasha and Amboseli (groups of 10-17)

Duration 8 Days

Kenya Budget — an 8-day / 7-night overland camping safari from Nairobi to the Masai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, Naivasha and Amboseli National Park, travelling in a private custom-built 17-seater overland truck with an English-speaking driver guide. Designed for groups of 10 to 17 travellers, with campsite accommodation on a mostly self-catering basis.

Your safari at a glance

DayAccommodationMeals
Day 1: Arrive NairobiTamarind Tree HotelBed & Breakfast
Day 2: Nairobi - Masai Mara National ReserveEluai CampsiteSelf-Catering
Day 3: Masai Mara National ReserveEluai CampsiteBed & Breakfast
Day 4: Masai Mara - Lake Nakuru National ParkMakalia Falls CampsiteSelf-Catering
Day 5: Lake Nakuru - NaivashaCamp Carnelley'sSelf-Catering
Day 6: Naivasha - Amboseli National ParkKimana Public CampsiteSelf-Catering
Day 7: Amboseli National ParkKimana Public CampsiteBed & Breakfast
Day 8: End of Itinerary––

Bed & Breakfast = breakfast · Self-Catering = meals on own arrangement

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Nairobi

Nairobi

Situated along the Nairobi River in beautiful Kenya, the capital of Nairobi is East Africa's most cosmopolitan city. It serves as an excellent starting point for African safari trips around Kenya. Nairobi is Africa’s 4th largest city and is a vibrant and exciting place to be. There are some fascinating attractions: its cafe culture, unbridled nightlife, the National Museum, the Karen Blixen Museum and most notably, just 20 minutes from the city centre, wild lions and buffalo roam in the world’s only urban game reserve. Make sure you pay a visit to the elephant orphanage operated by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for a once in a lifetime experience.

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport; after completing customs and immigration formalities you will be met by Gemsbok Safaris representative and transferred to Tamarind Tree Hotel (BB) for check-in and overnight.

Tamarind Tree Hotel is ideally located southwest of Nairobi within the spacious Carnivore grounds, offering easy access to the city, Nairobi National Park, and Wilson Airport. The hotel features spacious rooms with modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs, air conditioning, and ensuite bathrooms. Dining options include the Carnivore Restaurant, where meats are roasted on traditional Maasai swords, the Tamambo restaurant with international cuisine, and the elegant Dawa Lounge. Additional amenities include a heated pool, a fitness centre, and meeting facilities.

Overnight: Tamarind Tree Hotel · Meals: Bed & Breakfast

Day 2: Nairobi - Masai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara National Reserve

One of Kenya’s most iconic natural wonders, the Masai Mara National Reserve stretches across more than 1500 square kilometres in the country’s southwest. The park shelters a remarkable array of wildlife, including elephant, lion, leopard, and buffalo that roam its savannahs, while crocodile and hippopotamus inhabit the Mara River. Birdwatchers will delight in the presence of more than 450 resident species. Yet the true spectacle is the Great Migration, named one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. Each July to September, roughly 1.7 million wildebeest treks from the parched plains of Tanzania’s Serengeti to the greener grasslands of the Masai Mara, followed by zebra, antelope, and predators such as lion, hyena, and cheetah. The sight, sound, and raw energy of these vast herds are a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any traveller.

Pick from Nairobi Hotel. Drive to the Masai Mara National Reserve offering wonderful scenery and plenty of game. It is perhaps the only region left in Kenya where the visitor may see animals in the same super-abundance as existed a century ago. Picnic lunch while on game drive, Later in the evening drive to campsite where overnight, Meal on own arrangement.

Eluai Campsite is situated in Serena, Kenya, near the Maasai Mara National Reserve, the Olare Orok Conservancy, the Naboisho Conservancy and the Mara North Conservancy. The camp offers sites for tents and is also big-rig-friendly. Guests can make fires on-site to prepare meals. There are also toilet facilities available for guests.

Overnight: Eluai Campsite · Meals: Self-Catering

Day 3: Masai Mara National Reserve

Breakfast at the campsite

Morning game and afternoon Game drive

Dinner and overnight at the camp

Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch On own arrangement

Overnight: Eluai Campsite · Meals: Bed & Breakfast

Day 4: Masai Mara - Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park Located in the Great Rift Valley surrounded by yellow acacia woodlands and bushy shrublands, the Lake Nakuru National Park was created to protect the Lake and its large flocks of Lesser Flamingo, which are drawn to the algae that flourish in the saline waters of this soda lake. The national park is inhabited by over 50 mammal species including hippo, black and white rhino, Rothschild giraffe, buffalo and eland. Known as a bird watcher’s paradise, the park is home to over 450 bird species. Visitors can look forward to hiking through the scenic landscape, picnicking next to this magnificent lake, and spotting an array of wildlife on a game drive. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the beautiful Makalia Waterfall.

Breakfast at the campsite. Depart and drive through the stunning scenery of Kenya’s Great Rift Valley for a half day game drive at Lake Nakuru National Park.

Lake Nakuru National Park is a Sanctuary for the Black Rhino, White Rhino and the Rothschild Giraffe. Bird life includes common species like the lesser and Greater Flamingos, African fish Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Green Wood Hoopoes, Cliff Chat, Great White and Pink Backed Pelicans plus other African Migrants.

Bed, Breakfast and Lunch and dinner on own arrangement

Overnight at Makalia Fall Campsite

Makalia Falls Campsite is located within the Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya. Campers can pitch their tents and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding nature. Facilities include shared bathrooms. Area activities include game viewing, game drives, and birdwatching.

Overnight: Makalia Falls Campsite · Meals: Self-Catering

Day 5: Lake Nakuru - Naivasha

Naivasha

Located in the beautiful Kenya Rift Valley basin, Naivasha is a compact market town northwest of Nairobi, best known as a stopping point for spellbinding Lake Naivasha. Aspiring wildlife photographers and nature lovers will marvel at Lake Naivasha and its abundance of wondrous wildlife. Here visitors can spot wallowing hippo pods, clouds of vibrant birdlife, zebra and various other game. The nearby Lake Oloiden and Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary are great spots for those passionate about wild wonders. Shopping in the bustling town ensures unique souvenirs for mementoes as well as restaurants offering delicious local dishes with every taste in mind. Accommodations ranging from lodges to bed and breakfasts provide great conveniences for travellers looking to explore the area.

Breakfast at the campsite. Depart and drive through the stunning scenery of Kenya’s Great Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha Lunch + Dinner on own arrangement

Overnight at Camp Carnellys

Camp Carnelley's is a beautiful family-run camp located on the shores of Lake Naivasha. The camp offers rooms and Bandas with en-suite bathrooms and verandas. The camp also provides a self-catering house that can accommodate up to 10 guests. The on-site restaurant serves a delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner. Local activities include visiting Crater Lake.

Overnight: Camp Carnelley's · Meals: Self-Catering

Day 6: Naivasha - Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park

Located in the southern reaches of Kenya, the Amboseli National Park is renowned for its excellent variety of wildlife such as Maasai giraffe, elephant, lion and cheetah and not surprisingly it is one of Kenya's most popular parks. The landscape of Amboseli is dominated by the majestic snowcap of Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as open plains, acacia woodland, swamps and the massif of Ol Doinyo Orok. The birding is excellent, especially closer to the lakes and swamps. The park is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to large herds of elephants among other wildlife species. Other attractions include opportunities to meet the Maasai people and soak up spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

We start our journey eastwards today as we travel to Amboseli National Park.

On a clear day, as we start approaching the National Park, we will be rewarded with views of the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. Lunch on own arrangement.

Our home for the next two nights is located in Amboseli National Park and boasts truly unforgettable views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Amboseli is famous for its large population of big-tusked elephants, and this afternoon, we enjoy our first game drive in the National Park in search of big game and birdlife.

16:00: Afternoon game viewing drive at the park.

Dinner and Overnight at the Campsite

Overnight: Kimana Public Campsite · Meals: Self-Catering

Day 7: Amboseli National Park

We depart the lodge after breakfast for a full day of game viewing in the National Park, with a picnic lunch so we can make the most of our time searching the wetlands, swamps and wide-open plains for a vast array of wildlife. Set against the glorious backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, we have the chance to spot the tallest land mammal, the Maasai giraffe, as well as lion, cheetah and leopard. As the skies start to darken, we return to our lodge for dinner, which can be enjoyed under the night sky if you so wish.

Overnight: Kimana Public Campsite · Meals: Bed & Breakfast

Day 8: End of Itinerary

An early breakfast this morning at the camp before transferring to the station to Kenya’s only standard gauge railway, the Madaraka Express to Mombasa or transfer to back to Nairobi for departure flight (Accommodation and Transfers in Mombasa are not Included)

Included in the price

  • Accommodation as specified
  • Activities and accommodation as specified in the itinerary
  • Private safari transport in an overland truck, custom-built 17-seater, with service of experienced English-speaking driver guides
  • Park entry fees to all parks and reserves included in the itinerary for 24hrs each (fees are subject to change) except Masai Mara which is 12hrs
  • 1l of bottled drinking water per day on safari per person
  • 24/7 Gemsbok Safaris concierge & emergency service on phone
  • Airport assistance by Gemsbok Safaris airport rep. on arrival & departure
  • Flying doctors' coverage (covers clients within East Africa for a period of 30 days; in a medical emergency they will be airlifted to Nairobi to a good hospital; hospital bills are borne by the patient)

Excluded

  • International & domestic flights (if not mentioned above)
  • All meals at the campsite
  • Personal insurance and baggage insurance
  • Visa fees wherever applicable
  • All drinks & meals unless stated above
  • All tips and porterage
  • Laundry, massages and other personal expenses e.g. mini-bar & telephone unless otherwise stated
  • Any other services not mentioned above and other optional/additional activities

Tour details

  • Route: Nairobi – Masai Mara National Reserve – Lake Nakuru National Park – Naivasha – Amboseli National Park
  • Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
  • Accommodation: Tamarind Tree Hotel, Nairobi (B&B, 1 night); Eluai Campsite, Masai Mara (2 nights); Makalia Falls Campsite, Lake Nakuru (SC, 1 night); Camp Carnelley’s, Naivasha (SC, 1 night); Kimana Amboseli, Amboseli (2 nights)
  • End: Madaraka Express train to Mombasa, or transfer back to Nairobi for your departure flight (accommodation and transfers in Mombasa not included)
Rates for this tour are given on request. Send us your dates on WhatsApp and we will reply with a quote. Request rates Download package PDF (741 KB)

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Comments (1)

Robin M.

2026-09-14
“An exceptional experience from start to finish. Our guide was knowledgeable, professional, and attentive, while the itinerary was thoughtfully planned and seamlessly organised. The entire journey offered outstanding value for money, and we would gladly recommend Gemsbok Safaris to anyone looking for a memorable African adventure.”