Rhino Trail Safari
Big cats in the Mara paired with Kenya's densest rhino population at Lake Nakuru — the best short Big Five itinerary we run.
If you have four days and want the Big Five without gambling on luck, this is the itinerary. The Masai Mara delivers lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo; Lake Nakuru — fenced, patrolled and compact — makes rhino a near certainty, with both black and white rhino present in numbers found almost nowhere else in East Africa.
Nakuru also holds Rothschild's giraffe, translocated here to save the subspecies, and its alkaline shoreline draws flamingo, pelican and over 450 other bird species.
Trip at a glance
Highlights
- Both black and white rhino at Lake Nakuru
- Big cat country in the Masai Mara
- Endangered Rothschild's giraffe
- Flamingo, pelican and 450+ bird species on the lakeshore
- Baboon Cliff viewpoint over the Rift Valley floor
What's included
Included
- Park and reserve entrance fees for all listed parks
- Transport in a 4×4 pop-up-roof safari land cruiser or minivan
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Full-board accommodation (breakfast, lunch, dinner) as per itinerary
- Unlimited bottled drinking water in the vehicle
- All game drives as described
- Government taxes and levies
- Flying-doctor emergency evacuation cover
Not included
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips for your driver-guide and lodge staff
- Drinks, laundry and items of a personal nature
- Optional activities (balloon safari, cultural village visits)
- Accommodation before and after the safari
- Any increase in park fees or government taxes
Day-by-day itinerary
Nairobi → Masai Mara
Morning departure from Nairobi through the Rift Valley. Lunch at camp, then an afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight.
Full day in the Masai Mara
A full day of game driving with a picnic lunch, covering the Mara's prime big-cat territory along the Talek and Mara rivers. Dinner and overnight.
Masai Mara → Lake Nakuru
Breakfast and a morning game drive, then transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park via Narok. Afternoon game drive around the lakeshore and Baboon Cliff. Dinner and overnight.
Lake Nakuru → Nairobi
Sunrise game drive concentrating on the rhino sanctuary sectors. Breakfast, then drive back to Nairobi arriving early afternoon.
Where you'll be
Good to know
Before you travel
- Passport valid 6+ months beyond your return date
- Kenya eTA or the East Africa Tourist Visa ($100, covers 3 countries)
- Yellow fever certificate if arriving from an endemic country
- Antimalarials — speak to a travel clinic 6 weeks out
- Travel insurance covering cancellation and medical repatriation
Booking & payment
- 30% deposit secures your dates; balance due 30 days before departure
- Card, M-PESA and Airtel Money via Pesapal; bank transfer on request
- Confirmation and receipt by e-mail within minutes
- Free changes up to 21 days before departure
- Track your booking any time with your reference number
On safari
- Pop-up-roof 4×4 with a guaranteed window seat for everyone
- Neutral clothing; avoid dark blue and black (tsetse flies)
- Binoculars, a 200mm+ lens and a power bank earn their place
- Light aircraft transfers cap luggage at 15kg in a soft bag
- Flying-doctor evacuation cover included at no extra charge
After your trip
- We e-mail a short feedback form — we read every one
- Returning guests get priority on peak-season dates
- Photos shared with us may feature in our gallery, with credit
- Any concern raised within 28 days gets a reply in 14
$1,050 is per person sharing a twin or double room, in USD. Solo travellers pay a single supplement of $231. Children under 12 sharing with two adults pay $660. Rates are held for 30 days from the date we quote you and are subject to availability.
Park fees are set by the relevant wildlife authority and occasionally change without notice; where that happens we pass on the difference at cost and never mark it up. Peak-season dates (July–October and Christmas/New Year) may carry a supplement, which we will always state in writing before you pay. Full terms are in our Terms & Conditions.
Questions about this safari?
Ask us anything — dates, lodges, whether it suits your family. We reply within 24 hours.
