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Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli Safaris
A Masai Mara And Amboseli Tour combines big cats in the Mara with elephants under Kilimanjaro in Amboseli, with Lake Nakuru in between. This page compares two 6-day group safaris from Nairobi, at $580 and $750 per person, each with 5 nights of accommodation. Park fees are paid on top at each gate. Browse every Masai Mara safari if you want a shorter trip.
Quick answer Short answer: cost, length and the two parks
A combined Masai Mara and Amboseli tour on this page lasts 6 days with 5 nights, priced at $580 or $750 per person. Both add Lake Nakuru between the two parks. Park entry is paid on top: KWS charges non-resident adults $90 per day at Amboseli and Lake Nakuru, and the Mara Triangle charges $100 or $200 per day by season.
Key takeaways
- Compare the 6-day Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli safari at $580 per person.
- See the 6-day group safari to all three parks at $750 per person.
- Browse every masai mara safari package and departure.
- Mara Conservancy puts the migration at the Sand River around June, see when to go.
Combined Safari Packages
Both safaris below cover the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli in 6 days with 5 nights. They differ in price, vehicle, group size and cancellation terms, and both leave park entry fees to be paid separately.
from $580
6 Days Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Amboseli-Ultimate Kenyan Safari
Six parks-in-one itinerary linking Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha and Amboseli, with a choice of camping or lodge levels in a shared van or private jeep.
Check Availability
from $750
6-Day Group Safari to Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli
Six days in a 7-seat Land Cruiser through the Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli, five nights in self-contained tents. Park fees depend on the option.
Check AvailabilityWhich combined safari should you book?
The 6-Day Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli Safari is the cheaper and higher rated option at $580, while the 6-Day Small Group Safari to Mara, Nakuru and Amboseli at $750 uses a 7-seat Land Cruiser and has a 24-hour cancellation window.
Both are 6-day group trips with 5 nights of accommodation. Here is how they stack up.
Side by side
The table compares the two listings on price, rating, cancellation and vehicle, with figures taken from each tour's own page. Prices are per person, and park fees are paid on top on both tours.
| Tour | Price | Rating | Cancellation | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-Day Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli Safari | $580 | 4.8 from 68 reviews | Free cancellation 6 days | Shared pop-up roof van, private van or jeep options |
| 6-Day Small Group Safari to Mara, Nakuru and Amboseli | $750 | 4.6 from 19 reviews | Free cancellation 24h | Land Cruiser with pop-up roof, 7 guests |
How the fees add up
KWS charges non-resident adults $90 per day at Amboseli and Lake Nakuru, and children or students $45 per day. In the Mara Triangle, non-resident adults pay $100 per day from 1 January to 30 June and $200 from 1 July to 31 December, and children aged 9 to 17 pay $50. The 6-Day Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli Safari says entry tickets are paid directly at the gates.
On the 6-Day Small Group Safari to Mara, Nakuru and Amboseli, park fees depend on the option you select. Ask the operator which gates fall on which days before you travel.
Sources: Kenya Wildlife Service, Mara Triangle.
Elephants in Amboseli with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background. Photo: Ninaras, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What does a combined Masai Mara and Amboseli itinerary look like?
The route runs Nairobi to the Masai Mara, a full day in the Mara, on to Lake Nakuru, a Nakuru game drive and the drive to Amboseli, a full day in Amboseli and an early drive before the return.
The day plan below follows the 6-Day Small Group Safari to Mara, Nakuru and Amboseli listing. Lake Nakuru in the middle breaks up the driving between the Mara and Amboseli.
Day by day
Pickup is from a Nairobi hotel or the airport. The listing gives game drive times only on some days, and the table prints them as given.
| Day | Where | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Nairobi to Masai Mara | Great Rift Valley viewpoint, then an afternoon game drive |
| Day 2 | Masai Mara | Full day with picnic lunch and a visit to the Mara River |
| Day 3 | Mara to Lake Nakuru | Transfer, optional Maasai village visit at $20 |
| Day 4 | Lake Nakuru to Amboseli | 3-hour Nakuru game drive, then the drive to Amboseli |
| Day 5 | Amboseli | Full day with Kilimanjaro views |
| Day 6 | Amboseli to Nairobi | Game drive from 6:00 to 8:00, then the return |
Why Lake Nakuru sits in the middle
Lake Nakuru breaks the journey between the two flagship parks and adds its own game viewing. Both tours on this page include it. The 6-Day Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli Safari also lists Lake Naivasha.
Lake Nakuru is a KWS Premium Park, so it carries the same $90 non-resident adult fee as Amboseli.
Source: Kenya Wildlife Service.
How far is Amboseli from Maasai Mara?
Amboseli and the Masai Mara sit on opposite sides of Nairobi, so the transfer is one of the longest legs of the trip, and the 6-day tours here break it with a night at Lake Nakuru.
The parks lie far apart, and neither tour on this page drives straight from one to the other in a single leg.
Road or air
The 6-Day Small Group Safari to Mara, Nakuru and Amboseli leaves the Mara on day 3, stays at Lake Nakuru, runs a 3-hour Nakuru game drive on day 4 and then drives on to Amboseli. If you would rather fly, Mara Conservancy lists six airlines with daily scheduled flights to the Mara, including Air Kenya and Safarilink, and a fly-in trip is a separate booking from these road safaris.
| Leg | On the 6-day group safari | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nairobi to Masai Mara | Day 1 | Great Rift Valley viewpoint stop |
| Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru | Day 3 | Optional Maasai village at $20 |
| Lake Nakuru to Amboseli | Day 4 | After a 3-hour game drive |
| Amboseli to Nairobi | Day 6 | After a 6:00-8:00 game drive |
Source: Mara Triangle.
Is Masai Mara or Amboseli better?
Amboseli is best for elephants and Kilimanjaro views while the Mara is best for lions and big cats, so the two parks complement each other rather than compete.
This is the question most travellers ask first, and the answer is that they deliver different safaris.
What each park is known for
The Masai Mara is big cat country, with lions, cheetahs and leopards, and Mara Conservancy says the migration reaches the Mara Triangle around June. Amboseli is known for its elephants and for views of Kilimanjaro, which show best in the early morning before cloud builds. Fees differ too: the Mara Triangle charges non-resident adults $100 or $200 per day by season, and Amboseli charges $90 per day under KWS.
| Park | Best for | Weak spot | Adult fee per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masai Mara | Lions, cheetahs and leopards, plus the migration | Busy in the migration months | $100 January to June, $200 July to December |
| Amboseli | Elephants and Kilimanjaro views | Leopards are hard to find | $90 |
Sources: Mara Triangle, Kenya Wildlife Service.
How many days are enough for Amboseli National Park?
One full day covers Amboseli well, which is how the 6-day tours here plan it, with day 5 spent entirely in the park.
Amboseli is compact compared with the Mara, so it needs less time.
The minimum for the whole trip
The 6-Day Small Group Safari to Mara, Nakuru and Amboseli arrives in Amboseli on day 4, spends day 5 in the park and runs a 6:00 to 8:00 drive on day 6 before the return. That gives two nights near Amboseli inside 5 nights in total. If you want more time in the Mara, look at a 3-day Mara safari such as the 3-Day Group Joining Safari with a Land Cruiser at $183 and plan Amboseli separately.
What is the 12 hour rule for Masai Mara?
The Mara Triangle sells a 12-hour ticket valid from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm whatever time you enter, and it does not carry over overnight.
Travellers see this term in forums and want to know what it means before they book.
What you can rely on
The Mara Triangle ticket is a 12-hour entry from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, and vehicle fees are also valid for 12 hours with unlimited exits and re-entries. A vehicle passing through the Triangle has two hours of transit before fees apply. At Amboseli and Lake Nakuru, KWS charges non-resident adults $90 per day.
Plan your gate entries so each daily fee buys a full day of game drives.
Sources: Mara Triangle, Kenya Wildlife Service.
What does the tour price include and what costs extra?
Both tours on this page leave park entry fees to be paid separately, and optional activities such as a balloon flight or a village visit cost extra.
Budget for the tour price, the gate fees and any optional extras before you travel.
Optional extras to expect
The 6-Day Small Group Safari to Mara, Nakuru and Amboseli lists a Maasai village visit at $20 and a balloon safari at $450, flown early on day 2 before the normal program. Tips and drinks are extra, and all meals are included as per the itinerary. The 6-Day Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli Safari includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinking water.
Kenya uses the Kenyan shilling, and the Mara Triangle takes no cash for park fees, only M-Pesa and credit card.
Source: Mara Triangle.
When should you book a Masai Mara and Amboseli tour?
June to October is the dry stretch, and Mara Conservancy says the migration reaches the Mara Triangle around June, while early mornings give the clearest Kilimanjaro views in Amboseli.
Timing shapes what you see in each park.
Season by season
Go from June to October if big herds in the Mara are the priority. The Kenya Meteorological Department reports the long rains from March to May and the short rains from October to December. Amboseli works all year for elephants, but the mountain shows best in the early morning, and the 6:00 to 8:00 drive on day 6 of the 6-Day Small Group Safari to Mara, Nakuru and Amboseli is built for it.
Mara fees rise from $100 to $200 per non-resident adult per day on 1 July.
Sources: Mara Triangle, Kenya Meteorological Department.
Who are these combined tours for?
They suit first-time Kenya visitors with about a week who want three parks in one trip, and they are less good for travellers with only 2 or 3 days.
A three-park route is efficient but demanding, so it fits some travellers better than others.
Book it if, skip it if
These are group trips with long road days between parks. The 6-Day Small Group Safari to Mara, Nakuru and Amboseli carries 7 guests in a Land Cruiser, and pets are not allowed. The 6-Day Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli Safari sells child places for ages 3 to 11.
If long drives sound tiring, concentrate on the Mara instead.
| Book it if | Skip it if |
|---|---|
| You have 6 days and want big cats, Lake Nakuru and elephants in one trip | You only have 2 or 3 days, the transfers will eat your trip |
| You want the cheapest way to cover three parks, from $580 per person | You dislike long road days |
| You are happy travelling in a shared group vehicle | You want more than 2 nights in the Mara |
Elephant herd with cattle egrets beneath Kilimanjaro, Amboseli. Photo: M. Disdero, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Amboseli from Maasai Mara?
They sit on opposite sides of Nairobi, so the 6-day tours break the transfer with a night at Lake Nakuru. See the route leg by leg.
What is the 12 hour rule for Masai Mara?
The Mara Triangle ticket is a 12-hour entry from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm whatever time you enter, and it does not carry over overnight. See the 12-hour rule.
Is Masai Mara or Amboseli better?
Choose the Mara for lions and the migration, Amboseli for elephants and Kilimanjaro, or combine both on the 6-Day Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli Safari.
How many days are enough for Amboseli National Park?
One full day covers Amboseli, so the 6-day tours spend day 5 in the park and add a 6:00 to 8:00 drive on day 6. See how many days.
What do Masai Mara and Amboseli tour packages cost?
The group safaris on this page cost $580 and $750 per person for 6 days with 5 nights, plus park fees. Compare them in the side-by-side table.
Balloon safari or not, and when does it start?
It is an extra if the budget allows. The 6-Day Small Group Safari to Mara, Nakuru and Amboseli lists a balloon safari at $450, flown early on day 2.
Do I pay park fees separately?
Yes. On both tours park entry fees are paid separately, and KWS charges non-resident adults $90 per day at Amboseli and Lake Nakuru. See what costs extra.
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