Kenya African Safari Tours: 8 Trips from 3 to 10 Days

A good Kenya African safari matches the days you have to the parks you most want to see, and the budget to the comfort you expect. With three days and a tight budget, take the Masai Mara and Lake Naivasha trip. For the Big Five plus rhinos in five days, take the 5-day Big Five tour. For the wildebeest migration and elephants under Mount Kilimanjaro, choose one of the 7-day routes. For a beach finish, the 10-day trip ends at Diani. If you want lodge comfort and fewer vehicles, the Samburu fly-in is the one.

Comparing tours online is harder than it should be. Similar routes carry different names, the price line hides what is excluded, and a low number can grow once park fees, drinks and tips are added. You end up with a dozen tabs and no clear answer.

This article lists eight African safari tours in Kenya run by Laxa Trails Safaris, a Kenya-based company founded in 2019 by a guide with more than 14 years in the field. For each tour you get the route, the kind of traveler it fits, and what the price covers. After the list you get a price comparison, the best time to go, and a short guide to choosing and booking.

1. 3-day Masai Mara and Lake Naivasha budget safari

This is the lowest-priced Masai Mara budget safari in the Laxa Trails Safaris lineup. At $650, it suits travelers who have only a long weekend.

Route and highlights

The trip runs from Nairobi to the Masai Mara National Reserve and Lake Naivasha. Game drives in the Mara focus on spotting the Big Five, and a boat ride on Naivasha brings you close to hippos and birdlife. You can start on any day, and the plan can be customized.

Stops: Nairobi, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara
Activities: game drives, Naivasha boat ride, Maasai village visit
Vehicle: 4×4 minivan or safari jeep

Who it suits

Budget travelers and first-timers short on vacation days get the most from this tour. Because it can start any day, it also works as an add-on to a business trip in Nairobi or a longer East Africa itinerary.

Be realistic about the trade-off. The Mara is a long drive from Nairobi, so three days leaves limited time inside the reserve. If the Big Five is your priority, the 5-day tour gives you far more chances.

Three days buys you a taste of the Mara, not a full safari.

Price and what is included

The listed price is $650, which works out to about $217 per day, shown for a group size of one. Ask your Tour Consultant how it changes for couples or families.

Included: safari vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide, park entry fees, Lake Naivasha boat ride, accommodation and meals as listed, bottled water, Maasai village visit
Not included: international flights, Kenya visa fees, travel insurance, tips and gratuities

2. 3-day Samburu fly-in safari

This is the luxury short Samburu Game Reserve safari, and the only one here that skips the road. It is a private, family-friendly air package to Samburu Game Reserve in northern Kenya.

Route and highlights

You fly from Nairobi to Samburu and back, sleep in a lodge in the heart of the park, and go on game drives in a 4×4 Land Cruiser. Samburu is drier and wilder than the Mara. It is known for the "Samburu special five": Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, beisa oryx and gerenuk. Elephants and big cats also work the Ewaso Ng’iro River.

Stops: Nairobi, Samburu Game Reserve
Activities: game drives from a lodge inside the park
Vehicle: 4×4 safari Land Cruiser jeep

Who it suits

Families, couples and anyone who dislikes long days on rough roads should look here. Flying removes hours of driving, which matters with children or limited time. It is also a good second safari for travelers who have already done the Mara.

The trade-off is scope. You see one reserve, not a circuit, and you will not see the migration. Pair it with a Mara trip if you want both.

Samburu rewards the traveler who wants rare species and quiet over a long checklist of parks.

Price and what is included

No fixed rate is shown for this package, so request a quote. Flights make the cost depend on dates and seat availability.

Included: return airfare Nairobi to Samburu to Nairobi, 4×4 Land Cruiser, English-speaking driver-guide, lodge accommodation, full board, park fees, airport and airstrip transfers, mineral water
Not included: soft and alcoholic drinks, international airfares, visa fees, tips

3. 4-day Naivasha, Nakuru and Masai Mara safari

This 4-day Nakuru and Masai Mara safari adds Lake Nakuru to the Mara for one more day than the budget trip. It is the route to choose when rhinos matter to you.

Route and highlights

From Nairobi you head to Lake Naivasha, then Lake Nakuru National Park, and finish in the Masai Mara. The program includes game drives, a boat ride and a walking safari. Nakuru is a compact park with good rhino viewing. Between July and October you may also catch the Great Migration in the Mara.

Stops: Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru National Park, Masai Mara
Activities: game drives, boat ride, walking safari
Vehicle: safari van customized for game viewing, with an option to upgrade to a 4×4 Land Cruiser

Who it suits

First-time visitors with four days get a balanced mix here: a lake, a rhino park and the reserve everyone has heard of. It moves quickly, so it suits travelers who enjoy a full schedule over slow lodge days.

If you travel in migration season and want river-crossing odds, a longer Mara stay helps. Four days is enough to sample the Mara, not to wait for a specific event.

Four days is the shortest trip that adds a rhino park to the Mara.

Price and what is included

No fixed rate is listed, so request a quote and say whether you want the van or the 4×4 upgrade.

Included: driver-guide, game drives, all park entrance fees, full-board accommodation, drinking water
Not included: soft and alcoholic drinks, Maasai village visit, balloon safari, tips and gratuities

4. 5-day Big Five Kenya safari

This is the best-value pick for most first-time travelers. It costs $1,460, down from $1,550, a saving of $90 (6% off).

Route and highlights

The route covers Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru National Park and the Masai Mara. You get game drives, a boat ride, a walking safari and a Maasai village visit. The plan is built around spotting the Big Five and rhinos, so Nakuru and the Mara carry most of the wildlife time.

Stops: Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru National Park, Masai Mara
Activities: game drives, boat ride, walking safari, Maasai village visit
Focus: Big Five and rhinos

Who it suits

Couples, honeymooners and small groups with five days do well here. You have enough time in the Mara to try again after a quiet drive, and the pace stays manageable. Families can use it too, since the activities mix wildlife with a cultural stop.

Skip it if Kilimanjaro views matter, because Amboseli is not on this route. The 6-day tour adds that park.

Five days gives you enough Mara time to recover from a slow morning, which a shorter trip cannot.

Price and what is included

The price is $1,460, about $292 per day, listed for a group size of one.

Included: safari vehicle, professional English-speaking driver-guide, park entry fees, accommodation and meals as listed, bottled drinking water, game drives as per itinerary
Not included: international flights, Kenya visa fees, travel insurance, tips and gratuities

5. 6-day Kenya safari with Amboseli and the Mara

This 6-day Kenya safari adds Amboseli to the classic circuit and puts you in a 4×4 Land Cruiser throughout. It costs $2,195, down from $2,315 (5% off, saving $120).

Route and highlights

You visit Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha and the Masai Mara. Amboseli is famous for large elephant herds with Mount Kilimanjaro behind them, and the mountain is usually clearest in the early morning. The tour also includes a Lake Naivasha boat ride and an optional Maasai village visit.

Stops: Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara
Activities: game drives, Naivasha boat ride, optional Maasai village visit
Vehicle: 4×4 Land Cruiser customized for game viewing

Who it suits

Travelers who want the scenery photo, elephants under Kilimanjaro, along with the Mara will like this one. It also suits anyone who wants a 4×4 as standard rather than as an upgrade.

Read the word "all inclusive" with care. Here it covers transport, lodging, full-board meals and park fees. Soft and alcoholic drinks are excluded.

This is the tour for a first safari that has to include both Kilimanjaro views and the Mara.

Price and what is included

The listed price is $2,195, about $366 per day.

Included: 4×4 Land Cruiser, English-speaking driver-guide, lodge or camp accommodation, full-board meals, all park entrance fees, mineral water, game drives
Not included: international airfares, visa fees, soft and alcoholic drinks, tips

6. 7-day Masai Mara Great Migration safari

This is the wildebeest migration safari, priced at $2,446. It combines the Mara with four other stops on a 7-day, 6-night route.

Route and highlights

The route runs from Nairobi through the Masai Mara, Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Hell’s Gate and Lake Nakuru. You get the Big Five and the migration, elephants under Kilimanjaro, rhinos at Nakuru, and walking or cycling around Naivasha and Hell’s Gate. Vehicles have a pop-up roof for game viewing.

Stops: Masai Mara, Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Hell’s Gate, Lake Nakuru
Activities: game drives, walking and cycling safaris
Pickup: airport or hotel

Who it suits

Wildlife photographers and travelers who want the full Kenya circuit in one week should choose this one. Go between July and October if the migration is the point. The herds follow the rains, so exact timing shifts from year to year.

Several extras cost more here: the balloon safari, a Maasai village visit, drinks and tips. Budget for them on top of the price.

Book this tour for the herds, and time it for July to October.

Price and what is included

The price is $2,446, about $349 per day. The standard vehicle is a tour van, with an upgrade to a 4×4 jeep available.

Included: airport or hotel pickup, full-board accommodation, all meals, all game park entrance fees, professional driver-guide, mineral water
Not included: personal items, personal insurance, alcoholic and soft drinks, hot air balloon safari, Maasai village visit, tips

7. 7-day five-park Kenya safari

This 7-day five-park safari covers the same parks as the migration route, with more activities folded into the price. It is a good all-season week in Kenya.

Route and highlights

The parks are Masai Mara, Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Hell’s Gate and Lake Nakuru. The itinerary includes a Lake Naivasha boat ride, a walking safari, a Maasai village visit and game drives. It lists sodas and champagne among the inclusions, so ask exactly which drinks are covered and when.

Stops: Masai Mara, Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Hell’s Gate, Lake Nakuru
Activities: game drives, boat ride, walking safari, Maasai village visit
Extras listed: sodas and champagne, bottled water

Who it suits

Choose this over the migration tour if you are not traveling in July to October, or if you want the village visit in the base price. It suits couples and families who like variety, such as boats, walks and wildlife, rather than only vehicle game drives.

Compare the two 7-day tours line by line before you decide. The parks match, so the difference sits in inclusions and drinks.

Two 7-day tours cover the same parks, so choose by season and by which extras are already paid for.

Price and what is included

No fixed rate is listed, so request a quote and ask which extras it bundles.

Included: safari vehicle, English-speaking driver-guide, park entry fees, boat ride, walking safari, Maasai village visit, game drives, accommodation and meals as listed, bottled water
Not included: international flights, Kenya visa fees, travel insurance, tips, drinks and personal expenses, optional activities not mentioned

8. 10-day safari with Diani Beach finish

This 10-day Diani Beach safari is the longest tour here and the only one that ends on the coast. It covers six parks and reserves, then gives you time on the beach.

Route and highlights

The safari section visits Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru, the Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli and Tsavo West, with game drives every day. The trip then finishes with relaxing days at Diani Beach on the South Coast. Ol Pejeta is a conservancy known for its rhinos, and Tsavo West adds rougher, more rugged terrain than the other parks.

Stops: Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli, Tsavo West, Diani Beach
Duration: 10 days, 9 nights
Vehicle: safari van or 4×4 Land Cruiser with pop-up viewing roof

Who it suits

Honeymooners and anyone with ten days will enjoy the contrast of safari and sand. It also suits repeat visitors who want parks beyond the usual Mara circuit.

Expect long road days in the first half. The beach days are your recovery, so this works best for travelers who like a moving itinerary followed by rest.

Ten days lets you do a full circuit and still end with sand instead of a flight.

Price and what is included

No fixed rate is listed, so request a quote.

Included: transportation, daily game drives, driver-guide, all park fees, all accommodation, all meals, drinking water, all taxes and VAT, airport transfers
Not included: international airfares, visa fees, travel insurance, soft and alcoholic drinks, tips, optional activities

Kenya safari prices compared side by side

Four of the eight tours show a fixed price, and they run from about $217 to $366 per day. The rest are quoted on request, so use these four as your benchmark.

Price per day across the priced tours

The table divides each listed price by the number of days. Prices are in US dollars, before flights, visa fees, insurance and tips.

Tour	Days	Listed price	Price per day	Vehicle
Masai Mara and Naivasha budget	3	$650	$217	4×4 minivan or jeep
Big Five Kenya safari	5	$1,460	$292	Safari vehicle
Kenya safari with Amboseli	6	$2,195	$366	4×4 Land Cruiser
Great Migration safari	7	$2,446	$349	Tour van, 4×4 upgrade

Broad market ranges for Kenya run from roughly $200 per person per day at the budget end to around $1,000 for luxury. These tours sit in the budget to mid-range part of that spread.

The 7-day tour costs less per day than the 6-day one. The likely reason is the vehicle: the 6-day price includes a 4×4 Land Cruiser, while the 7-day tour starts with a van. Longer trips also spread the fixed cost of the drive from Nairobi across more days.

Compare price per day, not the headline total, because a longer trip often costs less each day.

What moves the price up or down

Five factors explain most of the gap between quotes:

Vehicle: a 4×4 Land Cruiser costs more than a tour van
Accommodation: basic camping, tented camps and lodges price very differently
Season: July to October is high season
Group size: shared costs fall as the group grows
Flights: the Samburu fly-in and any coast finish add transport costs

A worked example for two travelers

Take two friends on the 5-day Big Five tour. If the $1,460 rate applies to each person, the tour costs $2,920 for two. Then add international flights, Kenya visa or entry fees, travel insurance and tips. Add drinks and optional extras such as a balloon safari as well. Ask your Tour Consultant to confirm the per-person rate and group discounts before you plan around the total.

The best time for an African safari in Kenya

The best time for most travelers is June to October, when the weather is dry and wildlife gathers at water. Kenya still works year-round, and the wetter months trade crowds and cost for mud.

Season by season at a glance

Period	Conditions	What you see	Cost
June to October	Dry, hot by late season	Migration in the Mara from July, animals near water	Highest
November to February	Short rains, usually light	Green scenery, migratory birds	Mid
March to May	Long rains, heavy downpours possible	Few visitors, muddy tracks	Lowest

October and late September can get very hot. In the dry season the busiest Mara areas can fill with vehicles during the migration. The wetter months bring fewer crowds and lower prices, but some tracks turn muddy.

If the migration matters, book July to October. If price matters, March to May costs least.

Matching the season to your tour

Take the Great Migration tour in July to October. The herds spend those months in the Mara, and the full-board route gives you several chances to find a crossing.

Other tours work in any season. The 5-day Big Five and 6-day routes are strong dry-season choices, and in the green months they offer lower costs and fewer vehicles. Samburu stays good in the dry months, when animals concentrate along the river.

How to choose and book your Kenya safari

Choose by the number of days you have, then by one must-see animal or park, and then by budget. Booking is a short process once you know those three things.

Pick a tour by days and priorities

Start with your days and match them to a tour:

3 days, tight budget: Masai Mara and Lake Naivasha
3 days, comfort and rare species: Samburu fly-in
4 days, rhinos plus the Mara: Naivasha, Nakuru and Masai Mara
5 days, Big Five and value: Big Five Kenya safari
6 days, Kilimanjaro views and a 4×4: Kenya safari with Amboseli
7 days, the migration: Great Migration safari
7 days, any season, more extras: five-park safari
10 days, parks and beach: Diani Beach finish

Then check the comfort level. Accommodation ranges from basic camping to luxury tented camps and lodges, depending on budget. Meals are mainly European-style buffets with African influences, and vehicles are a Land Cruiser jeep or a minibus with a pop-up roof. Most trips run privately, and a maximum of seven people per safari is recommended so everyone keeps a window seat.

Booking steps, deposit and insurance

Send an enquiry or WhatsApp message with your dates, group size and budget. A Tour Consultant replies with details and a quote, and you can ask for a customized itinerary at this stage.

To confirm, pay a 50% to 60% deposit by wire transfer. On the $2,920 example, that is $1,460 to $1,752. The balance is due at least 30 days before the safari starts, or in cash US dollars on arrival. Buy travel insurance before you travel, since no tour here includes it.

Safety, clothing and entry rules

A Kenya safari is generally safe if you follow your guide’s briefings. The risk from wildlife is low, and the road is the bigger danger, so avoid driving at night. Check your government’s current travel advisory before you book, and confirm Kenya’s entry requirements, since visa or travel authorization fees are not included in any package.

For safari clothing, choose neutral earth tones such as khaki, tan and olive. White gets dusty fast, and dark blue and black attract tsetse flies in some areas. Red is fine to wear. Skip camouflage patterns, which civilians cannot wear in Kenya.

Pick your days, then book

The right Kenya safari comes down to three choices: how many days you have, which animals or parks you care about, and what you will pay per day. The 5-day Big Five tour suits most first-time travelers, the 7-day migration tour suits July to October, and Samburu or the 10-day Diani trip suit comfort and variety. Check each tour’s exclusions, because tips, drinks, flights and visa costs sit outside every price.

When you have a shortlist, request a quote for your Kenya safari, such as the 5-day Big Five Kenya safari, and share your dates, group size and budget. A Tour Consultant will confirm prices and tailor the route.