Big Five Safari Tours: 5 Trips to Match Your Days and Budget
The best big five safari tours take you to parks where lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalo all live, give you enough days to find the shy ones, and state exactly what the price covers. If your budget is tight, the 3-day Masai Mara trip is the one to look at. For a first safari with a real chance at rhinos, take the 5-day Kenya trip. For the wildebeest herds, choose the 7-day migration trip. For Serengeti scale, choose the 5-day Tanzania classic.
The problem is that most listings look alike. Every operator promises the Big Five, yet trips differ in length, vehicle, accommodation and fees. A low headline price can hide park entry, drinks or boat rides that you pay for later. Comparing them properly takes time you may not have.
This article compares five trips that we run at Laxa Trails Safaris, a Kenya-based company founded in 2019 by a guide with more than 14 years in the field. Each trip is broken down by route, who it suits, and what it costs. A final section shows how to judge any Big Five safari company before you pay a deposit.
1. 3-day Masai Mara and Lake Naivasha budget safari
What the trip covers
This is the shortest and cheapest way into Big Five country on our list. Game drives in the Masai Mara National Reserve are the core, and Lake Naivasha gives you a change of scenery. You travel in a 4×4 minivan or safari jeep with a professional English-speaking driver-guide, and the trip can start any day and be customized.
- Game drives in the Masai Mara aimed at the Big Five
- A boat ride on Lake Naivasha
- A Maasai village visit
Who it suits
Pick this trip if you have a long weekend and a firm budget. Three days means fewer game drives. Lions, elephants and buffalo are likely sightings, while leopards and rhinos depend on luck and timing. Set that expectation before you book.
Three days gets you into Big Five country, but it cannot promise all five.
- Pick it if: you want value, you are short on time, or this is your first Kenya safari.
- Skip it if: seeing all five animals is a must.
Price and inclusions
The trip costs $650, about $217 per day, which is the lowest price on our list. Check the two lists below before you compare it with any other quote, because inclusions decide the real cost.
- Included: park entry fees, accommodation and meals as listed, the Lake Naivasha boat ride, the Maasai village visit, bottled drinking water.
- Not included: international flights, Kenya visa fees, travel insurance, tips and gratuities.
2. 5-day Big Five Kenya safari
What the trip covers
Of all our Big Five tours in Kenya, this is the most complete itinerary for seeing the full set. It runs from Nairobi to Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru National Park and the Masai Mara, and it is built around the Big Five and rhinos. Nakuru adds both black and white rhinos, and the Mara adds big cats and herds, so you work three different habitats instead of one.
- Game drives in Nakuru and the Mara
- A boat ride at Lake Naivasha
- A walking safari
- A Maasai village visit
Who it suits
This is the pick for first-time safari travelers who want a serious chance at all five without committing a full week. Five days leaves room for a second game drive when the first one misses the leopard. It also suits couples and families who want variety, since lakes and walking balance the long drives.
If you can spare five days, this is the trip that gives all five animals a fair chance.
- Pick it if: you want rhinos and big cats on one route.
- Skip it if: you want to time the wildebeest migration or visit Amboseli.
Price and inclusions
The trip costs $1,460, down from $1,550 (6% off, a $90 saving), which is about $292 per day. Compared with the 3-day trip, the extra $810 buys two more days and a third park.
- Included: transport in a safari vehicle, a professional English-speaking driver-guide, park entry fees, accommodation and meals as listed, game drives, bottled drinking water.
- Not included: international flights, Kenya visa fees, travel insurance, tips and gratuities.
3. 7-day Masai Mara Great Wildebeest Migration safari
What the trip covers
This is a six-night route from Nairobi through the Masai Mara, Amboseli, Naivasha, Hell’s Gate and Nakuru. It pairs the Big Five with the wildebeest migration, and the route adds variety that shorter trips skip. At Amboseli you see elephants under Mount Kilimanjaro, and at Nakuru you find rhinos and flamingos. Around Naivasha and Hell’s Gate you can explore on foot or by bicycle.
- Migration herds in the Masai Mara
- Elephants beneath Kilimanjaro at Amboseli
- Rhinos and flamingos at Lake Nakuru
- Walking or cycling safaris at Naivasha and Hell’s Gate
Who it suits
Choose this trip if you have a full week and want the widest range of Kenyan landscapes. Timing matters, because the herds are generally in the Mara from July to October, so confirm your dates before you book. A tour van is standard and you can upgrade to a 4×4 jeep.
A week is the length at which Kenya stops being a quick trip and becomes a full safari.
- Pick it if: you want the migration, Amboseli and Nakuru on one route.
- Skip it if: you have fewer than six nights.
Price and inclusions
The trip costs $2,446, about $349 per day. That is the highest total on our list, but the per-day gap from the 5-day trip is only $57, and you gain two parks.
- Included: airport or hotel pickup, full-board accommodation as per the itinerary, all meals, a professional driver-guide, all park entry fees, game drives, mineral water.
- Not included: alcoholic and soft drinks, the hot air balloon safari, the Maasai village visit, tips, personal insurance and personal items.
4. 4-day Ol Pejeta and Lake Naivasha wildlife safari
What the trip covers
This 4-day trip starts and ends in Nairobi and puts rhinos first. Ol Pejeta Conservancy is known for its Big Five and for black rhino conservation, and it opens the route. You then continue to Lake Naivasha for a boat ride to Crescent Island and a nature walk. Transport is a safari van built for game viewing, with an option to upgrade to a 4×4 Land Cruiser jeep.
- Game drives in Ol Pejeta Conservancy
- A boat ride to Crescent Island
- A nature walk at Lake Naivasha
Who it suits
This trip suits travelers who care about conservation and rhinos as much as the full list. It is also a good fit if you want a short, full-board trip with fewer park changes. Rhinos are often among the harder animals to find, so a conservancy known for them improves your odds.
If rhinos are the animal you most want to see, start your route in a conservancy that protects them.
- Pick it if: rhinos matter most and you have four days.
- Skip it if: you want the Masai Mara on the same trip.
Price and inclusions
We quote this trip by request, so ask for a price for your dates. Note that the Lake Naivasha boat ride is not included in the price, so budget for it separately.
- Included: full-board accommodation, a professional English-speaking driver-guide, all park entrance fees, game drives, drinking water.
- Not included: the boat ride, soft and alcoholic drinks, tips and other gratuities.
5. 5-day Tanzania classic midrange safari
What the trip covers
Big Five African safari tours often cross into Tanzania, and this one covers three classic stops: Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. You sleep in lodges and tented camps, and a cultural encounter at Lake Eyasi breaks up the game drives. Transport is a 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof, with pickup and drop-off at your hotel or the airport in Arusha.
- Tarangire National Park
- Serengeti National Park
- Ngorongoro Crater
- A cultural encounter at Lake Eyasi
Who it suits
Choose this trip if you want Serengeti scale and are comfortable with midrange lodges. It is also the right choice if you have already seen Kenya, or want to compare the two countries. A hot air balloon safari is available as an optional extra for a special morning.
The Serengeti and the Crater reward travelers who want space and scale over a long list of stops.
- Pick it if: you want Tanzania’s northern parks in five days.
- Skip it if: you have a very tight budget, since midrange lodges cost more than basic camping.
Price and inclusions
Ask for a quote for your dates, since the price is not fixed on this page. The inclusions are broad, with park and conservation fees and government taxes covered.
- Included: full-board accommodation, all meals, all national park and conservation area entry fees, government taxes and levies, a professional English-speaking driver-guide, bottled drinking water.
- Not included: Tanzania visa and entry fees, tips, international and domestic airfare, travel and medical insurance, the optional balloon safari.
How to compare Big Five safari companies
The five trips side by side
The right company and the right trip come down to days, price and park mix. This table puts our five trips in one place. A longer or Tanzania-based option is available if you want more time in the Serengeti, such as our 4-day Serengeti and Ngorongoro safari or the 6-day private Tanzania safari.
| Trip | Days | Country | Price | Per day | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masai Mara and Naivasha budget | 3 | Kenya | $650 | $217 | Tight budgets |
| Big Five Kenya | 5 | Kenya | $1,460 | $292 | First-timers, all five |
| Great Wildebeest Migration | 7 | Kenya | $2,446 | $349 | Migration and variety |
| Ol Pejeta and Naivasha | 4 | Kenya | Quote | n/a | Rhinos |
| Tanzania classic midrange | 5 | Tanzania | Quote | n/a | Serengeti and Crater |
What to check before you book
Any Big Five safari company should answer these questions in writing before you pay. A vague answer to one of them is a reason to keep looking.
- Does the price include park fees, meals, water and the activities you want?
- Is the vehicle built for game viewing? We use a Land Cruiser jeep or a minibus with a pop-up roof.
- How many people share a vehicle? We recommend no more than seven, so everyone gets a window seat.
- How experienced are the guides? Ours have more than 10 years in the field.
- What are the payment terms? We ask for a 50 to 60% deposit by wire transfer, with the balance due at least 30 days before the safari or paid in cash US dollars on arrival.
- Do you have travel insurance? We strongly recommend taking it out before you travel.
Which of the Big Five is hardest to see
The leopard is usually the hardest. It is solitary, hunts at night and spends much of the day asleep in trees, so a guide who checks branches matters more than a fancy vehicle. Rhinos come next, which is why parks such as Lake Nakuru and Ol Pejeta carry weight in these itineraries.
No honest operator can guarantee all five animals, but more days and a skilled guide raise your odds.
Choosing the right trip for your days
Match the trip to the time and budget you actually have. Take the 3-day trip for value, the 5-day Kenya trip for the best first-safari odds, the 7-day trip for the migration and variety, the Ol Pejeta trip for rhinos, and the Tanzania classic for the Serengeti. Whichever you pick, check inclusions, group size, guide experience and payment terms before you commit.
If you are still deciding, tell us your dates, group size and budget, and we will suggest a route and send a quote. You can also ask us to adjust any trip above. Plan your Big Five safari with Laxa Trails Safaris and get a clear, itemized answer from one of our tour consultants.
