Explore Kenya’s wildlife landscapes on a 7-day Big Five safari from Nairobi, combining Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Lake Nakuru National Park and the Maasai Mara. This proposed itinerary brings together conservation-focused wildlife viewing, Rift Valley scenery and several days exploring the Mara’s open country.
The Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhinoceros—are the safari’s main wildlife interests. However, the journey offers much more, from birds and grazing animals to the changing landscapes between destinations.
For travel in 2027 or 2028, Eddy Tours & Safaris can discuss your preferred itinerary and confirm the Kenya services available, including accommodation, guiding and any local operating partners.
The route below starts and finishes in Nairobi. It includes two nights near Ol Pejeta, one night around Lake Nakuru and three nights in the Maasai Mara.
Wildlife note: This itinerary provides opportunities to look for the Big Five. Seeing every species is not guaranteed, and the daily game-drive plan depends on conditions and animal movements.
Safari Overview
| Detail | Proposed arrangement |
|---|---|
| Duration | 7 safari days / 6 nights |
| Travel years | 2027 and 2028 |
| Starting point | Nairobi |
| Finishing point | Nairobi |
| Destinations | Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru and Maasai Mara |
| Overnight sequence | 2 nights Ol Pejeta area, 1 night Nakuru area, 3 nights Maasai Mara |
| Safari format | Private road safari |
| Transport | Safari vehicle specified in the quotation |
| Guiding | English-speaking driver-guide |
| Accommodation | Lodges or tented camps selected when booking |
| Meals | Lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 7 |
| Price | Quotation based on dates, group size and services |
Arrival accommodation and airport transfers are additional unless expressly included.
Arrive in Nairobi before the safari begins so you have time to rest and receive your briefing.
What Makes This Big Five Safari Worth Considering?
A Route With Different Wildlife Settings
The itinerary combines three destinations instead of relying on one location for every sighting.
Ol Pejeta introduces a conservation perspective. Lake Nakuru adds a lake landscape and another opportunity to look for rhinos. The Mara provides three nights for wider wildlife exploration.
Several Nights in the Maasai Mara
Three nights give you two full days between travel days.
That allows your guide to explore different areas and spend time at interesting sightings without trying to fit the whole experience into one day.
Private Guiding Arrangements
A private vehicle gives your party more control over stops and pace within the agreed route.
Tell your planner whether you are travelling with children, enjoy birdwatching or want extra time for photography.
A Clear Overnight Sequence
The proposed route identifies where each night is spent.
Your final quotation should name the actual properties and explain whether they are inside the protected areas or outside them.
Understanding the Big Five
The term Big Five refers to:
- Lion
- Leopard
- Elephant
- Buffalo
- Rhinoceros
It is a historical grouping rather than a list of Africa’s five largest animals.
For this safari, use the Big Five as a way to communicate your interests, not as a checklist the guide must complete.
Leopards can be difficult to find, and other animals may remain out of view during your visit. Patient observation and a flexible daily plan are more useful than moving quickly between expected sightings.
Enjoy the wildlife present, including species outside the Big Five.
Detailed Seven-Day Itinerary
Travel times vary with traffic, weather, road conditions and accommodation locations. Your operator should provide realistic estimates before confirmation.
Day 1: Nairobi to Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Overnight: Lodge or camp in or near Ol Pejeta
Meals: Lunch and dinner
Leave Nairobi early and travel towards the Nanyuki area and Ol Pejeta.
The departure time and road conditions determine when you arrive. After lunch or check-in, begin the arranged game drive if time permits.
Ol Pejeta provides an opportunity to explore wildlife alongside the wider conservation story. Its published information highlights its work protecting rhinos and other species.
Your guide introduces the landscape and follows current wildlife activity.
Continue to your accommodation for dinner. Confirm whether the property is inside the conservancy or outside it, as this affects access and daily driving.
Day 2: Full Day at Ol Pejeta
Overnight: Lodge or camp in or near Ol Pejeta
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Spend the day exploring the conservancy.
Choose a full-day outing with lunch arranged along the schedule, or separate morning and afternoon drives where the accommodation location makes that practical.
Take time to observe animals rather than moving immediately after identification. Watching feeding, resting and interactions can make familiar species more interesting.
Specific conservation experiences can be requested separately. They may require advance booking and additional payment.
A standard game-drive package should not be assumed to include every specialist activity, including visits involving the northern white rhinos.
Visit the official Ol Pejeta Conservancy website for background, and ask your operator to confirm the experiences available during your stay.
Day 3: Ol Pejeta to Lake Nakuru
Overnight: Lodge in or near Lake Nakuru
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
After breakfast, leave the Ol Pejeta area and travel towards Lake Nakuru.
This day combines a road transfer with an arranged park visit. Allow enough time for both rather than treating it as a full day of game viewing.
Kenya Wildlife Service identifies Lake Nakuru as an important sanctuary for both black and white rhinos. This makes it a useful addition to a safari with a strong rhino interest.
Explore the park according to arrival time and current conditions.
Birdlife adds another dimension to the visit, but do not expect the lake to match a photograph taken in another season. Water levels and bird distribution change.
Continue to the booked lodge for dinner.
Read the official Lake Nakuru National Park information when researching this stop.
Day 4: Lake Nakuru to Maasai Mara
Overnight: Maasai Mara camp or lodge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Depart for the Maasai Mara after breakfast.
This is a substantial driving day. The route, stops and camp location affect arrival time.
An afternoon game drive may be possible if you arrive early enough. Your quotation should describe it conditionally rather than promising several hours regardless of the transfer.
The landscape changes as you approach the Mara. Settle into camp and discuss the next day’s schedule with your guide.
Your accommodation should be selected for practical access to the intended viewing area.
Day 5: Full Day Exploring the Maasai Mara
Overnight: Maasai Mara camp or lodge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Begin a full day of wildlife viewing.
A packed lunch can support a longer outing, while separate drives may suit travellers who prefer a midday break at camp.
The choice depends on accommodation location, your interests and the day’s conditions.
Look for the wildlife using the area rather than focusing only on the Big Five. Grazing herds, birds and smaller animals contribute to the safari.
Photographers should explain their priorities early. Longer stops and careful vehicle positioning may be helpful, but wildlife space and local rules come first.
Day 6: Another Full Day in the Maasai Mara
Overnight: Maasai Mara camp or lodge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
A second full day provides flexibility.
Your guide can revisit a productive area or explore elsewhere. Wildlife activity may differ considerably from the previous day.
If your dates align with migration activity, the route may include suitable areas to look for the herds. River crossings remain unpredictable and cannot be guaranteed.
Optional activities, such as a balloon flight or a cultural visit, can be discussed in advance. Their availability, cost and operating arrangements should appear separately in your proposal.
For a cultural visit, ask who organises it and whether photography is welcome.
Day 7: Maasai Mara to Nairobi
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Overnight: Not included unless requested
Leave the Mara and return to Nairobi.
A final morning activity depends on your departure schedule and applicable entry arrangements. It should be confirmed rather than assumed.
Travel to the agreed hotel or onward transfer point.
If you plan an international departure that evening, allow a realistic margin for the road journey and Nairobi traffic. An additional hotel night may provide a more comfortable finish.
Choosing Your Accommodation
The package can be planned around comfortable lodges, tented camps or upgraded properties.
Comfortable Safari Accommodation
A well-chosen property provides suitable rooms and practical access to the day’s activities.
Confirm the bathroom arrangements, meal plan and room configuration.
Luxury Upgrades
Upgraded camps and lodges may offer larger rooms or additional facilities.
However, location remains important. A beautiful property that requires extensive daily driving may not suit your main wildlife interests.
Ask which drinks, laundry services or additional activities are included.
Family Accommodation
For families, check room layouts and children’s policies before booking.
Two separate rooms, a family unit and interconnected rooms are different arrangements. The proposal should identify what is reserved.
Maasai Mara Reserve or Conservancy?
A property may be inside the national reserve, in a neighbouring conservancy or outside both.
Ask where your included drives take place and whether reserve visits require additional payment.
Also confirm:
- Distance to the intended game-drive area.
- Private or shared vehicle arrangements.
- Included entry charges.
- Permitted activities.
- Any separately charged transfers.
Walking activities and night drives depend on the specific location and permissions. They are not automatic inclusions in every Mara package.
Proposed Safari Inclusions
The final quotation should confirm:
- Six nights in the named accommodation.
- Meals from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 7.
- Private safari vehicle for the agreed route.
- Driver-guide services.
- Game drives described in the itinerary.
- Applicable park, reserve and conservancy charges.
- Drinking-water arrangements.
- Collection and return at the agreed Nairobi locations.
Ask whether airport transfers are included and which airports they cover.
Special conservation activities, balloon flights and other optional experiences should be listed individually if booked.
Safari Exclusions
Unless included expressly, budget separately for:
- International flights.
- Entry-related expenses.
- Travel insurance.
- Tips.
- Personal purchases.
- Drinks outside the meal plan.
- Balloon flights.
- Optional cultural visits.
- Specialist conservation experiences.
- Additional Nairobi accommodation.
- Transfers outside the confirmed schedule.
Clear exclusions make it easier to understand the full holiday cost.
When to Plan Your 2027–2028 Safari
Choose dates according to your interests and the experience you want.
For general wildlife viewing, ask about the likely conditions across all three destinations. For migration interests, the Mara accommodation and dates need more specific attention.
A Big Five safari does not need to depend on the migration. Resident wildlife and the different landscapes are central to the route.
If your dates are fixed, enquire early about accommodation and guiding availability. A quotation does not mean every room has been reserved.
For wider destination background, explore Magical Kenya, the country’s official tourism website.
Prices and Booking
The cost of a 7-day Big Five safari from Nairobi depends on group size, accommodation, dates and included services.
Compare proposals using the same overnight sequence and service level.
Before paying, confirm:
- Exact travel dates.
- Named properties and room categories.
- Vehicle and guiding arrangements.
- Complete inclusions and exclusions.
- Payment schedule.
- Cancellation conditions.
- Procedures for accommodation substitutions.
- Responsibility for each part of the journey.
For 2027 and 2028, ask whether supplier rates are confirmed or provisional.
What to Pack
Bring light layers, a warmer layer for early starts and highland evenings, sun protection and comfortable footwear.
Useful items include:
- Binoculars.
- Camera and spare batteries.
- Protection for equipment against dust and rain.
- Personal medication.
- A small day bag.
- Chargers and adapters.
- Travel and insurance documents.
Keep luggage manageable and ask about vehicle space if travelling with a larger party.
If you choose a flight upgrade, check baggage requirements before packing.
Extend Your East Africa Holiday
A Kenya coast stay can follow the safari if you want time to relax.
For a Kenya–Tanzania journey, discuss the border or flight connection and allow sufficient time in both countries.
Explore Tanzania safari options with Eddy Tours & Safaris, and ask the team to confirm the available Kenya arrangements and local partners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I see all the Big Five?
Possibly, but sightings cannot be guaranteed. The itinerary visits several wildlife areas to provide varied opportunities.
Is this safari private?
The proposed itinerary uses a private vehicle and guide. Shared departures should be requested separately.
Are rhino experiences included at Ol Pejeta?
Standard game drives and specialist activities are different services. Confirm exactly what your quotation includes.
Is Lake Nakuru included mainly for flamingos?
This route includes Nakuru for its landscape, wildlife and rhino interest. Flamingo numbers vary, so they should not be the sole reason for visiting.
Can I shorten the road journeys?
Flight alternatives can be discussed, but they change the route, costs and guiding arrangements.
Are arrival and departure transfers included?
Only when listed. Confirm them separately from the Nairobi start and finish points.
Can I add another night in the Maasai Mara?
Yes, subject to availability. An extra night can provide more wildlife-viewing time without adding another destination.
Plan Your Big Five Safari
A rewarding safari gives you time to enjoy the wildlife present and a clear understanding of the journey between destinations.
For a 7-day Big Five safari from Nairobi in 2027 or 2028, send your dates, group size, accommodation preferences and approximate budget to Eddy Tours & Safaris.
Contact our team to discuss this proposed route and confirm the Kenya arrangements available for your holiday.
Website: eddytours-safaris.com
Email: eddytoursandsafaris@gmail.com
Sales: sales@eddytours-safaris.com
Phone and WhatsApp: +255 711 906 664