6 Day Karibu Kenya Group Departure Safari: Amboseli, Lake Naivasha & Masai Mara
Karibu means “welcome” in Swahili, and this six-day Kenya group joining safari is open to anyone: solo travellers, couples or small groups who are happy to share a vehicle with other guests. It departs from Nairobi every Tuesday and returns on Sunday, and departures are guaranteed from just two people.
The route covers three of Kenya’s highlights: elephants beneath Mount Kilimanjaro in Amboseli, a boat ride and walking safari at Lake Naivasha, and two nights in the Masai Mara, with a full day on the plains looking for lions, leopards and cheetahs.
How the Group Departure Works
The safari leaves every Tuesday, all year round. We collect you from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or your Nairobi hotel by 7:30 AM for a short briefing before setting off, and we drop you back at your hotel or the airport on Sunday afternoon. If you land after midday, we recommend arriving on Monday and spending the night in Nairobi; we can book the hotel for you.
You share the vehicle with other travellers, and everyone has a window seat. Each departure runs with a minimum of two people. If fewer than four are booked on your Tuesday, you pay the 2-person or 3-person price shown in the price table below, and the safari still runs. Solo travellers are welcome to join a Tuesday that already has other guests booked. To book, send us an enquiry with your preferred Tuesday, and we will confirm availability within 12 hours.
Why Travel with Explorer Kenya
Our driver-guides have between 10 and 25 years of experience on safari in Kenya’s parks. We are licensed by the Kenya Ministry of Tourism and are a bonded member of the Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO).
Accommodation
| Tuesday & Wednesday · Amboseli | Amboseli Serena Lodge |
|---|---|
| Thursday · Lake Naivasha | Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge |
| Friday & Saturday · Masai Mara | Mara Simba Lodge |
Itinerary
- 1Nairobi Start
- 2Amboseli 2 nights
- 3Lake Naivasha 1 night
- 4Masai Mara 2 nights
- 1Nairobi Finish
By road
Tuesday: Nairobi – Amboseli National Park (LD)
After pick-up at 7:30 AM, drive south-east for about four to five hours to Amboseli National Park, arriving at Amboseli Serena Lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, head out on your first game drive across the open plains beneath Mount Kilimanjaro, at 5,895 metres (19,341 feet) Africa’s highest mountain, which rises just across the border in Tanzania. Amboseli is best known for its large herds of elephants. Dinner and overnight at Amboseli Serena Lodge.
Lunch, Dinner
Wednesday: Amboseli National Park Full Day (FB)
Go out early for a sunrise game drive, when Kilimanjaro is most often clear of cloud, then return to the lodge for breakfast. Spend the rest of the morning on game drives, return for lunch, and choose between an afternoon game drive and relaxing by the pool. Look for elephants, lions, buffalo, giraffes and the birds of the Enkongo Narok swamps. Dinner and overnight at Amboseli Serena Lodge.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Thursday: Amboseli – Lake Naivasha (FB)
After an early breakfast, drive back via Nairobi and down into the Great Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha, arriving at Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge for a late lunch. In the afternoon, take a boat ride on the lake to see hippos, fish eagles and other water birds, then land on Crescent Island for a guided walk among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and waterbuck. Dinner and overnight at Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Friday: Lake Naivasha – Masai Mara National Reserve (FB)
After breakfast, drive via Narok to the Masai Mara, arriving at Mara Simba Lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, head out on your first game drive in Kenya’s best-known reserve. Dinner and overnight at Mara Simba Lodge.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Saturday: Masai Mara Full Day (FB)
Take a picnic lunch for a full day on the plains, looking for lions, leopards and cheetahs, elephants, buffalo and huge herds of plains game. From July to October, the wildebeest migration arrives from the Serengeti. You can also start the day with an optional balloon flight or add a visit to a Maasai village. Dinner and overnight at Mara Simba Lodge.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sunday: Masai Mara – Nairobi (B)
Enjoy an early morning game drive, then return for breakfast and drive back to Nairobi, arriving in the afternoon for drop-off at your hotel or at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for an evening flight.
Breakfast
6 Day Karibu Kenya Group Departure Prices – 2027 Rates
Prices depend on the time of year and on how many people are travelling on the departure. The more people in the vehicle, the lower the price per person.
Karibu Kenya Group Departure
Amboseli Serena Lodge, Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge and Mara Simba Lodge
From $1,275 per person
| Dates | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | 5 people | 6 people | Single suppl. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 Jan – 31 Mar | $1,985 | $1,750 | $1,630 | $1,560 | $1,515 | $455 |
| 26 Mar – 29 Mar (Easter) | $2,050 | $1,815 | $1,700 | $1,630 | $1,580 | $490 |
| 01 Apr – 31 May | $1,745 | $1,510 | $1,395 | $1,325 | $1,275 | $145 |
| 01 Jun – 30 Jun | $2,150 | $1,900 | $1,775 | $1,700 | $1,650 | $515 |
| 01 Jul – 31 Aug | $2,780 | $2,530 | $2,405 | $2,330 | $2,280 | $810 |
| 01 Sep – 30 Sep | $2,525 | $2,275 | $2,150 | $2,075 | $2,025 | $620 |
| 01 Oct – 31 Oct | $2,335 | $2,085 | $1,960 | $1,885 | $1,835 | $510 |
| 01 Nov – 15 Dec | $2,190 | $1,955 | $1,840 | $1,765 | $1,720 | $435 |
| 16 Dec – 01 Jan | $2,335 | $2,100 | $1,985 | $1,915 | $1,865 | $515 |
Prices are in US dollars per person sharing for the full 6-day safari, including everything listed under Package Includes. The single supplement is per person, added for a single room. Easter dates (26–29 March) use the Easter row. Scroll the table sideways on a phone to see all group sizes. Child rates on request.
Optional Activities
- Hot air balloon safari over the Masai Mara – US$ 450 per adult, US$ 300 per child
- Maasai village visit – US$ 25 per person
Package Includes
- All park entrance fees
- Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary
- Boat ride on Lake Naivasha and guided walk on Crescent Island
- 1.5 litres of bottled water per person per day in the vehicle
- Services of an English-speaking, experienced driver-guide
- Transport in a shared 4×4 safari Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof and a guaranteed window seat
- Pick-up from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or your Nairobi hotel on Tuesday morning, and drop-off on Sunday afternoon
- All government taxes and levies
- Safari accessories (first aid kit, cooler box and fire extinguisher), a 24-hour emergency number and RF radio in all safari vehicles
Package Excludes
- Flying Doctors (AMREF) air ambulance evacuation cover – US$ 10 per person
- Hot air balloon safari and Maasai village visit
- Driver tips
- Drinks, international flights, visas, travel insurance and personal expenses
