Kenya Big 5 - Laikipia & Maasai Mara
From US$ 5,915 per person sharing (8 days)
Trust us to find you the rarest animals, the most spectacular wildlife events, the remotest landscapes and deeply meaningful cultural encounters!
This safari explores the diverse wildlife of two iconic Kenyan destinations: Laikipia and the Maasai Mara. You will search for both the 'Big Five' and the 'Samburu Special Five', as well as plenty of other fascinating species, and get a behind-the-scenes look at anti-poaching conservation work being done.
After a restful night in Nairobi to recover from your inbound travels, prepare for a smorgasbord of landscapes and wildlife. The Maasai Mara needs no introduction: those vast, sweeping savannahs teeming with herds of wildebeest and zebras, big cats, elephants, cheetahs and hyenas are a huge attraction year-round - from the frenetic Great Wildebeest Migration peak season to the quieter "Secret Season". After a scenic flight, you will find yourself in Laikipia, where the biodiversity is staggering; you will see species most have never heard of, let alone seen, including striped hyena, gerenuk, Grévy’s zebra and beisa oryx.
The activities on offer extend beyond traditional game drives to include visits to the Mara Elephant Project, watching anti-poaching dogs in action, quad biking, horse and camel safaris, Maasai beading lessons, and spending time with a local community.
Big 5, Samburu Special 5, and so much more. Have you even heard of a striped hyena?
Highlights
Off-the-charts wildlife viewing - the biodiversity on offer is staggering, whether you travel during the busy Great Migration peak season or the quiet Secret Season. See 'Locations' below for more information.
A range of activities including morning, afternoon and night game drives, walking safaris, an anti-poaching dog demonstration and participation, beading lessons with Maasai women, a Mara Elephant Project visit (including tracking collared elephants), a community visit, quad biking, and horse and camel safaris.
Exclusivity: Our lodge choices emphasise the luxury of exclusivity - from the low-density approach to safari tourism in Laikipia to intimate wildlife viewing and attentive, discreet service
Locations
Your journey begins with a night in Nairobi, Kenya's bustling capital, to recover from your inbound flight. Nairobi offers a range of visitor attractions, including Nairobi National Park, wildlife rehabilitation centres, museums, markets, shops and restaurants.
From Nairobi, you will enjoy a scenic flight to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia, a vast mosaic of conservancies celebrated for its high-quality, low-density tourism, meaning fewer vehicles and a more exclusive safari experience. Laikipia is a sanctuary for endangered species and boasts a significant population of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo), striped hyena, gerenuk, beisa oryx, Grévy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Jackson’s hartebeest, African painted wolves (wild dogs) and the breathtaking black leopard.
Another scenic flight will find you at the world-renowned Maasai Mara. The 'Mara' offers spectacular year-round wildlife action, with resident lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs consistently providing thrilling sightings. During the months of August to October, the Maasai Mara is famous for hosting the dramatic Mara River crossings during the Great Wildebeest Migration. The "Secret Season" from late October to April offers lush landscapes, abundant predator action, and significantly lower visitor numbers.
Lodges & hotels
1 night at Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport: This city hotel is located a 5-minute drive from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and has all the modern amenities you will need to recover from your travels, including a rooftop pool and bar.
3 nights at Kicheche Laikipia, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Laikipia: A small, eco-award-winning, luxurious tented camp nestled on the edge of an indigenous forest in the shadows of Mount Kenya. This is an ideal base from which to explore Ol Pejeta.
3 nights at Kicheche Mara, Mara North Conservancy, Maasai Mara: A classic tented camp alongside a seasonal stream, hidden in a beautiful valley. The camp hosts resident wildlife and is a fantastic starting point for your Maasai Mara game drives.
Timing
Kenya offers spectacular wildlife encounters throughout the year, so the timing of your safari will depend on your choice of the drama and crowds of the Great Migration river crossings or the quieter "Secret Season" with fewer tourists and more exclusive wildlife encounters.
The iconic Great Wildebeest Migration Mara River crossings in the Maasai Mara occur between August and mid-October, which is also the busy prime safari season. This dry season also offers excellent general game viewing in Laikipia, where animals congregate at diminishing water sources.
Alternatively, the Secret Season, from late October to April, offers a more intimate safari experience. Characterised by lush green landscapes, fewer crowds, abundant newborn animals, and heightened predator action, it also boasts impressive bird migrations and wildflowers. Laikipia experiences "long rains" from March to June and "short rains" in October/November, which brings vibrant scenery but can mean thicker vegetation, though the climate remains temperate and suitable for safaris.
Read more about The Great Wildebeest Migration | the Maasai Mara | Laikipia
Price per person sharing
7 nights (8 days) | ||
Low season | Jan-Feb 2026 | from US$ 5,915 |
High season | Jul-Oct 2026 | from US$ 8,665 |
Includes: All airport, lodge, and camp transfers as per itinerary with flights Nairobi-Laikipia-Maasai Mara-Nairobi, all meals, accommodations, game activities including morning and afternoon drives and night game drives in Laikipia; and park & conservation fees, anti-poaching dogs display, Mara Elephant Project visit, beading lessons and community discovery trip
Excludes: International flights and airport taxes, unless otherwise stated; excess weight charges for luggage; visa or entry permits; insurance (recommended for safaris); tips and gratuities; personal items such as telephone calls and laundry; optional safari extensions and activities not specified in the itinerary.
Thank you!
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
"Top of my safari memories list"
Ramona Rubach, AG Kenya safari expert: "The exceptional staff and service at both camps, only to be outdone by the multi-layered conservation experiences of Laikipia and an unforgettable leopard encounter in Mara North - put this combination at the top of my ‘Top Safari Memories’ list."
"The Maasai Mara stole my heart"
Luis Gama, AG East Africa safari expert: "In Laikipia, I locked eyes with endangered rhinos, a moment of pure awe. Then the Maasai Mara stole my heart - floating above elephants at dawn and sleeping to lions’ wild serenade. Magical."
"Cinematic Africa"
Stefan Winterboer, AG Kenya safari expert: “Kenyans are bold, chaotic, and incredibly alive - every person contributing, building, doing. Then, the Maasai Mara and Laikipia are perfect. Pure, dynamic, cinematic Africa. This trip blends that contrast beautifully."
Safari planning
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Kenya Big 5 in Laikipia & Maasai Mara
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We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
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