Christmas & New Year Safari – Masai Mara & Lake Naivasha (6 Days)

A Christmas safari Masai Mara trip is the most memorable way to swap a grey European winter for warm sunshine, green plains and wild animals. This six-day Christmas and New Year safari spends two nights at Lake Naivasha and three nights in the Masai Mara, in a private 4×4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof and a professional driver-guide. Camps celebrate the festive season with special dinners, and the price starts from USD 1,890 per adult sharing.

Why Choose a Christmas Safari Masai Mara Trip?

Late December is a lovely time to be in Kenya. The short rains have turned the Mara green, the days are warm and sunny, and many animals have young. Predators are active because there is plenty of prey, and the light for photography is soft and golden in the early morning and late afternoon.

Just as important, you can enjoy the holiday itself without the usual stress. There are no shopping crowds, no cold weather and no cooking. Your guide and camp take care of everything, and you spend Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve watching wildlife instead of the news.

• Green-season Mara: fresh grass, young animals and dramatic skies.
• Festive celebrations: most camps serve a special dinner on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
• Family friendly: family rooms are available, and the Naivasha leg gives children an easy start.
• Private vehicle: a window seat for every guest and a pace that suits your group.
• Sunshine: warm weather while Europe is in winter.

Christmas Safari Masai Mara Route at a Glance

The route is simple and easy to follow. You start with two relaxed days on the shores of Lake Naivasha, then drive to the Masai Mara for three nights of game drives.

• Day 1: Nairobi to Lake Naivasha, with an afternoon boat ride
• Day 2: Lake Naivasha, Crescent Island walk and optional Hell’s Gate cycle
• Day 3: Lake Naivasha to the Masai Mara, with an afternoon game drive
• Day 4: Full day in the Masai Mara, with a picnic lunch and the festive dinner
• Day 5: Masai Mara game drives, with optional balloon flight or village visit
• Day 6: Early game drive and return to Nairobi by road or flight

Day-by-Day Christmas Safari Masai Mara Itinerary

Days 1 and 2: Lake Naivasha

Day 1, Nairobi to Lake Naivasha. Your driver-guide collects you in Nairobi and drives into the Great Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha. After you check in, an afternoon boat ride takes you among hippos and fish eagles. It is a gentle introduction to Kenyan wildlife and an easy way to recover from the flight.

Day 2, Crescent Island and Hell’s Gate. Today is a walking safari on Crescent Island, where you can stroll among giraffes and zebras without a vehicle. You can also add a cycle in Hell’s Gate National Park, an optional activity. The evening is relaxed by the lake. For more ideas, read our guide to the Lake Naivasha boat safari.

Days 3 to 6: The Masai Mara

Day 3, Lake Naivasha to the Masai Mara. Drive to the Masai Mara, arriving for lunch at your camp. After a rest you set out on your first game drive, when the afternoon light is at its best and the animals begin to move.

Day 4, a full day of game drives. Spend the whole day on the plains with a picnic lunch, following lions, elephants, giraffes and whatever else your guide finds. On 24 or 25 December, or on 31 December, you join the camp’s festive dinner and celebrations in the evening. Learn more about the park on our Masai Mara safari page.

Day 5, morning and afternoon game drives. Choose between a sunrise hot-air balloon flight and a Maasai village visit, both optional, or simply enjoy a second full day of game viewing. The balloon flight is an extra cost and depends on the weather.

Day 6, return to Nairobi. An early game drive gives you a last chance for sightings, and then you return to Nairobi by road or flight for your onward journey.

Wildlife on a Christmas Safari Masai Mara

The Mara is one of the best places in Africa to see big cats, and the festive weeks are productive. Here is what to look for in each place you visit.

Big cats and plains game

Lions are the most commonly seen predator, and cheetahs hunt on the open plains. Leopards are harder to find, but riverside trees are the place to look. Elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras and topi spread across the green grass, and many have young at this time of year.

Lake Naivasha: hippos and birds

The lake is a haven for birds and hippos. On Crescent Island you can walk among giraffes, zebras and wildebeest. The short rains also bring migrant birds, so keen birders are well rewarded.

Planning Your Christmas Safari Masai Mara

Christmas is the most competitive time of year to book a camp, so a little planning goes a long way. The tips below come from the questions our guests ask most often before a Christmas safari Masai Mara holiday.

• Book early: camps have limited rooms and many require minimum stays over the festive dates, so we suggest booking 9 to 12 months ahead.
• Choose your celebration night: tell us whether you prefer Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve, and we will place the Mara nights around it.
• Expect some rain: late December is warm, but short afternoon showers are possible, and the green landscape is the reward.
• Think about the return: you can drive back to Nairobi on day 6 or fly, which saves several hours on the road and suits families with young children.
• Keep days flexible: the full day in the Mara can be a picnic day out or two shorter drives with a break at camp, depending on your energy.

A festive safari is also an easy way to bring several generations together. Grandparents can enjoy the relaxed lake days, children can join the boat ride and the Crescent Island walk, and everyone meets for the festive dinner. If you want the wider picture of rooms and children’s rates, our Kenya family safari packages page explains how family travel works with us.

Because Christmas week is busy, roads out of Nairobi can be slower than usual and the Mara has more vehicles. Your driver-guide knows the quieter tracks and the best times to be at each sighting, and he plans the days so you spend less time in queues. That local knowledge is one of the biggest advantages of travelling with a private vehicle instead of a shared minibus on a Christmas safari Masai Mara itinerary.

Accommodation and Pace

You stay in the accommodation listed in your itinerary, with full-board meals while on safari. Family rooms are available, which makes this trip popular with parents and grandparents travelling together. The pace is easy: two nights at the lake, then three nights in the Mara, so you unpack twice and spend more time watching animals. Many camps charge a festive supplement for 24 to 25 December and 31 December, and we include it in your quote so there are no surprises. To compare camp styles, browse our Kenya lodges and camps.

Best Time for a Christmas Safari Masai Mara

The best dates are 20 December to 6 January, when the camps are lively and the festive programmes are running. Christmas is one of Kenya’s busiest weeks, so we recommend booking 9 to 12 months ahead. If you can travel at other times, the Mara has something to offer in every month.

• January to March: hot and dry, with good game viewing and fewer visitors.
• April to May: the long rains bring lower prices, green scenery and some muddy tracks.
• June to October: the dry season, and the Great Migration reaches the Mara from July to October.
• November: the short rains begin, with fresh grass and fewer crowds.
• December: green and warm, with showers in the afternoons and the busy festive weeks.

If you prefer the migration, see our Great Migration safari instead.

How Much Does a Christmas Safari Masai Mara Cost?

This trip starts from USD 1,890 per adult sharing. The final price depends on the season, the accommodation you choose and your group size. Festive supplements apply at many camps, and they are included in your written quote. For a wider budgeting guide, read how much an African safari costs.

What Is Included and Not Included

• Private 4×4 safari Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof and a window seat for every guest
• Professional English-speaking driver-guide, with German, Italian or French on request
• Accommodation as listed in the itinerary
• Meals as listed, full board while on safari
• All park, reserve and conservancy entry fees
• Airport and hotel transfers
• Bottled drinking water in the vehicle

Not included: international flights, the Kenya eTA (from USD 30 per person, depending on the application type), travel insurance, tips and gratuities, drinks and personal expenses, and optional activities not listed as included, such as a balloon flight.

Photography on a Christmas Safari Masai Mara

The green season is a photographer’s favourite. Fresh grass makes a rich backdrop for lions and cheetahs, and dramatic clouds add depth to landscape shots. A lens of 200 to 400 mm suits most wildlife, while a wide lens helps with big skies. Early mornings and late afternoons give the best light. Bring a dust cover and a lens cloth for the occasional shower, and ask your guide to park with the sun behind you.

What to Pack for Kenya in December

• Lightweight neutral clothing in khaki, olive or beige, plus a warm layer for early mornings.
• A light waterproof jacket for afternoon showers.
• A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen.
• Binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens, spare batteries and memory cards.
• Closed, comfortable shoes and sandals for camp.
• Insect repellent and any malaria prevention your doctor recommends.
• A soft-sided bag, because space in the vehicle is limited.

Visas, Health and Safety

Most visitors need a Kenya eTA before arrival, so apply online ahead of your trip and check the current rules for your nationality. Malaria is present in much of Kenya, so speak to your doctor about prevention and take out travel insurance that covers medical evacuation. Our guides check conditions daily, and your plans can change if rain affects the tracks. For official information, see Magical Kenya and the Kenya Wildlife Service.

Christmas Safari Masai Mara FAQs

What is the weather like on a Christmas safari Masai Mara trip?

Late December is usually warm and sunny, with short afternoon showers possible. The grass is green and many animals have young.

How early should we book?

Book 9 to 12 months ahead. Christmas and New Year are among the busiest weeks of the year, and many camps have minimum stays.

Do camps celebrate Christmas and New Year?

Yes. Most camps serve a festive dinner on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, and some add carols, a bush breakfast or fireworks-free celebrations.

Is there a Christmas supplement?

Many camps charge a festive supplement for 24 to 25 and 31 December. We include it in your quote.

Can we add a beach stay after Christmas?

Yes. Diani Beach or Zanzibar make a perfect New Year extension, and we can add 3 to 5 nights at the coast. See our beach experience page for ideas.

Book Your Christmas Safari Masai Mara

Send us your dates and group size by WhatsApp or email, and we will reply with a written, itemised quote. A deposit secures your camps and vehicle, and we send final documents and packing advice before you travel. You can also compare more routes on our Kenya safari packages page, or look at our Kenya family safari packages if you are travelling with children.

Travelling from abroad? See our packages for travellers from India, Malaysia, the USA, the UK and Australia.