Kenya Family Safari – Nairobi, Lake Naivasha & Masai Mara (5 Days)

Our Kenya family safari package mixes the animals children love most with plenty of variety and sensible driving times. You start with baby elephants and giraffes in Nairobi, break the journey at Lake Naivasha with a hippo boat ride and finish with two nights of big-cat game drives in the Masai Mara. It is a private five-day trip for your own family, and the price starts from USD 1,290 per adult sharing.

Why Choose a Kenya Family Safari Package?

A first safari with children can go wrong when the days are too long or the activities too passive. This Kenya family safari package is designed the other way round. Every day has something active, such as feeding a giraffe, riding a boat or searching for lions, and the drives are broken up so that children are never stuck in the vehicle for hours.

We use family-friendly lodges and camps with family rooms and pools. Your private vehicle and guide go at your family’s pace, and you can stop whenever children need a break. It is a mid-range alternative to our Family Luxury Safari.

• Baby elephants: the feeding at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi.
• Giraffes up close: hand-feed them at the Giraffe Centre.
• Hippo boat ride: a gentle activity on Lake Naivasha.
• Big cats: game drives in the Masai Mara.
• Family comfort: family rooms and pools along the way.

Kenya Family Safari Package Route at a Glance

• Day 1: Nairobi, with baby elephants and giraffes
• Day 2: Nairobi to Lake Naivasha, with a boat ride and Crescent Island walk
• Day 3: Lake Naivasha to the Masai Mara, with an afternoon game drive
• Day 4: Full day of game drives in the Masai Mara
• Day 5: Early game drive and return to Nairobi by road or flight

Day-by-Day Kenya Family Safari Package Itinerary

Days 1 and 2: Nairobi and Lake Naivasha

Day 1, elephants and giraffes in Nairobi. Meet your guide at your Nairobi hotel or the airport. Visit the 11am baby elephant feeding at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where orphaned calves come in for their milk, then feed giraffes at the Giraffe Centre. Overnight in Nairobi. If you have extra time, our Nairobi National Park safari is another easy first outing.

Day 2, Nairobi to Lake Naivasha. Drive into the Great Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha. In the afternoon, take a boat ride among hippos and fish eagles, and walk on Crescent Island with giraffes and zebras. Our guide to the Lake Naivasha boat safari explains what to expect.

Days 3 to 5: The Masai Mara

Day 3, Lake Naivasha to the Masai Mara. Drive to the Masai Mara, arriving for lunch at your family-friendly camp. An afternoon game drive looks for lions, elephants and cheetahs. Find out more on our Masai Mara safari page.

Day 4, a full day in the Mara. Take morning and afternoon game drives with a break at camp, or go out for the whole day with a picnic. An optional Maasai village visit lets the children meet local people and learn about their way of life.

Day 5, back to Nairobi. Start with an early game drive, then drive back to Nairobi, or fly at extra cost, for your onward flight.

Wildlife on a Kenya Family Safari Package

Nairobi: elephants and giraffes

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust cares for orphaned elephants, and the daily feeding is a chance to see the calves at close range. At the Giraffe Centre you can feed giraffes from a raised platform, which children find unforgettable.

Lake Naivasha: hippos and zebras

The boat ride brings you close to hippos and birdlife, and Crescent Island lets families walk among giraffes, zebras and wildebeest with a guide.

The Masai Mara: big cats

The Mara is the best place on the trip for lions and cheetahs. Elephants, buffalo, giraffes and zebras are common, and from July to October the Great Migration brings wildebeest to the plains.

Tips for a Safari With Children

• Pick the right age: children aged about 6 and over get the most from game drives, but the short drives and active stops suit younger children too.
• Bring entertainment: binoculars, a notebook and an animal checklist keep children interested between sightings.
• Plan breaks: your private vehicle can stop whenever children need a rest.
• Follow the rules: children stay in the vehicle during game drives, and staff escort guests after dark.
• Check activity ages: some camps set minimum ages for activities, and we check this for you.

For more ideas, see our Kenya family safari packages page.

What Makes This Kenya Family Safari Package Different?

Many safari itineraries are written for adults and simply adapted for children. This Kenya family safari package starts with children in mind. The first day is entirely about animals that children can meet up close, and the trip builds toward the Mara gradually so that interest grows rather than fades.

• An easy start: day 1 is a Nairobi day with no long drive, which is kind to jet-lagged children.
• Variety every day: elephants and giraffes, then a boat and a walk, then big-cat game drives.
• Private vehicle: your family sets the pace, and you can stop for breaks, snacks and photographs.
• Family rooms: lodges and camps with rooms that fit the whole family, and pools for downtime.
• Short stay in the Mara: two nights are enough for young children without becoming repetitive.

The trip also works as a stepping stone. Families that enjoy it often return for a longer journey when the children are older, and some add a beach stay to make a complete holiday. Because the itinerary is private, we can add or remove activities to suit your children’s ages and interests, and we can lengthen or shorten the drive times if you ask.

If you are comparing family trips, remember that the best Kenya family safari package is the one your children will still talk about a year later. Short drives, hands-on moments and real wildlife encounters do that better than long days in a vehicle.

Accommodation and Pace

You stay in the lodges and camps listed in your itinerary, with full-board meals while on safari. Family rooms and pools are available along the route, and we choose places that welcome children. The pace is steady: one night in Nairobi, one at the lake and two in the Mara. The Mara drive is the longest of the trip, and flying back to Nairobi saves about 5 to 6 hours on the road, at extra cost. See our Kenya lodges and camps for examples.

Best Time for a Kenya Family Safari Package

Most families travel in the school holidays: Easter, summer, October half-term and Christmas. Those are also busy times, so book early.

• January to March: hot, dry weather and good game viewing, with fewer visitors.
• April to May: the long rains bring green scenery and lower prices, with some muddy roads. Easter holidays fall here.
• June to October: the dry season, and the Great Migration reaches the Mara from July to October, which suits the summer holidays.
• November to December: short rains and lush scenery, with busy Christmas weeks.

Book 9 to 12 months ahead for summer and Christmas, and 6 to 9 months ahead for Easter and October half-term, when family rooms fill first.

How Much Does a Kenya Family Safari Package Cost?

This trip starts from USD 1,290 per adult sharing. Most lodges and parks charge less for children, and the exact discount depends on ages and room arrangements, so we include child rates in your quote. The final cost depends on the season, accommodation and group size. For a wider 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) and Kenya’s mandatory travel health insurance (about USD 44 plus small fees per traveller), travel insurance, tips and gratuities, drinks and personal expenses, and optional activities not listed as included.

Photography on a Kenya Family Safari Package

A family safari is full of photo moments: a child feeding a giraffe, a baby elephant drinking milk, a lion in the grass. A lens of 200 to 400 mm suits most wildlife, and a phone is fine for close-up moments at the Giraffe Centre. Early mornings and late afternoons give the best light. Let children take their own photos too, because their view of the trip is often the most charming.

What to Pack for a Family Safari

• Lightweight neutral clothing in khaki, olive or beige, plus warm layers for early mornings.
• Hats, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen for every family member.
• Child-size binoculars and a camera with spare batteries.
• Closed, comfortable shoes for walking at Crescent Island.
• Insect repellent and any malaria prevention your doctor recommends.
• Swimwear for the lodge pools, and books or games for downtime.

Food and Dietary Notes

Vegetarian and Jain meals can be requested in advance on this family safari, and we confirm with each camp what its kitchen can prepare before you pay. Lodges and camps in Kenya cook for guests from many countries, so vegetarian dishes are an everyday request, but menus in remote camps are simpler than in a city hotel and we never promise a specific menu. When you book, tell us each traveller’s needs in plain words: whether eggs and dairy are fine, Jain rules such as no onion, garlic or root vegetables, any vegan or gluten-free needs, and any allergies listed separately. Mention young children who prefer plain food too, so we can ask each camp for simple dishes. Our guide to a vegetarian safari in Kenya explains what to expect and what to pack.

Visas, Entry and Health

Most visitors, children included, need an approved Kenya eTA before arrival; apply only on the official portal at etakenya.go.ke. Since October 2026 the eTA includes Kenya’s mandatory Kenyan Government travel health insurance (about USD 44 plus small fees per traveller, valid 90 days), and your own travel insurance does not replace it; our Kenya mandatory travel insurance guide explains how it works. Malaria is present in much of Kenya, so speak to your doctor or travel clinic about prevention for the whole family, and keep your own travel insurance for wider cover. Before you book, we talk you through your route and current travel conditions. For official park information, see Kenya Wildlife Service and Magical Kenya.

Kenya Family Safari Package FAQs

What is the best age for a Kenya family safari?

Children aged about 6 and over get the most from game drives, but this trip works for younger children too thanks to short drives and active stops. We adjust the pace to your family.

Are child rates available on the Kenya family safari package?

Yes. Most lodges and parks charge less for children, and the exact discount depends on ages and room arrangements. We include child rates in your quote.

Can we fly instead of driving to the Masai Mara?

Yes. Flying from the Mara to Nairobi saves about 5 to 6 hours on the road. It adds cost but suits families with young children.

How do camps look after children in the Masai Mara?

Children stay in the vehicle on game drives, camps have their own house rules, and staff escort guests after dark. Some camps set minimum ages for activities, which we check for you. Before you book, we talk you through your route and current travel conditions.

When should families book a safari for the school holidays?

Book 9 to 12 months ahead for summer and Christmas, and 6 to 9 months ahead for Easter and October half-term, when family rooms fill first.

Book Your Kenya Family Safari Package

Send us your dates, the ages of your children and your preferred rooms by WhatsApp or email, and we will reply with a written, itemised quote with child rates. A deposit secures your lodges and vehicle, and we send final documents and packing advice before you travel. You can compare more routes on our Kenya safari packages page, or add a beach stay from our beach experience options.

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