5 Days Masai Mara Tsavo Safari – Can You Fit Both Parks?
5 Days Masai Mara Tsavo Safari: 2 nights Mara, 2 nights Tsavo, flying required. Non-residents pay USD 1,950 to USD 4,040. Kenyan residents pay KES 254,000 to KES 525,000. You’ll see the Big Five in the Mara, red elephants and volcanic landscapes in Tsavo, but you won’t have buffer days if weather delays flights or animals aren’t cooperating.
What This Guide Covers
Five days for the Mara and Tsavo is tight. I won’t pretend otherwise. These parks are in opposite directions from Nairobi. There’s no direct connection. You’re either flying between them or spending a full day driving through the city.
That said, I run this trip at Masaimara.co.ke for clients who have limited time but want both experiences. It works – you just need to understand what you’re sacrificing.
What It Costs
What You Get (The Gains) | What You Lose (The Sacrifices) |
Big Five Density (Masai Mara) | Zero buffer days for weather or flight delays |
Volcanic Red Wilderness (Tsavo) | No second chances to track missed wildlife sightings |
4 high-impact game drives across both parks | Relaxed safari pacing (expect a fast, busy schedule) |
Two sharing. Bush flight Mara to Nairobi included in all prices.
Park Fees (Non-Resident, USD)
- Masai Mara: USD 100/day (low) / USD 200/day (peak)
- Tsavo West: USD 80/day
- Tsavo East: USD 80/day
5 Days (2 Mara + 2 Tsavo) – Non-Residents (USD)
Tier | Low Season | Peak Season | Lodges |
Budget | 1,950 | 3,280 | Jambo Mara, Ngulia Lodge, Voi Safari Lodge |
Mid-Range | 2,190 | 3,560 | Sentrim Mara, Kilaguni Serena, Ashnil Aruba |
Luxury | 2,590 | 4,040 | Mara Serena, Kilaguni Serena, Satao Camp |
5 Days – Kenyan Residents (KES)
Tier | Low Season | Peak Season | Lodges |
Budget | 254,000 | 426,000 | Jambo Mara, Ngulia Lodge, Voi Safari Lodge |
Mid-Range | 285,000 | 463,000 | Sentrim Mara, Kilaguni Serena, Ashnil Aruba |
Luxury | 337,000 | 525,000 | Mara Serena, Kilaguni Serena, Satao Camp |
What’s Included
- Bush flight from Mara to Nairobi (Wilson Airport)
- Private 4×4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof for all game drives
- English-speaking driver-guide throughout
- Fuel for all transfers and game drives
- Full board accommodation (all meals)
- Park entry fees: Masai Mara (2 days), Tsavo West (1 day), Tsavo East (1 day)
- Bottled drinking water during drives
- AMREF Flying Doctors emergency evacuation cover
- Airport/hotel pickup and drop-off in Nairobi
What’s Not Included
- Tips for driver-guide (USD 15-20 / KES 2,000-2,500 per day)
- Tips for lodge staff
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Travel insurance (required)
- Visa/eTA fees (etakenya.go.ke)
- Personal expenses: laundry, souvenirs
- Hot air balloon in Mara (USD 500 / KES 65,000)
- Mzima Springs underwater tank entry (USD 15 / KES 2,000)
The Honest Trade-Off
With 7-8 days, this combination is comfortable. With 5, you’re maximizing every hour.
Here’s what you get: two full game drives in the Mara, one afternoon and one morning. Two full game drives in Tsavo, same pattern. That’s four game drives total across both parks.
Here’s what you don’t get: time to follow up on sightings. If you spot a leopard in a tree on your Mara afternoon drive but the light is bad, you can’t go back next morning – you’re flying out. If Tsavo elephants are at the far end of the park on Day 4, you get one more crack at them on Day 5 morning before you leave.
For first-time safari visitors, I usually recommend either the Mara alone for 5 days (more relaxed) or this combo knowing it’s fast-paced. Both are valid choices.
How It Works
Transfer Method | Travel Time | Expert Verdict / Impact |
Bush Flight + Drive | 45-min flight + 4-hour drive | Highly Recommended: Saves a full day of game viewing. |
SGR Madaraka Train | ~3 hours rail time from Nairobi | Scenic Alternative: View wildlife from the window; skips morning drive. |
Full Road Drive | 10+ hours total driving time | Not Recommended: Heavy Nairobi traffic; exhausts travelers. |
The only 5-day schedule that makes sense requires flying out of the Mara.
Day 1: Nairobi to Mara (drive or fly). Afternoon game drive. Day 2: Mara morning drive. Fly to Nairobi. Drive to Tsavo West. Day 3: Full day Tsavo West. Day 4: Tsavo West to Tsavo East. Game drives in both. Day 5: Tsavo East morning. Return to Nairobi (or continue to coast).
The key is Day 2. You do your morning game drive in the Mara, then catch a bush flight back to Wilson Airport (usually departing 10-11 AM). From Wilson, your vehicle is waiting. You’re on the road to Tsavo by 1 PM. Reach Tsavo West by late afternoon for a sunset drive.
Without the flight, this doesn’t work. Driving from the Mara to Tsavo via Nairobi is 10+ hours. I tried it once. Left the Mara at 6 AM, hit traffic on the Nairobi bypass around noon, reached Tsavo almost 8 PM. The clients were wrecked. Never again.
Day by Day
Day 1: Nairobi to Mara
Leave early. Stock up at The Hub in Karen before you go – last place for decent sunblock and specialty items. The shops in Narok are overpriced tourist traps.
Drive is 5-6 hours via Narok to Sekenani Gate. Or fly from Wilson if you want to maximize game time – 45 minutes in the air.
Gate choice matters when you only have 2 nights. Sekenani is paved and fast, but Talek Gate puts you closer to the big cat action immediately. If your lodge is near Talek or Musiara, you start seeing lions within minutes. Ask your operator about this.
Afternoon drive. The Mara in late afternoon light is when the cats start moving. Lions coming off their midday sleep. Cheetahs scanning for evening hunts.
One thing about Mara timing: the ticket runs on a 12-hour window now (6 AM to 6 PM). If you enter at 4 PM on Day 1, your ticket might expire sooner than you think. Always confirm with your guide whether they’re booking “Transit” or “Full Day” tickets – getting double-charged at the gate on your way out ruins the morning.
Day 2: Mara to Tsavo
Up early. 6 AM game drive. This is your only Mara morning, so make it count. Dawn is when you see kills, when the light is best for photography.
Back to the lodge by 9:30. Pack. Your bush flight leaves around 10:30-11 AM from whatever airstrip is nearest your lodge (Keekorok, Musiara, Kichwa Tembo – depends on location).
45 minutes later you’re at Wilson Airport. Your Land Cruiser meets you. Drive to Tsavo West via the Mombasa highway to Mtito Andei gate. About 4 hours.
Alternative if you hate small planes: take the SGR train from Nairobi. Madaraka Express leaves around 2 PM, reaches Mtito Andei station by 5-ish. KES 1,500 in economy, about KES 4,000 for First Class. Your vehicle meets you at the station.
Here’s something most people don’t realize: the train tracks cut directly through Tsavo. From the First Class carriage, you’ll often see elephants and giraffes from your window while drinking coffee. It’s a “train safari” of sorts – something no bush plane or Land Cruiser offers. The timing is tighter if you take this route – you’d need to skip the Mara morning drive to make it work – but some clients love it.
Arrive Tsavo West late afternoon. Maybe a short sunset drive if you have energy.
Day 3: Tsavo West
Full day.
Go to Mzima Springs early – 8 AM if possible. There’s an underwater glass tank where you watch hippos from below. By midday the water gets murky from hippo movement. Morning is the only time you get that clear view of hippos walking on the spring bottom. Costs USD 15 / KES 2,000 extra, worth it.
The rest of the day: Shetani Caves and the lava flow (wear thick-soled boots – volcanic rock shreds sandals), Chaimu Crater, the volcanic landscape. Tsavo West is more scenic than East but denser vegetation makes spotting harder.
Ask your guide about Roaring Rocks for a sundowner. It’s a volcanic outcrop with a short steep hike that most tourists skip. The wind comes through the rocks and makes this eerie howling sound – that’s where the name comes from. Best 360-degree view of the Chyulu Hills. Bring a drink and watch sunset from up there.
The red elephants. First time I saw them I thought something was wrong – they look like they’re covered in rust. It’s the volcanic dust. They roll in it deliberately. Apparently it protects their skin from sun and parasites. If you see one dusting, stay downwind. That silt gets in your camera instantly.
Day 4: Tsavo West to East
Morning drive in West. Then cross to Tsavo East via internal roads – about 2 hours.
Tsavo East is flatter, more open. The Galana River runs through. Better visibility for wildlife.
Lugard Falls is worth the drive. It’s not actually a waterfall – more like white-water rapids through volcanic rock gorges. The real draw is Giant Crocodile Point just downstream. Massive crocs sunbathe there in ways you rarely see in the Mara.
Even if you’re not staying at Voi Safari Lodge, pay the small fee to use their underground photo hide. There’s a tunnel that leads to a bunker at eye level with the waterhole. You can see the red mud in the elephants’ toenails from three feet away. One of the few places in Kenya where you’re that close safely.
Day 5: Tsavo East to Nairobi
Morning drive. Last chance for the red elephants, the maneless lions.
About the lions – Tsavo males often have sparse or no manes. They’re harder to find than Mara lions because they don’t follow vehicle convoys. Your guide should check near baobab trees and along the Mzima-Mombasa Pipeline – the old water pipe running through the park. It has tiny leaks that create mini-oases. Predators know this and wait there, especially during dry season. It’s the closest thing Tsavo has to a reliable lion spot.
Then 5 hours back to Nairobi. Or 4 hours to Mombasa if you’re continuing to the coast.
Tsavo Gear Problems
Tsavo Hazard | The Specific Threat | Expert Safe Fix |
Alkaline Red Dust | Jams camera zoom lenses & irritates eyes | Wrap gear in a shemagh scarf; pack premium eye drops |
Aggressive Tsetse Flies | Painful bites in thickets; attracted to dark blue/navy | Wear strictly khaki or stone colors; carry a Stingo pen |
Sharp Volcanic Rock | Instantly shreds sandals and light sneakers | Wear thick-soled hiking boots for Shetani Caves & craters |
Two things wreck equipment here more than in other parks.
The dust. Tsavo’s red dust is alkaline and sticky. Unlike Mara dust, it clings to lens sensors and jams mechanisms. Bring a lens pen. Don’t change lenses while the vehicle is moving – there’s static electricity in that dry air that pulls dust into your camera body. Wrap your camera in a shemagh between shots.
Tsetse flies. Tsavo’s thickets have aggressive ones. They’re attracted to dark blue and black – if you wear a navy shirt, you’re a target. Stick to khaki or stone colors. If you get bitten, there’s a local ammonia-based pen called Stingo that helps with the sting. Most lodges have it, but bring your own to be safe.
Bring eye drops too. The dust irritates more than other parks.
Would I Recommend This?
Depends on you.
If you’ve done the Mara before and have exactly 5 days, adding Tsavo makes sense. You get the contrast – green savanna versus red volcanic wilderness. Different animals. Different feel.
If this is your first safari and you have 5 days, I’d probably suggest staying in the Mara the whole time. More game drives, less rushing, better odds of seeing everything without stress.
If you have 6-7 days, the Mara-Tsavo combination becomes comfortable instead of tight. That extra day makes a real difference.
Questions
Is 5 days enough for both parks? Enough to see both, yes. Enough to relax and follow up on sightings, no. You’re moving fast the whole time.
Can I skip the flight? Not realistically. Without flying, Day 2 becomes a 10-hour driving day and you lose a full game drive. The flight costs roughly USD 280 / KES 36,000 per person but buys you half a day.
What wildlife will I see? Mara: lions, elephants, buffalo, maybe leopards. Migration crossings if you’re here July-October. Tsavo: red elephants, maneless lions, fewer animals per hour but bigger wilderness feeling.
Best time? July-October overlaps dry season in both parks. Migration in the Mara, animals at waterholes in Tsavo.
Can I end in Mombasa instead of Nairobi? Yes. From Tsavo East, it’s 4 hours to the coast. Good option if you want beach time after.
David Njunge · August 2026
Related: 5-Day Mara Safari · 7-Day Safari · Budget Safaris
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