In short
- A 5 day luxury safari gives you 4 nights in one camp, about 3 full days of game viewing, and a flight in and out. It is one place done well.
- We have 6 itineraries of 5 days: 3 in Kenya, 2 in Tanzania and 1 in Uganda.
- Prices run from USD 4,275 per person sharing in Kenya to USD 13,950 at Singita Sasakwa in Tanzania.
- Five days works best as a first taste, a short break, or an add on to a beach stay.
If you only have 5 days, you can still have a real safari. You will not see everything, but you will see a lot.
The trick is to stay in one place and let the wildlife come to you.
We are a Kenyan owned luxury safari company in Karen, Nairobi. Below are our 6 itineraries of 5 days, and what each one gives you.
What does a 5 day safari really include?
A 5 day safari is built around 4 nights in one camp. Light aircraft take you in and out, so no time is lost on the road.
Here is how the days run on our Maasai Mara itineraries.
- Day 1. Meet and assist at the airport, a flight to the camp, lunch, then an afternoon game drive.
- Days 2 to 4. Morning and evening game drives, guided bush walks, sundowners and a night drive on private land.
- Day 5. A final morning drive and breakfast, then your flight back.
That makes about 3 full days of game viewing, plus 2 half days. It is short, but it is deep.
The 5 day luxury safaris in East Africa at a glance
| Journey | Country | Camp | From USD per person sharing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Day Maasai Mara Luxury Safari at Hemingways Ol Seki | Kenya | Hemingways Ol Seki | 4,275 |
| 5 Day Tsavo Luxury Safari at Finch Hattons | Kenya | Finch Hattons | 5,325 |
| 5 Day Mahali Mzuri Ultra Luxury Safari | Kenya | Mahali Mzuri | 6,825 |
| 5 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari | Uganda | Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp | 4,800, plus permits |
| 5 Day andBeyond Grumeti River Lodge Safari | Tanzania | andBeyond Grumeti River Lodge | 10,500 |
| 5 Day Singita Sasakwa Ultra Luxury Safari | Tanzania | Singita Sasakwa Lodge | 13,950 |
Kenyan and Ugandan prices are low to shoulder season, per person sharing. The Tanzania prices include return flights. Peak season carries supplements.
5 Day Maasai Mara Luxury Safari at Hemingways Ol Seki: the best value 5 day safari in Kenya
You spend 4 nights at Hemingways Ol Seki, a tented camp in the Naboisho Conservancy. A complimentary night at Hemingways Nairobi in Karen is offered for an early arrival or late departure.
Because it is a private conservancy, vehicles are limited, and night drives and bush walks are allowed. The reserve does not permit these. The camp has a pool, a lounge and Wi-Fi.
It starts from USD 4,275 per person sharing, with light aircraft flights, park and conservancy fees, meals and house drinks.
5 Day Hemingways Ol Seki Safari at a glance
- Where
- The Naboisho Conservancy, Maasai Mara
- Stay
- 4 nights at Hemingways Ol Seki, plus an optional Nairobi night
- Honeymoon touch
- Sundowners on the plains and a private conservancy
- Activities
- Game drives, bush walks, a night drive, optional balloon
- Best for
- A first Kenya safari at the best value
5 Day Tsavo Luxury Safari at Finch Hattons: the best 5 day safari for red elephants
Finch Hattons stands in Tsavo West National Park. You stay 4 nights, with flights from Nairobi or from the coast.
Days include game drives and visits to Mzima Springs. The page highlights red dust elephants, lions, leopards and fringe eared oryx. Afternoons are free for the spa, the pool, or watching hippos from your deck.
On clear mornings you may see Kilimanjaro. It starts from USD 5,325 per person sharing.
5 Day Finch Hattons Safari at a glance
- Where
- Tsavo West National Park
- Stay
- 4 nights at Finch Hattons
- Honeymoon touch
- A spa, spring fed pools and a yoga deck
- Activities
- Game drives, Mzima Springs, spa, hippo watching
- Best for
- Couples who want space and red elephants
5 Day Mahali Mzuri Ultra Luxury Safari: the best 5 day ultra luxury safari in Kenya
Mahali Mzuri is Sir Richard Branson's camp in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy. It has 12 glass fronted suites with private decks, and each suite has a dedicated butler.
There is an infinity pool overlooking the valley and the Nasaki Spa. You can take guided bush walks and a conservancy night drive, and balloon flights are optional.
It starts from USD 6,825 per person sharing in the low to shoulder season, with a complimentary night at Hemingways Nairobi.
5 Day Mahali Mzuri Safari at a glance
- Where
- The Olare Motorogi Conservancy
- Stay
- 4 nights at Mahali Mzuri
- Honeymoon touch
- An infinity pool, a spa and your own butler
- Activities
- Game drives, bush walks, a night drive, optional balloon
- Best for
- Couples who want ultra luxury in 5 days
5 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari: the best 5 day gorilla trip
This journey is built around the gorillas. After a night near Entebbe, a scheduled flight takes you to Kihihi, and a short drive reaches Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp in Bwindi. It is the only luxury lodge inside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
You trek to a habituated gorilla family. The trek can last from 40 minutes to six hours, and you spend one hour with the gorillas. A second day offers another trek, a Batwa community visit or a guided birdwalk.
It starts from USD 4,800 per person sharing, and gorilla permits cost USD 800 each per day, paid separately. A Uganda eVisa and yellow fever certificate are required.
5 Day Uganda Gorilla Safari at a glance
- Where
- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
- Stay
- 3 nights at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, plus a night near Entebbe
- Honeymoon touch
- A private viewing deck and campfire drinks
- Activities
- Gorilla trek, Batwa visit, birdwalk, waterfall walk
- Best for
- Adventurers who want gorillas in a short trip
5 Day andBeyond Grumeti River Lodge Safari: the best 5 day private safari in Tanzania
You stay 4 nights at andBeyond Grumeti River Lodge, a camp of 10 tented suites on the bank of the Grumeti River. Each suite has a private veranda and an outdoor shower, and there is a pool.
You get your own guide and Land Cruiser for every day, and off road and night drives are permitted. The price includes return flights and a complimentary night in Nairobi, Kilimanjaro or Arusha.
It starts from USD 10,500 per person sharing.
5 Day Grumeti River Lodge Safari at a glance
- Where
- The Grumeti Reserve, western Serengeti
- Stay
- 4 nights at andBeyond Grumeti River Lodge
- Honeymoon touch
- A river deck and a private guide
- Activities
- Off road drives, night drives, a free day
- Best for
- Guests who want a private Serengeti stay
5 Day Singita Sasakwa Ultra Luxury Safari: the best 5 day manor house stay in the Serengeti
Singita Sasakwa Lodge is an Edwardian manor house with 9 cottages. Each has a private heated plunge pool and a fireplace.
You stay 4 nights, with twice daily game drives, night drives and tennis included. Flights are included in the price, which starts from USD 13,950 per person sharing.
5 Day Singita Sasakwa Safari at a glance
- Where
- The Grumeti Reserve, western Serengeti
- Stay
- 4 nights at Singita Sasakwa Lodge
- Honeymoon touch
- A private heated plunge pool and a fireplace
- Activities
- Game drives, night drives, tennis, optional riding
- Best for
- Guests who love grand, historic design
Which 5 day safari should you choose?
- Choose Hemingways Ol Seki for the best value and a first Kenya safari.
- Choose Finch Hattons for red elephants, a spa and space.
- Choose Mahali Mzuri for ultra luxury and a butler.
- Choose the Uganda gorilla safari to meet gorillas.
- Choose andBeyond Grumeti River Lodge for a private Serengeti stay.
- Choose Singita Sasakwa for a manor house and a plunge pool of your own.
What is included, and what is not
Our 5 day journeys include the camp, meals, house drinks, game activities, park or conservancy fees, internal flights and airport meet and assist.
They do not include international flights, visas, the Kenya eTA, travel insurance, gratuities, premium drinks, spa treatments or optional balloon flights.
The best time for a 5 day safari
July to October is the best time for the Maasai Mara, and it is also the high season. For Tsavo, the best months are June to October and January to February.
Peak season and the festive period carry supplements, so the low and shoulder seasons give the best value.
How to turn 5 days into more
Five days pairs well with a beach finish. Our Kenya and Mauritius, Kenya and Seychelles and Mnemba Island journeys do exactly that.
You can also read our guide to ultra luxury safaris in East Africa.
What a 5 day safari costs
Prices run from USD 4,275 to USD 13,950 per person sharing, depending on the camp, the country and the season. Single travellers are quoted separately.
Read our guide to honeymoon safari costs for how the total comes together.
Written by Abner Ongeri of Ongeri Expeditions, a Kenyan owned luxury safari company in Karen, Nairobi. We visit every camp we sell, and we plan these journeys every week. Last checked 15 October 2026.