Why is this called a fly-drive safari

You fly by light aircraft into the Maasai Mara for maximum game-viewing time, then drive back through the scenic Rift Valley via Lake Naivasha, giving you the best of both travel modes.

What can I do at Lake Naivasha

Lake Naivasha offers hippo boat safaris, birdwatching with over 350 species, walking and cycling in Hell's Gate National Park, and visits to the nearby Elsamere Conservation Centre.

Is Hell's Gate National Park safe to walk in

Yes, Hell's Gate is one of Kenya's few parks where walking among wildlife is permitted. It has no lions or elephants, and a warden guide accompanies all walking groups.

What is the baggage allowance for the bush flight

Each passenger is limited to 15 kilograms in a soft-sided bag on the Nairobi to Mara flight. Your remaining luggage can be stored at your Nairobi hotel.

When is the best time for this fly-drive safari

July to October is ideal for the Great Migration in the Mara and comfortable dry conditions around Lake Naivasha. The green season from January to March also offers lush scenery and fewer visitors.

5 Day Mara Naivasha Fly Drive Safari Fly In Drive Out Kenya

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Overview

A Mara Naivasha fly-drive safari offers the perfect blend of aerial convenience and scenic road travel through Kenya’s most spectacular Rift Valley landscapes. This 5-day adventure begins with a scenic bush flight from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport directly into the heart of the Maasai Mara, where you skip the long road transfer and arrive within the hour to begin Big Five game drives immediately. Two nights in the Mara give you ample time to track lion prides, observe elephant herds, and witness the breathtaking spectacle of the endless golden grasslands that have made the Maasai Mara famous worldwide. The return journey is a leisurely road drive that winds through the dramatic Rift Valley escarpment before descending to the shores of Lake Naivasha, offering a completely different ecosystem filled with hippos, flamingos, and more than 350 bird species. Lake Naivasha’s tranquil shores provide a relaxing contrast to the Mara’s open plains, with a boat ride among wallowing hippos and a walking safari in Hell’s Gate National Park adding new dimensions to your Kenya wildlife experience. The fly-in drive-out format gives you the best of both worlds on this Mara Naivasha fly-drive safari, maximizing wildlife time while delivering a memorable journey back through the Great Rift Valley that serves as Kenya’s geological spine. With comfortable lodge and camp accommodation, full-board meals, and experienced guides throughout, this safari delivers an extraordinary range of Kenya’s ecosystems, from the sweeping savannah of East Africa’s greatest wildlife reserve to the freshwater paradise of the Rift Valley lakes.

Trip Highlights

Scenic bush flight from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara over the Rift Valley
Big Five game drives in the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve
Two nights in the Mara for maximum wildlife viewing opportunities
Relaxed scenic road drive through the Great Rift Valley escarpment
Hippo boat ride on the peaceful waters of Lake Naivasha
Birdwatching with over 350 species at Lake Naivasha
Walking safari in Hell's Gate National Park among dramatic gorges
Flamingo viewing at the lake shore

Day 01 :

Nairobi to Maasai Mara by Air

Your Mara Naivasha fly-drive safari begins at Wilson Airport where you board a light aircraft for the one-hour scenic flight to the Maasai Mara. The flight crosses the dramatic Rift Valley escarpment before sweeping over the endless golden plains of the Mara ecosystem. Upon landing at the bush airstrip, your professional guide transfers you to your lodge for a welcome lunch. The afternoon game drive takes you through prime lion territory, with the Mara's exceptional visibility making predator sightings likely at every turn. Elephant herds browse the woodland margins, buffalo graze the open plains, and as the sun descends, the Mara light turns golden for spectacular photography. Return to the lodge for dinner under the African stars.

Day 02 :

Full Day Maasai Mara Game Drive

Dedicate a full day to exploring the vast Maasai Mara National Reserve on morning and afternoon game drives. The early hours bring mist over the grasslands and highly active predators after their nocturnal hunts. Your guide navigates toward the Mara River where hippo pods crowd the water and massive Nile crocodiles bask on sandy banks. The central plains are ideal for cheetah and leopard sightings, while the woodland edges hold elephant families and buffalo herds. A midday break at the lodge refreshes you for the afternoon drive, which explores different sectors of the reserve as the light softens beautifully for photography.

Day 03 :

Maasai Mara to Lake Naivasha by Road

After breakfast at the lodge, you check out and begin the scenic road drive from the Maasai Mara back toward Nairobi, then northwest to Lake Naivasha in the heart of the Rift Valley. The journey climbs the dramatic Mau Escarpment with sweeping views across the Mara plains before entering the highland tea country and descending to the Rift Valley floor. En route you stop at the Rift Valley viewpoint for panoramic photographs of the valley walls, lakes, and volcanic cones below. You arrive at Lake Naivasha in the early afternoon and check into your lakeside camp for lunch. The afternoon is free to explore the lake shore, watch hippos grazing on the lawn, and enjoy the arrival of water birds at the shore.

Day 04 :

Lake Naivasha - Boat Safari & Hell's Gate

Begin the day with an early morning boat safari on the glassy waters of Lake Naivasha, navigating among pods of hippopotamus as the sunrise illuminates the lake. Your guide identifies the extraordinary birdlife including African fish eagles, malachite kingfishers, pied kingfishers, pelicans, and cormorants nesting in the papyrus margins. After returning to camp for breakfast, you drive to Hell's Gate National Park for a walking or cycling safari through dramatic gorges and volcanic rock formations. Hell's Gate is one of only two Kenyan parks where you can walk freely among wildlife, and giraffe, zebra, buffalo, and warthog often graze alongside the path. Return to the lakeside camp for a relaxing evening as flamingos gather at the shore.

Day 05 :

Lake Naivasha to Nairobi

Enjoy a final leisurely breakfast at the lake with hippos visible just offshore before checking out and beginning the two-hour road drive back to Nairobi. The scenic route rises out of the Rift Valley through the highlands of Naivasha town before joining the main highway back to the capital. You arrive in Nairobi by midday, carrying memories of bush flights, lion encounters, boat safaris, and the stunning Rift Valley landscapes that define this exceptional fly-drive safari.