This private five-day safari flies from Wilson Airport to the Maasai Mara and returns to Nairobi by road via Lake Naivasha. Three nights in the Mara provide the arrival-day game drive and two full game-viewing days. The fourth and final night is at Naivasha, with the included boat ride and Crescent Island walk on Day 4.
The final day visits Hell’s Gate before the Nairobi return. The included flight is one-way from Wilson to the Mara; the return journey is by road. Budget, Mid-Range and Luxury accommodation options and a Land Cruiser 4×4 or Safari Minivan are available, with the selected arrangement determining the quotation.
One-way flight from Wilson Airport to the Maasai Mara
Three Maasai Mara nights with two full game-viewing days
Lake Naivasha boat ride and Crescent Island walk
Final overnight at Lake Naivasha
Road return from the Mara via Naivasha to Nairobi
Included Hell’s Gate main-valley walk on the final day
Itinerary
A five-day private fly-in safari with three Maasai Mara nights and a final Lake Naivasha night, including the lake boat ride and Crescent Island walk before returning by road to Nairobi.
Day 01 :
Nairobi to Maasai Mara by Air
The safari begins with the included flight from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to the Maasai Mara. The airstrip arrival is followed by the transfer to the Mara base and the afternoon game drive.
The first wildlife session introduces the reserve’s open grassland, wooded margins and riverine habitats. Your guide selects suitable viewing stops around the wildlife encountered, providing time to observe behaviour and photograph the landscape.
8 hours
Lunch + Dinner
Day 02 :
Full Day Maasai Mara Game Drive
Morning and afternoon game drives explore the Maasai Mara’s grassland and wooded habitats. Your guide looks for grazing herds, elephants and predators, with time at suitable sightings for observation and photography.
The day’s viewing follows the animals present and permitted routes within the booked camp sector. Riverine habitats provide a different perspective from the open plains, with opportunities to look for hippos, crocodiles and birds where the route reaches suitable viewing areas.
12 hours
Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
Day 03 :
Full Day Maasai Mara Game Drive
A second full day of Mara game viewing provides further time to explore the booked sector’s wildlife habitats. The guide follows current animal movements and chooses routes and stops around the sightings encountered.
The day combines patient wildlife observation with landscape and birdwatching opportunities. The programme returns to the Mara base for the third and final Mara overnight before the road journey to Naivasha.
7 hours
Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
Day 04 :
Maasai Mara to Lake Naivasha — Boat Ride and Crescent Island
The safari leaves the Maasai Mara for Lake Naivasha. The included boat ride explores the freshwater lake under the operator’s safety arrangements, with opportunities to observe waterbirds and hippos from the boat route.
The included Crescent Island walk follows sanctuary paths through grazing habitat beside the lake. These activities introduce the lake environment before the final overnight at Naivasha.
8 hours
Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
Day 05 :
Hell’s Gate Visit and Return to Nairobi
The final morning visits Hell’s Gate National Park for the included walk on permitted main-valley routes. The guide introduces the volcanic landscape and looks for wildlife from the designated visitor routes. Cycling remains an optional activity with its existing separately payable charges.
The safari then returns by road to Nairobi, completing the fly-in programme and the road journey through Naivasha.
8 hours
Breakfast
Cost Details
What's Included
One-way flight Nairobi (Wilson Airport) to Maasai Mara
Road transport from Maasai Mara via Lake Naivasha to Nairobi in a Land Cruiser 4x4 or Safari Minivan, according to the selected package
Airport transfers in Nairobi
All Maasai Mara game drives in the selected safari vehicle
Boat safari on Lake Naivasha
Hell's Gate National Park entry and walking safari
Professional English-speaking safari guide
Four nights full board accommodation
All applicable park and reserve entry fees
Drinking water during game drives and activities
Crescent Island walk at Lake Naivasha
What's Not Included
International flights
Kenya electronic travel authorisation (eTA) fees, where applicable
Travel and medical insurance
Hot air balloon safari in the Mara
Optional Maasai village visit
Hell's Gate cycling fees
Tips and gratuities for guide and accommodation staff
Alcoholic and premium beverages
Personal expenses such as laundry and souvenirs
Excess baggage charges under the booked airline and ticket conditions
FAQs
Why is this called a fly-drive safari
The safari flies one-way from Wilson Airport to the Maasai Mara, stays three nights in the Mara and travels by road to Lake Naivasha for the final night. It returns to Nairobi by road on Day 5. A return flight to Nairobi is not included.
What is included at Lake Naivasha
The Day 4 programme includes the Lake Naivasha boat ride and Crescent Island walk, followed by the final overnight at Naivasha.
What does the Hell’s Gate visit include
The final day includes a guided walk on permitted main-valley visitor routes before returning to Nairobi. It does not promise inner-gorge access. Cycling is optional and its existing separately payable charges remain excluded.
What is the baggage allowance for the bush flight
Bush-flight baggage limits depend on the airline, aircraft, route and ticket. Weight, bag dimensions and any camera equipment must fit the confirmed carrier allowance. Extra baggage or hard cases require the carrier's prior acceptance; no single allowance applies to every safari flight.
When is the best time for this fly-drive safari
Kenya's main rainy seasons are the March to May long rains and October to December short rains, with substantial regional and year-to-year variation. Rain can affect roads, visibility and camp operations. The chosen route and confirmed services determine the best fit; calendar dates do not establish dry weather or specific wildlife encounters.
Safari Route Map
A sense of the journey
Your route, at a glance.
5 days4 nightsKenya
Nairobi → Maasai Mara → Lake Naivasha → Hell’s Gate → Nairobi
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Find your journey on the map.
Tap a stage below to explore the journey.
Location markers are approximate. Connections show the journey sequence, not roads, exact driving distances or live vehicle tracking. The itinerary sets out each stage.
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4.9
Based on 664 reviews
Erica Anderson
What an amazing tour: we saw an incredible number and variety of animals and got to learn so much from our fantastic guide Kelvin. He was very knowledgable and patient with us andWhat an amazing tour: we saw an incredible number and variety of animals and got to learn so much from our fantastic guide Kelvin. He was very knowledgable and patient with us and he made our experience unforgettable. Could not have asked for a better introduction to Kenya!…
Laura H
Very knowledgeable and friendly
michael graham
Kelvin met us at the airport, took us to our hotel and then picked us up next morning for a 5 day Safari through the Masai Mara. Brilliant experience! Kelvin is knowledgeable,Kelvin met us at the airport, took us to our hotel and then picked us up next morning for a 5 day Safari through the Masai Mara. Brilliant experience! Kelvin is knowledgeable, patient and great fun. Rustic Nature Tours are well organised and quick to respond from my very first enquiry. You won’t be disappointed.…
Peter M
Great experience! Kelvin is an excellent guide and is full of knowledge. He made sure our 3 experiences were to the max. I highly recommend Rustic Nature Tours and I recommendGreat experience! Kelvin is an excellent guide and is full of knowledge. He made sure our 3 experiences were to the max. I highly recommend Rustic Nature Tours and I recommend asking for Kelvin as your guide.…
Ruth
My husband and I completed a half-day Nairobi Park and Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage tour and the variety of wildlife was amazing: enormous dazzle of zebras cautiously drinking atMy husband and I completed a half-day Nairobi Park and Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage tour and the variety of wildlife was amazing: enormous dazzle of zebras cautiously drinking at the lake, three lions slinking past our vehicle as they hunted an impala, a huge crocodile incubating eggs, two white rhinos napping on the side of the road, and so much more. Our guide was happy to provide knowledgeable answers to all of our questions and was amazing at locating wildlife. I absolutely recommend this company.…
Michael G
Rustic Nature Tours were responsive from my very first contact and flexible with what we wanted to do and when. The Safari was excellent and accomodation/food spot on. If someoneRustic Nature Tours were responsive from my very first contact and flexible with what we wanted to do and when. The Safari was excellent and accomodation/food spot on. If someone says they had a better guide than Kelvin, they are making it up! He’s the MAN. We had a blast.…
Fernando Estaragues
It was a really good experience, it's totally recommended, the service of the office guys is good, they answer to you everytime and with a lot of enthusiasm.The truck was reallyIt was a really good experience, it's totally recommended, the service of the office guys is good, they answer to you everytime and with a lot of enthusiasm.The truck was really good with a lot of personalized service.The guide was the best one, fully recommended our guide, Kelvin Ndolo, he drive through all the safari to let us catch some good pictures, the service is really good with him, he was a nice person with a lot of experience, telling you about everything in Kenya in general, nice time with him, helping, giving advices, experienced man.He is el chingon!!In general we can say that we wouldn't be in a better tour and guide for the first experience in Kenya!…
Nicole S
We had a wonderful day exploring Nairobi and learning so much about the history of both the city and Kenya. This private tour was great value, offering pick-up directly from ourWe had a wonderful day exploring Nairobi and learning so much about the history of both the city and Kenya. This private tour was great value, offering pick-up directly from our hotel and a comfortable ride to each site.Our driver/guide, Denish, was fantastic! extremely safe, knowledgeable, and always ready to answer any questions we had. Every guide we met at the individual stops was equally kind and full of insights.Highlights of our day included a delicious lunch, visiting local community shops for souvenirs, and especially the museum and Kobe Tough! It was the perfect blend of culture, history, and city highlights. If you have a day in Nairobi, we highly recommend booking this tour!…
Marc-Antoine Ladouceur
I booked a four-day trip with Rustic Nature Tour (Safari tour) in Kenya at the very last minute, and they absolutely nailed it. They put together a beautiful itinerary, adapted toI booked a four-day trip with Rustic Nature Tour (Safari tour) in Kenya at the very last minute, and they absolutely nailed it. They put together a beautiful itinerary, adapted to my preferences, at a price that really surprised me, in a good way. My guide was fantastic, not just knowledgeable about wildlife but also about the socialBiophysical environmental, geomorphology and human stories behind the places we visited. Everything just flowed. I couldn’t be happier with the experience and highly recommend them to anyone looking for an authentic Kenyan adventure…
FarAway57601419658
Just completed a half-day Nairobi Park and Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage tour and the variety of wildlife was amazing: enormous dazzle of zebras cautiously drinking at the lake,Just completed a half-day Nairobi Park and Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage tour and the variety of wildlife was amazing: enormous dazzle of zebras cautiously drinking at the lake, three lions slinking past our vehicle as they hunted an impala, a huge crocodile incubating eggs, two white rhinos napping on the side of the road, and so much more. Our guide was happy to provide knowledgeable answers to all of our questions and was amazing at locating wildlife. I absolutely recommend this company.…
Katie Richards-Schuster
Kelvin and Rustic Nature Tours were the absolute best choice for the two day trips we did during our time in Nairobi. We could not have asked for a better experience. The tripsKelvin and Rustic Nature Tours were the absolute best choice for the two day trips we did during our time in Nairobi. We could not have asked for a better experience. The trips were completely seamless. We had terrific communication beforehand in preparation for the experiences, and we felt that all aspects were accounted for. Kelvin was absolutely exceptional as a guide. He was very knowledgeable about the animals, the local history, and the elements of the safari experience. His ability to navigate us to exactly the spots where we could see the most, be the closest, and truly experience all that Kenya has to offer.For the first-day experience, we traveled to Amboseli. People in our group really wanted to see elephants. And elephants we saw! Kelvin helped position the Land Cruiser so that we had multiple herds of elephants (including babies) walk in front of the vehicle, less than 10 feet away!! It was a memorable sight. We also saw lions, zebras, wildebeests, birds (of all kinds), giraffes, and so much more. Kelvin has a college degree in wildlife management, and he is both extraordinarily knowledgeable and professional in the trip. He answered our questions, provided information, and helped us experience the wildlife in the safest manner possible. I would definitely recommend taking the Land Cruiser over the Safari van. The roads in the park are bumpy, and the Land Cruiser ensured a safe, comfortable ride while also getting us into the perfect spot to see the animals. After 4 hours or so in the park, we headed to a beautiful lodge to eat. The food and experience at the lodge were wonderful. After that, we did another drive before leaving to head back to Nairobi. A long but unbelievable day!For the second experience, we headed to Nairobi National Park, then the Sheldrick Elephant Trust, Kobe Beads, lunch, and the Giraffe Center. Again, Kelvin was a masterful guide. In the park, he got us close to hippos, rhinos, zebras, giraffes, ostriches, and even a crocodile- among many other animals. He found the perfect spots and maneuvered the vehicle just right (and sometimes even off the beaten path) to make sure we saw the best views of the animals (again, we recommend the Land Cruiser for the best experience!). After talking with others who took different trips to Nairobi National Park, we realized how special our visit was. Many of them didn’t have Kelvin guiding them and, as a result, missed seeing all that we saw. We can’t emphasize enough how amazing Kelvin is. From there, Kelvin got us to the Elephant Sanctuary. He had the tickets already set, so all we needed to do was walk in, and then he got us to the perfect spot where we could be feet away from baby elephants, a baby rhino, and a baby zebra. Truly spectacular! After that, we visited a local bead factory that is a microenterprise supporting local women. We had a tour, learned about the beading process, and then had the opportunity to visit their shop (no hassling or pressure to buy- but we did get some beautiful items!). Then to a hidden garden for lunch at a local restaurant, and then finally to the giraffes. By the time we got to the giraffes, it was very busy, but again, Kelvin worked his magic to get us through the line quickly (we felt like VIPs!) and to the perfect spot to feed them. He clearly knows the staff, as he was able to get us pictures and even additional food to feed the animals. After a long day, he masterfully navigated traffic (which is no joke) to return us to the hotel.All in all, our time in Kenya would not have been the same without Kelvin and Rustic Nature Tours. We can’t recommend their tours any higher. You will not be disappointed!!!…
Brianna D
Our amazing guide Faith was right on time to pick us up at our hotel. We started the morning with a trip to Kobe Tough where we saw the bead making process. Then we headed to theOur amazing guide Faith was right on time to pick us up at our hotel. We started the morning with a trip to Kobe Tough where we saw the bead making process. Then we headed to the elephant orphanage where Faith knew the whole system and was able to get us up close spots in the “splash zone.” Next up was the giraffe center where we got up close to hand feed giraffes. Faith knew all of the giraffes by name and personality and even took photos on our camera for us. Afterwards we stopped for traditional Kenyan lunch (at your own expense) and we elected to do the Karen Blixen museum for the entrance fee as well. Since it was just me and my husband, Faith even drove us to the local mall before taking us back to the hotel. Overall it was a day well spent with memories to last a lifetime!…
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