5-Day Nakuru, Naivasha, Hell’s Gate and Mara Safari

The safari leaves Nairobi for Lake Nakuru National Park, descending into the Great Rift Valley before the arrival game drive. The afternoon circuit explores the lake margins, open grazing areas and woodland, introducing the different habitats within this compact Rift Valley park.

The guide follows current wildlife activity along the park tracks, looking for rhinos, antelope and birds and taking time over the animals encountered. Lake views provide the setting for the first safari afternoon before the first of two nights in the Nakuru area.

Morning and afternoon game drives give a full day to explore Lake Nakuru National Park. The morning circuit follows the lakeside and adjoining woodland, with opportunities to observe waterbirds and the park’s rhino and antelope populations as the guide explains the habitats along the route.

A stop at Baboon Cliff provides a broader view across the lake and surrounding park. The afternoon drive continues through the woodland and open country, allowing time to follow wildlife activity rather than repeat a single short lakeside circuit. Flamingo numbers and other sightings vary with conditions.

The journey continues south from Nakuru to Lake Naivasha. An included boat safari explores the freshwater lake’s wildlife and birdlife, followed by the included guided Crescent Island walk. These two activities provide contrasting views of the lake environment, from the water and on foot.

The Hell’s Gate visit adds a guided walk on the park’s authorised surface walking routes, with its cliffs, rock formations and open valley landscape as the focus. The day’s walking programme follows these approved routes, before the Naivasha overnight.

The road journey leaves Lake Naivasha for the Maasai Mara, travelling through the Rift Valley highlands towards the Mara’s open grassland. Arrival is followed by the scheduled afternoon game drive, introducing the reserve’s savannah habitats and the wildlife encountered along the accessible park tracks.

The private guide follows wildlife activity within the day’s viewing area, allowing time to watch animals and explain their behaviour. This is the safari’s Mara game-viewing afternoon, followed by the itinerary’s single Mara overnight.

The final day is the road return from the Maasai Mara to Nairobi. After leaving the overnight base, the journey retraces the route through the Mara’s surrounding countryside and the Rift Valley highlands towards the capital.

The landscape changes from the pastoral country around the reserve to the more cultivated highlands on the approach to Nairobi. The safari finishes with the scheduled Nairobi drop-off, completing the five-day circuit through Nakuru, Naivasha, Hell’s Gate and the Maasai Mara.