Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island day tour Overview
This private Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island day tour includes the boat ride and sanctuary walk, with birdwatching and a lunch break at your own expense. The guide coordinates boat access and open walking paths with conditions on the day. Wildlife remains wild; particular sightings and close encounters are not guaranteed.
Your private vehicle can be a Land Cruiser 4×4 or safari minivan. Check the selected package for its vehicle and price basis; different options may have different prices.
This is a day tour with no overnight stay included. Budget, Mid-Range and Luxury accommodation options are available for a separately arranged stay.
This is a one-day tour with no overnight stay. Planned Nairobi pickup is 07:00; the return journey starts around 16:30, with Nairobi arrival around 18:30–19:30. These timings include the road return and depend on traffic, activity duration, stops and the agreed drop-off location. Arrival may fall outside this window. Allow an agreed additional buffer for any onward flight or timed connection.
Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island day tour Highlights
Included Lake Naivasha boat ride and Crescent Island walk
Birdwatching and wildlife observation, with sightings dependent on conditions
Private Land Cruiser 4x4 or Safari Minivan according to the selected package
Lakeside lunch break; lunch and drinks paid separately
Planned 07:00 pickup and 18:30–19:30 Nairobi return, subject to traffic
Itinerary
7AM :
Travel to Lake Naivasha
Your private guide collects your party from the agreed Nairobi hotel or Airbnb and heads towards Lake Naivasha through the Rift Valley. The day moves from the lake boat ride to Crescent Island and the later lakeside nature walk before returning to Nairobi.
2 hours
10AM :
Boat Ride on Lake Naivasha
The Lake Naivasha boat ride explores the freshwater lake from the water. The boat operator follows the day’s operating route, with opportunities to observe waterbirds and hippos in the lake environment.
Boarding and the lake route follow the boat operator’s safety instructions and the conditions on the water. The lake experience is followed later by the Crescent Island walk.
12.30 :
Lunch at a Lakeside Resort
The lakeside resort stop provides a pause between the morning boat ride and the afternoon sanctuary visit. Your party spends time at the lakeside setting before the programme continues to Crescent Island.
2PM :
Crescent Island Exploration
The Crescent Island walk follows the sanctuary’s open paths through grassland beside Lake Naivasha. The guide introduces the setting and looks for grazing wildlife, with opportunities to observe animals and the surrounding lake landscape on foot.
The walking route follows the sanctuary’s current access arrangements. Wildlife remains free-ranging, and the guide keeps the group at a respectful distance from animals.
3.30PM :
Bird-Watching & Nature Walk
The afternoon continues with birdwatching and a nature walk in accessible lakeside areas. Your guide follows permitted paths and selects places to observe the birds, vegetation and lake surroundings.
This stage gives time to look more closely at the habitat after the boat ride and sanctuary walk. The programme then turns towards Nairobi.
From 16:30; arrival 18:30–19:30 (planned) :
Return to Nairobi
After the lake and sanctuary activities, your guide returns your party from Lake Naivasha to the agreed Nairobi hotel or Airbnb. The return completes the boat ride, Crescent Island walk and lakeside nature programme.
3 hours
Includes/Excludes
Includes
Pick up and drop off at your hotel/residence
Transport in a private Land Cruiser 4x4 or safari minivan, according to the selected package
Fresh bottled drinking water
Professional tour guide
Entry/Admission - Lake Naivasha
Boat ride
Crescent island entry fee
Excludes
Lunch and Drink
Tips
Personal items
Frequently Asked Questions
Are both the Lake Naivasha boat ride and Crescent Island walk included?
Both are included. The programme has the morning boat ride, a lakeside lunch break, the afternoon Crescent Island walk and later lakeside birdwatching and nature walking before the Nairobi return. Boat routes, landing and open walking paths follow current operating and access arrangements.
What does the tour include, and is lunch provided?
The programme includes Nairobi hotel or residence pickup and return, private transport, guide, bottled water, the boat ride and Crescent Island entry. Lunch and drinks, tips and personal items are excluded. A Land Cruiser 4×4 or Safari Minivan is available according to the selected package.
How long is the programme, and how is wildlife viewed?
Nairobi pickup is planned for 07:00, with departure from Naivasha around 16:30 and Nairobi arrival around 18:30–19:30. Traffic and activity conditions affect the return. Wildlife is observed from the boat and on authorised walking paths at a respectful distance; particular sightings and close encounters are not guaranteed.
A sense of the journey
Your route, at a glance.
1 dayKenya
Lake Naivasha → 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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Group Discount Available
From
$150
/ Adult
From
$100
/ Child
Best Price Guaranteed
Private Tours
Professional Local Guide
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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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