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Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Volcanoes National Park
Tour Highlights
What makes this trip special
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Your trip, day by day
Nairobi to Masai Mara
Depart Nairobi and journey through the dramatic Great Rift Valley escarpment to the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve. Enjoy a picnic lunch en route and arrive in time for an afternoon game drive across the Mara's golden plains, where lions, elephants, giraffes, and zebras roam freely. Settle into your lodge for a sundowner and dinner under the stars. Morning: Pick-up from your Nairobi hotel at 7:00 AM. Drive south through the Great Rift Valley with spectacular views of the escarpment, Mount Longonot, and the vast Kenyan countryside. Stop at the scenic viewpoint near Narok for panoramic photographs. The journey takes approximately 5 hours with stops along the way. Your guide will provide commentary on the geology, history, and wildlife of the region. Afternoon: Arrive at Masai Mara National Reserve in the early afternoon. Check into your lodge or tented camp and enjoy lunch. At 3:30 PM, depart for your first afternoon game drive in the Mara's productive grasslands. Search for lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, buffalo, zebras, and wildebeest. The Masai Mara is renowned for having one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. Evening: Return to the lodge as the sun sets over the Mara. Enjoy a sundowner drink on the lodge deck overlooking the plains. Dinner at the camp, followed by star-gazing or a night game drive (optional extra). Photography tip: the golden hour before sunset provides incredible lighting for wildlife photography.
Masai Mara Full Day Safari
Rise before dawn for a full day of exploration in the Masai Mara. The morning game drive offers the best predator viewing as lions and cheetahs are most active after dawn. Spend the day tracking the Big Five, visiting the Mara River for crocodile and hippo viewing, and enjoying a picnic lunch in the bush. If visiting during migration season (July-October), witness dramatic river crossings. Morning: Early morning tea or coffee at 5:30 AM. Depart at 6:00 AM for a sunrise game drive - the best time to see predators returning from their night hunt. Look for lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas. Drive through the park's diverse habitats: open grasslands, acacia woodlands, and riverine forests. The early morning light creates superb photography conditions. Visit the Mara River to see hippos and crocodiles. Afternoon: Picnic lunch at a designated site in the reserve, overlooking a scenic river or plains area. Continue the game drive in the afternoon, exploring different sectors of the Mara. The park spans 1,510 sq km and offers vastly different habitat zones. During July-October, head to the Mara River crossing points where thousands of wildebeest and zebras brave the crocodile-infested waters. Photography tip: use a fast shutter speed (1/1000+) for river crossing action shots. Evening: Return to the lodge as the sun sets. Hot shower and relaxation. Optional visit to a Maasai village (manyatta) to experience traditional Maasai dance, learn about their semi-nomadic lifestyle, and purchase authentic beadwork. Dinner and overnight at your Mara lodge. The night sky in the Mara, far from any light pollution, offers spectacular stargazing.
Masai Mara to Lake Naivasha
After an early morning game drive in the Mara, depart for the beautiful Lake Naivasha, one of Kenya's few freshwater lakes. Arrive by midday and check into your lakeside lodge. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat ride on the lake - watch for hippos surfacing and listen to the call of African fish eagles as you cruise past papyrus-lined shores teeming with birdlife. Morning: Early morning game drive from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM in the Masai Mara. Enjoy breakfast at the lodge, then check out and depart for Lake Naivasha. The scenic 4-hour drive takes you back up the Great Rift Valley escarpment, past wheat farms, and through the bustling town of Narok. The changing landscapes from savannah to highlands provide a fascinating contrast. Afternoon: Arrive at Lake Naivasha by midday and check into your lakeside lodge. Enjoy lunch overlooking the lake. At 2:30 PM, board a boat for a guided 1-hour cruise on Lake Naivasha. Observe hippos grazing on submerged vegetation, fish eagles swooping for prey, and cormorants drying their wings. Lake Naivasha is a birdwatcher's paradise with over 400 bird species. Optional: visit Crescent Island for a guided walking safari among zebras, giraffes, and waterbuck. Evening: Return to the lodge for a sundowner on the lakeside deck. Watch the sun set over the Rift Valley escarpment as hippos grunt in the lake. Dinner and overnight at your Naivasha lodge. The evening air is cooler here at 1,884 metres elevation - pack a light jacket. Photography tip: the lake is stunning at sunset with the silhouetted acacia trees and the Mau Escarpment in the background.
Hell's Gate National Park to Nairobi
Today's adventure takes you to Hell's Gate National Park - a rare park where you can cycle or walk among wildlife without the presence of predators. Ride past zebras, giraffes, and buffalo through the dramatic gorge before exploring the geothermal hot springs and the spectacular Olkaria Gorge. After lunch, drive back to Nairobi for your transfer to the airport or hotel. Morning: Early breakfast at the lodge. Check out and drive 30 minutes to Hell's Gate National Park (68 sq km). Rent a bicycle (included) and set off on one of Africa's most unique wildlife experiences - cycling among zebras, giraffes, Thomson's gazelles, and buffalo with no large predators present. The 8 km cycle through the park floor brings you to the dramatic Fischer's Tower and Central Tower columns. Alternatively, opt for a guided walking safari with a ranger. Afternoon: Explore the geothermal wonders of Hell's Gate including the steaming Olkaria Geothermal Station, natural hot springs, and the spectacular Olkaria Gorge with its ochre-coloured cliffs. Enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by the park's stunning scenery. Hell's Gate was the inspiration for Disney's The Lion King's "Pride Rock" landscape. Depart at approximately 1:00 PM for the 2-hour drive back to Nairobi. Evening: Arrive in Nairobi by approximately 3:00-4:00 PM. Drop-off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your departure flight, or transfer to your Nairobi hotel if extending your stay. End of tour. We recommend booking flights departing after 6:00 PM. This compact 4-day safari offers an incredible taste of Kenya's diverse wildlife and landscapes.
What's Included & Excluded
Know exactly what your package covers
Included
- All national park entrance fees
- 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof for game viewing
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Full board accommodation at camps/lodges
- Game drives per the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water in the vehicle
- Airport transfers
Not Included
- International flights
- Tanzania visa
- Travel insurance
- Tips for driver-guide and camp/lodge staff
- Alcoholic beverages
- Optional activities (hot air balloon, cultural visits) unless stated
- Personal expenses
Best Time to Travel
Wildlife viewing is good year-round. The dry season (June-October) concentrates animals around water sources for easier sightings, and the Great Migration's river crossings peak July-October. Calving season in the southern Serengeti runs December-March.
Tented camps and lodges
Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) at camps/lodges
What to Pack
Suggested gear for this trip
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