Nairobi – Lake Nakuru National Park (160 km – Approx. 3 hrs)

Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner

07:00 hrs – Your driver/guide will pick you up from your Nairobi hotel, residence or directly from the airport.

We’ll begin our journey with a scenic drive through the Great Rift Valley, one of Kenya’s most dramatic and beautiful landscapes. Along the way, we’ll make stops to admire panoramic views of the valley’s escarpment — an awe-inspiring introduction to the adventure ahead.

Our first destination is Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake fringed by grassy banks and Acacia woodland. Here, you’ll enjoy an exciting boat safari, cruising through the calm waters as you spot hippos, exotic birdlife, and possibly giraffes and other game along the shores.

From the lake, we head to nearby Crescent Island for a guided walking safari. Unlike most reserves, this private sanctuary allows you to walk freely among giraffes, zebras, waterbucks, gazelles, and a wealth of birds — a rare and memorable experience in the wild.

After the walking safari, we continue to Lake Nakuru National Park, arriving in the late morning.

Though rising water levels have reduced the number of flamingos over the years, the park remains one of Kenya’s most picturesque, with its towering escarpments, acacia forests, waterfalls, and rolling hills draped in green.

The lake and its surrounding habitats are teeming with birdlife, including pelicans, cormorants, kingfishers, storks, ostriches, herons, and eagles. The colours, the calls, and the constant activity create a vibrant, living landscape.

Lake Nakuru is also renowned for its thriving black and white rhino populations, many of which can be seen grazing near the lakeshore. You’re also likely to spot the rare Rothschild’s giraffe, buffalo, zebra, warthogs, baboons, and — with a bit of luck — even a leopard.

We’ll spend the afternoon on game drives and birdwatching, soaking up the park’s incredible diversity.

As evening approaches, we’ll settle in at your selected Lake Nakuru safari lodge or tented camp, surrounded by the sounds and sights of nature.

Lake Nakuru – Masai Mara Game Reserve (300 km – Approx. 6 hrs)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We’ll begin our morning with a short game and birdwatching drive in Lake Nakuru National Park. As the park comes alive in the early light, this is a perfect opportunity to spot any wildlife we may have missed the day before — perhaps a white rhino grazing at the lakeshore or a dazzling display of birdlife in the acacia trees.

After breakfast, we’ll depart for Masai Mara, Kenya’s most iconic wildlife reserve.

The drive takes us through the scenic heart of the Great Rift Valley and the rolling farmlands of Narok County, the gateway to Maasai country. Along the way, we’ll pause at viewpoints and cultural landmarks to stretch and take in the vast, unfolding landscape.

By early afternoon, we’ll arrive at the Masai Mara Game Reserve, where the golden plains stretch endlessly and wildlife roams in spectacular numbers.

After checking in and enjoying lunch, we’ll set out on our first game drive in the Mara. This introductory safari offers a taste of what makes the reserve so extraordinary. You may encounter elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes, buffalo, and gazelles — all set against the backdrop of sweeping savannah and umbrella-shaped acacia trees.

As the sun dips toward the horizon, we’ll make our way to your carefully selected Masai Mara safari lodge or tented camp, where you’ll settle in for the night, surrounded by the untamed sounds of the African wilderness.

Full Day in the Masai Mara

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is a full-day safari adventure — an immersive exploration of the Masai Mara, one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife sanctuaries.

The Masai Mara Game Reserve offers the highest concentration and diversity of wildlife in Kenya. Its expansive golden plains, gently rolling hills, and scattered acacia trees create the perfect backdrop for incredible wildlife viewing.

This is Big Five country, and we’ll be on the lookout for lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhino, along with cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, and countless grazers such as zebras, giraffes, wildebeests, impalas, and topis. With every turn of the track, new and thrilling sightings await.

We’ll spend the entire day traversing the reserve on unlimited game drives, maximizing our chances of spotting a wide array of species in their natural habitats.

Midday, we’ll pause for a picnic lunch by the Mara River, a lifeline for the region’s wildlife and a gathering place for hippos and crocodiles. If your safari falls between July and October, you may even witness part of the Great Wildebeest Migration, as thousands of animals make the dramatic river crossing — a true spectacle of nature.

As the sun begins to set over the vast savannah, we’ll return to your Masai Mara safari lodge or tented camp, where you can relax, share stories from the day, and enjoy a well-earned dinner under the stars.

Masai Mara Game Reserve – Nairobi

Distance: 265 km | Approx. 5 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your lodge or camp, soaking in the last peaceful moments in the wild. Your dedicated driver/guide will assist with checkout, and soon we’ll begin the journey back to Nairobi, Kenya’s vibrant capital.

As we leave behind the sprawling savannahs of the Masai Mara, the scenic drive will take us through the Rift Valley’s dramatic landscapes. Along the way, you’ll catch sight of Mount Longonot, a dormant stratovolcano rising steeply from the valley floor. Your guide will share insights into its fascinating geologic past and cultural significance — the name “Oloonong’ot” in Maasai means “mountain of many spurs” or “steep ridges.”

Depending on your preferences and schedule, we offer a few optional detours along the way (at extra cost):

• Lake Naivasha stopover – for a relaxing lunch or an optional excursion like a boat ride or a walk on Crescent Island.
• Kiambethu Tea Farm – located near Limuru, this stop offers a tranquil tea farm tour and a delightful three-course buffet lunch, ideal for those curious about Kenya’s colonial history and lush highland agriculture.

Alternatively, we can head directly to Nairobi, where we’ll drop you off at your hotel, residence, or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward journey.

Over the past four days, you’ve experienced a vibrant cross-section of Kenya’s ecosystems — from freshwater lakes and acacia forests to sweeping savannahs brimming with wildlife. We hope your safari has been as enriching as it has been memorable.

From all of us at Natural World Kenya Safaris — thank you for choosing us. Until next time, safari njema!