Day 1 — Nairobi → Lake Nakuru National Park
Depart Nairobi early morning (7:00 AM) and drive northwest into the Great Rift Valley. Stop at the Rift Valley escarpment viewpoint
for sweeping panoramas across the valley floor. Arrive Lake Nakuru
National Park by mid-morning and check in to your lodge for lunch.
Afternoon game drive along the alkaline lakeshore — witness spectacular
concentrations of lesser and greater flamingos and pelicans. Look out for white and black rhinos, lions, leopards, hippos, and the endangered Rothschild's giraffe. Visit Baboon Cliff for elevated views over the lake. Sundowner drinks at the lodge. Overnight Lake Nakuru.
Day 2 — Lake Nakuru → Lake Naivasha
Early morning game drive inside Lake Nakuru
National Park — the best time to spot lions and leopards still active
from their night hunts. After breakfast and check-out, drive south to Lake Naivasha (approx. 1.5 hours). Check in to your lakeside lodge and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, board a boat ride on the lake
— glide past pods of hippos, African fish eagles, cormorants,
kingfishers, and pelicans along the papyrus-fringed shores. Late
afternoon, take a guided walking safari on Crescent Island — stroll freely among zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, and waterbuck with no predators present. Overnight Lake Naivasha.
Day 3 — Lake Naivasha → Maasai Mara National Reserve
After breakfast, depart Lake Naivasha and drive southwest to the Maasai Mara National Reserve
(approx. 3 hours) through scenic Maasai pastoral lands and the rolling
Rift Valley floor. Arrive in time for lunch at your lodge. In the
afternoon, embark on your first game drive into the Mara — home to one
of the densest concentrations of wildlife on Earth. The vast open plains and golden grasslands are breathtaking. Spot lion prides, elephant herds, cheetahs, buffalo, and enormous herds of wildebeest and zebra. Sundowner on the plains. Overnight Maasai Mara.
Day 4 — Full Day Maasai Mara National Reserve
Full day exploring the Maasai Mara with morning and afternoon game drives. The morning is prime time for big cat activity — cheetah families, leopards in riverine trees, and lion prides with cubs are regularly encountered. Head to the Mara River where, in season (July–October), wildebeest and zebra make their legendary river crossings through crocodile-infested waters — one of nature's greatest spectacles. Afternoon drive through the Mara Triangle for a change of scenery. Optional hot air balloon safari at dawn (own cost). Optional Maasai village visit at sunset. Overnight Maasai Mara.
Day 5 — Maasai Mara → Nairobi
Final sunrise game drive in the Maasai Mara —
often the most rewarding of the safari as predators are still active
from their overnight hunts. Return to lodge for breakfast and check-out.
Drive back to Nairobi (approx. 5 hours via Narok). Stop for lunch en
route at a local restaurant. Arrive Nairobi by late afternoon. Drop-off
at hotel or JKIA for onward travel. End of safari services.
