Tour Gallery
Overview
This 5-day budget safari provides an adventurous journey through Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, and the Masai Mara. It is tailored for travelers seeking a cost-effective way to experience diverse Kenyan landscapes, from Rift Valley lakes to the famed Mara plains, including wildlife encounters and basic but clean accommodations, all facilitated by experienced local guides.
Tour Suitability:
- Traveler Profile: Ideal for budget-conscious explorers, students, backpackers, and small groups looking for an authentic and affordable Kenyan wildlife adventure.
- Pace of Travel: Action-Packed, designed to cover three significant wildlife and scenic areas with a focus on maximizing experiences.
- Interests: Boat excursions and optional Hell's Gate exploration at Lake Naivasha, rhino and flamingo viewing at Lake Nakuru, Big Five game drives in Masai Mara, and cultural visits to Maasai villages.
- Comfort Level: Budget Lodge/Camping, utilizing properties like Dove Nest Lodge, Maili Saba Camp, and Fisi Camp.
- Focus: A value-for-money safari emphasizing diverse activities and wildlife across classic Kenyan parks, with basic, clean lodging.
Key Tour Highlights
- Lake Naivasha & Hell's Gate: Explore Lake Naivasha with a boat excursion to Crescent Island and an optional visit to Hell’s Gate National Park for walking or cycling.
- Lake Nakuru's Birdlife & Rhinos: Discover Lake Nakuru, known for its (seasonal) flamingos, rhino sanctuary, and diverse bird species.
- Masai Mara Wildlife Adventure: Two days dedicated to game drives in the legendary Masai Mara, searching for the Big Five and other plains game.
- Affordable Accommodations: Stays in budget-friendly lodges and tented camps, offering an authentic connection with nature.
- Cultural Interaction: Opportunity to visit a Maasai village in the Mara (optional, extra cost).
Accommodation Style
This tour features stays at budget-friendly lodges and tented camps. Accommodations include Dove Nest Lodge (Lake Naivasha), Maili Saba Camp (near Lake Nakuru), and Fisi Camp (near Masai Mara), or similar establishments chosen by local operators. These provide basic but clean rooms or tents, often with private or shared bathroom facilities, ensuring an economical yet comfortable safari experience.
Featured Destinations & Attractions
- Lake Naivasha: A freshwater lake offering boat trips to Crescent Island for walking safaris among wildlife.
- Hell's Gate National Park (optional visit): Unique for its geothermal activity, gorges, and opportunities for cycling and hiking.
- Lake Nakuru National Park: A rhino sanctuary also celebrated for its (seasonal) flamingos and diverse birdlife.
- Masai Mara National Reserve: Kenya's premier wildlife reserve, home to the Big Five and the Great Wildebeest Migration.
- Great Rift Valley Viewpoint: Scenic stop for photography.
Itinerary
Your local guide will pick you up from your Nairobi hotel around 7:30 AM to begin your safari. The journey to Lake Naivasha takes roughly two hours, with a brief stop at a viewpoint along the route to observe the Rift Valley's vast depression. Upon arrival, you will start exploring the Lake Naivasha area. (Meals: Lunch & Dinner, Drinking water)
Accommodation: Dove Nest Lodge or similar budget lodge.
The main activity today is a boat excursion on Lake Naivasha to Crescent Island, where you will observe hippos and other wild creatures. An optional visit to Hell's Gate National Park is possible, where you can explore hot springs and the Ol Karia Geothermal Power Plant (walking and cycling are permitted here, activities at own cost). Afterwards, head to the Lake Nakuru area, having lunch at your camp near the park. In Lake Nakuru National Park, you may spot flamingos among many bird species, plus white and black rhinos. (Meals: All meals included, Drinking water)
Accommodation: Maili Saba Camp or similar budget tented bush camp.
After breakfast, head to Masai Mara National Reserve, stopping along the road for a picnic lunch. Upon arrival, you may take a visit to a Maasai Village (optional, extra cost). In the afternoon, enjoy a game drive in Masai Mara. (Meals: All meals included, Drinking water)
Accommodation: Fisi Camp or similar budget tented camp.
You will spend the entire day exploring this unique park, which is the northern part of the well-known Serengeti National Park. After an early breakfast, embark on a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch. The Masai Mara is home to a high concentration of wildlife, especially during the migration season, and you will visit the Mara River. (Meals: All meals included, Drinking water)
Accommodation: Fisi Camp or similar budget tented camp.
This marks the end of your safari. After breakfast, you will depart for Nairobi. You will take a late lunch at a local hotel in Nairobi, where you can spend the night (own arrangement) or be dropped off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) depending on your preference. (Meals: Breakfast, Drinking water. Lunch may or may not be included depending on departure time)
Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour).
Inclusions and Exclusions
Inclusions
- Professional guide
- Activities (as written in the itinerary)
- Entry fee
- Taxes
- A bottle of drinking water
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Exclusions
- Meals and drinks
- Personal expenses
- Tips and gratuities
- Visas