Kenya · Safari

4-Day Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru Safari with Rift Valley Views

4 Days Round trip from Nairobi Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Spend a full day game viewing in Masai Mara, home to the world's largest lion population
02 Look out for the Big Five and other wildlife across Masai Mara's varied ecosystems
03 Admire flamingoes and numerous bird species at Lake Nakuru National Park
04 Take in scenic views of the Great Rift Valley and the Kenyan countryside

Travel from Nairobi to Kenya's most well-known game reserve, Masai Mara Game Reserve, for rewarding wildlife viewing across grassy savannah, crocodile-infested rivers, and semi-arid landscapes. Look out for lions, elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, cheetahs, zebras, crocodiles, hippos, and more, then continue to Lake Nakuru National Park in the Rift Valley, famous for flamingoes and numerous bird species. Along the way, enjoy views of the Great Rift Valley and Kenya's scenic countryside. You can also add an optional Masai village visit if you wish.

Look out for lions, elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, cheetahs, zebras, crocodiles, hippos, and more, then continue to Lake Nakuru National Park in the Rift Valley, famous for flamingoes and numerous bird species.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Budget

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Nairobi, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru National Park, Hell's Gate National Park

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Nairobi to Masai Mara through the Great Rift Valley

Early in the morning, meet your tour guide and leave the Kenyan capital for the famous Masai Mara Park. The road is quite long, but you will pass through many scenic villages and landscapes in the Kenyan countryside. This scenic route to the Masai Mara follows the Great Rift Valley escarpment, which stretches from Ethiopia all the way to Mozambique in the southern part of Africa.
On this first day in the Mara, discover the atypical ecosystem that makes it a unique place for wildlife and a playground for photographers, from grassy savannah and crocodile-infested rivers to semi-arid lands. All these elements combine to harbour a wide range of animals such as lions, elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, cheetahs, and zebras.

Overnight stay in Masai Mara.

Day 02

Full-Day Game Viewing in Masai Mara

Drive on new tracks that you did not have time to visit the day before.
Spend the entire day game viewing in the park, home to the world's largest lion population. Furthermore, in the summer, the Masai Mara is also the scene of the wildebeest migration, an uninterrupted flow of herbivores that is nothing short of amazing.

Overnight stay in Masai Mara.

Day 03

Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru via the Rift Valley

Leave Masai Mara Park to reach a very different region of Kenya: the Great Lakes region of the Rift Valley. In short, you will be heading to one of the most beautiful regions in Kenya, namely Lake Nakuru.
Your route crosses the Mau Mau Escarpment, with surprising picturesque landscapes, where you can stop for lunch and enjoy the view.
Upon arriving at this mythical park, see an impressive blend of animals such as giraffes, wildebeest, buffalos, and zebras. In addition, the lake is home to many birds, making the park a bird watcher's paradise.

Head back to your lodge or camp, where you will spend the night.

Day 04

Lake Nakuru to Nairobi with Optional Hell's Gate Stop

On the last day of the safari, leave for Nairobi in the late afternoon with your Kenya tour guide.
Arrive in Nairobi in the afternoon, with drop-off at any hotel of your choice or back at the airport to catch your flight to your next destination.
If you wish, you can enter Hell's Gate National Park on your way back, which offers spectacular views of extinct volcanic rocks as well as herbivores like zebras and giraffes, seen from the vantage point of an immersive guided walking safari.