5 Days
Lake Nakuru -Maasai Mara – Hell’s Gate National Park Safari
Overview:
This wonderful safari will take you from Nairobi to Masai Mara, onwards to Lake Nakuru then Hell’s Gate National Park and back to Nairobi. The safari can be booked privately or by a group and can be tailored to accommodate your budget (luxury or budget) and your preferences.
During this safari, you will enjoy the Maasai Mara which is one of the most famous and important wildlife conservation and wilderness areas in Africa, world-renowned for its exceptional populations of lions, leopards, cheetahs and African bush elephants, not forgetting the spectacular wildebeests Migration. You will then proceed to Lake Nakuru National Park which offers a diverse landscape of rocky caves, brushy grasslands, and, of course, Lake Nakuru (The national park is populated with an abundance of wildlife, including more than 400 different bird species, but its huge draw is the gathering of greater and lesser flamingos that wade across the lake) and later you will explore the Hell’s Gate National Park which served as the inspiration for the Disney movie Lion King as well as the movie, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life. Hell’s Gate National Park provides a variety of wildlife, unusual flora and many species of birds and is one of only two Kenyan Parks where Climbing, Walking and Biking are allowed.
Itinerary
Day 1: (Nairobi – Lake Nakuru)
Departure from Nairobi to Lake Nakuru will be at 8.00 am. Lunch will be served on arrival followed by afternoon game drive to Lake Nakuru which is world renowned for its masses of flamingos and is often referred to as the “Pink Lake”. Besides birds, it is possible to see small game, like Water Buck, Impala, Rhino and Buffalo in the surrounding gardens. Afterwards, we will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Lake Nakuru – Maasai Mara
After breakfast at the lodge, we will drive to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, the northern part of the Serengeti – Mara ecosystem and one of Kenya’s most favoured game-viewing areas. Lunch will be served on arrival at the camp / lodge followed by afternoon game viewing drive. Dinner and overnight at the Camp or one of the luxurious lodges in the game reserve.
Day 3: (Full Day Masai Mara Game Reserve Game Drive)
Have your breakfast early in the morning followed by a whole day game drive. A picnic lunch will be served at the Mara river which is at the border of Kenya and Tanzania. If you are travelling between July and September, you will see the spectacular migration of both wildebeests and zebras coming from the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara in search of water and greener pastures. Afterwards, we will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Masai Mara – Lake Naivasha
We will start with an early morning game drive followed by breakfast at the lodge. We will then depart for Lake Naivasha with lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight at one of luxury resorts around the lake.
* Optional boat ride is available at Lake Naivasha to view hippos as well as sport fishing.
Day 5: Lake Naivasha / Hell’s Gate – Nairobi
We will have an early breakfast then drive a short distance to Hell’s gate national park for a guided walking tour. Located in the southern part of Kenya just northwest of Nairobi (in the Naivasha area),the Hell’s Gate National Park provides a variety of wildlife, unusual flora and many species of birds and is one of only two Kenyan Parks where Climbing, Walking and Biking are allowed.
The looming cliffs and the Hell’s Gate gorge itself are spectacular and home to a variety of birds and animals such as zebra, baboons, Thomson gazelle, antelope, cheeter, and leopards. Another main attraction is the Fischer’s Tower which is a 25 meter high -volcanic plug near the north-eastern border of Hell’s gate national park. The Olkaria Geothermal power station, which uses one of the hottest sources of energy in the world, is also a spectacular site, with plumes of steam rising into the air.
We will drive to Nairobi later in the afternoon and arrive at around 16:00pm, with a drop-off at either the airport or a city hotel. This marks the end of our tour
Safari Highlights/ Major Attractions:
- The spectacular wildebeest Migration
- Ultimate Game Drive for wildlife viewing including sights of Big five
- Unique Accommodation options in safari lodges / tented camps
- Masai village visit at Maasai Mara (Optional at an additional cost)
- Hot air balloon ride (Optional at an additional cost)
- Game drive along the magnificent fresh lake Nakuru
- Flocks of millions of lesser flamingos and over 400 other species of birds
- Rhino sanctuary
- Spot the Rothschild’s giraffe, Lions and Zebras
- Stunning views of The Great Rift valley escarpment
- Prolific birdlife: there are over 100 species of birds in the Hell’s gate national park including vultures, Verreaux’s Eagles, Augur buzzard and swifts.
- Game viewing on a bicycle at the Hell’s gate national park: you can ride around the park surrounded by hordes of wild animals like buffalo, giraffes, zebra, and impala
- Unique landscape, deep gorges, red colored cliffs, rock towers, hot springs and geysers among others
- The Olkaria Geothermal Station, The Mervyn Carnelley Raptor Hide and Fischer’s Tower at the Hell’s gate national park
- Tourist circuits, nature trails and picnic site
- Rock climbing, hiking and biking at the Hell’s gate national park
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- Park fees
- All activities (Unless labelled as optional)
- All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (Unless labelled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Bottled Drinking Water
PACKAGE EXCLUDES:
- International flights (From/to home)
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips
- All expenses of a personal nature (Souvenirs, drinks, laundry, optional activities, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
