8 Days Great Rift Valley & Mara Experience

Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi – Welcome to Kenya

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you’ll be warmly greeted by your safari guide and transferred to your hotel for check-in and a safari briefing. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy a short Nairobi city tour, visiting attractions like the Giraffe Centre, David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, or the Karen Blixen Museum.

Relax and unwind in the evening as you prepare for your journey through Kenya’s most iconic landscapes.

Day 2: Nairobi – Drive to Lake Naivasha (Great Rift Valley)

After breakfast, depart Nairobi and drive through the spectacular Great Rift Valley escarpment, stopping for panoramic views and photography. Continue to Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake surrounded by lush vegetation and dramatic volcanic hills.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat ride on Lake Naivasha, spotting hippos, cormorants, fish eagles, and kingfishers. Continue to Crescent Island for a guided walking safari among giraffes, zebras, and waterbucks—a truly unique and tranquil wildlife experience.

Day 3: Explore Hell’s Gate National Park

Spend the day exploring Hell’s Gate National Park, one of Kenya’s most scenic and geologically fascinating parks. Known for its towering cliffs, volcanic columns, and hot springs, it offers a unique opportunity for cycling and hiking safaris—something few African parks allow.

Ride or walk among zebras, gazelles, and giraffes while admiring the dramatic rock formations such as Fischer’s Tower and The Central Tower Gorge. In the afternoon, relax by the lake or enjoy a visit to a nearby Maasai community to learn about their traditional lifestyle and beadwork.

Day 4: Lake Naivasha – Drive to Lake Nakuru National Park

After breakfast, depart for Lake Nakuru National Park, another jewel of the Rift Valley. Famous for its rhinos and birdlife, Lake Nakuru is often called “the pink lake” due to the large flocks of flamingos that feed along its alkaline shores.

Enjoy a game drive through the park, spotting white and black rhinos, Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, waterbucks, and perhaps even leopards lounging in the trees. The park’s scenic cliffs, acacia forests, and waterfalls add to its charm.

Day 5: Lake Nakuru – Drive to Masai Mara National Reserve

After breakfast, continue your journey westward toward the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya’s most famous wildlife sanctuary. Arrive at your luxury camp or lodge in time for lunch, followed by an afternoon game drive across the rolling plains.

The Masai Mara is teeming with wildlife, offering some of the best game viewing in Africa. Expect to see lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, and, depending on the season (July–October), the Great Wildebeest Migration—one of the most spectacular natural events on Earth.

Day 6: Full-Day Game Drive in the Masai Mara

Today you’ll spend a full day exploring the vast plains of the Masai Mara. After an early breakfast, set off on a morning game drive when predators are most active. The Mara’s golden grasslands and acacia-dotted horizons create an iconic safari setting where you can spot the Big Five and countless other animals.

Enjoy a picnic lunch by the Mara River while watching hippos and crocodiles basking in the sun. Continue your game drive into the afternoon, tracking elephants, hyenas, and herds of wildebeest before returning to your lodge for dinner and relaxation.

Optional: Experience a hot air balloon safari at sunrise—soaring above the Mara with breathtaking views of wildlife below, followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush.

Day 7: Cultural Visit & Sunset Safari

Begin your day with a visit to a traditional Maasai village, where you’ll meet the Maasai people and learn about their customs, dances, and way of life. This cultural interaction provides a deeper appreciation of the harmony between the Maasai and their natural surroundings.

Return to the reserve for an afternoon game drive—your final chance to spot any wildlife you may have missed. End the day with a sunset sundowner on the savannah, raising a toast to the beauty of Kenya’s wilderness.

Day 8: Morning Game Drive – Return to Nairobi

Enjoy one last early morning game drive to witness the savannah come alive as the sun rises. After breakfast, check out and drive back to Nairobi, with a stop for lunch along the way. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time for last-minute shopping at the Kazuri Beads Centre or Maasai Market before being transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your departure.

Your 8-day Great Rift Valley & Mara Experience concludes with unforgettable memories of Kenya’s wildlife, landscapes, and culture.