The Great Rift Valley safari- 8 days/7 nights

Day 1: Departure

In the early morning you’ll be picked from Jomo Kenyatta International Aiport by the Leading Birding and Camping Safaris team. We’ll drive to Lake Nakuru National Park. On the way we may experience some traffic in Nairobi, but after Nairobi it’s an easy 3 hour drive to Lake Nakuru National Park. On the way we’ll stop at thenGreat Rift Valley view point and if the skies are clear you will have a beautiful view of the Rift valley with Mt. Margaret, Mt. Longonot and the famous Ngong hills.

Upon arrival in Lake Nakuru National Park you’ll have a first chance to see some of the BIG 5! Here you may spot the endangered Black and White rhino. We’ll be driving through the Acacia Forest, along the lake to spot wildlife and birds. Apart from rhinos you might spot giraffes, zebra, impala, water bucks, lion and leopard. Lake Nakuru NP is also famous for its flamingos, but they might not always be there as they also frequent different lakes in the Great Rift Valley depending on the algae
in the lakes. However, not to worry there are plenty of other birds to spot.

While on the game drive we’ll make our way to Sopa Lake Nakuru Lodge. After check-in we’ll have lunch and time to relax, which you will probably need after a long flight to reach Kenya. Later in the afternoon we’ll head out again for game drive.

Day 2

At 6.00 am we’ll go for our final game drive in Lake Nakuru NP as today we have a long day ahead. Early morning game drives are great as the air is still fresh and this is the time that predators go for a hunt. After breakfast we’ll start our drive to Lake Baringo. Upon arrival at Lake Baringo we’ll take a boat to one of the islands where our place for the night is located at Lake Baringo Island Camp. After checking in and freshening up we’ll have lunch. In the afternoon we’ll go for a nature walk on the island.

Day 3

Early in the morning we’ll explore Lake Baringo a bit more by boat. From the boat you’ll be able to spot birds and you have an opportunity to have close encounters with hippos. Lake Baringo is famous for its beautiful islands and it’s believed that one of the biggest colonies of about 20 Goliath Herons have nested here. Also, you might see a Fish Eagle, from up close, catching fish as they are lured by the fishermen. We’ll head to the mainland again as today we’ll be going to Lake Bogoria.

Lake Bogoria lies in a trough below the Ngendelel Escarpment, a sheer 600 metres. It covers 32 sq km and is geothermically active with geysers and hot springs. The reserve is a semi-arid area and characterized by grassland and bushes. As the lake is alkaline, it contains lots of blue-green algae which in turn feed Flamingoes. At times the lake can be teeming with flamingos and there may be as many as 2 million, but this depends greatly on the level of algae. If the food is low, the flamingos might decide to stay at other lakes in the Great Rift Valley. Also, you might spot other birds as there are about 135 species recorded here. The Reserve also harbours a herd of the relatively uncommon Greater Kudu. Other large mammals include buffalo, zebra, cheetah, baboon, warthog, caracal, hyena, impala and dik-dik.

In the afternoon we’ll head back to Island Camp for an overnight where you can enjoy the views and relax on your verandah or at the poolside.

Day 4

After breakfast we’ll catch the boat to the mainland where we continue our safari to Lake Naivasha. Our first stop is Hell’s Gate, a very interesting geographical feature of the Great Rift Valley as well as one of the only National Parks where you are allowed to walk and cycle among the animals.

Hell’s Gate NP is named after a narrow break in the cliffs, once a tributary of a prehistoric lake. There are over 100 species of birds in the park, including vultures, Verreaux’s eagles, Augur buzzard, and swifts. African buffalo, zebra, eland, hartebeest, Thomson’s gazelle, giraffes, and baboons are also common. Besides game, the park features the Fischer’s tower, a prominent volcanic plug, standing 25 m high over the surrounding flat valley floor, and framed by imposing cathedral like cliffs along the edges of the valley. The jewel of Hell’s Gate NP however is Ol Njorowa Gorge, a 24 km long deep ravine lined with sheer cliffs and endowed with hot water springs feeding a stream that meanders down the floor of the gorge as it cuts its way through the rugged and semi-arid landscape.

We’ll drive to the Ol Njorowa Gorge where we’ll have our picnic lunch before going for a hike in the
gorge. After the hike we’ll do a game drive in the park before heading to Naivasha Sopa Lodge.

Day 5

In the morning we’ll explore Lake Naivasha by boat where you’ll come up close with hippos and waterbirds. You also might spot giraffes, zebras and waterbucks on the shore of the lake. Around 10 am we’ll depart for Maanzoni, an estate just outside Nairobi. On the way we’ll stop for a farm lunch at a Mlango Farm. After lunch we’ll continue our journey to Amazing Kenya Retreat. In the afternoon you can go for a walk and come up close to giraffes, wildebeest, zebra and other animals.

Day 6

We’re almost reaching the end of the safari, but you cannot leave Kenya without visiting Amboseli National Park. If the skies are clear you might see Mount Kilimanjaro on the way. Upon arrival in Amboseli we’ll check-in at Kibo Safari Camp, freshen up and have lunch. After lunch you’ll have some time to relax. Later in the afternoon we’ll go for our first game drive in Amboseli National Park. Amboseli is famous for its large herd of elephants that roam the savannah and the swamp. During your game drives the animals you are likely to see include elephants, lions, buffaloes, different species of antelopes, Maasai giraffes, cheetahs, some water birds and dry land bird species. Amboseli National park covers an area of 392sq km and the name Amboseli is actually Empusel. In Maasai language this means place of salt and dust. The swamp in the park provides the water to the animals. On a clear day, an observation hill with a beautiful view, allows visitors to watch the wildlife and see Mount Kilimanjaro.

Day 7

Today we’ll spend a full day in Amboseli National Park. We’ll take our picnic lunches to a scenic spot in the park. In the afternoon we’ll visit a traditional Maasai Village where you can see and learn about the Maasai life and their rich culture.

Day 8

Early morning you can do a last game drive in Amboseli and try to spot some animals that we haven’t seen yet! After breakfast we’ll start our journey back to Nairobi. We’ll have our lunch at Amazing Kenya Retreat where you can relax or go for a walk. You’ll be dropped at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your flight home.

Day 1: Nairobi- Lake Nakuru NP

Day 2: Lake Nakuru NP- Lake Baringo

Day 3: Lake Baringo & Lake Bogoria

Day 4: Lake Baringo- Lake Naivasha

Day 5: Lake Naivasha – Maanzoni

Day 6: Maanzoni – Amboseli NP

Day 7: Amboseli NP

Day 8: Amboseli NP- Nairobi

Sopa Lake Nakuru Lodge

The lodge is located on a range of hills and offers spectacular views over Lake Nakuru National Park. The lodge offers luxury accommodations in spacious rooms with en-suite bathrooms and private balconies overlooking the National Park. There is a swimming pool available for a refreshing dip after a day of game drive.

Island Camp Resort

The Island Camp resort, founded from an archeological dig site of the famous Leakey family, is the second oldest tented camp in Kenya (Governor’s Camp being the oldest) and is situated on the southern end of Ol Kokwe Island. This famous island is in the middle of Lake Baringo. Accommodations are in large lake view thatched cottages with verandahs. There is also a swimming pool for a refreshing swim which offers views of the lake.

Naivasha Sopa Lodge

Set in one hundred and fifty acres of grassland studded with Acacia bushes and trees, the resort is not only home to our resident giraffe, waterbuck and both Vervet and Colobus monkeys, but it is also a night stop for the hippos when they leave the lake every night to come and trim the grass on our expansive lawns. You’ll be staying in a room of one of the cottages that are spread over the lodge’s grounds. There are 2 swimming pools and a spa available for ultimate relaxation after an intense safari.

Amazing Kenya Retreat

Amazing Kenya Retreat is located in the heart of Maanzoni, which is a beautiful savannah grassland estate in the Lukenya. Sitting on your verandah you can enjoy the spectacular view. When the sky is clear you can see Mount Kenya, 150 km to the North. Here you can come up close to animals while walking in Maanzoni.

Kibo Safari Camp

Kibo Safari Camp offers you the real safari experience while sleeping in self-contained tents The beds have been custom designed and locally made using bush logs and will ensure a good night’s sleep! All tents have flush toilets, showers, and wash basins. You can enjoy your shower as you like: bubbling hot or refreshing cold. Also you can relax by the poolside after a game drive in Amboseli National Park. For the duration of your stay in the African bush, Kibo Safari Camp will be your home away from home!