Everything about this journey
Move between the trip overview, day-by-day plan and what is or is not included in your safari price.
About this journey
Travel style
- Private Safari
- Road Safari
Destinations
Transport and guiding
Private road safari vehicle plus Lake Naivasha boat.
Your safari itinerary
A clear daily flow so you know how the journey unfolds from departure to the final experience.
Nairobi to Lake Nakuru – rhino and Rift Valley game drive
Lake Nakuru National Park
Leave Nairobi in the morning and descend into the Rift Valley toward Nakuru. Enter Lake Nakuru National Park and begin a game drive through woodland, grassland and lakeshore habitats. Search for white and black rhino, Rothschild’s giraffe, buffalo, zebra, waterbuck and, with luck, lion or leopard. Along the lake edge, your guide identifies pelicans, flamingos when present and other waterbirds. Visit one of the park’s elevated viewpoints if road conditions allow, then exit in the late afternoon and continue to the selected accommodation in the Nakuru/Naivasha area.
Your detailed programme begins with a guide briefing covering the day's route, expected travel time, activity conditions and any park or conservation-area procedures. Keep cameras, binoculars, sun protection and a light layer accessible rather than packed away, because useful sightings or scenic stops can begin before the main destination is reached.
Lake Nakuru is a compact Rift Valley park where lake-edge habitat, woodland, grassland and rocky slopes can be explored within a relatively small area. It is particularly important for rhino conservation and also supports Rothschild's giraffe, buffalo, zebra, antelope, predators and diverse birdlife. Flamingo numbers vary with water chemistry, lake levels and feeding conditions, so the park should not be sold as a guaranteed flamingo spectacle. Its compact scale makes it well suited to focused morning or afternoon drives and to combination routes with the Mara, Naivasha or Laikipia.
This is also a transfer day, so the itinerary avoids pretending that road travel is empty time. Departure is planned early enough to protect the useful safari or activity window, while comfort stops are taken as needed. Drive times in Kenya vary with traffic, weather, road works, park entry procedures and wildlife stops. If arrival is earlier than expected, the guide can use the remaining light for an introductory activity; if conditions cause delay, the programme protects safety and avoids rushing after dark.
By the end of the activity, the guide will recap the main sightings and experiences and confirm the next day's departure plan where applicable. Exact wildlife sightings, mountain views, migration activity, road conditions and activity access remain subject to nature and local regulations, which is why the itinerary is detailed but intentionally not presented as a guarantee of specific encounters.
Lake Naivasha boat experience and return to Nairobi
Lake Naivasha
After breakfast, continue to Lake Naivasha for a morning boat trip. Move quietly along suitable sections of the shoreline while observing hippos from a safe distance and watching fish eagles, kingfishers, cormorants, herons and other waterbirds. Depending on the selected option, add a guided nature walk on an appropriate lakeside sanctuary or keep the programme boat-focused for a relaxed morning. After lunch, begin the return journey to Nairobi, with an optional viewpoint stop if time and weather permit.
After the morning briefing, your guide reviews current conditions and adjusts the day's route where necessary. The aim is to preserve the core itinerary while using local knowledge, recent sightings and realistic transfer times to make the day more rewarding.
Lake Naivasha introduces a freshwater ecosystem into the safari circuit. Boat outings typically focus on hippos viewed at a respectful distance, African fish eagles, kingfishers, cormorants and other waterbirds, with exact routing determined by wind, water level and local boat guidance. The wider Naivasha area also links naturally with Hell's Gate and the Rift Valley. It is a useful change of pace between long game-drive days because the experience is slower, quieter and viewed from water level rather than through a safari vehicle.
This is also a transfer day, so the itinerary avoids pretending that road travel is empty time. Departure is planned early enough to protect the useful safari or activity window, while comfort stops are taken as needed. Drive times in Kenya vary with traffic, weather, road works, park entry procedures and wildlife stops. If arrival is earlier than expected, the guide can use the remaining light for an introductory activity; if conditions cause delay, the programme protects safety and avoids rushing after dark.
By the end of the activity, the guide will recap the main sightings and experiences and confirm the next day's departure plan where applicable. Exact wildlife sightings, mountain views, migration activity, road conditions and activity access remain subject to nature and local regulations, which is why the itinerary is detailed but intentionally not presented as a guarantee of specific encounters.
What your package covers
These items are included in the quoted safari price unless your written quotation states otherwise.
- Professional English-speaking safari driver-guide.
- Transport in the vehicle type specified for the package, with game-viewing roof where applicable.
- All scheduled game drives, guided visits and activities stated in the itinerary.
- Applicable national park, national reserve or conservancy entry fees for the included programme.
- Accommodation during multi-day safari nights in the selected comfort category; specific properties are confirmed at quotation stage and are not fixed in this package description.
- Meals stated in the day-by-day itinerary.
- Bottled drinking water while travelling in the safari vehicle.
- Pick-up and drop-off at the stated Nairobi, Mombasa, Diani, Malindi or Watamu meeting point where applicable.
- Government taxes and service charges applicable to the included services at the time of quotation.
What to budget for separately
These items are normally outside the package price unless specifically added to your written quotation.
- International flights and any domestic flights not expressly stated as included.
- Kenya visa or electronic travel authorisation costs where applicable.
- Travel, medical, evacuation and cancellation insurance.
- Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, porters and other service staff.
- Alcoholic drinks, premium beverages and personal purchases.
- Laundry, telephone charges, souvenirs and other personal expenses.
- Optional activities such as hot-air balloon safaris, night drives, spa treatments or additional community visits unless specifically stated as included.
- Pre-safari and post-safari accommodation or transfers not stated in the itinerary.
- Any new or increased statutory park, reserve, conservancy, marine or government charges introduced after a quotation has been confirmed, unless otherwise stated in the booking terms.
