Kenya: Lake Nakuru & Maasai Mara Safari

Overview

Known as the safari capital of the world, Kenya is synonymous with the safari experience, and this holiday delivers just that. Journey to iconic locations, such as the Maasai Mara, home to a diverse ecosystem. Head out on game drives for a chance to see the big five and a host of other wildlife roaming the open grassland or grazing by the lakes. Our expert drivers are filled with anthropological knowledge to enrich your safari experience and will guide you to the best places to spot your favourite animals.

Experience heart-stopping moments such as seeing a lioness feed her cubs or a leopard sleeping in the shade of an acacia tree; you’ll come face to face with some of Africa’s most iconic animals on our curated tour. This holiday is everything you imagine a safari to be – ideal for wildlife and birdwatching enthusiasts and travellers looking for an authentic safari experience.

Book for July, August or Septemberfor a chance to see The Great Wildebeest Migration and consider adding our 4-nightextensionto the sun-baked region of Buffalo Springs and Samburu Reserves, where elephants cool off in the Ewaso Ngiro River and go in search of the Special Five.

Experience more with so much included

• Happy by day two or we’ll bring you home with a full refund

• Explore Maasai Mara Game Reserve, home to the ‘Big Five’: African elephant, lion, leopard, rhinoceros and African buffalo

• See a variety of native species in their natural habitat in Lake Nakuru National Park, including zebra, gazelle, buffalo, waterbuck, flamingo and a wealth of other birdlife

• Learn about the Rothschild’s giraffe on a visit to a giraffe environmental conservation centre

• Gain insight into the lives of the Maasai people, a nomadic warrior tribe largely untouched by modern civilisation

This Signature Tour includes all of the above as well as the following:

• Take a boat ride on Lake Naivasha with a guided nature walk at Crescent Island with more animals per acre than any other Kenyan Park.

• Enjoy drinks and nibbles as the sun sets in Maasai Mara.

Your Itinerary

Day 1 – ARRIVE IN NAIROBI

Arriving in Nairobi in the evening, we will transfer to our four-star hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 2 – JOURNEY TO LAKE NAKURU

The safari adventure begins this morning as we meet our driver guide for the next six days. Travelling in 4×4 land cruisers, all six passengers have their own windows and seats that recline and adjust for leg room. The pop-up roof allows for 360-degree game viewing.

Our first stop will be an introduction to the world’s largest species of giraffe, the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. Thanks to the work of the Giraffe Centre we visit, there are now over 300 in various Kenyan National Parks. There are three subspecies of the giraffe; the Rothschild’s giraffe in Lake Nakuru National Park; the Masai giraffe located south of the Equator; and the reticulated giraffe, also known as the Somali giraffe, native to North Kenya’s Samburu region.

Well arrive at our lodge in Lake Nakuru National Park in time for lunch and this afternoon, we’ll enjoy our first game drive. Lake Nakuru National Park is home to a shallow lake. The lake is located within the Great Rift Valley of Kenya and was created by volcanic activity from nearby Mount Longonot. You may spot a flamboyance of flamingos grazing on the algae that grow here.

Designated a national park in 1972, we’ll have a chance to spot different species in their natural habitat, including zebra, gazelle, buffalo, waterbuck, Rothschild’s giraffe, rhinoceros, flamingo and a wealth of other birdlife.

In the evening, you’ll be free to relax in the lodge, enjoy dinner and find out what’s on the agenda tomorrow with a debrief from your Tour Manager and local guide.

Day 3 – LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK & CRESCENT ISLAND GAME SANCTUARY

Today, you’ll have the choice to explore the national park on a morning game drive. Experience the wide ecological diversity and varied habitats ranging from Lake Nakuru to the woodland and bushy grassland surrounding it. And spend the afternoon at leisure, enjoying lunch at the lodge and time to relax.

Signature Experience:

Enjoy an afternoon boat ride on Lake Navaisha with a guided nature walk at Crescent Island Game Park. You’re likely to spot interesting species on your nature walk through Crescent Island, as this privately owned game sanctuary boasts more animals per acre than any other Kenyan Park and the shores host abundant birdlife, including pelicans, cormorants and fish-eagles.

Day 4 JOURNEY TO MAASAI MARA

Journeying through the Great Rift Valley to Maasai Mara Game Reserve, you’ll have the opportunity to see more of Kenya’s stunning countryside.

We arrive at the award-winning Maasai Mara Game Reserve, where we’ll stay for three nights, in time for lunch.

In the afternoon, we commence our game drive of Maasai Mara, home to the ‘Big Five’: African elephant, lion, leopard, rhinoceros and African buffalo. You may also spot African wild dog and cheetah, completing Africas super seven.

Maasai Mara is one of Africa’s best wildlife reserves and one of the most well-known. The Maasai Mara and the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania form Africa’s most diverse ecosystem hosting over 95 animal species. On our game drive, look out for herds of elephant, giraffe, gazelle and buffalo meandering through the savannah plains, hippos and crocodiles cooling off in the brown rivers of the Mara and blue and red-tail monkeys playing in the forest.

An abundance of herbivores makes the Maasai Mara an ideal hunting ground for predators, so look out for lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and jackals on our game drive.

If you visit from late July to October, you may witness The Great Wildebeest Migration in which more than 1.5 million wildebeest migrate to Maasai Mara in search of water and pasture.

Day 5 & 6 MAASAI MARA

With another two full days in Maasai Mara, enjoy your choice of activities. Explore this vast reserve at your own pace with full-day, morning or afternoon game drives. Or relax in the lounge and bar or take a dip in the pool. Situated in the heart of Maasai Mara, there’s plenty of wildlife to see at the lodge so look out for the monkeys that wander the grounds or the hippos bathing in the river nearby.

There will also be an included optional visit to the village of the Maasai, a nomadic tribe that populate vast areas of Southern Kenya. They live largely untouched by modern civilisation, and this is a chance to interact with the Maasai. get a glimpse into their culture and see some of their customs and traditions first-hand.

Upgrade your holiday: Consider personalising your holiday with one night stay in a luxury tented safari camp as well as taking a game drive. See in the ‘Personalise your Holiday’ section, speak to a team member for more information.

Signature Experience

At the end of the afternoon game drive on day five, we park in a poignant location within the reserve and enjoy drinks and nibbles as the sun sets.

RETURN FLIGHT

After breakfast, we’ll leave the savannah and journey back to Nairobi, stopping for lunch en route in the area of Narok. We’ll enjoy our last dinner in a local restaurant in Nairobi before your overnight flight home.