5-Day Kenya Rift Valley Lakes Safari: Naivasha, Hell’s Gate & Nakuru
Cycle among zebra, cruise a freshwater lake and track rhino in a bird-rich park.
Go beyond the expected.
A short, varied safari within reach of Nairobi. It combines an active day in Hell's Gate National Park, a lake boat ride and a full day of game viewing at Lake Nakuru National Park, which is known for its rhinos and birdlife.
- Boat cruise on Lake Naivasha
- Cycling or walking in Hell’s Gate National Park
- Game drives in Lake Nakuru National Park
- Rhino, buffalo, giraffe and many birds
- Easy distances from Nairobi
What's included
Included
- All accommodation as specified
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with driver-guide
- Park and reserve entrance fees for the activities listed
- Guided activities as listed in the day-by-day itinerary
- Meals as specified in the day-by-day itinerary
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic beverages
Confirm current park fees, permit availability, accommodation and pricing before booking, since these can change with season and demand. Access to remote areas should be confirmed before travel.
Day by day
Day 1 Arrival in Nairobi
Nairobi
Arrive and transfer to your accommodation, with time to rest and meet your guide for a briefing on the days ahead.
Day 2 Lake Naivasha
Lake Naivasha
Drive northwest from Nairobi along the edge of the Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha, with a boat cruise in the afternoon to see hippos and water birds.
Day 3 Hell’s Gate
Hell’s Gate National Park
Spend the day in Hell’s Gate National Park, where you can cycle or walk among zebra, giraffe and gazelle beneath red cliffs, and explore the gorge with a guide.
Day 4 Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru National Park
Drive to Lake Nakuru National Park for game drives around the lake, looking for rhino, buffalo, giraffe and flocks of birds. Flamingo numbers vary with water levels.
Day 5 Return and departure
Nairobi
Return to Nairobi for your onward flight.
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Questions about 5-Day Kenya Rift Valley Lakes Safari: Naivasha, Hell’s Gate & Nakuru
Can I combine a Kenya safari with the coast?
Yes — pairing a Maasai Mara or Amboseli safari with a few days on the Kenyan coast (Diani, Watamu or Lamu) is a well-established combination, giving a wildlife-then-beach structure to the safari.
Do I need a visa to visit Kenya?
Most nationalities need an eTA (electronic travel authorisation) for Kenya, applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so confirm current guidance for your passport ahead of your safari.
How many days do I need for a Kenya safari?
A focused Maasai Mara safari can work in 3–4 days, while combining the Mara with Amboseli, another park or the coast generally calls for 7–10 days — we shape the length around what you want to include.
How many national parks does Kenya have?
Kenya protects its wildlife across more than sixty national parks and reserves, an unusually extensive network for a single country — from the Maasai Mara and Amboseli in the south to Samburu and the arid northern reserves, each holding a somewhat different range of species.
What wildlife can I expect to see in Kenya beyond the migration?
Kenya’s parks hold resident wildlife year-round regardless of migration timing — the Maasai Mara and Amboseli both offer strong odds of the Big Five, along with healthy cheetah populations and, in Amboseli, some of Africa’s most reliable large elephant herds.
When is the best time to see the wildebeest migration in Kenya?
The migration’s presence in Kenya’s Maasai Mara is most likely from around July to October, when large herds typically cross from Tanzania’s Serengeti, though exact timing shifts year to year with rainfall patterns.