Great Rift Valley Lakes and Masai Mara Safari

A great 6-day camping Safari that takes you to the Great Rift Valley Lakes which include, Baringo, Bogoria and Lake Nakuru. These lakes are an important bird Sanctuary for Kenya and the shear numbers of birdlife is awe inspiring. We then will head South over the Mau Escarpment and onto Kenya's premier National Reserve - The Masai Mara.

We will spend our days in search of the Wildlife that makes the Masai Mara Reserve one of the top Game Parks in Africa. We will keep our eye out for the Big Cats that are especialy prevelent in the Reserve, and if we are lucky we will get to witness the Wildebeest Migration, and wildlife event like no other.

This Safari takes in some of the best scenary, birdlife and wildlife on offer in Kenya.

Day 1 - Nairobi to Lake Baringo

Depart Nairobi in the morning stopping enroute to view the spectacular Great Rift Valley in Kenya. We stop for lunch along the way then make camp at Lake Baringo, a world famous bird sanctuary, late in the afternoon. We enjoy an evening boat ride in search of hippo, crocodile, and fish eagle.

Lake Baringo is the most Northerly of Kenya's small Rift Valley lakes; creased with papyrus and well developed acacia forest. Hippos, crocodiles and monitor lizards are effortlessly seen from the shore, as is a magnificent display of water birds. This is Kenya's bird watching centre with over 1200 different species native to the country and more than 450 sighted here. A bird watcher's haven but beware, this is malaria land so its best to come prepared with plenty of mosquito spay.

Day 2 - Lake Bogoria & Lake Nakuru

A 30km drive south to the spectacular Lake Bogoria with hot springs and geysers being the main attractions. The lake has been called ‘the new home of the flamingo' with a nomad population of up to two million birds.

Lunch and then proceed for an afternoon game drive at the Lake Nakuru National Park, which covers 180 sq km. The park is home to warthogs, waterbuck, buffaloes, reedbucks, and the occasional leopard. White and black rhinos were introduced to the park some years ago and you may find white rhino at the southern end. The park has also retained its reputation as an ornithologists' delight with more than 400 species of bird found here. We spend the night at a campsite just outside of town.

Day 3 - Masai Mara Game Reserve

We head south to Narok, camping in our permanent Talek riverside campsite situated at the edge of the Masai Mara Park. Here we have stand-up tents with beds for use as well as small wood cabins for those after a touch more comfort. Hot showers are available in the camp and meals are served in the dinning mess or in the open.

In the night you can hear a chorus of different animal sounds as they communicate with each other in the darkness - more than a reason to visit.

Days 4 & 5 - Masai Mara Game Reserve

The next two days shall be spent game viewing, either in the early morning hours or in the evening as this is when we have the best chances of seeing animals. On clear days, the Masai Mara offers fantastic orange tinted sunsets and you will definitely want to capture this moment while sipping on a sundowner back at our campsite.

The Masai Mara Reserve is 1510 sq km of incredible wide-open landscapes and fertile riverine woodland following the looping meanders of the Mara and Talek rivers. Wherever you go in the Mara you will see a frequent amount of wildlife such as Masai giraffe, baboons, warthogs, bat eared foxes, grey jackals, spotted hyena, topis, impala, hartebeests, wildebeest. Elephants, buffaloes, zebras and hippos also exist in great numbers. It is also common to see lions either basking after a heavy meal, or surveying the plains for their next meal. Cheetahs and leopards are harder to spot but are still reasonably common.

The ultimate action here is without doubt the annual wildebeest exodus in July and August when millions of these grass eaters move north from the Serengeti in search of lusher grass before turning south again in October.

Balloon trips are an entirely outstanding way of seeing the savannah plains and abundant wildlife after which you come back down for a beautiful champagne breakfast. These trips can be arranged at our office upon booking.

Day 6 - Masai Mara to Nairobi

We break camp at the Masai Mara and drive to Narok where Masai souvenirs can be bought, then back to Nairobi by late afternoon where this Kenyan Safari comes to an end.

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