2026 - 12 Day Western Kenya & Rift Valley

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met by our representative for transfer to your city hotel where you can relax. Meals at own cost.

After breakfast and check-out, you set off for Lake Naivasha, the first of the Rift Valley lakes, nestled at the foot of the majestic Mount Longonot. Lake Naivasha holds historical significance as the landing site of East Africa’s first air passengers, who arrived here aboard Imperial Airways’ flying boats.

Following a leisurely lunch at the camp, you will embark on a charming afternoon boat ride across the lake. This is a perfect opportunity to observe the diverse waterbird species and spot hippos in their natural habitat.

A highlight of the day is a visit to Crescent Island, famous as one of the filming locations for the movie Out of Africa. For the shoot, giraffes, zebras, and various antelope species were relocated to the island—and these magnificent animals still roam the peaceful landscape today.

To conclude your visit, explore the small arts center on the lakeshore, where you can discover traditional pottery and weaving crafts. Enjoy a freshly brewed coffee at the cozy bakery before heading to your hotel.

After breakfast, we head to Hell’s Gate, a small yet captivating national park situated in a volcanically active area. Here, you can hike and cycle while observing the diverse wildlife. Adventurers can also descend into the Ol Njorowa Gorge for a memorable trek through breathtaking scenery.

Named for the intense geothermal activity within its borders, Hell’s Gate National Park is a remarkable part of the Great Rift Valley. Towering cliffs, water-carved gorges, rugged rock formations, bush-covered volcanoes, and rising plumes of geothermal steam create a magical atmosphere, making this park one of Africa’s most striking natural wonders.

In fact, aspects of this landscape inspired the backdrop for the film The Lion King. Hell’s Gate is also an ideal day trip from Nairobi, where visitors can enjoy not only the abundant wildlife—including many birds of prey—but also activities like mountain biking, rock climbing, and relaxing in a natural spa.

Today, you will journey to the enchanting Lake Nakuru National Park, arriving around midday. Nestled within the Great Rift Valley, this park is famed for its vast flocks of pink flamingos that once transformed the lake into a shimmering sea of color. Although the water level is now higher due to climate change, leading to fewer flamingos, the park still offers incredible wildlife experiences—especially the chance to see one of the endangered Big Five: the magnificent rhinoceros.

After checking in, you’ll enjoy a delicious lunch before setting out on an exciting afternoon game drive. Along the lake’s edge, you may spot waterbucks, reedbucks, and graceful zebras. Lake Nakuru is home to both black and white rhinoceroses. The story of the black rhino is particularly moving: in 1987, only two individuals remained in the wild. Thanks to the establishment of a rhino sanctuary within the park and a successful breeding program with a partner from Laikipia, the Kenya Wildlife Service managed to bring the population back from the brink of extinction.

Wildlife viewing here is wonderfully rewarding. Buffalo, leopards, lions, and the elegant Rothschild giraffes are often seen, while several primate species—including playful baboons and striking colobus monkeys—inhabit the park’s forests.

After an early breakfast, you set off northwards towards the enchanting twin lakes of the Great Rift Valley: Baringo and Bogoria. Your first stop is at the Lake Bogoria National Reserve, a saline volcanic lake renowned as an important breeding ground for numerous bird species. Up to two million pink flamingos call this place home, feeding on the algae that flourish in the water and painting the lake in vibrant hues.

Besides these magnificent flamingos, you can also spot bee-eaters, kingfishers, hornbills, and many other bird species. But the wildlife here is not limited to birds: large herds of the rare Greater Kudus roam the area, a sight seldom seen in East Africa. Buffalo, zebras, dik-diks, impalas, warthogs, vervet monkeys, and baboons also inhabit this diverse ecosystem, adding to the breathtaking natural spectacle.

You then continue your journey to Lake Baringo, where you will spend a restful night.

After breakfast, you will explore Lake Baringo, the second-largest freshwater lake in the Rift Valley—surpassed only by Lake Naivasha—and the highest at 970 meters above sea level. Water flows gently into the lake from the Mau and Tugen Hills, creating a unique habitat that supports more than 450 species of birds and animals. Many of the migratory waterbirds here hold significant regional and global importance.

You will enjoy a boat ride on the lake to enjoy the birdlife.

The lake is also home to seven species of freshwater fish. Crocodiles and hippos are frequently spotted, with the latter often coming ashore at night to graze in various areas. For nature lovers and photographers, this is one of the best places to capture images of the elusive crake, the majestic Goliath heron, and the striking purple heron.

On the calm waters, local fishermen paddle in their traditional balsawood boats, catching colorful tilapia. You might even have the chance to buy a freshly caught fish directly from one of the fishermen for a truly special experience. Keep a keen eye out for African fish eagles, which usually perch in pairs along the shores and on the islands. When a fisherman lifts a fish from his boat, a spectacular show begins—the fish eagle swoops down with impressive precision to snatch its prey.

You will also visit the nearby Giraffe Sanctuary. 

This morning after breakfast, depart Lake Baringo and travel into the dramatic Kerio Valley, one of Kenya’s most breathtaking escarpment landscapes. Your base for the night is Kerio View perched high on the rim with sweeping panoramas of the valley floor far below. The highlight of the day is a guided visit to Rimoi National Reserve, where you will explore the acacia-dotted plains and riverine forests in search of elephants, buffaloes, and various antelope species. Lunch is included during the reserve excursion, allowing you to picnic while soaking in the scenery. Return to the lodge in the late afternoon for a leisurely evening and dinner overlooking the valley.

After breakfast, continue westward to the lakeside city of Kisumu on the shores of Lake Victoria. You will check into the comfortable Sarova Imperial hotel. After breakfast, set off for a full-day excursion to Kakamega Forest, Kenya’s only true tropical rainforest. Guided walks through the lush canopy will reveal colobus monkeys, hornbills, and a dazzling variety of butterflies and orchids. You will also enjoy a treetop canopy walkway. Return to Kisumu  and unwind at the hotel.

After a relaxed breakfast, head out to the nearby Dunga Wetlands for a peaceful boat ride through the papyrus-fringed channels of Lake Victoria. This wetland sanctuary is excellent for birdwatching, with chances to see African fish eagles, jacanas, and possibly hippos in the shallow waters. The rest of the day is flexible, allowing you to enjoy the hotel’s pool, spa, or lakeside gardens.

Today, we continue our thrilling safari adventure in the magnificent Maasai Mara Game Reserve—a place whose name means “spotted plains” in the Maasai language. This breathtaking reserve is home to the largest concentration of big mammals in Africa and is widely regarded as one of the continent’s ultimate wildlife sanctuaries. The vast savannahs and gentle rolling hills provide an unparalleled backdrop for the incredible array of wildlife living here in their natural habitat.

The Maasai Mara Game Reserve is also the northern extension of the vast Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, world-famous for the spectacular annual Great Migration. This awe-inspiring natural phenomenon sees thousands of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles journeying across the plains in search of fresh grazing grounds.

As we make our way to the camp today, a short but exciting game drive awaits you. Enjoy the rich diversity of sights and keep your eyes peeled for the majestic inhabitants of this unique wilderness—from graceful giraffes and powerful elephants to the sleek big cats that roam these lands.

After an early breakfast, you will embark on exciting game drives both in the morning and the afternoon, exploring the captivating Maasai Mara Game Reserve. The landscape of the reserve is predominantly open savannah, consisting of vast grasslands, with iconic acacia trees dotting the southeastern parts of the park. Gently rolling hills are traversed by the winding Mara and Talek rivers, adding a dynamic beauty to the scenery.

During the rainy season, numerous seasonal rivers flow through the area, transforming the landscape into a vibrant network of waterways. However, these rivers gradually dry up once the rains cease, creating a fascinating cycle that shapes the vegetation and wildlife behavior throughout the year.

The Mara is renowned for hosting Africa’s largest concentration of wildlife. Here, you will encounter the legendary “Big Five” – elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffaloes – alongside vast herds of zebras, antelopes, wildebeests, oribis, hyenas, giraffes, warthogs, gazelles, impalas, hippos, crocodiles, and many others. The reserve boasts one of the highest densities of African lions, including the rare and majestic black-maned lions that lend this region its unique character.

Not only mammals but also the birdlife of the Maasai Mara is extraordinarily rich. Over 400 bird species inhabit this remarkable ecosystem, offering birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts countless opportunities for awe-inspiring sightings.

This morning after breakfast you will travel back to Nairobi where you will be dropped at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your flight home.