This route takes the classic Mara and Nakuru combination and adds a stop at Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake about halfway back to Nairobi. The extra day changes the feel of the trip: after two parks of early starts and long game drives, you finish with a boat ride among hippos and fish eagles and a relaxed last morning by the water.
The structure is simple. Two nights in the Masai Mara give you a full day on the plains; one night at Lake Nakuru covers the rhino sanctuary; and one night at Naivasha breaks the journey home into two short legs instead of one long one. Because no single driving day is very long, it is one of our better routes for families and for travellers on their first trip to Kenya.
Transport is a private 4x4 with a pop-up roof, and accommodation is mid-range throughout, with luxury upgrades available at each stop.
Journey at-a-glance:Customize This Journey. Request More Information »
MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
A full day of game drives in the Masai Mara
Rhino sanctuary and lakeshore at Lake Nakuru
Boat ride on Lake Naivasha among hippo pods and fish eagles (included)
Shorter driving days than a straight Mara-Nakuru-Nairobi route
Drive from Nairobi through the Rift Valley and Narok, arriving at camp for lunch. Your first game drive is in the late afternoon, when animals start moving again after the heat of the day.
Morning and afternoon drives with a rest at camp in between. Your guide uses the two outings to cover different circuits of the reserve, which gives you the widest spread of habitats and wildlife.
Leave the Mara after breakfast and drive across the Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park, arriving for an afternoon game drive around the rhino sanctuary and along the shore of the lake.
A short game drive in Nakuru before breakfast, then an easy transfer south to Lake Naivasha. In the afternoon you go out on the lake by boat. Hippos are the main attraction, along with fish eagles, kingfishers, herons and other waterbirds along the papyrus edges.
A slow morning at the lodge - birdwatching from the garden is often good here. After check-out, the drive back to Nairobi is short, and you are usually in the city around midday.
Planning tip: see our guide on Best Time to Visit the Masai Mara: A Month-by-Month Guide.
Accommodation: Mid-range lodges and tented camps at all three stops, full board, with en-suite rooms. Luxury properties can be swapped in at any of them.
Vehicle: 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
The Mara has wildlife all year, so the best month depends on what you want.
Full Masai Mara National Reserve destination guide »
Lake Naivasha is not a national park, so the boat ride does not carry a national park entry fee. The boat ride itself is included in this itinerary.
Yes. If you would rather have two full days in the Mara than a Naivasha stop, we can rearrange the route when you enquire.
It is one of our better options for families because the driving days are shorter and the Naivasha stop gives everyone a break. Let us know your children's ages so we can check lodge policies.
Send us your travel dates and group size and we'll confirm availability and pricing.
