Wildlife, Water, and Wonder

Overview

Get ready to fall in love with Kenya’s wild side.

Your day begins with an early morning pick-up from your Nairobi hotel or residence, followed by a scenic drive into the Great Rift Valley. As the city fades behind you, the landscape opens into sweeping escarpments, rolling hills, and shimmering lakes.

Upon arrival at Lake Naivasha, you set out on a peaceful boat safari, gliding across the calm waters as hippos surface nearby and fish eagles call overhead. The lake is rich in birdlife, with pelicans, cormorants, herons, and other waterbirds commonly seen along the shoreline.

Next, you continue to Crescent Island for a guided walking safari, one of Kenya’s most unique wildlife experiences. Here, you walk freely among grazing giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and antelopes, enjoying close encounters in a predator-free environment with stunning lake views.

After the walk, you enjoy a relaxed lunch at a lakeside restaurant or lodge, taking in the tranquil surroundings before the afternoon adventure.

The journey continues to Hell’s Gate National Park, famed for its dramatic scenery and geothermal activity. Explore the park through a combination of game drive, walking safari, or optional cycling, passing towering cliffs, volcanic gorges, steam vents, and open plains dotted with wildlife such as giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, and antelopes.

You’ll pause at scenic viewpoints to capture photographs of the striking rock formations and landscapes that inspired scenes from The Lion King. As the day draws to a close, you begin the return journey to Nairobi, arriving in the evening after a full and rewarding day immersed in nature.

Highlights

Scenic drive through the Great Rift Valley with its cool forests and lakes
Live viewing of both Black and White Rhinos
Abundant Wildlife Encounters - Spot giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, and antelopes in their natural habitat
Visit to Hell's Gate National Park
Hell’s Gate Gorge, Fischer’s Tower, and Central Tower
Explore Hell’s Gate on Foot or Bike
Geological and Cultural Insights
Bicycle ride

Day 1 :

Nairobi to Lake Naivasha (87kms)

Just a short drive from Nairobi, the journey to Lake Naivasha unfolds into a refreshing escape where open skies, rolling grasslands, and shimmering waters set the tone for a truly immersive day in nature. Arriving at the lake, you’ll discover a peaceful freshwater haven alive with hippos, fish eagles calling from the treetops, and herds of zebra and giraffe grazing casually along the shoreline. A gentle boat ride brings you closer to the lake’s wildlife, gliding past water birds and pods of hippo, while a guided walk on Crescent Island offers the rare thrill of exploring on foot among free-roaming animals with no barriers between you and the wild. Framed by dramatic escarpments and tranquil waters, Lake Naivasha delivers a perfect blend of relaxation, adventure, and close-up wildlife encounters—an unforgettable highlight of your day safari.

Lake Naivasha to Hell’s Gate National Park (15 kms)

The journey from Lake Naivasha to Hell’s Gate National Park is a gentle transition from tranquil lakeside scenery to dramatic volcanic landscapes, as the road winds past acacia trees, open grasslands, and grazing wildlife. In just a few minutes, the calm waters of Naivasha give way to towering cliffs, deep gorges, and steaming geothermal vents, setting the tone for an adventurous escape into one of Kenya’s most unique parks. It’s a scenic and refreshing drive that builds anticipation, perfectly linking relaxation by the lake with the raw, untamed beauty and excitement of Hell’s Gate.

After exploring the dramatic landscapes of Hell’s Gate National Park by foot, bicycle, or vehicle, you return by road to the shores of Lake Naivasha. From here, the adventure continues on a short boat ride across the lake to Crescent Island Sanctuary, where you disembark for a guided walking safari. On this predator-free island, you stroll among free-roaming giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and a variety of birds, enjoying a peaceful, up-close wildlife experience framed by the shimmering lake and rolling hills.

This will be followed by followed by a relaxed road journey back to Nairobi, carrying with you a full-circle experience that blends scenic drives, cycling and walking safaris, and tranquil lake cruising.