Day 1: Nairobi - Lake Baringo
You depart from Nairobi in the morning stopping en route to view the spectacular Great Rift Valley in Kenya. You stop for lunch along the way and then make your way to Lake Baringo, a world-famous bird sanctuary.
Arrive at the overnight accommodation in the late afternoon. In the evening, you enjoy a boat ride on Lake Baringo (optional extra) in search of hippos, crocodiles, and an array of birds, including fish eagles.
Lake Baringo is the most Northerly of Kenya's small Great 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 center with over 1200 different bird species native to the country and more than 450 sighted here - a bird watcher's haven. The overnight hotel is located in a tranquil setting just outside of Baringo village.
Day 2: Lake Bogoria - Lake Nakuru
A 30-kilometer drive south brings you to the spectacular Lake Bogoria, with its natural hot springs and geysers as the main attractions. The lake has been called ‘the new home of the flamingo' hosting a migratory population of up to two million of these pink birds at certain times. It is the high salt and mineral content of this scenic soda lake that attracts huge numbers of flamingoes, making the lake a visual delight.
After lunch, you proceed to the Lake Nakuru National Park, an important wildlife sanctuary covering 180 km². This compact game 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 white rhinos can be spotted at the southern end.
The Kenyan game park has also retained its reputation as an ornithologist's delight, with more than 400 species of bird found here. Bird species include the Great White Pelican, African Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Stork, Lesser and Greater Flamingo, and Long-crested Eagle.
You spend the night at a hotel (or guest house), overlooking Lake Nakuru National Park and the Rift Valley escarpment.
Day 3: Masai Mara Game Reserve
You head south to the town of Narok, stopping for lunch before continuing our journey to the spectacular Masai Mara Park. You keep a lookout for the game as you make your way to your overnight camp near the Masai Mara Game Reserve. At night, you have dinner at camp and listen to the chorus of different animal sounds, as they communicate with each other in the darkness - more than enough reason to visit.
Located near the Masai Mara Game Park, your safari camp is tucked away in the cool shade of indigenous trees, offering an escape from the African heat. You stay in permanent tents that are self-contained and fitted with feature beds and en suite bathroom areas. Accommodation is at one of two, similar camps.
Days 4 & 5: Masai Mara Game Reserve
Over the next two days, you explore the Masai Mara on game-viewing drives. You venture into the world-famous Masai Mara on morning and afternoon game drives, when the chances of seeing animals are best. On clear days, the Masai Mara offers fantastic orange-tinted sunsets over the savannahs - a scene worth capturing on camera.
The Masai Mara Reserve covers 1510km² of incredible wide-open landscapes and fertile riverine woodlands, following the looping meanders of the Mara and Talek rivers in Kenya. One glimpse is enough to explain its appeal; it is typical open savannah, with a mass of amazing wildlife.
Wherever you go in the vast Masai Mara you will see a frequent amount of wildlife such as Masai giraffes, baboons, warthogs, bat-eared foxes, grey jackals, spotted hyenas, topis, impala, hartebeests, wildebeest. Elephants, buffaloes, zebras, and hippos are also found 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 reasonably common.
The ultimate action here is without doubt the annual wildebeest exodus, the Great Migration, 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.
Hot-air balloon trips are an entirely outstanding way of seeing the savannah plains teeming with wildlife. These Masai Mara balloon trips can be arranged at extra cost. overnight at the same safari camp near Masai Mara as on day three.
Day 6: Masai Mara to Nairobi
Today you depart from your safari camp and take a morning game drive through the Masai Mara Reserve. Then you return to bustling Nairobi, arriving at about 15:00 in the afternoon. The scenic, wildlife, and birding adventure of this Rift Valley Lakes and Masai Mara camping safari ends upon arrival in Nairobi.