6-Day Safari Itinerary: Lake Naivasha & Masai Mara Game Reserve

• Breakfast and Early Morning Walk
  • After breakfast, take an early morning walk along the shores of Lake Naivasha, spotting birds and local wildlife.
• Visit Hell’s Gate National Park
  • Drive 30 minutes to Hell’s Gate National Park, a unique park known for its dramatic landscapes of cliffs, gorges, and geothermal activity.
  • Enjoy a morning game drive and possibly a guided nature walk, where you can see wildlife such as zebras, giraffes, warthogs, and buffalos.
  • Optional: Explore the Ol Njorowa Gorge or visit the geothermal hot springs.
• Lunch and Departure to Masai Mara
  • After a picnic lunch or a light lunch at the park, drive towards the Masai Mara Game Reserve (approximately 5–6 hours).
  • Along the way, enjoy the stunning scenery of the Rift Valley and small Maasai villages.
• Arrival and Evening Game Drive
  • Arrive at your Mara lodge in the late afternoon. Check-in, and then head out for your first evening game drive in the Masai Mara.
  • The evening game drive offers a chance to spot predators like lions, cheetahs, or leopards as they begin their evening activities.

Overnight: Stay at a lodge or tented camp inside or near Masai Mara (e.g., Mara Serena Safari Lodge or Mara Intrepid Camp).

• Early Morning Game Drive
  • Wake up early for a sunrise game drive, where you will see the Mara come to life as the early morning light casts beautiful hues over the plains.
  • Search for the Big Five: lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and rhinoceros. The Masai Mara is known for its rich wildlife population.
• Return to the Lodge for Breakfast
  • Return to your lodge or camp for a hearty breakfast.
• Mid-Morning Game Drive or Visit Maasai Village
  • After breakfast, either go for a mid-morning game drive or choose to visit a nearby Maasai village to learn about the Maasai culture, their traditional customs, and way of life.
  • The Maasai are a semi-nomadic tribe, and their villages (known as “enkangs”) are fascinating to explore.
• Lunch
  • Return to your lodge for lunch and some rest.
• Afternoon Game Drive
  • Head out for an afternoon game drive to explore other parts of the reserve. You’ll have the chance to spot animals in their natural habitats, from wildebeest herds to topi and gazelles, as well as the elusive leopard.
• Evening at Leisure
  • Return to the lodge for dinner. You may also enjoy an optional sundowner or stargazing session if available at your lodge.

Overnight: Stay at your lodge or camp inside the Masai Mara Game Reserve.

• Morning Game Drive and Breakfast
  • Start the day with another early morning game drive. The Masai Mara is teeming with wildlife, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities for fantastic sightings of lions hunting, elephants roaming, and more.
• Breakfast in the Mara
  • Return to the lodge for a leisurely breakfast.
• Visit the Mara River
  • After breakfast, take a game drive to the Mara River, especially famous for the annual wildebeest migration.
  • If you're visiting during migration season (July-October), you may witness the dramatic river crossings where thousands of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles brave the crocodile-infested waters.
• Picnic Lunch in the Reserve
  • Enjoy a picnic lunch within the reserve, immersing yourself in the natural surroundings.
• Afternoon Game Drive
  • Continue your exploration of the Masai Mara in the afternoon. Visit different parts of the reserve, keeping an eye out for lions, cheetahs, giraffes, and a variety of birdlife.
• Evening Relaxation
  • Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Overnight: Stay at your lodge or camp inside the Masai Mara Game Reserve.

• Optional: Hot Air Balloon Ride
  • For a special experience, wake up early for a hot air balloon ride over the Masai Mara. This activity gives you a breathtaking bird’s eye view of the park, and you may spot wildlife from the sky. The ride usually ends with a champagne breakfast in the bush.
• Game Drive
  • After the balloon ride (or regular morning drive), return to the lodge for breakfast.
  • You can then head out for one final game drive to explore areas you may have missed earlier in your stay.
• Lunch and Leisure
  • After lunch, enjoy some relaxation time at your lodge or camp, perhaps taking a dip in the pool or enjoying a massage if available.
• Evening Game Drive
  • In the late afternoon, embark on another evening game drive for your final wildlife adventure in the Mara.

Overnight: Stay at your lodge or camp in the Masai Mara.

• Morning Game Drive (Optional)
  • If time allows, you can opt for one last morning game drive before heading back to Nairobi.
• Breakfast and Departure
  • After breakfast, check out of the lodge and begin your return journey to Nairobi.
• Arrival in Nairobi
  • You will arrive in Nairobi around lunchtime, depending on traffic and the time spent on game drives.
  • If you have time, you can explore the city briefly or do some last-minute shopping at Kazuri Beads or Maasai Market.
• Departure
  • Transfer to the airport for your international flight, or continue with your plans if you have extra time in Kenya.