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Journey overview
About this safari
Explore two of Kenya’s most rewarding wildlife destinations on a private four-day road safari through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park and onward to Masai Mara National Reserve.
The journey begins with a scenic drive northwest from Nairobi through the Rift Valley. Depending on traffic, visibility and the selected route, the drive passes the wider landscapes associated with Mount Longonot, Lake Naivasha and Lake Elmenteita before reaching Lake Nakuru National Park. Lake Naivasha is a freshwater Rift Valley lake, while Lake Nakuru and Lake Elmenteita are alkaline lake systems with important bird habitats.
Lake Nakuru National Park is one of Kenya’s most important rhino conservation areas and protects both black and white rhinos. It is also renowned for birdlife, including pelicans and seasonally varying numbers of flamingos, while its woodland, grassland and lake-edge habitats support lion, leopard, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, waterbuck and many other species. Scenic stops can include Baboon Cliff and Makalia Falls where conditions and park routing allow.
The safari then continues south toward the Masai Mara through Kenya’s rural highlands and savannah landscapes. The Mara is one of the country’s strongest wildlife areas for lion, cheetah, leopard, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra and gazelles. During the appropriate migration season, large wildebeest and zebra herds may move through the greater Mara ecosystem, although exact herd locations and river crossings cannot be guaranteed.
This safari is operated privately in a pop-up-roof 4x4 Land Cruiser unless another vehicle is specifically confirmed. Accommodation is quoted according to your preferred Economy, Standard or Luxury level. Greatlink Safaris does not publish a fixed package price because the final quotation depends on travel dates, traveller category, number of guests, child ages, accommodation choice, park fees and any optional activities requested.
For official Lake Nakuru information, see the Kenya Wildlife Service Lake Nakuru National Park page. KWS park entry is handled through the official KWS eCitizen portal. Lake Elmenteita is also a designated Ramsar wetland; official wetland information is available through the Ramsar Sites Information Service.
Safari highlights
Why travellers choose this journey
- Great Rift Valley journey: travel through dramatic escarpment landscapes and the central Rift Valley lake region.
- Lake Nakuru rhino sanctuary: search for both black and white rhinos in one of Kenya’s flagship rhino-conservation parks.
- Birding and flamingos: enjoy Lake Nakuru’s rich birdlife, including pelicans and seasonally variable flamingo numbers.
- Makalia Falls: visit the scenic waterfall area when road conditions and park routing permit.
- Baboon Cliff: enjoy elevated views across Lake Nakuru and the surrounding park landscape when accessible.
- Masai Mara big cats: explore one of Kenya’s strongest safari regions for lion, cheetah and leopard.
- Mara River: travel toward the river on a full-day game drive when practical, with opportunities to see hippos and crocodiles.
- Big Five safari potential: the combined itinerary offers opportunities for lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino across the two destinations.
- Flexible accommodation: select Economy, Standard or Luxury safari lodges or tented camps.
Perfect forCouples, families, first-time Kenya safari travellers, photographers, birders and travellers seeking a short private road safari combining rhino country, Rift Valley scenery and classic Masai Mara wildlife.
Journey flow
Where this safari takes you
See the route in travel order, from the first stop to the final destination. Each stage connects directly to the detailed destination guide where available.
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Safari beginsNairobi
Safari endsNairobi
Safari Types
How this journey is designed
These categories describe the style of safari you are booking.
Road SafarisPrivate overland safari journeys using a dedicated safari vehicle between Kenya’s wildlife des…
Photography SafarisPhotographer-focused safaris built around light, wildlife behaviour, patient sightings and fle…
Birding SafarisSpecialist birdwatching journeys through Kenya’s wetlands, forests, savannahs, drylands and hi…
Family SafarisPrivate safari itineraries planned around family-friendly pacing, rooming, child policies and …
Experiences
Experiences included in this safari
These are activities, encounters or natural spectacles included in or available through this journey.
Day by day
Your safari itinerary
Open each day to view the route, activities, meals, transport and accommodation details.
Meet your Greatlink Safaris driver-guide at your Nairobi hotel, airport or agreed meeting point and begin the drive toward the Great Rift Valley. As the road descends from the central highlands, enjoy the changing landscapes of the Rift Valley and, where visibility and stopping conditions allow, views associated with Mount Longonot and the wider lake region.
The route continues past the area of Lake Naivasha, one of the Rift Valley’s best-known freshwater lakes, and toward Lake Elmenteita before reaching Lake Nakuru National Park. Driving time is approximately four hours before safari and refreshment stops, although Nairobi traffic and road conditions can extend the journey.
Arrive in the Nakuru area for lunch and check-in according to the selected accommodation arrangement. In the afternoon, enter Lake Nakuru National Park for your first game drive.
Search for black and white rhinos, buffalo, Rothschild’s giraffe, zebra, waterbuck and other wildlife. Lion and leopard occur within the park but are naturally less predictable. Along the lake and wetlands, look for pelicans, cormorants and other waterbirds; flamingos may also be present, although their numbers fluctuate naturally.
Where time and routing permit, your driver-guide may include scenic viewpoints such as Baboon Cliff and the Makalia Falls area. Continue game viewing until late afternoon before returning to your lodge or tented camp for dinner and overnight.
AccommodationLake Nakuru/Nakuru-area lodge or tented camp — Economy, Standard or Luxury as confirmed. MealsBreakfast where applicable before departure; Lunch; Dinner TransportPrivate pop-up-roof 4x4 Land Cruiser; approximate road sector 156–160 km plus game-drive mileage ActivitiesGreat Rift Valley drive; Lake Nakuru afternoon game drive; rhino viewing; birding; Baboon Cliff/Makalia Falls when practical
After breakfast, check out and begin the drive south toward the Masai Mara. The route crosses productive agricultural areas, local settlements and increasingly open savannah landscapes as you approach Maasai country.
Along the way, everyday rural life may include Maasai and other local communities tending livestock near the road. These observations are part of the journey through the region, but community visits are only included when specifically arranged and should not be confused with casual roadside viewing.
Arrive in the Masai Mara area around lunchtime, depending on road and traffic conditions. Check in at your lodge or tented camp and enjoy lunch before beginning the afternoon game drive in Masai Mara National Reserve.
The Mara’s open plains provide excellent opportunities to look for elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, topi, gazelles and predators. Lion and cheetah are among the reserve’s most sought-after sightings, while leopard may be encountered along wooded drainage lines and riverine areas.
Continue game viewing until late afternoon or sunset, then return to the lodge or camp for dinner and overnight.
AccommodationMasai Mara lodge or tented camp — Economy, Standard or Luxury as confirmed. MealsBreakfast; Lunch; Dinner TransportPrivate pop-up-roof 4x4 Land Cruiser; approximate road journey around five hours depending on route and conditions ActivitiesScenic road transfer; afternoon Masai Mara game drive; Big Five and predator search; photography
Spend a full day exploring the Masai Mara with your private driver-guide. The day can be arranged as separate early-morning and afternoon game drives with a midday break at the lodge, or as a longer full-day game drive with a picnic lunch.
Your driver-guide will plan the route around current wildlife conditions. Search for lion, cheetah and leopard together with elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, topi, Thomson’s gazelle, impala and other plains wildlife. Spotted hyena, jackal and mongoose species may also be encountered depending on location and luck.
If you choose the full-day option and road conditions permit, travel toward the Mara River. The river system supports hippos and Nile crocodiles and is central to the wider Mara ecosystem. During the annual migration season, wildebeest and zebra may gather near crossing points, but crossing events are entirely natural and cannot be guaranteed.
Birdlife is also excellent across the reserve, with raptors, ground hornbills, bustards, rollers, storks and many other savannah species adding interest between mammal sightings.
Return to your lodge or tented camp around sunset for dinner and your second night in the Mara.
AccommodationSame Masai Mara lodge or tented camp. MealsBreakfast; Lunch or picnic lunch; Dinner TransportPrivate pop-up-roof 4x4 Land Cruiser ActivitiesMorning and afternoon game drives or full-day game drive; Mara River when practical; Big Five search; predator viewing; birding; photography
Begin the morning with an early game drive, allowing one final opportunity to search for predators and plains wildlife during the cooler hours of the day.
Return to your lodge or camp for breakfast, check out and begin the road journey back to Nairobi. The approximate distance is around 260 km, although the actual mileage depends on the location of your accommodation and the gate used. Driving time is normally around five to six hours before comfort stops and can increase because of traffic or road conditions.
Lunch will be arranged according to the confirmed return schedule, either en route or after arrival in Nairobi. Continue to the agreed drop-off point at your Nairobi hotel, airport or other confirmed location.
Your four-day Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara safari ends after the Nairobi drop-off.
AccommodationNo accommodation included after the Nairobi drop-off unless separately requested. MealsBreakfast; Lunch as arranged around the return journey TransportPrivate pop-up-roof 4x4 Land Cruiser; approximately 260 km depending on lodge and gate ActivitiesEarly-morning Masai Mara game drive; scenic return journey; Nairobi drop-off
Shape your safari
Safari choices for your quotation
Select the options that interest you when requesting a quote. No fixed public price is shown because the final quotation depends on dates, traveller numbers, availability and your preferred travel style.
Accommodation
Good-value lodges or tented camps in the Lake Nakuru/Nakuru area and Masai Mara, selected according to dates, location and rooming requirements.
Comfortable mid-range safari accommodation with the confirmed meal plan and convenient access to the planned wildlife areas.
Premium lodges or tented camps selected for stronger location, service, room quality and overall safari experience, subject to availability.
Service
English-speaking guiding is standard. Request another available guide language when submitting the enquiry; confirmation depends on travel dates and guide availability.
Before you travel
Know before you go
Road journey: driving times are estimates and depend on Nairobi traffic, roadworks, weather, stops and the exact location of the confirmed accommodation. Lake Nakuru is approximately 156 km northwest of Nairobi by the main highway, while the Masai Mara road sector varies according to the selected gate and lodge.
Flamingos: Lake Nakuru remains an important birding destination, but flamingo numbers naturally fluctuate with water levels, food availability and wider Rift Valley conditions. A large flamingo concentration cannot be guaranteed on a particular date.
Wildlife: all animals are free-ranging. Greatlink Safaris plans game drives around local conditions and current sightings, but no individual species, predator encounter or migration event can be guaranteed.
Migration: the Great Migration is seasonal. If travelling during migration months, wildebeest and zebra may be present in large numbers in the Mara, but river crossings depend on natural herd movement and cannot be scheduled.
Mara River: the Day 3 full-day game drive can include the Mara River where routing, road conditions and wildlife movement make it practical. Hippos and Nile crocodiles are associated with the river system, but sightings remain subject to nature.
Emergency evacuation cover: where specifically stated in the final quotation, temporary emergency medical evacuation cover may be included through AMREF Flying Doctors or another contracted provider. This does not replace comprehensive personal travel and medical insurance.
Masai Mara administration: different sections of the wider Mara ecosystem have different management and payment arrangements. The western Mara Triangle is managed by Mara Conservancy; current conservation and cashless payment guidance is available at Mara Conservancy. The final itinerary and park-fee calculation will follow the gates and reserve sectors used by the confirmed accommodation.
Included
What is included
- Private pick-up from the agreed Nairobi hotel or airport meeting point on Day 1.
- Private safari transport throughout the itinerary in a pop-up-roof 4x4 Land Cruiser unless another vehicle type is expressly confirmed.
- Services of an experienced professional English-speaking driver-guide throughout the road safari. Other guide languages can be requested and are subject to availability.
- One night’s accommodation in the Lake Nakuru/Nakuru area in the selected Economy, Standard or Luxury category.
- Two nights’ accommodation in the Masai Mara in the selected Economy, Standard or Luxury category.
- Meals specifically shown in the confirmed itinerary: Day 1 lunch and dinner, Day 2 breakfast, lunch and dinner, Day 3 breakfast, lunch or picnic lunch and dinner, and Day 4 breakfast plus the confirmed lunch arrangement.
- Game drives in Lake Nakuru National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve as described in the itinerary.
- Lake Nakuru National Park entry/conservation fees applicable to the included game drives, based on the traveller categories supplied at quotation stage.
- Masai Mara conservation/entry fees applicable to the confirmed reserve sector, gate usage and number of safari days included in the final itinerary.
- Drinking water in the safari vehicle during game drives and Greatlink Safaris road transfers.
- Visits to scenic points such as Baboon Cliff and Makalia Falls when open, accessible and compatible with the day’s game-drive routing.
- Emergency medical evacuation cover where expressly included in the final confirmation, subject to the contracted provider’s terms, limits and exclusions.
- Private drop-off at the agreed Nairobi hotel, airport or other confirmed Nairobi location at the end of Day 4.
- Applicable Kenyan government taxes and local statutory levies relating to the services specifically included in the confirmed safari quotation.
Not included
What is excluded
- International or regional flights to and from Kenya unless specifically added to the quotation.
- Kenya entry authorization, visa, immigration or passport-related charges applicable to the traveller.
- Comprehensive travel insurance, medical insurance, trip-cancellation insurance, baggage insurance and personal-accident cover.
- Medical consultation, treatment, hospitalization, medication, search-and-rescue expenses or costs beyond the limits of any included emergency evacuation plan.
- Accommodation in Nairobi before Day 1 or after Day 4 unless specifically included in the confirmed quotation.
- Breakfast in Nairobi on Day 1 unless it is already included by the traveller’s hotel or specifically added to the safari arrangement.
- Alcoholic beverages, premium drinks, soft drinks and lodge/camp beverages unless expressly included by the selected accommodation.
- Tips and gratuities for the driver-guide, lodge staff, porters and other service teams.
- Laundry, telephone calls, spa treatments, souvenirs and other items or services of a personal nature.
- Optional activities not specifically listed as included, such as hot-air balloon safaris, cultural visits, guided walks, private sundowners or specialist photographic activities.
- Any accommodation, room-category, transport or guiding-language upgrade not included in the confirmed quotation.
- Additional transport, accommodation, meals or services arising from voluntary itinerary changes requested by the traveller after confirmation.
- Costs arising from circumstances beyond the operator’s reasonable control, including severe weather, government restrictions, road closures, major traffic disruption, force-majeure events or supplier changes, except where applicable booking conditions provide otherwise.
