Schedule Now

Lake Nakuru & Naivasha Rift Valley Safari

4 days · From $1240 per person · Easy pace · 2-8 guests

Overview

The Rift Valley’s lake circuit runs only a couple of hours from Nairobi and covers two very different bodies of water back to back. Lake Naivasha is freshwater and hippo-dense, framed by acacia woodland, and it’s the setting for an easy boat cruise and a walk on Crescent Island, one of the few places in Kenya you can walk freely among plains game with no predators present. Lake Nakuru, roughly ninety minutes on, is alkaline and sits inside a fenced sanctuary holding both black and white rhino, its shoreline historically one of East Africa’s great flamingo gatherings, though numbers shift with water levels year to year. It’s a gentler circuit than the bigger southern safaris, at a lodge each night, and it works well as an easy opener or closer to a longer Kenya trip.

Highlights

  • Crescent Island walking safari, genuinely on foot among zebra and giraffe, no predators present
  • Naivasha boat cruise for close hippo viewing from the water
  • Lake Nakuru’s rhino sanctuary, both black and white rhino in one fenced park
  • Flamingo viewing when lake conditions bring the numbers in
  • Shortest transfer from Nairobi of any itinerary in this catalogue

Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Naivasha

Short road transfer (approx. 1.5-2 hrs) down the Rift Valley escarpment. Afternoon boat cruise on Lake Naivasha, evening at the lodge on the lakeshore.

Day 2: Crescent Island, transfer to Nakuru

Morning walking safari on Crescent Island. Afternoon transfer to Lake Nakuru (approx. 1.5 hrs), evening game drive on arrival.

Day 3: Full day, Lake Nakuru

Extended drive through the rhino sanctuary and along the shoreline, flamingo viewing conditions permitting.

Day 4: Departure

Final morning drive, breakfast at the lodge, transfer back to Nairobi (approx. 2.5-3 hrs).

What’s Included

  • 3 nights across both lodges, full board
  • Naivasha boat cruise and Crescent Island walking safari
  • All game drives with a driver-guide
  • Lake Nakuru National Park entry fees

What’s Not Included

  • Flights to/from Kenya
  • Visa fees and travel insurance
  • Drinks beyond each lodge’s included house selection
  • Gratuities for guide and lodge staff

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a good first-time or family trip?

Yes, it’s one of our easiest itineraries: short drives, a walking safari with no predator risk, and comfortable lodges each night.

Are flamingos guaranteed at Lake Nakuru?

No, honestly, numbers depend on lake salinity and water levels, which shift year to year, and large flocks have favoured Lake Bogoria in some recent years. We’ll give you a straight read on current conditions before you book.

Interested in the Lake Nakuru & Naivasha Rift Valley Safari? Get in touch and we’ll help you plan it.

Enquire About This Trip