4 Days Masai Mara Safari and Lake Naivasha Boat Cruise
Take an amazing 4 days safari Kenya tour combining Masai Mara to see big five and Lake Naivasha for a sunset scenic boat cruise where you will see hippos and Fish Eagle. Firstly, start with a visit to Lake Naivasha Crescent Island, one of the few places in the world where travelers can wander on foot amidst wild animals with no predators present. Secondly, continue with safari in the Maasai Mara, Kenya’s most celebrated wildlife sanctuary.
Safari in the Maasai Mara has the best opportunity of spotting the Big Five – lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros and the African elephant. There is an option to add extra excursions to visit a local Maasai village or hot air balloon safari. Therefore, in just 4 days Lake Naivasha and Masai Mara safari this is a unique tour, filled with adventure and excitement.
4 days safari itinenary and pricing:
Day 1: Driving from Nairobi to Lake Naivasha boat cruise, 1hr 30 minutes
Pick up from your hotel or airport in the morning. Consequently, drive to Lake Naivasha which a freshwater lake situated on the Great Rift Valley Floor. The lake is located northwest of Nairobi with the Naivasha Town on its north. Arrive in good time for hot lunch and rest. Meanwhile, enjoy a beautiful sunset boat cruise to watch the hippos and the surrounding areas including a guided bush walk on the Crescent Island amongst wildlife – there are no known predators.
The fresh waters of the lake attract a great collection of wildlife to these shores. Common giraffes wander among the acacia trees, buffaloes wallow in the marshlands and the lake’s large hippo population sleep the day out in the shallows. Also, the colobus monkeys call from the treetops. In addition, the lake shore is home to waterbucks, giraffe, and Vervet and Colobus monkeys. Likewise, along the shores of Lake Naivasha get to see a multitude of bird species plus flamingos and the African Fish Eagle. Overnight at Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge, B, L, D.
Day 2: Travel from Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara safari, 5hrs
Take an early breakfast followed by a drive past the extinct volcanic Mount Longonot to Masai Mara Game Reserve arriving in time for lunch. Masai Mara National Reserve is a pristine wilderness of unforgettable beauty, it promises its guests a profusion of wildlife, abundant bird life and the exceptional opportunity of catching up with all the ‘Big Five’ animals in one morning.
The 1,800 sq kilometers of this well-known reserve offers the classic mix of African imagery; miles of golden grasslands, vast thorn-bush, picturesque hills, a winding river, and mile upon mile of rolling wilderness. Game spotting and viewing in the Masai Mara is exceptional all year around. There is assorted population of resident game, including the Big 5 – lion, buffalo, rhino, leopard, and elephant – plus common species like wildebeests, gazelle, zebra, eland, giraffe, and hyena. The Masai Mara safari big cats are even the superstars of a top wildlife TV series. Afternoon game viewing drive is scheduled to allow for spotting the Big Five as an introduction to the amazing park. Subsequently, dinner and overnight stay at Enkorok Mara Camp, B, L, D.
Day 3: Safari tour in the Masai Mara with guided game drives
The full day is spent enjoying Masai Mara safari with morning and afternoon guided game drives. Masai Mara National Reserve offers one of the best prospects of seeing pride of lions and cheetah in Africa. A guided visit to this reserve in July will allow visitors the best opportunity to watch and witness firsthand as more than a million wildebeests migrate across the swollen crocodile-infested Mara River. Therefore, this is one of the world’s greatest wildlife spectacles, the wildebeest migration, reaches Masai Mara. The pure number of wildebeests arriving in the area is incredible.
The great migration is a theatrical mass movement of almost two million wildebeests, gazelles, and zebras in a seasonal yearly cycle driven by rainfall. In order to reach Masai Mara’s fresh grazing grounds, the wildebeests make melodramatic river crossings infested with huge crocodiles to feast on the Mara plains and redeem their strength. November’s short rains activates the last leg of the annual great migration when the wildebeests move south of the Mara to Serengeti in Tanzania. Meanwhile, return for dinner and overnight stay at Enkorok Mara Camp, B, L, D.
Day 4: Driving from Masai Mara safari to Nairobi, 5hrs
Wake up to an early morning guided game drive being the very best time to spot the elusive cats hunting and also getting to watch the sunrise. Then drive back to the camp for breakfast followed by check out. You now drive from Masai Mara to Nairobi. Finally, drop off at your hotel or airport marking the end of the 4 days Lake Naivasha and Masai Mara safari, B.
Tour price: US$ 1250 per person. Single room supplement: US$ 160
4 Days Tour Price Includes:
- Ensuite accommodation as stipulated on the itinerary
- 3 meals per day while on safari; B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
- Transport in a customized 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser
- Entrance fees to national parks and game reserves
- English language speaking professional driver-guide
- Safari guided game drives
- Guided bush walk on Crescent Island
- Lake Naivasha sunset boat cruise
- Mineral Water while taking the 4 days safari
- Pick up and drop off in Nairobi
4 Days Tour Price Excludes:
- Accommodation in Nairobi
- Any sudden Government imposed increase of park fees and/or taxes
- Tips to driver-guide (Recommend $20 per guest per day)
- Items of a personal nature (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Drinks
- International flights (from/to home)
Safari in the Maasai Mara
The Maasai Mara is a National reserve in Southern Kenya running along the Tanzanian border. The reserve is home to several different animals including all the “big five” members. To give you the best chance of seeing as much game as possible, be prepared for safari trips in the early mornings as well as late evenings.
The most common animals seen are wildebeests; primarily because of the annual wildebeest migration every year where more than one million cross from the Serengeti plains to the Mara Plains, in order to find fresh green grass. Many fall prey to the many carnivores roaming the Maasai, from big cats to the Nile crocodiles. There are also good numbers of elephants. These massive animals walk with a lumbering tread, seemingly calm and yet it would not be wise to get too close, and, in particular not to come between a mother and her calf.
The rarest animal in the Maasai is the black rhinoceros; this is because there are only about thirty-five of them in the whole park making it exceptionally hard to spot one. Apart from the “big five” there are countless other striking animals that you can see: for example, zebras. Zebras are one of the favourite animals to many; they are gentle and beautiful too.
As well as enjoying the Maasai Mara on the ground, fortunate tourists can enjoy the magical experience of a hot air balloon safari. While this gives you a magical view of the animals below, you also get an exceptional view of the surrounding landscape. This view is highlighted by sunrise as the trip normally happens at around 6am in the morning. Essentially, nothing beats the magnificent view of the Maasai at dawn; it is the only perfect way to start your day.
A safari in the Maasai Mara is a once in a lifetime experience that stays with you forever. With a good tour guide and a tip-off of luck you should see everything you want to see.
Safari tour in the Masai Mara
The safari tour in the Masai Mara is carried out all year round. In general, it is easier to observe wildlife in the parks during the dry season from late June to October and from January to March. The ultimate attraction is undoubtedly the annual migration of wildebeest and zebra in July and August. In huge herds of several hundred thousand, they migrate north from the Serengeti in Tanzania across the river to Kenya in search of fresh grass – in late October they move the opposite direction.
Safari in the Masai Mara where you get the full benefit of the African savanna’s experiences. Make the most of Kenya’s famous national park, the Masai Mara. You drive from Nairobi to the Masai Mara and spend at least two nights, so there is considerably more time for wonderful safari experiences. There are good opportunities to experience the ‘Big Five’: lion, buffalo, leopard, elephant and rhinoceros. If you visit the park between July and October, you can witness the Great Migration, which is one of nature’s great dramas. 1.5 million wildebeest cross the savannah with the predators hot on their heels.