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Through the Rift Valley, Sopa Lodges

Lake Nakuru panoramic, Kenya
Lake Nakuru panoramic, Kenya
A lion (Panthera leo) on the Maasai Mara NP
A lion (Panthera leo) on the Maasai Mara NP
Cheetahs in Maasai Mara NP, Kenya
Cheetahs in Maasai Mara NP, Kenya
Elephants
Elephants
Flamingos at sunset over Lake Nakuru NP, Kenya
Flamingos at sunset over Lake Nakuru NP, Kenya
Giraffe in Maasai Mara NP, Kenya
Giraffe in Maasai Mara NP, Kenya
Spotted Hyena hunting flamingo in Lake Nakuru NP
Spotted Hyena hunting flamingo in Lake Nakuru NP
Water buffalo in Maasai Mara NP, Kenya
Water buffalo in Maasai Mara NP, Kenya
 

General information

DurationDestinationDeparture
4 days and 3 nights
Kenya (Masai Mara National Park, Nakuru Lake)
Kenya (Nairobi)

Description

This is a short but extremely rewarding safari as it gives you the great opportunity to gain firsthand experience of the Great Rift Valley and the vast game-rich plains of Masai Mara. The Rift Valley lakes are famous for their abundance of flamingos and other waterfowl, while Masai Mara is home to the country’s greatest concentration of wildlife.

This is a short but extremely rewarding safari as it gives you the great opportunity to gain firsthand experience of the Great Rift Valley and the vast game-rich plains of Masai Mara. The Rift Valley lakes are famous for their abundance of flamingos and other waterfowl, while Masai Mara is home to the country’s greatest concentration of wildlife. 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Maasai Mara National Reserve: situated in south-west Kenya and is one of Africa’s Greatest Wildlife Reserves, and where the world’s largest multi-species migration takes place. Across the vast plains of the Mara, visitors are able to witness lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, and an infinite variety of other species in their natural habitats.

Lake Nakuru National Park: on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, lies the beautiful Lake Nakuru National Park. Visitors can enjoy the wide ecological diversity and varied habitats that range from Lake Nakuru itself to the surrounding escarpment and picturesque ridges. It is ideal for bird watching and game drives. 

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

Day 1-2 Maasai Mara:

  • Superior Hotel Category = Mara Sopa Lodge or similar 4*

Day 3 Lake Nakuru:

  • Superior Hotel Category = Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge or similar 4*

Category

 
Superior (Scheduled Tour)
Full Board 4 Stars
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Program

Day 1:
NAIROBI - MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE (280km – 5 hrs)
At 07:00 am, make own your way to the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, for a 30-minute safari briefing. In order to maintain the scheduled departure timings, it is recommended that clients arrive a day prior to the programme and book a pre-night. All clients must be at the pick-up point in time for the briefing. The safari will continue without clients that have not arrived by the departure time and additional costs incurred to arrange for the clients to meet up with the safari group, will need to be borne directly by the client on the ground. Afterwards, depart Nairobi, travelling towards Kenya's fertile highlands and head down the Rift Escarpment on a road built by Italian prisoners during World War II. Keep an eye out for the charming chapel they built at the foot of the escarpment. Pass the futuristic Longonot earth satellite station as you head across the valley to Narok, and then travel through fields of wheat and barley, before reaching the Maasai Mara and Mara Sopa Lodge, in time for lunch. Afterwards, it’s time for the first game drive of the tour at 03:00 pm, returning to the lodge at sunset. At Mara Sopa Lodge, the accent is on both the indigenous Maasai people and the fabulous wealth of wildlife, birdlife and natural flora seen in every direction. The lodge is located in the Oloolaimutia Valley and built into the surrounding hillside landscape. The luxuriously appointed décor features all the mod cons one would expect from a Sopa-styled lodge in the bush. The bedrooms are spacious, the large pool has wonderful views and there are evening wildlife films to enjoy. All this ensures a blissfully comfortable stay; in the evening, dinner will be served at the lodge. Overnight in Maasai Mara.

Day 2:
MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE (5-6 hrs on game drives)
Enjoy an early breakfast before departing for a morning game drive at 07:00 am. The Maasai Mara National Reserve is home to millions of wild animals, including the fabled Big Five of lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and black rhinos as well as antelopes, gazelles and wildebeest among others. Return to the lodge for lunch and perhaps a siesta before setting off for an afternoon game drive at 03:00 pm and a visit to a Maasai village, heading back to the lodge as the sun sets, where you’ll end the day with dinner. Overnight in Maasai Mara.

Day 3:
MAASAI MARA - LAKE NAKURU (315km - 6 hrs)
Bid farewell to Maasai Mara after breakfast and travel across the ‘breadbasket’ of Kenya, where acres of wheat and barley dot the landscape as you head north to Narok, the district headquarters of this part of Maasailand. Continue across the vast plains on the floor of the Rift Valley, keeping an eye out for herds of giraffes and gazelles as you head up the Mai-Mahiu, before arriving at Lake Nakuru around midday. Once in the park, view game en route to the lodge. Following lunch and a siesta, enjoy an afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park at 03:00 pm, returning as the sun sets, to enjoy dinner. The waters of Lake Nakuru are often coloured a shimmering pink, from the thousands of flamingos that line its shores. As well as all the beautiful flamingos, both black and white rhinos are being carefully protected and given a new lease of life in this 188 square kilometre, fully fenced park. The rhino population numbers more than 50 and continues to multiply. The Rothschild’s giraffe is another rarity and the park has its fair share of buffaloes, leopards, zebras, elands, waterbucks and lions. Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge is located on a range of hills that form the western limits of Africa’s Great Rift Valley. The newest member of the Sopa family, Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge offers spectacular views over the vastness of Africa and overlooks Lake Nakuru and its surrounding national park, a paradise for bird-watchers and wildlife lovers alike. Overnight in Lake Nakuru.

Day 4:
LAKE NAKURU - NAIROBI (180km - 4 hrs)
Following an early breakfast, continue to Lake Naivasha for a half an hour boat ride. Then, leaving the Rift Valley behind, proceed to Nairobi. Arrive in the bustling capital at the Safari Park Hotel Kasarani by 01:30 pm, to drop off and ongoing travel arrangements. Recommended departure flights departing from 04:00 pm.

Price includes

- Operated with bilingual English, French, German, Italian or Spanish-speaking local driver-guide throughout the tour -speaking local driver-guide throughout the tour (The assigned local driver-guide may change during the itinerary. Airport transfers will be operated with English-speaking drivers)
- 4 night’s accommodation
- 4 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
- 4x4 vehicle with a pop-up roof and guaranteed window seat during game drives and all transportation throughout the tour (maximum 7 persons per vehicle)
- All entrance fees and activities mentioned in the itinerary: 1 game drive at Maasai Mara National Reserve (Day 2); 2 game drives at game drive at Maasai Mara National Reserve, Masaai village visit (Day 3); 1 game drive at Lake Nakuru National Park (Day 4); Lake Naivasha boat ride (Day 5)
- Government taxes
- 1 bottle of mineral water (500ml) per person per day on game drives

Price does not include

- Visas
- International flights
- Domestic flights
- International flights
- Drinks during meals (unless specified otherwise)
- Any visit not mentioned in the program
- Porterage and gratuities
- Expenditures of a personal nature, drinks and meals or items not stated explicitly in the program
- Any alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, mineral water, camera/video camera fee (if any)
- Travel Insurance or any loss or extra cost arising due to unforeseen circumstances such as flight delays, accidents, etc.

Itinerary

Day Overnight Itinerary highlights
1 Mara Sopa Lodge 4* or similarMaasai Mara National Reserve   Nairobi - Safari Park Hotel - Kasarani on Thika Road, Nairobi, Kenia, KE
2 Mara Sopa Lodge 4* or similarMaasai Mara National Reserve
3 Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge 4* or similarLake Nakuru
4   Nairobi - Safari Park Hotel Kasarani

Accommodations provided in each place

PlaceSuperior
Maasai Mara National ReserveMara Sopa Lodge 4* or similar
Lake NakuruLake Nakuru Sopa Lodge 4* or similar