This is a short but extremely rewarding safari as it allows visitors to gain a firsthand experience of the Great Rift Valley and the vast game-rich plains of the 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 program now operates with a Pre night in Nairobi, followed by lunch on the last day and departure transfer as standard.
Upon arrival into Nairobi, clients will be met and transferred to their hotel. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight at Ole Sereni Hotel on a bed and breakfast basis in Cozy Room (Check in time is 1400 hrs approx. and will be adhered to. Clients arriving in the middle of the night must book a pre-night as they will not be permitted to wait in the hotel lobby check-in at 1400 hrs.)
Ole Sereni Hotel
Ole-Sereni Hotel is amongst the leading airport hotels in Nairobi for business and leisure travellers, events, conferencing and weddings. With stunning greens and golds of Nairobi National Park's landscape punctuated by giraffe, zebra, antelope, and buffalo lounging near our waterhole, the views alone make Ole-Sereni Hotel one-of-a-kind.
At Ole-Sereni Hotel, each room has an LCD flat screen TV, a minibar and 24-hour in-room dining services. They also come equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi and wired internet to help you stay connected, which is made easy at desks with enhanced work lighting. Boasting modern technology and furnishings with an African-inspired decor, all our rooms serve as a comfortable home away from home, whether providing views of the park or Nairobi's bustling streets.
Leaving Nairobi after breakfast, you travel towards Kenya's fertile highlands and head down the rift escarpment on the road built by Italian prisoners of war during World War II. On the way spot the charming chapel built at the foot of the escarpment. Pass the impressive Longonot earth satellite station as you head across the valley to Narok; continue your travels across acres of wheat and barley, before reaching the Masai Mara in time for lunch. Following lunch set off on your first game drive, returning to the lodge as the sun sets.
Mara Sopa Lodge is set in the Oloolaimutia Valley and built into the surrounding hillside landscape. The accent around the lodge is on the indigenous Masai people and the fabulous wealth of wildlife, birdlife and natural flora seen in every direction. The lodge is luxuriously appointed with 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’s evening wildlife films and CNN to enjoy during the down-time. All this ensures that your stay will be blissfully comfortable.
Overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge on a full board basis.
Following an early breakfast, depart on a morning game drive, returning to the camp mid- morning. After lunch, and perhaps a siesta, set off on another game drive and visit to the Masai Village, returning to the lodge as the sunsets.
Overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge on a full board basis.
Leaving the Masai Mara after breakfast, travel across the ‘breadbasket’ of Kenya, where acres of wheat and barley litter the landscape as you head north to Narok, the district headquarters of this part of Maasailand. Now travel across the vast plains on the floor of the Rift Valley, keeping an eye out for herds of giraffe and gazelle 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, there is an afternoon game drive returning to the lodge as the sun sets. The national park, known for its birdlife, offers a possibility to view flamingoes. It is also home to Black and White rhinos as well as the endangered Rothschild Giraffe.
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.
Overlooking Lake Nakuru and its surrounding National Park, it is a paradise for bird watchers and wildlife lovers alike.
Only a two leisurely hours' drive from Nairobi, through beautiful forested uplands and passing a series of lake, on the outskirts of the bustling market town of Nakuru, lies a truly remarkable national park which has achieved international fame. Both black and white rhino are being given a new lease of life in this 188 sq km, fully-fenced park - and they are carefully protected. The present rhino population is over 50 and continuing to multiply. The Rothschilds giraffe is another rarity and the park has its fair share of buffalo, leopard, zebra, eland, waterbuck and lion.
Overnight at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge on a full board basis.
Following an early breakfast, continue to Lake Naivasha for a boat ride. Leaving the Rift Valley behind, proceed to Nairobi arriving late morning. Once in the city, clients will be dropped off at the drop off point in the city centre or airport for ongoing travel arrangements.
Suggested Optional Nairobi Excursions on return to Nairobi ex- Safari
Lunch or Dinner at Carnivore
Out of Africa Excursion
Shopping trip to Utamaduni and Kazuri Bead Factory
Use of Pollmans Club Lounge
- Landside meet and greet services
- Transfers as specified
- Transport for safari sector in 4x4 vehicles on a Private basis with maximum 7 passengers per vehicle
- Guaranteed window seats
- Services of experienced bilingual English-speaking driver-guides (languages including Spanish, French, German and Italian are available on request and subject to availability)
- Game drives and activities as specified in the itinerary
- All accommodation and meals as specified
- All park fees and government taxes (except Zanzibar Infrastructure Tax where applicable)
- Filtered water will be provided in safari vehicles provided.
- Travellers should bring reusable water bottles
- Internal flights (if applicable) as specified in the itinerary inclusive of all airport taxes
Excludes
- International and regional flights (except where specified)
- Airport taxes except on tickets we issue
- Passport and visa fees
- Zanzibar Infrastructure Tax (where applicable)
- Hot air balloon safaris
- Driver-guide gratuities
- Dining rooms tips and porterage
- Personal travel, baggage, and medical insurance
- Drinks, Laundry, Telephone bills and any items of a personal nature (except where specified)
Hotels Envisaged OR Similar
Nairobi - 2.5.4 Ole Sereni Hotel in a Cozy Room
Masai Mara National Reserve - Mara Sopa Lodge in a Standard room
Lake Nakuru - Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge in a Standard room
Christmas Supplement: AUD 105-00 per person per night from 24 Dec 2024 to 01 Jan 2025 inclusive. (24 Dec 2025 to 01 Jan 2026 inclusive).
Easter Supplement: AUD 100-00 per person per night from 29 Mar 2024 to 01 April 2024 inclusive. (18 April 2025 to 21 April 2025 inclusive).
Cost of Extra Night in Masai Mara National Reserve – Mara Sopa Lodge and Lake Nakuru National Park – Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge available on request.
*Park and Reserve fees used in these rates are based on current information. Should there be increases in park and/or Reserve fees, these will be passed along for all existing and future bookings.
Extra transfer requests applicable as per below:
• Clients booking a pre-night in Nairobi at the same base hotel, NO additional arrival transfer will be charged.
• On return from safari, drop off at Airport or a city centre hotel is included.
• Clients requiring a SEPARATE evening or later departure transfer once the safari returns will be charged transfer cost as per transfer document.
Child and Triple Sharing rates available on request.
Extra transfer available on request.
Arrival Information
Earliest check-in at the arrival hotel is 14h00. Travellers arriving on early morning flights are urged to book a pre-night at the arrival hotel (at an additional cost) to avoid delays in accessing the hotel rooms on arrival.
Departure Information
This safari returns to Nairobi at 1330 hrs.
Travellers departing from JKI Airport on a domestic or international flight should book a flight departing later than 1630 hrs.
Travellers with a long layover before their departure flight should consider booking a day room (at an additional cost) to refresh and repack before their international journey.
IMPORTANT Luggage Information
Travellers should only bring soft sided bags on safari. Luggage space in safari vehicles is limited. These bags should measure no more than the following: Height 66 centimetres Length 42 centimetres Width 28 centimetres. Soft sided bags with wheels are permitted.
If travelling on internal flights during your safari, luggage allowances are strictly enforced to 15 kilograms per person including carry-on bags.
If arriving and departing from the same city, bags can be stored in our offices for a one-time fee of AUD 94.00 (per booking, not per bag or per person) to transfer and store the bags and reconnect them with the travellers for departure.
Additional remarks
We may have to re-route the itinerary or accommodate in similar lodges in case of non-availability.
Prices for domestic flights, airport taxes or park fees may be changed without prior notice. This is beyond our control and any increase levied will be passed to you for existing and new bookings.
Flight times mentioned for internal flights are based on published schedules but are subject to change depending on the airline’s load factors and airstrips visited.