5 Days, 4 Nights Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Hells Gate Budget Safari

After breakfast drive to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, the northern part of the Serengeti - Mara ecosystem and one of Kenya's most favored game-viewing areas. Lunch at the camp or lodge followed by afternoon game viewing drives.

The Mara is 700 sq miles of open grassland dotted with distinctive flat-topped acacia trees. It is watered by the tree-lined Mara River and its tributary the Talek River. The western border of the park is the spectacular Oloololo Escarpment. Dinner and overnight at the Manyatta camp or one of the luxurious lodges in the game reserve.

Full-day game drive. Picnic lunch will be served.  The Mara is the land of African legend; lions are abundant throughout the park, as are the elephants, giraffes, and various gazelle species and zebra. Cheetahs and leopards are also regularly seen and, less commonly, rhinos. The annual wildebeest migration, one of nature's few remaining wildlife spectacles, occurs in the Mara from July to October when the big animals and their predators are to be present in abundance.  Several species of Bee-Eater, the flying rainbow that heads the list of Mara's hundreds of bird species.

As well as wildlife, the Maasai Mara is also home to many members of the colorful Maasai tribes people who may be seen around the borders of the park - Morans (warriors) loping across the plains, young boys herding goats, or elders grouped under a tree discussing matters of the day. Dinner and overnight at the camp or Lodge.

Morning game drive at Masai Mara. After breakfast drive to Lake Naivasha, with lunch en route. All meals and overnight at Taphe guest resort or one of the luxury around the lake.

* Optional boat ride is available at Lake Naivasha to view hippos as well as sport fishing.

Early breakfast then drive a short distance to Hell's gate national park for a guided walking tour. Located in the Naivasha area, this is one of the lowland parks in the country which you can walk through. The looming cliffs and the Hell's Gate gorge itself are spectacular and home to a variety of birds and animals such as zebra, baboons, Thomson gazelle, antelope, cheater, and leopards. Another main attraction is Fischer's Tower 25-m high in calcium from volcanic rock.

The Olkaria Geothermal power station, which uses one of the hottest sources of energy in the world, is also a spectacular site, with plumes of steam rising into the air. Drive to Nairobi later in the afternoon where you arrive at around 16:00 pm. On arrival, you will be dropped back at your city hotel or airport.