$3,573 to $3,741 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Hell's Gate National Park
Hell's Gate National Park
Morning:
Depart from Nairobi early in the morning. Drive northwest along the edge of the Great Rift Valley, stopping at the viewpoint near Limuru for panoramic photographs of the escarpment. Continue descending into the valley floor, passing through Naivasha town before arriving at Hell’s Gate National Park by late morning.
Afternoon:
Enter the park and meet your Maasai host family, who will welcome you with song and ceremony at their traditional manyatta (homestead). After a light lunch, set out on a guided hike into Ol Njorowa Gorge (weather permitting). This narrow, sculpted canyon features warm geothermal vents, steam rising from fissures, and red rock walls polished by wind and water. Your Maasai guide explains the geological forces that created this dramatic landscape.
Evening:
Return to the manyatta. Participate in Maasai traditions—learn the adumu (jumping dance), try fire-lighting using friction sticks, and listen to oral stories about warriors, wildlife, and coexistence.
- Main Destination:
- Hell’S Gate National Park
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
Wildlife in Hell’s Gate NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
Naiburta, Endachata & Obsidian Nature Trails
Naiburta, Endachata & Obsidian Nature Trails
Morning:
Wake to the sounds of cattle bells and morning bird calls. After a breakfast of chai tea and mandazi, set out on a guided hike through the Naiburta and Endachata areas. This rugged terrain features volcanic rock formations, ancient lava flows, and panoramic views of Lake Naivasha shimmering below. Your Maasia guide tracks wildlife—watch for klipspringer, rock hyrax, and augur hawks circling above.
Afternoon:
Return to the manyatta for lunch. After resting, hike the Obsidian Nature Trails, where black volcanic glass glitters across the ground like scattered midnight. Your guide explains how ancient eruptions forged this material, used by early peoples for tools and weapons. Learn to identify different types of volcanic rock while surrounded by acacia woodland.
Evening:
Drive to Ol Dubai Public Campsite inside the park. Set up camp as the sun drops behind the western wall. Enjoy a campfire-cooked dinner under a canopy of stars so bright they cast shadows.
- Main Destination:
- Hell’S Gate National Park
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
Gituanja Tower, Olkaria Geothermal Spa & Narasha Hills
Gituanja Tower, Olkaria Geothermal Spa & Narasha Hills
Morning:
Early breakfast at camp. Hike into the Gituanja area, a less-visited corner of the park featuring twisted rock formations, secretive birdlife, and dramatic gullies. Your guide points out medicinal plants used by Maasai elders. The trail is quiet—you may encounter zebra, giraffe, or eland moving between valleys.
Afternoon:
Drive to the Olkaria Geothermal Spa, a natural hot spring fed by underground volcanic activity. Soak in mineral-rich pools heated to therapeutic temperatures while steam rises around you. This is the Rift Valley restoring tired muscles after two days of hiking. Lunch is served at the spa’s shaded picnic area.
Evening:
Hike the Narasha Hills as the sun tilts west. The golden hour light turns the gorge walls into a painting of ochre, crimson, and shadow. From the ridge, watch the park fall into dusk. Return to Ol Dubai campsite for dinner and overnight.
- Main Destination:
- Hell’S Gate National Park
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
Hells Gate to Crater Lake Game Sanctuary – Evening Wildlife Walk
Hells Gate to Crater Lake Game Sanctuary – Evening Wildlife Walk
Morning:
Pack up camp after breakfast. Bid farewell to your Maasai hosts and depart Hell’s Gate. Drive south around Lake Naivasha, passing through flower farms and acacia woodland. Arrive at Crater Lake Game Sanctuary by late morning—a hidden jewel with a turquoise crater lake surrounded by volcanic ridges.
Afternoon:
Settle into your tented camp overlooking the lake. Enjoy lunch followed by rest time. You may choose to relax on your private veranda, watching birds—fish eagles, cormorants, herons—fish in the alkaline waters.
Activity: Evening Nature Walk
At 4:00 PM, set out with an armed ranger on a guided walking safari around the lake. Track wildlife on foot: zebra, waterbuck, impala, giraffe, and over 100 bird species. Learn to read tracks and signs—hoof prints, scat, broken branches. As the sun sets, the lake reflects orange and gold.
- Main Destination:
- Sonachi Green Crater Lake
- Accommodation:
- Crater Lake Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Crater Lake – Crescent Island & Crater Rim Hike
Crater Lake – Crescent Island & Crater Rim Hike
Morning:
Early breakfast, then transfer by boat across the lake to Crescent Island. This predator-free sanctuary allows walking among wildlife without vehicles or fences. Step ashore and immediately find yourself among giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, eland, and antelope. Your guide leads a two-hour walking circuit around the island. Animals are accustomed to humans—a giraffe may pass close enough to touch.
Afternoon:
Return by boat to camp for lunch. Rest during the heat of the day. At 4:00 PM, set out on a hike around the crater rim. The trail follows the volcanic ridge enclosing the lake, offering staggering views—the Rift Valley spread below, Lake Naivasha to the west, and on clear days, Mount Longonot on the horizon.
Evening:
Sundowner on the rim as the lake turns violet. Return to camp for dinner. Listen for hippos grunting from the water’s edge.
- Main Destination:
- Crescent Island Game Park (Lake Naivasha)
- Accommodation:
- Crater Lake Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Crater Lake to Lake Nakuru to Menengai – Rhinos, Giraffes & Maili Saba Camp
Crater Lake to Lake Nakuru to Menengai – Rhinos, Giraffes & Maili Saba Camp
Morning:
Depart after breakfast and drive north to Lake Nakuru National Park. Enter the park by 9:00 AM for a morning game drive. This park is a rhino sanctuary—you have excellent chances of seeing both black and white rhinos grazing along the lake shore. Also look for the rare Rothschild’s giraffe, identifiable by its white “stockings” below the knees. Flamingos (seasonal) turn the lake edge pink. Lions and leopards are present but elusive.
Afternoon:
Picnic lunch inside the park at a designated viewpoint overlooking the lake. Continue game driving through acacia forest and grassland. Exit the park by 3:00 PM and drive to Maili Saba Camp, perched on the edge of the Menengai Crater—one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world.
Evening:
Settle into camp. Enjoy sundowners on the crater rim as the sun sets behind the western wall. The caldera floor drops over 2,000 feet below you.
- Main Destination:
- Lake Nakuru National Park
- Accommodation:
- Maili Saba Camp
Wildlife in Lake Nakuru NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Menengai Crater – Exploring One of the World Largest Caldera
Menengai Crater – Exploring One of the World Largest Caldera
Morning:
After breakfast, set out with a local guide to explore Menengai Crater. You will hike along the rim of this massive volcanic caldera—over 12 kilometers across and 485 meters deep. The trail passes geothermal steam vents, ancient lava flows, and viewpoints that offer 360-degree panoramas of the Rift Valley. On clear days, see Lake Nakuru, Lake Bogoria, and even Mount Kenya to the east.
Activity: Interpretive Walk
Your guide explains the geological history—how a cataclysmic eruption created this caldera over 8,000 years ago. You also learn Maasai legends: the crater is considered a sacred place where warriors prayed for victory before battle.
Afternoon:
Return to camp for lunch. Rest or enjoy the camp’s crater-edge viewing deck. Optional: visit a local blacksmith or community project supported by the camp.
Evening:
Final sundowner on the rim. The wind carries stories of magma and time.
- Main Destination:
- Menengai Crater (Highlight)
- Accommodation:
- Maili Saba Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 8
Menengai to Nairobi – Farewell Party at Kasarani Safari Park Restaurant
Menengai to Nairobi – Farewell Party at Kasarani Safari Park Restaurant
Morning:
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Maili Saba Camp. Take a final walk along the crater rim if time allows. Pack your belongings and depart after 9:00 AM. Drive south through the Rift Valley floor, passing Lake Nakuru and Naivasha. Stop for lunch at a roadside café overlooking the escarpment—one last view of the valley you have explored for seven days.
Evening: Farewell Party at Kasarani Safari Park Restaurant
At 7:00 PM, gather at the Safari Park Restaurant in Kasarani. This iconic Nairobi venue serves a buffet of Kenyan specialties—nyama choma, grilled tilapia, ugali, samosas, and tropical fruits. Live music and cultural dancers perform throughout the evening. Celebrate with your fellow travelers, share photographs, and exchange memories of steam, craters, and walking with giraffes.
Drop-off: After dinner, you will be transferred to your Nairobi hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward connection—marking the end of your Hiking And Safaris expedition.
- Main Destination:
- Nairobi (City)
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
