Lake Nakuru & Lake Naivasha
Pink flamingos, white rhinos and a boat ride through hippos
About this trip
An easy 2-3 hour drive from Nairobi opens up the Great Rift Valley - a 6,000 km tectonic split visible from space. Lake Nakuru (188 km², alkaline) is Kenya's flagship rhino sanctuary with around 60 black and 80 southern white rhinos behind a 100-km predator-proof electric fence, plus Rothschild's giraffe, leopard and seasonal pink flamingo flocks. Lake Naivasha is a freshwater oasis ringed by yellow-fever acacia, hippos and 400 bird species; you can take a boat ride and walk among giraffes on Crescent Island. Ideal for a long weekend, a tour add-on for international visitors before flying out, or a teambuilding offsite.
Highlights
- Guaranteed rhino sightings (both black and white) at Lake Nakuru
- Flamingo flocks and pelican colonies on Lake Nakuru's alkaline shores
- Hippo boat safari at sunset on Lake Naivasha
- Walking safari on Crescent Island sanctuary - no predators, get out of the vehicle
- Optional Hell's Gate National Park bike ride through canyon scenery
Itinerary
Day 1
Nairobi → Lake Nakuru
Depart Nairobi 0800 via the Rift Valley escarpment viewpoint (panoramic stop). Arrive Nakuru lodge for lunch. Afternoon game drive - focus on rhinos at Baboon Cliff and Makalia waterfalls. Sundowner at the lake edge.
Day 2
Nakuru → Lake Naivasha
Morning drive for missed sightings and Rothschild's giraffe. Mid-morning transfer to Naivasha (1.5 hrs). Lunch at lakeside lodge. Afternoon boat ride among hippos and fish eagles, then walking safari on Crescent Island with giraffe, zebra and wildebeest at arm's length.
Day 3
Hell's Gate ride → Nairobi
Optional morning bike ride through Hell's Gate National Park (the inspiration for *Lion King's* Pride Rock). Lunch, then afternoon return to Nairobi by 1600.
What's included
- Private 4x4 with English-speaking guide-driver
- Two nights full board at lakeside lodge
- Lake Nakuru and Hell's Gate park fees
- Lake Naivasha boat ride (1 hour) and Crescent Island walking entry
- Bottled water throughout
Not included: international flights, visa fees, optional activities marked above, personal expenses, tips beyond stated inclusions, and travel insurance (we arrange separately on request).
December and festive season 2026
Naivasha and the Rift Valley lakes are the shortest festive break from Nairobi, which is why they fill first over the holiday weekends. It suits families who only have a few days and couples who want a lakeside stay without a flight.
For families
A very manageable trip with young children: two to three hours by road, a boat ride, a walk among plains game on Crescent Island and short game drives rather than long ones.
For couples
Couples often take two nights at a lakeside property with a boat sundowner, and add Hell's Gate or Mount Longonot if they want a walk.
Ways to travel
- Private vehicle with a driver from Nairobi
- Self-drive with accommodation only, if you prefer to drive yourselves
- Park, conservancy and boat fees quoted separately from the stay
What to tell us when you enquire
- Confirm nights and your arrival date, including festive weekend flexibility
- Tell us adults, children and ages so rooming can be requested correctly
- Choose bed and breakfast, half board or full board
- Request live December availability and rate; we confirm availability and final inclusions in writing
Compare this against the other festive options on our December holiday packages in Kenya page.
Weighing up alternatives? Tsavo East, Tsavo West or Nanyuki & Laikipia suit different travel days and budgets, and we are happy to quote more than one so you can compare properly.
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