Through the Rift Valley

The Rift Valley Tour is a 9-day private guided road circuit taking in the pretty lakes of the Kenyan Rift Valley – Naivasha, Elementaita, Nakuru, Bogoria and Baringo. A few other highlights of the region are also included, such as the Longonot volcano and the Hell’s Gate National Park. This region is part of the Giant Rift Valley, which stretches across Africa, from Jordan to Mozambique, cutting through Kenya from north to south. It is here, where Africa is splitting apart. The volcanic activity has been shaping spectacular escarpments, volcanic cones and lakes. The salty waters are a paradise for birdlife and the shores are teaming with wildlife. Go on game viewing drives, hike, cycle, observe the flocks of pink flamingoes, visit a tea and a coffee plantation. The itinerary is an excellent choice for family travelling with children, a group of friends or couples who like active trips, as well as for senior travellers. The program includes accommodation at small boutique lodges with a lot of comfort and charm.

9 Days – From £2,200 per person

*equivalent in USD, EUR accepted

Itinerary: Nairobi, Limuru, Naivasha, Longonot, Hell’s Gate, Elementaita, Nakuru, Bogoria, Baringo, Nairobi

Included

Price is per person, based on two people sharing
Accommodation (full board)
Wildlife game drives with professional guide
4×4 vehicle, fuel, drivers’ allowance
All transfers on a private basis
Bicycles in Hell’s Gate
All mandatory daily park fees and local taxes

Excluded

Visa (More Info)
International Flights (See Flights to Kenya)
Domestic Flights
Personal Expenses
Insurance
Tips & Porters
Additional Drinks

Flights

International flights are not included in the package price. We give you the freedom to use miles and choose your preferred airline, and if you are stuck we can help you find the right connections to fit well with the start and finish of your trip. Return flights to Kenya start from £700 per person, depending on the connections and time of the year.

We can arrange domestic flights internally, shall you choose to move around by air within Kenya.

How to Book

Send us a message on WhatsApp or Email to discuss your requirements, check availability and get a confirmed price.

This is a sample itinerary and prices are correct at the time of writing. We can tailor the itinerary to suit your plans by changing the length of the trip or the order of activities. More days can be added. Other hotels can be chosen, according to your liking. For more travel inspiration check these itineraries.

Day 1 - Arrive in Nairobi

Today you will arrive at NBO Airport. You will be met and transferred to the hotel. Nairobi is the largest city between Cairo and Johannesburg. Being located just south of the equator, it enjoys a spring like climate. Although Nairobi can be quite hectic, there are charming hidden places, surrounded by tall lush trees and blooming exotic flowers. Spring is really colourful in Nairobi with all the purple jacaranda trees in bloom. What a sight! Dining and shopping are very good here. Today enjoy a relaxing time at the lodge or head out to one of the good local restaurant for a dining experience. Overnight at Fair Actres.

Day 2 - Tea & Coffee

After breakfast, visit Kiambethu tea farm in Limuru, located on the edge of the Great Rift Valley. The region enjoys the perfect climate needed for year-round tea cultivation. The farm house is set within beautiful gardens surrounded by acres of endless tea fields. The guided tour takes you through the history of Kenyan tea growing. Visit the colonial farmhouse and walk in the forest which is home to the Colobus monkey and other wildlife. Lunch and afternoon tea are included. After lunch, drive towards Fairview Coffee Estate to immerse in the intricate details of the coffee-making process from the budding of the flowers to the final cup of freshly brewed coffee. Overnight at Trade Mark hotel.

Day 3 - Naivasha & Crescent Island

After breakfast, drive to Lake Naivasha, stopping to enjoy the views of the Rift Valley on the way. Naivasha is a vast freshwater lake that supports a great diversity of game as well as more than 400 species of bird. In the afternoon, after settling at the hotel, enjoy a boat ride of about 1h on the lake and a game walk on Crescent Island, a private wildlife sanctuary. Cruise through pods of hippos and listen to the shrill cry of the fish eagle. The boat ride provides an excellent opportunity to watch the birds up close in a stunning and tranquil environment. On the island, the terrain is flat, making it easy to walk. There are more animals here per acre than any other wildlife area in Kenya. Overnight at Sawela Lodge.

Day 4 - Longonot & Hell's Gate

After breakfast, head out to Mount Longonot volcano. Hike through the forest to the crater rim, enjoying the views. After lunch, head to Hell’s Gate National Park. Spectacular scenery including towering cliffs, gorges, rock towers, extinct volcanoes and belching plumes of geothermal steam make it one of the most atmospheric parks in Africa. You’re very likely to see game here. Walk in the Hell’s Gate Gorge, through narrow twisting canyons that suddenly open up into wider spaces with beautiful rock formations. After a full hike and bike day, head to the lodge for dinner. Overnight Sawela Lodge.

Day 5 - Lake Elementaita

After breakfast drive further to another lake. Today spend the afternoon enjoying a sense of privacy at Lake Elementaita, a small salty lake located on the private Soysambu Conservancy. It is home to great white pelicans, great crested grebe and is an important stopover for over 350 migratory bird species. You can also witness the rare Rothschild giraffe, zebra, gazelle, eland and families of warthog. Enjoy a range of outdoor activities, including bird watching, and a visit to the natural warm spa that flows into the lake. It also serves as a sanctuary for the endangered colobus monkeys. Overnight at Sawela Lodge.

Day 6 - Lake Nakuru

Today drive down to Lake Nakuru National Park with a shallow, salty lake which is home to flocks of sensational flamingos and many other bird species including pelicans, cormorants, black-winged stilts, avocets and migrant European birds. Beside its magnificent bird life, it is also one of the best places in Kenya to see both black and white rhino. Watch these magnificent mammals grazing the shoreline of the lake or wallowing in the mud. One can also see Rothschild’s giraffe here, a resident population of tree-climbing lions, leopards and more. Nearby Nakuru there are two lookouts with great views, The Baboon cliff and the Out of Africa lookout – a great place to watch a sundowner. Overnight at Lake Nakuru Lodge.

Day 7 - Lake Bogoria

Today drive to Lake Bogoria, another hotspot for birdlovers, especially the pink flamingos and pelicans. After picnic lunch visit the hot steaming geysers found in the area. These are spectacular displays of superheated water sprays that shoot out of natural underground rocksearth at Loburu. Overnight at Lake Bogoria Spa.

Day 8 - Lake Baringo

After breakfast drive to lake Baringo, which is set dramatically at the foot of the Laikipia Escarpment. This is one of the two freshwater lakes in the Rift Valley, being home to over 460 bird species, crocodiles and hippos. The lake gets its waters from several rivers and has no obvious outlet, which causes the raise in the levels of the water. Watch the wildlife grazing near the lakeshore, or take a boat trip to Ol Kokwe Island, a dormant volcanic peak in the heart of the lake. Do not forget to watch a spectacular sundowner over the lake. Overnight at Lake Bogoria Spa.

Day 9 - Back to Nairobi

After breakfast, check out and drive towards Nairobi and drop off at J.K.I.A or Wilson Airport to connect with your onward flight. The road trip back to the capital city will take around 4h. You will stop for lunch on the road or you can choose to have a packed lunch from the hotel. Enjoy a last view of the Rift Valley at the Escarpment viewpoint. Here it is a good place to buy souvenirs from the many small shops. Time permitting you can also stop at one of the many flower farms and pick up some fresh roses to take with you.