Located in Nakuru County, Lake Naivasha is a large freshwater lake which sits just outside the town of Naivasha. Situated at an elevation of 1,884m, Lake Naivasha is the highest lake within the Great Rift Valley.
With a surface area of 139km², Lake Naivasha dominates the landscape, and it is surrounded by a swamp which covers an area of around 64km². Beyond the swampland, the lake is encircled by forests of the fever tree.
Lake Naivasha is famous for its high populations of hippos and flamingos. There are over 1,500 hippos in the area, and you are almost guaranteed to see one.
The lake is a birder’s paradise as it is home to over 400 bird species. Lesser and greater flamingos flock to the lake, forming a wash of bright pink across the lake’s surface.
Giraffes, zebras, impalas, and waterbucks can be sighted in the immediate vicinity of Lake Naivasha, around Crescent Island, Crater Lake Game Sanctuary, and Longonot National Park. Lucky adventurers may even glimpse a leopard.
The Maasai Mara is Africa’s most famous safari destination. Vast savannah’s dotted with rogue acacia trees and a huge diversity of wildlife, the Mara is the quintessential safari experience.
The reserve has a magnificent collection of wildlife and it is quite possible to spot not just the ‘Big Five’ as often mentioned widely, but also intact the ‘Big Nine’, to include the Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Girrafe, Zebra, Cheetah and Hippo. It is quote possible that due to the nature and richness of flora and fauna in the national park, one can see all of the above animals not just in a single 2-3 hour game drive, but also with a little more luck, within an hour of your drive in the reserve.
Dubai International Airport (Google Map)
Lake Naivasha
A visit to Lake Naivasha is ideal for a day trip from Nairobi or on the way to the Masai Mara. By boat you can spot:
Maasai Mara
Masai Mara promises an impressive scenery made up of wide open grassland and a perennial river teeming with an incredible variety of animals. You can expect 1510 km² of untouched nature as everything in the ecosystem exists in its natural form. Its varied landscapes also offer a multitude of exciting safari activities including nature walks, balloon safaris, bush picnics, visits to Maasai villages, and of course, game drives.
Pickup from JKI Airport and drive to Lake Naivasha (2.5 hours) in time for lunch at the lodge. Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure. The lake is home to many hippos and an amazing diversity of birdlife. Dinner and overnight at the lodge in Naivasha.
After breakfast, drive to the Masai Mara Game Reserve (5hours). Arrive at the lodge for a late lunch. Afternoon game drive in the Masai Mara that offers the chance to capture all of the ‘Big5’ on camera. As the sun starts to fade, predators begin to stalk them; any zebra, gazelle, waterbuck, eland, antelope and buffalo in the reserve. Dinner and overnight at the camp in the Masai Mara
Morning and afternoon game drives in the Masai Mara, returning to the lodge for lunch. See hyenas inspecting last night’s kills, elephants wallowing at the water hole and a grassland that captures the essence of the African wilderness. Observe the zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, buffalo, lion, warthog and many other species that populate the Mara. Dinner and overnight at the camp in the Masai Mara.
Enjoy a final breakfast at the lodge, then depart for Nairobi (5 hours). Drop-off at JKI Airport. Travel back to Dubai
The section above lists photos and brief information on some of the amazing wildlife and animals that you will find in Masai Mara