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Kenya Rift Valley & Mara Safari: Route Guide

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Wildebeest crossing the Mara river on the great migration
Photo: Benh LIEU SONG · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

A 4WD circuit with a driver links Hell's Gate geology and the protected habitats of Lake Nakuru with two or three extended game drives in the Mara Triangle. It offers opportunities to observe free-ranging wildlife; it never promises a species, migration presence, river crossing or uncrowded sighting.

Kenya Rift Valley & Mara Safari is a 940 km one-way journey (with a driver). It works best as 6–8 days; the plan below is the 7-day version for August, built from 8 verified places, with planned transit times, opening hours and daylight checked.

6–8
days
940km
distance
5
Stops
8
curated stops

View ready-made plans 6-day plan · 7-day plan · 8-day plan · best time to go

The route

Nairobi departure→ 120 kmHell’s Gate & Lake Naivasha→ 90 kmLake Nakuru National Park→ 310 kmMara Triangle→ 420 kmNairobi return

What you'll see

Hell's Gate National Park
Use a staffed daylight park block for Rift Valley geology and outdoor interpretation; confirm current entry, route and activity conditions.
Hell’s Gate & Lake Naivasha
Lake Nakuru National Park game drive
Use a substantive staffed game drive for bird diversity and rhino habitat; no species or sighting is guaranteed.
Lake Nakuru National Park
Mara River & Oloololo game-drive block
Use one confirmed staffed game-drive block around the western landscape and river habitat; obey park rules and never promise a crossing or sighting.
Mara Triangle
Lookout Hill & Sand River game-drive block
Use one confirmed staffed game-drive block in the southern landscape; route and access depend on current conditions and no sighting is guaranteed.
Mara Triangle
Mara Triangle plains game-drive block
Use a distinct confirmed staffed game-drive block across open habitat, following guide and ranger directions without crowding wildlife.
Mara Triangle
Mara Triangle conservation landscape game-drive block
Use a further confirmed staffed game-drive block focused on protected landscape and responsible viewing; no species is promised.
Mara Triangle
Oloololo Escarpment game-drive block
Use a distinct confirmed staffed game-drive block for protected landscape and responsible viewing; follow park rules and never promise a sighting.
Mara Triangle
Mara Triangle riverine game-drive block
Use a distinct confirmed staffed game-drive block for protected landscape and responsible viewing; follow park rules and never promise a sighting.
Mara Triangle

Choose your length

6-day plan5 stops · 18.5 h transit0.8 stops/day · 3.1 h transit/daySee the full plan →7-day plan6 stops · 18.5 h transit0.9 stops/day · 2.6 h transit/daySee the full plan →8-day plan7 stops · 18.5 h transit0.9 stops/day · 2.3 h transit/daySee the full plan →

When to go

Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

Migration movements can increase interest and demand, but the timing, species, numbers and river crossings are never guaranteed. Confirm camps, entries, vehicle, guide and current access.

See the month-by-month breakdown →

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View ready-made plans