This safari begins in the Great Rift Valley at Hell’s Gate National Park, one of the few places in Africa where you can cycle and walk freely among zebras, giraffes, and gazelles. You pedal past Fischer’s Tower and hike through the dramatic Ol Jorowa Gorge, where geothermal steam vents rise from the earth and slot canyons narrow until the sky becomes a thin strip of blue. The day ends at Lake Naivasha Resort, overlooking the lake’s calm waters.
The second day is spent on Lake Naivasha, beginning with a boat ride across the water in search of hippos and abundant birdlife—pelicans, cormorants, and kingfishers. You land at Crescent Island, a predator-free sanctuary where you walk freely among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and impalas, one of the highest concentrations of wildlife per acre in Kenya. The afternoon offers more time on the lake, exploring its shorelines and quiet inlets before returning to the resort for the night.
The journey then turns north to Samburu National Reserve for three nights at Lion’s Cave Camp in Archers Post, with game drives along the Ewaso Ng’iro River in search of the Special Five—Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk, and Somali ostrich. A visit to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, the first Indigenous community-owned elephant sanctuary in Africa, offers a morning with rescued orphans and their Samburu keepers. The final day explores Buffalo Springs’ natural springs and Shaba’s Born Free history before returning to Nairobi.
Safari Overview
This safari begins with cycling and gorge hiking at Hell’s Gate, then a boat ride across Lake Naivasha to walk among giraffes and zebras on Crescent Island, before heading north to Samburu for three nights at Lion’s Cave Camp, game drives along the Ewaso Ng’iro River in search of the Special Five, a visit to the community-run Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, and explorations of Buffalo Springs and Shaba.
Safari Highlights
- Cycling among zebras, giraffes, and gazelles at Hell's Gate National Park, one of the few parks in Africa where walking and cycling are permitted
- Hiking through the dramatic Ol Jorowa Gorge, with geothermal steam vents and slot canyons that narrow until the sky becomes a thin strip of blue
- Boat ride across Lake Naivasha, with hippos lounging on the shore and pelicans, cormorants, and kingfishers overhead
- Walking safari on Crescent Island, a predator-free sanctuary with one of the highest concentrations of wildlife per acre in Kenya
- Samburu National Reserve's Special Five—Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk, and Somali ostrich—found north of the Equator and nowhere else in Kenya
- Over nine hundred elephants along the Ewaso Ng'iro River, with leopards draped in riverine trees
- Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, the first Indigenous community-owned elephant sanctuary in Africa, with rescued orphans and their Samburu keepers
- Buffalo Springs National Reserve's natural springs, creating crystal-clear pools and lush palm groves
- Three nights at Lion's Cave Camp in Archers Post, overlooking the Ewaso Ng'iro River
