Tsavo + Rift
Red elephants of Tsavo, then the lakes of the Rift Valley.
7 days · 6 nights · Best Jun – Oct
About this experience
If you've done the Mara and want something rougher, this is it. Tsavo is enormous — three times the size of the Mara — and almost empty of tourists. The elephants are dyed red by the soil. Then we move north into the Rift Valley: Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru, flamingos and rhino.
Best for
- Second-time visitors
- Couples seeking quiet
- Active travellers
Trip features
- Private vehicleYour own 4x4 and driver-guide
- Starts any dayPick your own date, 7+ days ahead
- Can be tailoredChange lodges, add days or parks
- Children welcomeAges 3–12 at half price
- Pickup in NairobiAirport or your hotel
- English · SwahiliGuide languages
Signature experiences
Optional extras we can add to this trip. Prices are per person and confirmed when you book.
A boat out among the hippos and fish eagles of Naivasha, then a walk on Crescent Island where the game roams free.
One of the only Kenyan parks you can cycle — ride between the towering red cliffs, then walk down into the gorge.
Chilled drinks on a ridge as the sun drops and the sky turns — a quiet, golden end to a day of game drives.
A lantern-lit table set out under the stars, your own chef and a crackling fire — the safari dinner people remember for years.
Day by day
What each day looks like, from pickup in Nairobi to drop-off.
Early road transfer south, arrive Tsavo West by lunch. Afternoon at Mzima Springs — crocodiles, hippos from an underwater viewing chamber.
Full day game driving. Tsavo's elephants are dyed dark red from rolling in the volcanic soil — unmistakable. Lava flows from the Shaitani eruption.
Drive to the foot of the Chyulus, sundowner with a view over the whole park.
Long driving day north through Nairobi to Lake Naivasha. Afternoon boat ride on the lake — hippos, fish eagles.
Morning cycle through Hell's Gate (the only Kenyan park where you can walk and cycle). Afternoon walk on Crescent Island — giraffe and zebra at arm's length, no predators.
Day trip to Nakuru — flamingos when the lake is right, rhino reliably. Back to Naivasha for the night.
Morning drive back to Nairobi, lunch on arrival.
What's included
Included
- All accommodation on full-board
- Private 4x4 + driver-guide throughout
- All park entry fees
- Boat ride on Lake Naivasha
- Hell's Gate bicycle hire
- All transfers
- 24/7 WhatsApp line
Not included
- International flights
- Kenya eTA — we help you apply
- Travel insurance
- Hot-air balloon over the Rift ($380 pp, optional)
- Tips
Route & pickup
Where the trip goes, and where we meet you. Pickup is confirmed the day before you set off.
Drag to pan · pinch or buttons to zoom
- 01 NairobiDay 1 · City
- 02 Tsavo WestDay 1 · National park & reserve
- 03 Lake NaivashaDay 4 · Rift Valley lakes
- 04 Lake NakuruDay 6 · Rift Valley lakes
- 05 NairobiDay 7 · City
Good to know
Bookara started running trips in 2026, so there are no guest reviews on this trip yet. Ask us anything on WhatsApp before you book; you'll talk to one of the two founders.
A 30% deposit holds your dates, and the balance is due 45 days before you travel (book closer than that and you pay in full). Cancel 90+ days before departure for a full refund, 60–89 days before for 50% back. Full terms.
Common questions
How does Tsavo compare to the Mara?+
Quieter, bigger, more remote. Three times the area, a fraction of the vehicles, and elephants dyed dark red from the volcanic soil. You see less wildlife per kilometre than the Mara, but you see it alone.
Can we cycle Hell's Gate without being experienced cyclists?+
Yes. The route is flat, the bikes are basic mountain bikes from the park concession, and the distance is 6km total. We have done it with guests aged 8 to 71.
Is Lake Nakuru worth the day trip?+
If you want rhinos, yes — Nakuru has one of Kenya's highest rhino densities and a near-guaranteed sighting. The flamingos are unpredictable (depends on the water level) but the Rothschild giraffe and rhino are reliable.
How long are the driving days?+
Tsavo to Naivasha is the long day — 6 hours via Nairobi. We break it with lunch in Nairobi. The other transfers are 1–2 hours. We use a private 4x4 with proper seats and air conditioning.
Book on WhatsApp
Your chat opens with the trip pre-filled — no payment needed now. Our team replies between 7am–10pm EAT.
Request saved
WhatsApp is opening with your details pre-filled — just hit send.
- 1 Send the pre-filled messageYour trip details are already written for you.
- 2 Confirm in chat — or pay the deposit onlineSame reference either way. Our team replies 7am–10pm EAT.
- 3 Instant confirmationWhatsApp message + email receipt the moment your deposit lands.
Your request ref becomes your booking reference once the deposit is paid.
Book direct with the operator
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Licensed & certified
Kenya-registered operator in Nairobi with experienced driver-guides.
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Run from Nairobi
We plan and run your trip ourselves, with driver-guides we know, and stay reachable on WhatsApp throughout.
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Secure payment
Card or Apple Pay through Paystack (USD). Taxes and park fees are in the price you see.
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Flexible cancellation
Full refund up to 90 days before departure; a 30% deposit holds your dates.
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