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.
Highlights
- Second-time visitors
- Couples seeking quiet
- Active travellers
- Hand-picked lodges with great reviews
- Private vehicle and experienced driver-guide
Signature experiences
Optional add-ons our specialists can build into this trip. Prices are per person, confirmed on request.
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.
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 eVisa
- Travel insurance
- Hot-air balloon over the Rift ($380 pp, optional)
- Tips
Price breakdown
The plan, day by day
From pickup to drop-off — exactly what your trip looks like.
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 travelers say
Guest reviews →Bookara guest rating
Meeting point
Your full route across Kenya — pickup confirmed the day before departure.
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
Cancel for any reason up to 90 days before your departure and receive a full refund. After that, our standard partial-refund schedule applies — see 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
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Request saved
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- 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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Our own vehicles & guides
Trips run end to end by Bookara staff — never handed to a third party.
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Secure payment
Card or Apple Pay through Paystack (USD). Park fees included in the price you see.
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Flexible cancellation
Free cancellation up to 90 days before departure; 30% deposit holds your dates.
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