Kenya Rift Valley & West

The Maasai Mara and the Great Rift Valley lakes: Nakuru, Naivasha and Baringo, and farther west, the shores of Lake Victoria and the western rainforest.

This region is defined by whole counties and includes Narok County where the Maasai Mara lies; the central and southern Rift Valley counties of Nakuru, Baringo and others; the tea-growing counties of the western highlands such as Kericho, Nandi and Vihiga; and the former Nyanza Province (Kisumu, Homa Bay and others) and former Western Province (Kakamega and others).

Highlights: the Great Migration, the Mara River wildebeest crossings and the "Big Five" in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, plus the surrounding private conservancies; flamingos and black and white rhinos at Lake Nakuru; hippos at Lake Naivasha, Crescent Island and cycling in Hell's Gate National Park; the hot springs of Lake Bogoria and the birdlife of Lake Baringo; the tea estates of Kericho; Kisumu and Rusinga Island on Lake Victoria; and Kakamega Forest.

Classic itinerary: Nairobi – Naivasha – Nakuru – Maasai Mara, 5–6 days by self-drive or shared vehicle, is Kenya's most classic safari route; you can cross the border from the Mara to continue on to the Serengeti in Tanzania.

Getting around: the road trip from Nairobi to the Mara takes about 5–6 hours, or you can fly from Wilson Airport to the Mara's airstrips. Note: during the Great Migration, camps must be booked months in advance; reserve entry fees are high.

Destinations

Itineraries