8-Day Masai Mara, Naivasha, Nakuru, Aberdare & Mount Kenya Mau Mau Caves Safari

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day 1

   Nairobi to Masai Mara

   Depart Nairobi and travel toward the Masai Mara. Arrive and head out for an afternoon game drive where time permits. This part of the journey takes in open savanna grassland, acacia stands and the rolling country of the greater Mara ecosystem. There is the possibility of seeing lion, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, buffalo and large herds of plains game, though sightings are never guaranteed. The reserve is best known for its big cat densities, and between roughly July and October the wildebeest migration commonly moves through the ecosystem. Transport and game drives are shared with other travellers on this joining departure. Dinner and overnight are at your accommodation in Masai Mara.

2. Day 2

   Masai Mara — Full-Day Safari

   Spend a full day exploring the Mara’s plains and riverine habitats. This part of the journey takes in open savanna grassland, acacia stands and the rolling country of the greater Mara ecosystem. There is the possibility of seeing lion, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, buffalo and large herds of plains game, though sightings are never guaranteed. The reserve is best known for its big cat densities, and between roughly July and October the wildebeest migration commonly moves through the ecosystem. Dinner and overnight are at your accommodation in Masai Mara.

3. Day 3

   Masai Mara to Lake Naivasha

   Leave the Mara after breakfast and travel toward Lake Naivasha. Spend the afternoon enjoying the lakeside setting. Any boat or walking activity should only be included when confirmed. This part of the journey takes in a freshwater Rift Valley lake fringed by papyrus, fever trees and flower-farming country. There is the possibility of seeing hippo, waterbuck, colobus and an exceptional range of resident and migratory waterbirds, though sightings are never guaranteed. Naivasha is one of the few freshwater lakes in the Rift Valley, which is why boat trips and walking safaris are possible here rather than vehicle drives alone. Dinner and overnight are at your accommodation in Lake Naivasha.

4. Day 4

   Lake Naivasha to Lake Nakuru

   Travel to Lake Nakuru National Park for game viewing among lake-shore, woodland and grassland habitats. The setting is a Rift Valley soda lake ringed by yellow-barked acacia woodland and steep escarpment viewpoints. Wildlife commonly associated with the area includes black and white rhino, Rothschild's giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck and dense birdlife. The park operates as a sanctuary and is one of Kenya's more reliable places to look for rhino; flamingo numbers on the lake rise and fall with water levels. Dinner and overnight are at your accommodation in Lake Nakuru.

5. Day 5

   Lake Nakuru to Aberdare

   Leave the Rift Valley and travel toward the Aberdare region. Arrive and begin exploring the cooler forested landscape according to the confirmed programme. This part of the journey takes in high montane forest, bamboo belt and moorland cut by streams and waterfalls. There is the possibility of seeing elephant, buffalo, giant forest hog, bushbuck and, with patience, rarely seen forest species, though sightings are never guaranteed. The Aberdare lodges are built overlooking floodlit waterholes, so wildlife is watched from the building itself rather than from a vehicle. Dinner and overnight are at your accommodation in Aberdare.

6. Day 6

   Aberdare — Full-Day Highland Safari

   Spend a full day in the Aberdare region, with game viewing or lodge-based wildlife observation according to the final plan. Forest wildlife can be difficult to locate, so sightings should never be guaranteed. The setting is high montane forest, bamboo belt and moorland cut by streams and waterfalls. There is the possibility of seeing elephant, buffalo, giant forest hog, bushbuck and, with patience, rarely seen forest species, though sightings are never guaranteed. The Aberdare lodges are built overlooking floodlit waterholes, so wildlife is watched from the building itself rather than from a vehicle. Dinner and overnight are at your accommodation in Aberdare.

7. Day 7

   Aberdare to Mount Kenya / Mau Mau Caves

   Leave the Aberdare region and continue toward Mount Kenya. Visit the confirmed Mau Mau Caves site with appropriate guidance so the experience is presented with accurate historical context. This part of the journey takes in the forested lower slopes and farmland around Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest mountain. There is the possibility of seeing black-and-white colobus, Sykes's monkey and montane forest birds, though sightings are never guaranteed. A stay in the Mount Kenya region is about the forest and highland setting; it is not a summit climb unless trekking is specifically booked. Dinner and overnight are at your accommodation in Mount Kenya / Mau Mau Caves.

8. Day 8

   Mount Kenya Region to Nairobi

   After breakfast, begin the return journey through Kenya’s central highlands to Nairobi. This part of the journey takes in Kenya's highland capital and the usual start and end point for road safaris. Nairobi is the arrival and departure hub for most Kenyan safari itineraries. Your Land Rail arrangements end with the drop-off at your Nairobi hotel or the airport.