3 Days Lakes Nakuru & Naivasha Explorer | SokoGuide

Overview

3 days · 2 nights

Journey & Destinations

Lake Nakuru National Park

1 day

Lake Naivasha

1 day

Where You’ll Stay

Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge Full Board

Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge Full Board

Lake Naivasha

Tour Itinerary

DAY 1

Nairobi to Lake Nakuru - Pink Spectacle

Depart Nairobi at 8:00 AM for the scenic 3-hour drive northwest to Lake Nakuru National Park, descending into the Great Rift Valley with photo stops at the spectacular viewpoint overlooking the valley floor. Arrive at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge for check-in and lunch around midday.

At 3:00 PM, embark on your first game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for its incredible birdlife and as a rhino sanctuary. The alkaline lake attracts massive flocks of lesser flamingos (best November-March) creating a stunning pink shoreline. Search for both black and white rhinos - the park has one of Kenya's highest rhino populations with guaranteed sightings.

Also spot Rothschild giraffes (rare subspecies), waterbucks, buffaloes, baboons, and if lucky, leopards and lions. The park's acacia forests, grasslands, and rocky cliffs provide diverse habitats. Visit Baboon Cliff for panoramic views over the lake at sunset before returning to the lodge for dinner.

Accommodation

Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge (Full Board)

DAY 2

Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha - Water Wonders

After early breakfast (7:00 AM), enjoy a final morning game drive in Lake Nakuru (7:30 AM - 9:30 AM) for wildlife you may have missed, with excellent chances of seeing rhinos up close and multiple bird species.

Depart Lake Nakuru around 10:00 AM for the 2-hour drive to Lake Naivasha, a beautiful freshwater lake surrounded by papyrus swamps. Check into your lakeside lodge and have lunch overlooking the water.

In the afternoon (3:00 PM), embark on a 1-hour boat ride on Lake Naivasha, gliding past hippo pods (observe from safe distance), watching fish eagles swoop for their catch, and spotting cormorants, pelicans, herons, and kingfishers among 400+ bird species. The lake is fringed by fever trees and provides habitat for colobus monkeys.

After the boat ride (4:30 PM), transfer to nearby Crescent Island Wildlife Sanctuary for a guided walking safari - a rare opportunity to walk among wildlife including giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, and various antelope with no dangerous predators present. The island offers 360-degree views of the lake and surrounding escarpments.

Return to lodge for dinner and evening relaxation.

Accommodation

Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge

In harmony with Sopa's unwavering commitment to the environment, Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort is a masterpiece of meticulous planning, preserving the natural landscape without a single tree being cut during its setup. This thoughtful approach inspired an innovative design for the main public area building, which elegantly weaves between the trees...

DAY 3

Hell's Gate Adventure & Return to Nairobi

After breakfast (7:30 AM), check out and drive to Hell's Gate National Park (20 minutes from Naivasha), one of only two Kenyan parks where you can explore on foot or by bicycle. Choose your adventure: rent bicycles ($10) to cycle through the park's dramatic landscapes of towering cliffs, gorges, and geothermal steam vents, or take a guided walking safari. The park inspired the scenery in Disney's Lion King with its distinctive rock formations - Fischer's Tower and Central Tower. Wildlife includes zebras, gazelles, baboons, warthogs, and numerous raptors.

The 2-3 hour cycling/walking route takes you through the scenic gorge with opportunities for optional rock climbing or descending into the deep gorge to explore caves (additional guide required, $5).

Visit the geothermal power station area where steam vents hiss from the earth. Optional: swim in natural hot springs ($5). Around midday, exit the park and have lunch at a local restaurant. Begin the journey back to Nairobi (2.5 hours), arriving by 3:30-4:00 PM.

Drop-off at your Nairobi hotel or airport. Tour concludes with memories of diverse ecosystems, incredible birdlife, and adventure activities.