7:30am:- Nairobi- Great African Rift Valley Pick up and depart from Nairobi for Hell’s Gate National Park going through the Kikuyu lush green highlands and then on the eastern escarpment of the Great Rift valley system. 8:00am: – Great Rift Valley View Point You will make a scheduled stop at the view point on the side of the escarpment to enjoy the view of the Great Rift valley floor from a bird’s eye view. The Great Rift Valley Was formed some 5 million years ago and the rift runs from the red sea through Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. The Rift Valley is an active volcanic area and has some of the most interesting features including more than 8 lakes, dormant and active volcanic mountains and hot springs and geysers like the Olkaria geothermal wells and Lake Bogoria geysers. You can actually see the volcanic Mt Suswa and Mt Longonot from this high place with their evergreen craters and the undulating green rift valley floor. The view from here is just amazing. 9:30am: – Hell’s Gate National Park Drive down into the rift valley and arrive at the Hell’s Gate National Park and start this amazing walking safari. Hell’s Gate is one of only two Kenyan national parks in which you are free to leave your vehicle and explore the park on foot. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, unusual plant life, and over 130 species of birds. The park has dramatic scenery, with looming cliffs, gorges, and basalt columns to explore. Zebras, baboons, and gazelles are common sights, while more exotic cheetahs, leopards, and ostrich are occasionally encountered. 1:00pm: – Lunch at a Restaurant in Lake Naivasha After spending some time looking for wildlife, break for lunch at a nearby restaurant where you can sample regional Kenyan cuisine and mingle with the local Maasai people. After lunch, head to Elsamere Conservation Center on the shores of Lake Naivasha. The center was once the home of Joy and George Adamson, who devoted their lives to wildlife conservation. The area is still a haven for wildlife, with its own small troop of black and white Columbus monkeys living and playing in the acacia trees. 2:30pm: – Boat Ride in Lake Naivasha Go on an hour boat ride in this wonderful rift valley lake. The boat ride will take you to see the hundreds of birds in this lake including the diving African fish eagle which dives in the water to catch fish without ever missing. You will also go to the hippo pool and see the hippos as they swim and bleat inside the water while opening their mouths to over 180 degrees. 4:00pm: – Lake Naivasha -Nairobi Depart Lake Naivasha for Nairobi and drive through the lush Kikuyu highlands and arriving back to Nairobi at around 5:30pm. You will be dropped off at your Nairobi hotel.
