Trip Info
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Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle
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Not for solo travelers
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Pre and post tour accommodation can also be arranged at an extra cost.
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Can start any day
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This tour starts and ends in Nairobi
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Mid-range, private tour
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All meals included
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English
Overview
Experience the thrill of a 5-Day Kenyan Hippo Safari, exploring Kenya’s top wildlife destinations. Witness hippos in their natural habitat, along with diverse wildlife and stunning landscapes on this unforgettable safari adventure.
In this 5 days voyage you will be given an opportunity to tour two of the most renowned lakes in Kenya, the Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha – both of which boast of numerous wildlife. You will also be taken to the Masai Mara National Reserve. This safari has been named the “Hippo Safari” due to the high concentration of hippopotamuses in all the three parks. Come explore Africa with us.
Highlights
- Can start any day
- Private tour
- Mid-range tour
- Can be customized
- Not for solo travelers
- Suitable for all ages
- A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Itinerary
You will be picked at your hotel early in the morning and proceed to the Great Rift Valley then to Lake Nakuru National Park. This branch of the East African Rift Valley is located in Tanzania in the south and extends to Ethiopia in the north. This valley makes up the Kenyan dome, a geographical swell that results from the interaction of three tectonics: the Arabian, Nubian, and Somalian. You will be transferred to Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge in time for lunch then proceed for your first game drive to view Impalas, Warthogs, Gazelles, waterside, black and white Rhinos, giraffe among other animals and birds. At the end of the day, you will be taken back to the lodge for lunch and then spend the night there.
Main Destination: Lake Nakuru National Park
ClimateThe climate plays an important role in deciding when to go to India The ideal time to travel is from June to February because the temperature and humidity is low and the wildlife is more active
High Season: July to February (The park receives a lot of visitors)
Best Weather: June to February (Little rainfall)
Wildlife in Lake Nakuru NP: Giraffe, White Rhino, Buffalo, Zebra, Hippo, Black Rhino, Lion, Leopard, Hyena, Elephant, Cheetah, Wildebeest, Wild Dog
Accommodation: Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge
- Luxury lodge located within the premises of Lake Nakuru National Park
Meals & Drinks:
- Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Following breakfast, you will set off for a boat ride in the beautiful Lake Naivasha. The lake is located at the highest point of the Kenyan section of the Rift Valley in a geological structure which consists of volcanic deposits from the Pleistocene era as well as sedimentary rocks from a much larger prehistoric lake. Besides the temporary streams, it receives water from perennial rivers such Morelos and Gilgil. The water in the lake is quite still and this is a habitat to very many different species of birds and a large number of hippos. Followed by lunch, check in at Sopa Resort, settle down leisurely for dinner and overnight accommodation at the resort.
Main Destination: Lake Naivasha (Naivasha)
Accommodation: Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort
- A moderately sized accommodation based in Naivasha town, at the shores of Lake Naivasha
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Non-alcoholic drinks
The next day after breakfast, you will be taken by a discovered car to the Masai Mara National Reserve where you will check in for lunch. This park is internationally renowned for its large concentrations of lion, leopard and cheetah. It also hosts the great migration of the zebra and wildebeest from Serengeti and other park in Tanzania from July to October. You will be trucked back to Mara Sopa Lodge for lunch before proceeding for an afternoon game drive before retiring for the night.
Main Destination:
Masai Mara National Reserve
The ideal time to visit is between June and October in terms of general wildlife spotting and August to October for the wildebeest migration.
High SeasonJune to October and December to March
Best WeatherJune to October (Sunny, but not too hot)
Wildlife in Masai Mara NR
Elephant, Giraffe, Lion, Cheetah, Zebra, Wildebeest, Buffalo, Hippo, Hyena, Leopard, Black Rhino, Wild Dog, White Rhino
Accommodation: Masai Mara Sopa Lodge
- It is a mid range lodge found inside the Masai Mara National Reserve.
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Non-alcoholic drinks
In the morning and in the evening, you will have an early morning and late afternoon game drive to explore the reserve. You also have the opportunity to opt for a full day game drive to the Mara River. It is the northern part of the larger Mara-Serengeti ecosystem that spans a significant part of Tanzania and Kenya. It lies South of Serengeti Park, west of Siria Escarpment, and surrounded on the North, East and West by Masai pastoral ranches. Some of the major rivers that drain into the reserve include the Sand, Talek and the Mara rivers. Most drainage lines are bordered by shrubs and trees with hill slopes and hill tops being dominated by tree growth. Currently the Masai Mara conserves over 450 different species of animals and irrespective of where you move to in the park you are most likely to encounter these animals. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Main Destination: Masai Mara National Reserve
Accommodation: Masai Mara Sopa Lodge
- It is a mid range lodge found inside the Masai Mara National Reserve.
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Non-alcoholic drinks
On this day you will have breakfast, then pack and checkout from the lodge and proceed to Nairobi passing through the great rift valley. You will be dropped off at your Nairobi hotel or at the airport to board your flight back home.
Besides the wildlife the park also has the owners of the park, the Masai warriors. Their courage is felt all around the savanna as they fight animals to feed their families and when they welcome you they dance and sing for you. You get an opportunity to observe their culture and pay a visit to their home in order to understand their different way of living. Optional activity: The entrance to this stop is not included in the price and costs an additional US $ 30.
Some extra activities in this day can be; Half day city tour, cultural experience at the Bomas of Kenya, dinner at The Carnivore restaurant to enjoy exotic meals (extra cost).
Main Destination: Nairobi (City)
Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
- Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
- Non-alcoholic drinks
End of tour
- Extra accommodation requirement can also be provided but at extra cost.
- You will be dropped offf at the airport.
Includes/Excludes
Cost Includes
- • Park fees (For non-residents)
- • All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- • All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- • A professional driver/guide
- • All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- • All Taxes/VAT
- • Roundtrip airport transfer
- • Food (As described under the day-by-day plan)
- • Drinks: alcoholic / non alcoholic (as detailed under the day-by-day program section)
Cost Excludes
- • International flights (From/to home)
- • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- • Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- • Personal effects: (Us souvenirs, travel insurance, visas and other expenses for instance).
- • An increase in taxes and/or park fees set by the government
- • Some meals – as described in the day-by-day section
FAQs
The 5-Day Kenyan Hippo Safari will cover some of the best wildlife destinations in Kenya. The tour starts from the Lake Nakuru National Park that hosts the rhino sanctuary and a variety of bird species. On Day 2: You will visit Lake Naivasha which is a freshwater lake that hosts hippos and boat riding. The third day and the fourth are devoted to the Masai Mara National Reserve with its lions, elephants, and wide-open plains. This tour comes to an end on the fifth day with the visit to Nairobi ending the adventure.
Self-Drive 5 Days Kenyan Hippo Safari has emphasized on a number of wildlife interactions. Some of the animals that are dispersed in the park include the endangered black and white rhinos, Rothschild giraffes, birds such as flamingos, and various types of antelopes. Other attractions around the lake include large hippopotami pods and the African fish eagles and other water birds. The Masai Mara National Reserve offers a magical glimpse of an African safari where guests can view lions, elephants, cheetahs, leopards and depending on the time of the year the spectacular wildebeest and zebra migration.
Kenya has a five-day tour known as the Kenyan Hippo Safari where you will be able to enjoy game viewing on Lake Nakuru National Park as well as in Maasai Mara National Reserve. During the boat rides around the shores of Lake Naivasha, tourists get a chance to view hippos in their natural environment as well as experience the beauty of the landscape. Two daily activities include morning and afternoon game drives while the optional extra activities include a visit to the Maasai village or a hot air balloon safari, at extra charge.
The 5-Day Kenyan Hippo Safari tour can be packaged in budget and mid-range lodges and tented camps, as well as the luxury safari lodges depending on the client preference. Lodges which are available to visitors offer accommodation that is located close to the park with a view of Lake Nakuru. At Lake Naivasha, the lodging available includes some luxurious resort hotels alongside modest lodges by the shores with acacia trees. In the Masai Mara, there are tented safari camps or luxurious lodges with most of the accommodation being set right in the bush.
To answer your question, yes, the 5-Day Kenyan Hippo Safari is good for families and Good first-timers. The program offers excitement as well as a touch of luxury with the game drive, boat safari, and lodge with amenities. Children will particularly benefit from this as they are able to get up close with the animals while well-experienced tour guides take charge to ensure that the moments are safe and educational for the family. It is also recommended for first time travelers to Kenya as it covers most of the different ecosystems that Kenya boasts of and many animals in their natural habitats.
One would recommend booking for the 5-Day Kenyan Hippo Safari at this time mainly depending on your interests in different wildlife species. This is because animals congregate around watering points during the dry season from June to October as water is scarce. This also marks the period of the great migration in the Masai Mara. While the dry season runs from December to March, and June to October the green season which is from November to May brings about better landscape views and low tourist congestion especially around lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha for bird watching. Being that hippos can be spotted in Lake Naivasha all year round, this is a good time for this particular safari.
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