5 Days Bogoria Nakuru Naivasha Mara Joining Safari

This epic 5 days Kenyan safari will take you to see the pink flamingos at Lake Bogoria which have become impossible to see in Nakuru thus with this itinerary you will have a chance to see these phenomenal birds. Proceed to Naivasha for a visit at Hells gate and finish the safari at the famous Maasai Mara Reserve home of the Big Five and home of the 7th wonder of the world.

Lake Bogoria

Lake Bogoria is situated 3,200 feet (975 m) above sea level in the Great Rift Valley, east of the Kamasia (Ilkamasya) Hills. The lake has an area of 50 square miles (129 square km), is 11 miles (18 km) long and 5 miles (8 km) wide, and has an average depth of 17 feet (5 m). A freshwater lake with no visible outlet, its waters seep into lavas at its northern end, where a rocky shore contrasts with the alluvial flat on its southern border.

Lake Bogoria is backed by the bleak Siracho Escarpment, and moss-green waves roll down its rocky, barren shores. A road that becomes a rough track (and then peters out entirely) runs along the lake’s western shore, which is where flamingos gather. About halfway along the lake, hot springs and geysers spew boiling fluids from the earth’s insides.

A great variety of birds inhabit the lake, which is also home to hippopotamuses and crocodiles. The birds feed on algae blooms and cope in extreme conditions with minimal competition for food, which makes Rift Valley’s salty wetlands superb where massive flocks thrive.

The lake has enjoyed serenity with less impact on siltation. The only challenge, however, lies in the drying up of the main tributary, River Weseges during the dry season. The lake has aggressively over time defined tourism within the Kenya Lake System and has recorded an increase in flamingos despite the rise in water levels that led to a reduction of bird species in Lake Nakuru.

Lake Naivasha

Naivasha is located in the eastern arm of the great rift valley overlooking the volcanic mountains of the rift valley. Lake Naivasha is a fresh water lake which was part of a much larger lake that encompassed the present lakes Elementaita and Nakuru, and discarded down the Rift Valley southwards. It is flanked by the Ilkinopop (Kinangop) Plateau (east) and the Mau Escarpment (west). The lake lies on an alluvium-covered flat in the valley floor and is flanked on the north by an extensive papyrus swamp. It is the highest of the lakes in the eastern part of the rift system, and is situated at 6,180 feet (1,884 m) above sea level.

The principle water supply to the lake is from Aberdare Mountains. Two rivers drain these areas and enter the lake. The Malewa river has a catchment of 1,730km2 and provides 90% of the inflow. Temporally watercourses descend from the forested slopes of Oldoinyo opuru ridge, and extends eastward from Mau escarpment, across the valley north of the lake.

The lake has traditionally supported local populations, tourism and a wide range of biodiversity, including hundreds of different migratory water birds, fish and plant life. Although it has no outlet, the lake’s waters are fresh. Several species of Tilapia and black bass are the basis of commercial and sport fishing. Bird-watching is also popular.

Lake Nakuru National  Park

On the floor of the Great Rift Valley, surrounded by wooded and bushy grassland, lies the beautiful Lake Nakuru National Park. Flanked by rocky escarpments, pockets of acacia forest and at least one waterfall, the park is gorgeous year-round and is home to both black and white rhinos, lions, leopards, hippos and endangered Rothschild’s giraffes.

Before  departing   to  Amboseli visitors can enjoy the wide ecological diversity and varied habitats that range from Lake Nakuru itself to the surrounding escarpment and picturesque ridges. Lake Nakuru National Park is ideal for bird watching, hiking, picnic and game drives.

Maasai Mara National  reserve

Dream of Africa and chances are you dream of Maasai Mara. It is the home to Africa’ Big Five species, as well as an abundance of other wildlife, including wildebeest, cheetah, hyena, giraffe and many more.

It borders the Serengeti National Park Tanzania. Often described as nature’s greatest spectacles, the great migration is one of Africa’s dramatic stories.

This occurs every year between July and October where more than 1.5 million wildebeests, zebras, gazelles and elands move mysteriously from the Serengeti in Tanzania to Maasai Mara in Kenya in search of grass and water.

This movement offers nature lovers the opportunity to view as predators such as the Lion, Hyenas, Crocodiles and Cheetahs prey on the wildebeests.

The Mara is not only famed due to wildebeest’s migration but also to unique sightings such as Tira., Tano Bora and the iconic Scarface.

Nicknamed after the driver guide that spotted the stunning dark-skinned zebra with black spotted polka dots, Tira was such an eye – catching sight. Tira’s black spots are due to pseudomelanism – a rare genetic mutation in the stripes pattern.

Tano Bora (the 5 musketeers or the 5 brothers) which means ‘Magnificent Five’ is a coalition of five male cheetahs that have claimed Mara as their stomping ground and have become popular for their incredible take downs of huge prey and their hunting prowess. Tano Bora have challenged so many assumptions about typical cheetah behaviour. Typically, once reaching adulthood, a male cheetah becomes solitary or joins another to form a pair. It is very rare to see a group this large bonding together. The Tano Bora are now four after Olpadan, formerly the leader of the pack left the coalition. After he lost one of his testicles in a fight with males in March 2019, his rank dropped. From the decision maker and leader of the group, he became the last in the chain and the last one to join the meal.

Owing to one scar in his right eye, Scarface is the oldest and most sought-after lion in the Mara. His machismo is legendary and coupled with his sturdy looks – a black exceptional mane that sweeps back from his forehead- Scarface is the face of survival and resiliencee. Scarface earned his moniker in 2012 when he lost his right eyelid while making a territorial grab with his three brothers Sikio, Morani and Hunter. Scarface died in June 2021 at the age of 14 of natural causes.

The Mara offers such breathtaking moments – an experience in the Mara is never the same from previous encounters. Each day offers a rewarding experience. Other rewarding activities are a balloon safari and a visit to the Mara village.

Additional information