Three days is enough to properly experience two of Kenya’s most distinctive landscapes, the Masai Mara’s tree-studded grassland and legendary wildlife, and Hell’s Gate National Park, one of the only places in Africa where you can explore a national park entirely on foot or by bicycle.
The journey south along the Great Rift Valley floor delivers you into the Mara by lunchtime, black-maned lion, leopard, cheetah and vast herds of plains game filling the days that follow, including a picnic lunch at the Mara River watching crocodiles and hippo from a safe, close distance. From there, the route turns to Lake Naivasha and Hell’s Gate, a dramatic gorge landscape home to a working geothermal plant and natural hot springs, explored on foot or bicycle rather than from a vehicle, before the drive back to Nairobi.
A compact, privately guided introduction to Kenya for travellers who want the Mara’s headline wildlife alongside something genuinely different to close the trip.
This itinerary suits travellers with limited time who still want proper Masai Mara game viewing, alongside something distinctly different, Hell's Gate's walking and cycling safari is a rare, active alternative to the usual vehicle-based game drive. It works well as a standalone short break or as an add-on before or after other Kenya travel, and it's an accessible, well-paced introduction for first-time visitors to Kenya's wildlife.
This itinerary is at its best during the Masai Mara's July to October migration season, though January and February also offer excellent game viewing with fewer crowds. Hell's Gate National Park is enjoyable throughout the year, and its walking and cycling safaris continue regardless of season, so this is a strong option even outside the Mara's peak months.
Pick-up from your hotel is around 8 am, for the drive south along the floor of the Great Rift Valley, with a stopover at a scenic viewpoint along the way, arriving in the Mara in time for lunch. An afternoon game drive follows, introducing you to the Mara’s rich, tree-studded grassland and rolling hills, an area renowned for its great herds of plains game, black-maned lion, leopard, cheetah, numerous elephants, and virtually every species of wildlife found in Kenya. Dinner and your overnight stay follow at Jambo Mara Safari Lodge.
After breakfast, a full day of game viewing takes in a visit to the Mara River, where a substantial concentration of wildlife gathers. Your picnic lunch is taken here, watching crocodiles, hippos, and other wildlife move through the water. Today also offers the option of visiting a Maasai village. All meals and your overnight stay are at Jambo Mara Safari Lodge.
An early morning game drive rounds out your time in the Mara, followed by a later breakfast before departing for Naivasha to visit Hell’s Gate National Park, picnic lunch included. Here, you’ll have the chance to visit the Olkaria Geothermal Power Plant and the area’s natural hot springs. Hell’s Gate is the only park in Kenya where walking and cycling safaris are permitted, a genuinely different way to experience the landscape. Afterwards, you’ll continue to Nairobi, arriving in the evening to be dropped at your hotel.
Pricing
Rates vary by season, with low season from $840 per person and peak season (July to October) from approximately $1,150 to $1,350 per person. Final rates confirmed at time of booking.
Why travel with us
We keep group sizes intentionally small so every guest gets the attention, flexibility, and authenticity a safari deserves.
Our guides are born from the landscapes they lead. Decades of knowledge, sharp eyes, and a genuine passion for East African wildlife.
From comprehensive pre-trip briefings to 24-hour in-country support, your safety and comfort are always our first consideration.
Every safari we operate contributes to wildlife conservation and local community projects across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
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