The Great Rift Valley
Welcome to The Great Rift Valley
The insider's travel guide to The Great Rift ValleyThe Great Rift Valley stretches across Africa from Mozambique into Lebanon in the Middle East. Dissecting Kenya in two, it’s a great place to see several lakes supporting more than 500 bird species and crocodiles.
The The Great Rift Valley atlas
5 picks Places & Experiences You Won't Find Elsewhere-
The Samburu National Reserve is one of my favourite parts of Northern Kenya, thanks to its extraordinary landscape and unique wildlife. The scenery here is truly special, with doum palms lining the Ewaso Ng’iro river and the majestic Ololokwe mountain rising dramatically in the distance. This mountain is sacred to the Samburu people, adding a deep cultural layer to the natural beauty. Wildlife here is abundant and fascinating, and I love how you can spot the Samburu ‘special five’: the reticulated giraffe and Grevy’s zebra, both endangered species, along with the Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, and gerenuk. The gerenuk, meaning ‘giraffe-necked’ in Somali, is particularly striking: it stands on its hind legs to browse high in the trees, its long neck perfectly adapted to this unique feeding style.
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Sample some of East-Africa’s fastest-growing wines with a tasting tour at the Leleshwa vineyard. The winery, best known for its light, summery sauvignon blanc, is based in Naivasha, 47 miles north of Nairobi in the heart of the Rift Valley.
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Start in cosmopolitan Nairobi, exploring the Westlands nightlife district or the city’s food scene. Take the three-hour drive to Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley, where you can go wine-tasting at Leleshwa Vineyard, take a dip in thermal spas or look for flamingos. Travel on to Lake Nakuru, where you can see giraffe, rhinos and pink flamingos. Transfer to the Masai Mara National Park by car or plane to spend a couple of days seeing the Big Five, meeting Masai communities and staying in some luxury lodges. Transfer back to Nairobi for your departure.
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Fly into Nairobi, Kenya’s capital and spend a day exploring its museums, cafes and bars. Take a three-hour car journey to Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley, where you can try everything from wine-tasting to thermal spas. However, make sure to travel to Lake Nakuru to spot pink flamingos, giraffes and rhinos. From here, fly north to the high plains of Laikipia, a conservation area known for its populations of black rhinos and elephants. Visit the chimpanzee sanctuary at Ol Pejeta and enjoy the landscapes, from jagged hills to deep gorges. Fly onto the world-famous Masai Mara National Park for some of the best wildlife watching in Africa. Here, you can search for the Big Five, experience a night safari, learn more about Masai communities or simply relax in your lodge. End your adventure back in Nairobi with a flight home.
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This, one of the classic Kenya safari itineraries, covers three of the major bases in just eight days of non-stop action. Fly into Nairobi and explore the city’s food and music scene, before travelling to Amboseli National Park on the border with Tanzania. Framed with views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli is a great place to spot lions, cheetahs, giraffes and many more. Make sure to visit Observation Hill for sweeping views over the entire park. Next, travel to Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley, where you can look for hippos, waterbuck and leopards. Many migratory birds come to the Lake’s waters to drink, so make sure you have a birdwatching guide to learn about them. From here, travel to the world-famous Masai Mara, home to 95 species of mammal and more than 500 types of bird. This is prime Big Five territory, so make as many trips into the Reserve as you can. Head back to Nairobi for your departure.
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Samburu National Reserve
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Wine tasting in Naivasha
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Fly-in Masai Mara safari plus Great Rift Valley
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Mara, Laikipia and Great Rift Valley
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Amboseli, Masai Mara and Lake Naivasha itinerary
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