Lake Naivasha & Crescent Island Day Trip

πŸ“ Lake Naivasha, Kenya
1 Day
From USD 184 / per adult
1 Day
Cost includes: Hotel pickup and drop-off, boat ride on Lake Naivasha, guided walking safari on Crescent Island, optional Elsamere Conservation Centre visit
Overview
Trip Route
1 1. Nairobi (Hotel Pickup) Nairobi (Hotel Pickup) 2 2. Lake Naivasha Lake Naivasha 3 3. Crescent Island Game Sanctuary Crescent Island Game Sanctuary 4 4. Elsamere Conservation Centre Elsamere Conservation Centre
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Trip Route
1 Day Β· 4 Stops
Day 1
Nairobi (Hotel Pickup)
Early morning departure from your Nairobi hotel
Day 1
Lake Naivasha
Boat ride to spot hippos, waterbirds and Rift Valley scenery
Day 1
Crescent Island Game Sanctuary
Guided walking safari among giraffe, zebra and impala
Day 1
Elsamere Conservation Centre
Optional visit to the former home of Joy Adamson, author of Born Free
Trip Info

Escape the city for a day and discover the serene beauty of Lake Naivasha, one of Kenya's most enchanting freshwater lakes nestled in the Great Rift Valley. This carefully curated day trip from Nairobi combines a scenic boat ride among hippos and waterbirds with an unforgettable walking safari on the privately managed Crescent Island, where giraffe, zebra, and impala roam freely around you. For those with a love of conservation history, an optional visit to the Elsamere Conservation Centre brings to life the legacy of Joy Adamson and her iconic story of Elsa the lioness. Africompass handles every detail, from comfortable transfers to expert multilingual guiding, so all you need to bring is your sense of wonder.

πŸ’³ We offer flexible payment options to make booking your Africompass experience as seamless as possible. Contact our team to discuss a plan that works for you.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 01 Day 1: Nairobi to Lake Naivasha, Crescent Island and Back β–Ύ

Your day will begin with an early morning pickup from your Nairobi hotel, followed by a scenic drive through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha. On arrival you will board a boat for a guided ride across the lake, where you will encounter pods of hippos, a rich variety of waterbirds, and the dramatic backdrop of the Rift Valley escarpment. After the boat ride, you will transfer to Crescent Island for a guided walking safari among free-roaming giraffe, zebra, impala, and other herbivores. Those who wish to extend their experience will have the option of visiting the Elsamere Conservation Centre, the former lakeside home of Joy Adamson, before your guide drives you back to Nairobi in the late afternoon.

  • Early morning hotel pickup in Nairobi and drive to Lake Naivasha
  • Scenic boat ride on Lake Naivasha with views of hippos and waterbirds
  • Guided walking safari on Crescent Island among giraffe, zebra and impala
  • Optional visit to Elsamere Conservation Centre, former home of Joy Adamson (additional cost)
  • Return drive to Nairobi, arriving in the late afternoon
Rates & Cost Breakdown

All rates are per person and vary by travel season. Choose your season below to view the applicable pricing.

Per adult USD 184
ℹ️ Single flat rate per adult regardless of season
What's Included & Excluded

What's Included

  • Return road transfer from your Nairobi hotel
  • Boat ride on Lake Naivasha
  • Guided walking safari on Crescent Island
  • Professional multilingual guide (English, Spanish, Chinese, German or French)
  • All park and conservancy fees as listed in the itinerary

Not Included

  • Entry to Elsamere Conservation Centre (optional, at additional cost)
  • Meals and drinks unless specified
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Gratuities for guide and crew
  • Any items of a personal nature
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Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to go on safari?

It depends on what you want to see. For the Great Migration river crossings in the Maasai Mara, visit between July and October, when the herds cross the Mara River in search of fresh grazing. For calving season and dense predator activity, January to March is excellent, particularly around the southern Serengeti. Kenya's two dry seasons (June to October and January to February) generally offer the clearest skies and easiest game viewing across Amboseli, Tsavo, and Samburu, since animals gather around limited water sources. The 'green season' (November and April to May) brings lush scenery, migratory birdlife, and lower rates, though some rural roads can be muddy. Tell us your travel dates and priorities, and we will recommend the destinations that fit best.

Do I need a visa and vaccinations?

Most nationalities need a Kenya eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), applied for online before you fly; Tanzania and Zanzibar require their own separate visa, available online or on arrival depending on your nationality. Entry requirements change from time to time, so confirm the current rules for your passport a few weeks before departure. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is mandatory if you are arriving from, or have transited through, a Yellow Fever risk country, and we recommend it in general along with being up to date on routine vaccinations (MMR, tetanus, hepatitis A and B). Most safari areas are malaria zones, so antimalarial medication is strongly advised. Always check final requirements with your doctor or a travel health clinic, and ask us for the latest entry rules when you book.

Are your safaris private or group?

Every itinerary we build is private and tailor-made by default: your own vehicle, driver-guide, and schedule, with no strangers added to your trip. That means you can linger an extra morning at a favourite lodge, adjust the route on the go, or add a visit to the Emmanuel New Hope Rescue Centre we support. If you would rather share costs or travel as a solo guest, we can also arrange a scheduled group departure and match you with other travellers on similar dates. Either way, your safari is planned by our Nairobi-based specialists around your budget, dates, and interests, not a fixed package.

How much does a Kenya safari cost?

Safari costs vary widely depending on where you stay and how you travel. Budget camping safaris in parks like Amboseli or Lake Nakuru can start from around USD 150 to 250 per person per day, mid-range lodge safaris typically run USD 250 to 450 per day, and luxury tented camps in the Maasai Mara or Serengeti can exceed USD 750 per day. Your quote always includes a private vehicle, driver-guide, park fees, and accommodation as specified in your itinerary. Since every trip we build is tailor-made, tell us your budget and travel dates and we'll show you exactly what it buys, with no hidden extras.

What should I pack for an African safari?

Pack light, neutral-coloured clothing (khaki, olive, beige) for game drives, since bright colours and dark blue can attract tsetse flies in some regions. Bring layers for early morning drives, which can be cold even near the equator, plus a hat, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen. A good pair of binoculars, a camera with a zoom lens, and a portable charger make a real difference to the experience. Comfortable closed shoes are more useful than sandals, and most lodges offer laundry service, so you rarely need more than a week's worth of clothing even on a longer trip. We send a full packing checklist tailored to your specific itinerary and season once you book.

Do you offer self-drive or chauffeur-driven car hire?

Yes. Alongside our guided safaris, we offer both self-drive car hire and chauffeur-driven vehicles for clients who want more flexibility around Nairobi, the coast, or shorter road trips. Self-drive suits experienced drivers comfortable with Kenyan road conditions, while a chauffeur-driven car is the better choice for game-viewing routes, night driving, or if you'd simply rather relax and let a local expert handle the roads. All our vehicles are well-maintained 4x4s suited to both tarmac and rougher safari tracks. Let us know your route and dates and we'll recommend the right option.

Is it safe to travel to Kenya and Tanzania?

Millions of visitors travel safely to Kenya and Tanzania every year, and the main tourist circuits, national parks, and coastal resorts are well-established and closely monitored. As with any international travel, sensible precautions apply: use a reputable operator (we're KATO-verified), avoid displaying valuables in cities, and follow your guide's advice in wildlife areas, where the real risk is animals, not crime. We stay in regular contact with our clients throughout their trip, and our drivers know the routes and current conditions well. If you have specific safety questions about your itinerary, we're happy to talk them through before you book.

Can you combine a safari with a beach holiday in Zanzibar or Diani?

Absolutely, it's one of our most popular combinations. A typical itinerary pairs 4 to 7 days on safari in the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, or Serengeti with 3 to 5 days unwinding on the beach in Zanzibar or Diani Beach, taking advantage of short connecting flights between the two. We handle all the logistics, including domestic flight bookings and airport transfers, so you go straight from game drives to the Indian Ocean without the stress of planning it yourself. Tell us how many days you have and we'll suggest a balance between wildlife and beach time that fits your trip.

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