Kenya & the Great Rift Valley Trek

Day 1 London to Nairobi
We fly from London Heathrow to Nairobi with Kenya Airways. The flight departs in the evening.

Day 2 The Masai
We arrive in Nairobi and board a bus to Mount Suswa - a volcano at the base of the Rift Valley Floor. The rest of the day is spent acclimatising, with a short walk exploring the area around camp, which is inhabited by the pastoral Masai and Plains game such as zebra, giraffe, gazelle and impala. The area also plays host to many flat topped Acacia trees scattered around, which makes us feel we really are in the heart of Africa. After dinner there will be dancing by the local Masai community, and a short explanation of Masai culture.

Day 3 Lava tubes and craters
We commence the trek by climbing to a network of lava tubes, which we will have the opportunity to explore before climbing up to the entrance to the main crater of Mount Suswa. We will have lunch on the crater floor, which is about 8km wide! After a long lunch, to avoid the main heat of the day, we traverse the crater floor, which often has game visible. Our camp for the evening is situated on the edge of the inner crater with its stunning views of the impenetrable forest below, punctuated by the occasional jet of steam from this, still dormant, volcano.

Day 4 Mount Suswa
In the early morning, we commence our ascent of Mount Suswa (2,437m) and after about two hours should be at the summit. We then descend and after lunch at camp, we cross the crater floor and ascend over the crater lip. We descend into the Rift Valley below where we camp in the shadow of Mount Longonot and where we are likely to encounter local game.

Day 5 Hell's Gate Gorge
Today we continue on the valley floor towards Hell's Gate Gorge. On the way we will stop briefly at Suswa Village, where we will have a chance to meet some of the locals and walk round the colourful market. You will be able to try your hand at bartering here for traditional Masai goods such as blankets and spears! Tonight we will camp at the mouth of Hell's Gate Gorge, which is populated by troops of baboons.

Day 6 Lake Naivasha
We spend the day walking up the gorge, with its spectacular cliffs either side, narrowing at its head to the width of a human body, but still some 100 feet high. Being an area of intense geo-thermal activity, there are hot geysers to be seen, and some very interesting side-canyons to explore. Towards the head of the gorge we enter the Hells Gate National Park where there is abundant wildlife and bird-life to be seen. We walk towards our overnight stop at Fisherman's camp on the shores of Lake Naivasha.

Day 7 Mount Logonot
Today we drive to the local and prominent dormant volcano of Mount Longonot (2,886m). The morning and early afternoon are spent climbing to the cauldera rim, and then circumnavigating it to the summit. We return for a late lunch to Fishermans camp on the shores of Lake Naivasha, where the walking part of the trip finishes. Early evening there is the option to take a sunset boat ride on the lake where we will see a myriad of bird-life and hippos, which use the lake as their home. Tonight we celebrate our achievements with a 'safari-style' Gala Dinner!

Day 8 Lake Nakuru National Park
Today we have the option to visit Lake Nakuru National Park, which is set around Lake Nakuru, a soda-lake that attracts hundreds of thousands of pink flamingos. The park is also home to many rhino, lion and other plains wildlife, and is one of the best parks to try and catch a glimpse of the elusive leopard. We camp in the park at a private campsite near the scenic Makalia Falls.

Day 9 Depart Nairobi
In the morning we will be able to visit a local Action Aid project at Narok. In the late afternoon we return to Nairobi Airport for our evening flight back to London.

Day 10 Arrive London
Arrive London Heathrow Airport in the morning.