13-Nights Safari in Kenya & Tanzania - National Geographic Journeys

Lake Manyara National Park

Approaching Lake Manyara National Park the view is spectacular. From the east the Rift Valley escarpment looms on the horizon forming an impressive backdrop to the lake. From the west, the Park lies in a green strip below and the lake glistens in the sunlight. The Park's different habitats are clear. In the tall trees of the ground water forest monkeys leap from branch to branch, on the slope of the escarpment elephants stand in the shade of a baobab. In the acacia woodland lions lie draped along the branches of umbrella trees, in the pools along the lake shore the hippos wallow, and in the lake itself wade colorful flamingos. The large variety of mammals, reptiles and birds in the Park and the different types of vegetation, all within a small area make Lake Manyara a diverse and particularly memorable place to visit.

Ngorongoro

Serengeti

Arusha

Maasai Mara

Lake Naivasha

Lake Naivasha, Kenya, located 50 mi/80 km northwest of Nairobi, is most commonly visited as an overnight stop by tours going from Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru. It's a shame, because there's a lot to see around the lake itself. The waters are loaded with hippos and birds, and you can go fishing. It's a good place to relax for a few days at the country hotels on the lakeshore—an alternative to the coast. If you have time, take a pleasant boat trip to Crescent Island, one of the few game-viewing areas where visitors can walk around and set up a tripod to photograph animals.

Also near the lake is Joy Adamson's former home, which is now a museum dedicated to her life and important conservation work in Kenya. There, you can visit the museum, see a documentary film about her life and enjoy a cup of tea among the giant acacia trees on the lawns.

Lake Nakuru National Park Rift Valley

Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya's Rift Valley, located 100 mi/160 km northwest of Nairobi, is known for its flamingos, as well as its other birds (some 400 species have been documented). Hundreds of thousands of flamingos migrate among a handful of soda lakes in the area, including Lake Nakuru, so the actual number of birds varies at different times of year. But the sight of the massed flamingos is spectacular—when you gaze down on the lake from an overlook, it appears to be ringed in pink.

Other animals also inhabit the park. It's a rhino sanctuary, with both white and black rhinos—probably one of your best chances to see these endangered animals. It's also home to rare Rothschild giraffes. Keep an eye out for lions, too, or even leopards up in the arms of the tall yellow acacia trees.

Easy access from Nairobi makes this an excellent park for those on a quick trip to Kenya.

Nairobi