Overview
A nine-day route that takes the Aberdare forest, Samburu's dry north, Ol Pejeta's rhino and Nakuru's lake, and still leaves two full days for the Masai Mara at the end.
It is the gentler sibling of our other nine-day circuit: fewer very long driving days, two nights in each of the places worth two nights, and a rhino conservancy either side of the halfway point.
- A night in a forest tree lodge above a floodlit waterhole
- Samburu's Special Five in the northern frontier
- Black and white rhino on Ol Pejeta Conservancy
- Two full days of game drives in the Masai Mara
Day by day
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Day 1 Nairobi to the Aberdares
North into the Aberdare range, arriving in the afternoon for the transfer up to the tree lodge. Spend the evening watching the waterhole below, floodlit after dark.
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Day 2 Aberdares to Samburu
Down out of the forest and north across the equator into semi-desert. Afternoon game drive on the Ewaso Ng'iro, where the elephants come down to drink.
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Day 3 A full day in Samburu
Morning and afternoon drives after the Special Five and the big cats. Leopard are regular along the river, and the light in this country at either end of the day is the best of the trip.
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Day 4 Samburu to Ol Pejeta
South onto the Laikipia plateau and into the conservancy. An afternoon game run in rhino country, with the option of the chimpanzee sanctuary.
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Day 5 Ol Pejeta to Lake Nakuru
An early drive on the conservancy, then down into the Rift Valley to Nakuru, with an afternoon game run for rhino and the birdlife on the lake.
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Day 6 Nakuru to the Masai Mara
South-west across the valley to the Mara. Camp settled in the afternoon, and the first game drive in the reserve before dusk.
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Day 7 A full day in the Mara
Long morning and afternoon game runs after lion, cheetah and leopard across the open plains.
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Day 8 A second full day in the Mara
A second day in the reserve, which is when most people get the sighting they remember: the time to wait at a build-up rather than drive past it.
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Day 9 Masai Mara to Nairobi
An early game drive, a long breakfast, then the drive back to Nairobi with a picnic on the way.
Want to change something? Add a night, swap a lodge or combine parks. We’ll tailor it for you.
Customise this safariWhat’s included
Included
- Ground transport in a comfortable safari vehicle
- Full-board accommodation as listed in the itinerary
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- All game drives listed in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water while on safari
- Airport transfers
Not included
- Park entrance fees and conservation levies (quoted separately at current rates)
- International flights
- Tips and gratuities
- Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks
- Optional village visits and activities marked as optional
- Hot-air balloon flight over the Mara (optional)
- Chimpanzee sanctuary entry at Ol Pejeta (optional)
