Overview
This safari pairs Kenya's rugged north with its most famous reserve. Samburu's riverside camps and unusual species make a striking contrast to the rolling grasslands of the Mara, and Lake Nakuru in between is one of the best places in the country to see rhino.
Three nights in the Mara give you time for full days of game drives, which is where patience pays off with cheetah hunts, lion prides and, in season, the wildebeest migration.
- Two nights on the Ewaso Ng'iro River in Samburu
- Reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra and beisa oryx
- Thomson's Falls stop on the way to Lake Nakuru
- Rhino and flamingos at Lake Nakuru
- Two full days in the Masai Mara
Day by day
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Day 1 Nairobi to Samburu
Drive north to Samburu, a wild, arid reserve cut through by the Ewaso Ng'iro River. It is home to wildlife found only north of the equator, including reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra and beisa oryx. Your camp sits under acacias on the riverbank.
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Day 2 Full day in Samburu
Start with coffee on the veranda, watching the river, then set out to look for the elephants, lions, leopards and cheetahs that live in the reserve's grassland and acacia woodland. The day alternates between game drives and down time at camp.
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Day 3 Samburu to Lake Nakuru
Head down to the Rift Valley with a stop at Thomson's Falls. Arrive for lunch, then take an afternoon game drive around the lake, looking for flamingos, black and white rhino, Rothschild's giraffe, buffalo and lion.
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Day 4 Lake Nakuru to the Masai Mara
Cross the Great Rift Valley to the Masai Mara in time for lunch, then head out on an afternoon drive until dusk. The Mara is where the annual migration of wildebeest and zebra from the Serengeti plays out, with predators close behind.
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Day 5 Full day in the Masai Mara
Morning and afternoon game drives. Distant trees turn out to be giraffes, a clump of bushes becomes a lion pride, and with a little luck a cheetah family crosses the track in front of you.
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Day 6 Second full day in the Masai Mara
Another full day to explore different corners of the reserve and follow up on sightings from the day before, with a rest at camp over the midday heat.
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Day 7 Masai Mara to Nairobi
An early game drive, breakfast, then the drive back to Nairobi, arriving in the early afternoon. Drop-off at your hotel or the airport.
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
