Overview
Eight days covering the range of Kenyan country, north to south. You start in the arid north at Samburu, come down through the Laikipia conservancies, cross the Rift Valley at Nakuru, and finish with three nights in the Masai Mara.
The species list is the point. Samburu's five northern specials, both rhino species at Ol Pejeta, Nakuru's flamingos and pelicans, and the Mara's cats — no shorter itinerary in Kenya covers as much different ground.
- Samburu's Special Five, then Mara's big cats, in one trip
- Both black and white rhino at Ol Pejeta
- Flamingos and pelicans on Lake Nakuru
- Three nights in the Masai Mara, not one
Day by day
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Day 1 Nairobi to Samburu
North past Mount Kenya into the dry country of the Ewaso Ng'iro. Afternoon drive along the river, where elephant come down to drink in the last of the light.
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Day 2 A full day in Samburu
Coffee looking at the river, then out early after elephant, lion and leopard. The afternoon drive goes looking for the Special Five: reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich.
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Day 3 Samburu to Ol Pejeta
South onto the Laikipia plateau and into Ol Pejeta, in the secluded heart of the old ranch. An afternoon game run in rhino country, and a camp overlooking a floodlit waterhole.
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Day 4 Ol Pejeta to Lake Nakuru
Down into the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park. Lunch, then an afternoon game run: rhino on the lake flats, Rothschild's giraffe in the acacias, and flamingos and pelicans on the water.
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Day 5 Nakuru to the Masai Mara
The drive south-west through the Rift Valley to the Mara, which is the Kenyan end of the Serengeti ecosystem. Settle in, then out for the first afternoon drive.
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Day 6 A full day in the Mara
Extensive game runs after the predators — lion, cheetah and the elusive leopard — with grazing herds spread across the plains between sightings.
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Day 7 A second full day in the Mara
Another day in the reserve, which is what separates this trip from the shorter ones: time to go back to a sighting, or to sit with a pride and wait rather than moving on.
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Day 8 Masai Mara to Nairobi
Early breakfast, check out, and a last game drive on the way out of the reserve before the road back to Nairobi.
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)
