Overview
This is the widest spread of country we run in eight days. You start with a night in the forest above a waterhole, climb north into Samburu's semi-desert, drop west to Lake Baringo — freshwater, and one of the best birding lakes in Africa — then come south through Nakuru to the Masai Mara.
It suits travellers on a second or third safari who already know the headline parks, and birders, for whom Baringo alone justifies the trip.
- A night in a forest tree lodge in the Aberdares
- Samburu's Special Five in the northern frontier country
- Lake Baringo, with over 450 recorded bird species
- Nakuru's rhino and a full day in the Masai Mara
Day by day
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Day 1 Nairobi to the Aberdares
North out of the city and up into the Aberdare range, stopping for photographs along the way. Transfer to the tree lodge and spend the evening watching the floodlit waterhole below.
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Day 2 Aberdares to Samburu
Down from the forest and on to Kenya's northern frontier, where the country turns dry and red. Afternoon game drive along the Ewaso Ng'iro, where elephant come down to drink.
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Day 3 A full day in Samburu
Morning and afternoon drives after the Special Five — reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich — with good chances of leopard along the river.
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Day 4 Samburu to Lake Baringo
West across the Northern Frontier District to Baringo, a freshwater lake in the floor of the Rift Valley. The afternoon is for birds: over 450 species have been recorded here, and the cliffs behind the lake hold nesting raptors.
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Day 5 Baringo to Lake Nakuru
South along the valley to Lake Nakuru. Lunch, then an afternoon game run for black and white rhino, Rothschild's giraffe and the birdlife on the lake.
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Day 6 Nakuru to the Masai Mara
Across the Rift Valley floor to the Masai Mara, the Kenyan end of the Serengeti ecosystem. An afternoon game drive once camp is settled.
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Day 7 A full day in the Mara
Long game runs after lion, cheetah and leopard, and, if you are here between late July and October, the migrating herds on the plains.
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Day 8 Masai Mara to Nairobi
A final morning game drive, breakfast at the lodge, then the drive back to Nairobi, arriving in the afternoon.
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
- Boat trip on Lake Baringo (optional)
- Hot-air balloon flight over the Mara (optional)
