11 Days Samburu, Laikipia & Mara Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi – Welcome to Kenya

Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where you will be warmly welcomed by your private safari guide and transferred to your luxury hotel in Nairobi. Depending on your arrival time, you can visit the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe Centre, or Karen Blixen Museum.

In the evening, enjoy a relaxing dinner at your hotel as you prepare for your Kenyan adventure.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Hemingways Nairobi / Giraffe Manor

• Mid-range: Tamarind Tree Hotel / Eka Hotel Nairobi

Day 2: Nairobi – Flight to Samburu National Reserve

After breakfast, transfer to Wilson Airport for your flight to Samburu National Reserve, a rugged and beautiful wilderness in northern Kenya. Upon arrival, you’ll be met by your lodge guide and transferred to your camp, followed by lunch and an afternoon game drive.

Samburu is home to the “Samburu Special Five”—Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, Beisa oryx, and gerenuk (giraffe gazelle)—species found only north of the equator. The Ewaso Nyiro River flows through this dry land, attracting elephants, lions, and leopards to its banks.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Saruni Samburu Lodge / Elephant Bedroom Camp

• Mid-range: Ashnil Samburu Camp / Samburu Intrepids Camp

Day 3: Full-Day Game Drive in Samburu

Enjoy a full day exploring the untamed beauty of Samburu National Reserve. The semi-arid landscapes and rugged hills create a breathtaking backdrop for your safari.

Morning and afternoon game drives reveal an abundance of wildlife, from herds of elephants to big cats and colorful birdlife. Between game drives, relax at your camp, swim, or simply watch wildlife come to drink at the nearby river.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Saruni Samburu Lodge / Elephant Bedroom Camp

Day 4: Cultural Visit & Leisure in Samburu

After breakfast, visit a Samburu village to experience the tribe’s ancient traditions, colorful beadwork, and nomadic culture. Learn how they live harmoniously with the wildlife in this arid environment.

The afternoon is free for relaxation or optional nature walks with a local guide to explore the smaller details of Samburu’s flora and fauna.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Sasaab Camp / Saruni Samburu

Day 5: Samburu – Drive to Laikipia Plateau (Ol Pejeta Conservancy)

After breakfast, depart for Laikipia, one of Kenya’s most celebrated private wildlife conservancies. Arrive at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a haven for endangered species, in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive.

Ol Pejeta is home to the last two northern white rhinos on Earth and boasts a large population of black rhinos, as well as lions, elephants, and chimps in the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Enjoy a unique opportunity to visit the rhino enclosure and learn about conservation efforts.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Sweetwaters Serena Camp / Segera Retreat

• Mid-range: Ol Pejeta Bush Camp / Serena Mountain Lodge

Day 6: Explore Laikipia Conservancies

Spend a full day discovering the Laikipia Plateau, an expansive and remote region offering some of the most exclusive wildlife experiences in Kenya. Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives, or opt for guided bush walks, horseback safaris, or night drives to spot nocturnal species.

Laikipia is one of the few places in Kenya where you can see wild dogs, Grevy’s zebras, and a high concentration of rhinos in one place.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Segera Retreat / Ol Pejeta House

Day 7: Laikipia – Fly to Masai Mara National Reserve

After breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your flight to the Masai Mara National Reserve. Upon arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to your luxury camp, arriving in time for lunch.

In the afternoon, head out for your first game drive across the Mara’s golden plains. The Mara is home to the Big Five and offers some of the best game viewing in the world. Between July and October, witness the Great Wildebeest Migration, a thrilling natural spectacle of life and survival.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Angama Mara / Mara Bushtops

• Mid-range: Mara Simba Lodge / Basecamp Explorer

Day 8: Full-Day Game Drive in the Masai Mara

Spend the day exploring the Mara’s vast wilderness. After an early breakfast, set out for a full-day safari with a picnic lunch beside the Mara River, where hippos and crocodiles bask in the sun.

Track predators such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs, as well as elephants, giraffes, and herds of wildebeest and zebras. The Masai Mara’s endless plains and dramatic skies offer perfect photographic opportunities at every turn.

Optional: Experience a hot air balloon safari at dawn followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush—an unforgettable highlight of your Kenyan journey.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Mara Plains Camp / Mahali Mzuri

• Mid-range: Ashnil Mara Camp / Mara Intrepids Camp

Day 9: Cultural Visit & Sunset Safari in the Masai Mara

This morning, visit a Maasai village to learn about the tribe’s customs, dances, and way of life. The Maasai’s harmony with nature and resilience in preserving their traditions make this experience both enlightening and inspiring.

In the evening, enjoy a final sunset game drive, watching the Mara transform under the golden hues of dusk—a perfect finale to your wildlife adventure.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Mara Serena Safari Lodge / Angama Mara

• Mid-range: Mara Leisure Camp / Fig Tree Camp

Day 10: Masai Mara – Leisure and Optional Activities

Spend the day at leisure in your camp, enjoying panoramic views, a spa treatment, or an optional walking safari led by expert naturalists. Alternatively, embark on another morning and afternoon game drive for more incredible wildlife encounters.

Enjoy your last evening around the campfire under a canopy of stars, with the distant sounds of lions and hyenas marking the rhythm of the African night.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Mara Plains Camp / Mara Bushtops

Day 11: Morning Game Drive – Flight to Nairobi & Departure

Enjoy a final early morning game drive in the Masai Mara before breakfast. Later, transfer to the airstrip for your flight back to Nairobi. Upon arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward flight.

Depending on your schedule, enjoy lunch at the Carnivore Restaurant or shop for souvenirs at Kazuri Beads Centre before departure.

Your 11 Days Samburu, Laikipia & Mara Safari concludes with unforgettable memories of Kenya’s wild beauty, vibrant cultures, and world-class hospitality.