About This Package
This expertly paired 6 day safari combines Kenya's most contrasting ecosystems: the dense thornbush of Samburu National Reserve in the arid north, and the legendary open plains of the Masai Mara in the south. The contrast could not be more dramatic or more rewarding. Samburu is home to the Northern Five, a unique group of species rarely seen elsewhere in Kenya: Grevy's zebra which is the world's largest wild equid, reticulated giraffe which is the most beautiful giraffe subspecies, Somali ostrich, gerenuk which is an antelope that stands on its hind legs to browse, and Beisa oryx. The Ewaso Ng'iro River draws lion, leopard, elephant and crocodile to its banks daily. After three days in Samburu, you fly or drive south to the Mara for your grand finale: two days among lion, cheetah, elephant and the finest predator prey action in Africa. This itinerary is perfect for returning Kenya visitors looking for something beyond the classic circuit.
Destinations Covered
What Is Included
Your Day-by-Day Itinerary
6 days of carefully planned experiences.
Nairobi to Samburu National Reserve
Drive north from Nairobi through Mt Kenya's forest skirts and the semi-arid landscapes of Laikipia, arriving at Samburu National Reserve in the early afternoon. The change in landscape from the highland farms is dramatic — here the vegetation is classic northern bush: doum palms, commiphora scrub and yellow-green grass. Your lodge sits beside the Ewaso Ng'iro River where elephants wade across mid-afternoon. An afternoon drive immediately introduces the Northern Five: reticulated giraffe moving between trees with their distinctive mosaic patterning, Grevy's zebra grazing near the river, and a small group of Beisa oryx on the open plain.
Full Day Samburu — The Northern Five
Dawn in Samburu is announced by the calls of Abyssinian ground hornbills and the barking of olive baboons. Your morning drive follows the river corridor where lion pride members rest on sandy banks after a night's hunting, enormous crocodiles warm themselves on exposed rocks, and Samburu's famous large-tusked elephant bulls — some with tusks reaching the ground — wade slowly across the river. The gerenuk stands on its hind legs to browse acacia leaves inaccessible to any other antelope. Afternoon drives target the Samburu leopards — famously comfortable with vehicles — that hunt the river thickets and rest in sausage trees with remarkable regularity.
Samburu Second Day — Dawn Drive & Cultural Visit
A pre-dawn game drive finds the reserve in its most active state. Samburu is exceptional for night drive opportunities (in private conservancies adjacent to the reserve) where the spotlight reveals serval, African wildcat, porcupine and the rarely photographed aardvark foraging for termites. A midday visit to a Samburu village provides cultural counterpoint: the Samburu people are closely related to the Maasai but retain distinct traditions, including the warrior initiation ceremonies that shape the society. Women demonstrate their distinctive red beadwork jewellery.
Samburu to Masai Mara — Scenic Drive South
The long drive south through Kenya's diverse landscapes passes through Nanyuki at the equator, across the Laikipia Plateau's private conservancies, and down through Narok into the Mara ecosystem. The journey takes most of the day but rewards those who stop to observe: roadside Maasai herders with red-ochred hair, the vast open plains of Laikipia dotted with white rhino and reticulated giraffe, and your first views of the Mara's golden grassland as you descend from the escarpment.
Full Day Masai Mara — Big Five Game Drives
After the intimacy of Samburu, the Mara's scale and wildlife abundance comes as a genuine revelation. Lions here number over 800 individuals in dozens of prides — the highest density in Africa. Early morning drives target the most productive areas guided by real-time radio contact between guides sharing sightings. Cheetahs are seen most reliably in the open Musiara Marsh area, while leopards favour the Leopard Gorge area where fig trees provide perfect ambush cover.
Final Mara Drive & Nairobi Return
A final 2-hour morning drive before breakfast captures the Mara at its most atmospheric. The long drive northeast returns you to Nairobi by late afternoon.
Inclusions and Exclusions
Where You Will Stay
Accommodation is tailored to your budget and preferences. We work with a curated selection of lodges and camps across all categories.
Comfortable tented camps and mid-range lodges. Great value with all the essentials for an unforgettable safari.
Well-appointed lodges and permanent camps with excellent food, experienced guides and genuine bush atmosphere.
Award-winning camps and lodges with private guides, gourmet dining, plunge pools and world-class service.
Tell us your budget and preferences in the enquiry form and we will match you with the best available properties along the route. All our partner lodges are personally vetted by our team.
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