8 Day Samburu Mara Expedition

Day 1: Arrive at Nairobi Airport where your host will greet you.

Your host will be on hand when you arrive at the airport and will take you to your Nairobi.

Accommodation: Hotel
Activity: Arrive at Nairobi Airport where your host will greet you.

Day 2: Transfer to Ol Pejeta Conservancy before an afternoon game drive.

After a delicious breakfast, it’s time to head to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, situated between the foot hills of the Aberdare and the magnificent snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya.  The 90,000-acre private wilderness of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy boasts an astounding variety of wildlife, including all the members of the ‘Big Five’ (the endangered black and white rhino, leopard, elephant, buffalo and lion). Offering one of the highest wildlife densities in Kenya and a higher wildlife to acre ratio than any Kenyan national park, the conservancy offers sanctuary to a number of endangered species, most notably the rare Grevy’s zebra and the Jackson’s Hartebeest. The largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, the conservancy also hosts the only sanctuary for chimpanzees in Kenya.  

Accommodation: Camp/Lodge/hotel
Meal Plan: Full Board – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activity: Transfer to Ol Pejeta Conservancy before an afternoon game drive.

Day 3: Transfer to Samburu National Reserve before an afternoon game drive.

Enjoy an afternoon of game drives, accompanied by our expert guides, in search of a wide range of animals. For an unforgettable experience, you could take a guided nature walk. Birding is also excellent in this area.

Accommodation: Lodge/Hotel
Meal Plan: Full Board – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activity: Transfer to Samburu National Reserve before an afternoon game drive.

Day 4: Second day enjoying Samburu National Reserve.

Samburu National Reserve is situated on the banks of the Ewaso Ngiro River in the dry northern reaches of Kenya. It is a hot and arid area characterized by a parched landscape of hills and plains.
The Ewaso Nyiro River is the lifeblood of the area, especially during the dry season when it draws wildlife to its waters. The presence, however, of the river – and its shady trees – attracts plenty of wildlife; Giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck and zebra (including the endangered Grevy’s zebra) from the surrounding savannah plains trek to the water. Lion, leopard and cheetah are also quite easy to spot, thanks in part to the lack of grass cover.
Samburu is also home to large herds of elephants, and the reserve is well known for providing the opportunity to see wildlife that only lives in the dry north of Kenya. Be on the lookout for gerenuks – these odd, yet distinguished looking, gazelle have long necks, and stand on their hind legs to feed.
For the birders, around 365 species have been recorded and the river area is particularly rewarding.

Accommodation: Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activity: Morning and afternoon game drives

Day 5: Transfer to Lake Nakuru before enjoying an afternoon game drive.
After breakfast this morning, it will be time to head out to Lake Nakuru National Park. The park serves as Kenya’s first rhino sanctuary and is home to both white and black species. Protection is also offered to rare Rothschild giraffes – a 188-km area around the lake is fenced off to protect them.  You’ll also be able to explore the beautiful Malaika Waterfall and, of course, Lake Nakuru.

Accommodation: Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activity: Transfer to Lake Nakuru before enjoying an afternoon Game drive.

Day 6: Transfer to the amazing Maasai Mara before an afternoon game drive.                         When those of us in the west hear the term “African Safari” the picture that comes to mind is the Maasai Mara National Reserve, which is where you are going today.  Here is where you’ll find the grasslands, the lions, the jackals, the wildebeests and more.  This will also be your opportunity to get to know the Maasai, the semi-nomadic natives of Kenya.  These cattle-herding people have managed to preserve their way of life through the centuries; visiting them is an enriching experience.

Accommodation: Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activity: Transfer to the amazing Maasai Mara before an afternoon game drive

Day 7: Second day on the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Today you’ll have both a morning and an afternoon game drive and you’ll marvel at how completely different they are.  You’ll have the chance to see the continent’s largest prides of lions as well as many herds of antelopes, buffaloes, cheetahs, hyenas, wildebeests and zebras.  If you’re able to visit between July and October, you may be able to witness the Great Migration, when huge herds of Thomson’s gazelles, wildebeests and zebras travel in mass from the Serengeti.  It is an unforgettable experience that is not to be missed.  No matter when you visit, you will also have a chance to take a “walking safari”, or visit a local tribal village if you wish.  You will learn about the Maasai way of life and how they have managed to retain their semi-nomadic customs even in today’s modern world, when so much of their world is at risk.  After all these adventures, you will be more than ready for a mid-day nap or laze on the veranda to escape the heat of the day.

Accommodation: Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activity: Morning and afternoon game drives.

Day 8: Predawn game drive before your last safari breakfast.

You will start this morning with one last real adventure,  a pre-dawn game to see how the African world wakes up.  It’s a rare chance to see the nocturnal world and a sight few people ever witness.  It’s well worth waking up so early – especially knowing there’s a breakfast feast to come.  It’s a fitting repast to end your African safari, so take your time and enjoy it.  Afterward, you’ll have time to hunt for the perfect souvenirs for your loved ones back home (and perhaps a lovely memento for yourself).  You may also want to explore downtown Nairobi a little or taste one last African meal.  When you’re ready, your host will drive you to the airport and see that you get to your flight in plenty of time.  We want the last hours of your Kenya safari to be as relaxed and trouble-free as the rest of the trip has been.

Meal Plan: Breakfast
Activity: Predawn Game drive before your last safari breakfast. Transfer to Nairobi at your leisure.

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