7 Days Samburu & Rift Valley Lakes and Masai Mara

Day 1: Nairobi – Samburu Game Reserve

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel or the airport and drive north through farmlands and across the Equator towards Samburu. On the way, you’ll pass the scenic slopes of Mount Kenya. Arrive at the reserve in time for lunch and check into your lodge or camp. After a short rest, head out for your first game drive and enjoy the evening as the animals become more active. Return to the lodge for dinner and spend the night there.

Day 2: Samburu National Reserve

Spend the day in the reserve taking in the dry, rugged landscape and the unique wildlife. You may choose to go out for a morning and evening game drive, or spend a full day on a single drive. Samburu is home to species found only in this part of Kenya, including the reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, and many others. Predators like lions and leopards are also present, while the Ewaso Nyiro river supports hippos and crocodiles. Bird watchers will enjoy over 365 species recorded in the park. Return to your lodge or camp for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Samburu – Lake Nakuru National Park

After breakfast, enjoy a short morning drive in Samburu before leaving for Lake Nakuru. On the way, stop at Thomson’s Falls for photos and a quick break. Continue the journey to Nakuru and arrive in the evening for dinner and overnight at your lodge or camp.

Day 4: Lake Nakuru – Lake Naivasha

Begin the day with a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, often called “Birdwatchers’ Paradise.” The park is famous for flamingos, pelicans, herons, and hundreds of other bird species. You may also see rhinos, giraffes, lions, zebras, and antelopes. After the drive, depart for Lake Naivasha. Arrive at your lodge or camp in the afternoon and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight are at the lodge.

Day 5: Lake Naivasha – Masai Mara National Reserve

Enjoy a boat ride on Lake Naivasha in the morning, where you may see hippos up close and feed fish eagles. Visit Crescent Island for a walking safari, where herds of giraffes, zebras, and antelopes roam freely and birds are abundant. Afterward, leave for Masai Mara, stopping in Narok for lunch. Arrive at your lodge or camp in the afternoon and head out for a late afternoon game drive. Return for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6: Masai Mara National Reserve

Spend a full day in the Mara, taking in the park’s dense concentration of wildlife. You can do one full-day drive or split it into morning and evening drives. Expect to see elephants, lions, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, topi, and gazelles. Predators like leopards, cheetahs, and occasionally rhinos can also be spotted. The Mara River is home to hippos and crocodiles, and during the migration season, millions of wildebeest and zebras pass through. Return to your lodge or camp for dinner and overnight. Optional visit to a Masai village can be arranged.

Day 7: Masai Mara – Nairobi

After breakfast, depart Masai Mara and drive back to Nairobi. Enjoy lunch along the way and arrive in the late afternoon at your hotel or the airport, marking the end of your safari.

Optional Extras

• Balloon Ride at Masai Mara – $450 per person
• Cultural Village Visits – $15 to $20 per person