6 Day Kenya Safari Samburu Ol-Pejeta Nakuru & Naivasha

Day 1: Nairobi – Drive to Samburu National Reserve

Breakfast will be served at the city hotel, followed by a safari briefing on the adventures ahead. After the briefing, your safari adventure will begin as soon as you board the safari vehicle.

You will drive overland across the equator from the Southern to the Northern hemisphere to Samburu Game Reserve, a semi-arid region excellent for the photographer.

Arrive at the camp in time for lunch, followed by some leisure hours for a siesta/ swim before you depart at around 1600 Hours for an afternoon game viewing and return to the camp before sunset. Samburu is a Maasai name, ‘Samburr,’ meaning a traditional leather bag for carrying honey and milk.

The region is characterized by vast, open landscapes, dried riverbeds (depending on the season), and red volcanic soil. Rock outcroppings contrast against the dense woodland vegetation along the banks of Ewaso Nyiro, meaning ‘River of brown water’, the river that gives life to the reserve.

The area is home to the famous Samburu people, related “cousins” of the Maasai, who have retained their cultural traditions.

Overnight Accommodation: Soroi Larsens Camp, Samburu Intrepids Camp, or Samburu Simba Lodge
Meal Plan {Lunch & Dinner}

Day 2: Explore Samburu National Reserve

Spend the day in Samburu Game Reserve, a hilly region with riverine forests, acacia woodland, and scrubland. This combined to create a dramatic, rugged landscape in a rather remote location in Kenya.

Game viewing for the Big Five, the Samburu Five, and observing the vast, unspoiled scenery, watching crocodiles bask on muddy riverbanks, and velvet monkeys frolic in the late afternoon sun.

Samburu is renowned for its rare fauna, known as the ‘Samburu five’. These five animals are usually found only north of the equator – the long-necked gerenuk and the reticulated giraffe, which is characterized by its liver-colored geometric patches defined by narrow white lines.

The Grevy’s zebra, which is smaller than the common zebra and looks more like a horse; the beisa oryx, with a black horizontal stripe running across its lower flank; and the Somali ostrich males have blue-grey necks and thighs.

A camelback safari is also a specialty in Samburu, as well as a cultural visit to the Samburu people, who depend on their cattle, goats, sheep, and donkeys.

Overnight Accommodation: Soroi Larsens Camp, Samburu Intrepids Camp, or Samburu Simba Lodge
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 3: Samburu – Drive to Ol Pejeta Conservancy/ Sweetwaters Game Reserve

After breakfast at the camp, you will depart by road to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, situated between the foothills of the Aberdares and the magnificent snowcapped Mount Kenya.

Arrive at the camp in time for lunch, followed by some leisure hours for a siesta/ swim. Later in the afternoon, you will proceed on an afternoon game viewing across the vast savannah grasslands, a terrain favored by elephants.

Visit the Chimpanzee Sanctuary, the only one of its kind in Kenya. The sanctuary is home to orphaned chimpanzees from the Jane Goodall Institute in Burundi. A walk around the sanctuary will give you an opportunity to spot the orphaned chimps.

This 24,000-acre reserve, situated within the 90,000-acre Ol Pejeta Conservancy, offers magnificent views across the plains to the snow-capped peaks of Mt. Kenya and is home to abundant wildlife and tropical vegetation.

You will have a chance to view an amazing variety of wildlife, such as zebra, lion, leopard, Thomson’s gazelle, grant’s gazelle, oryx, eland, baboon, elephant, and various species of birds.

Here, guests enjoy special activities such as game walks, night game drives, horseback game drives, and meals in the bush. Return to the camp before sunset.

Overnight Accommodation: Sweetwaters Serena Camp, Porini Rhino Camp, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, or Mutara Camp 
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 4: Sweetwaters – Drive to Lake Nakuru National Park

Breakfast will be served at the camp, then you will board the safari vehicle and drive overland to Lake Nakuru National Park. Lake Nakuru is a shallow alkaline lake famous for its flamingo population, estimated at more than a million, hence it is referred to as the ‘Bird’s Paradise’ by birdwatchers, and for its rhino population.

Arrive in time for lunch, then relax before the afternoon game drive. In addition to flamingos, the lake attracts more than 450 bird species. There are no elephants in the park, but the other big five can be spotted, including tree-climbing lions.

Large animals that thrive on the dry land surrounding the lake, such as the Rothschild giraffe, Cape buffalo, waterbuck, gazelle, leopard, and primates, can also be spotted in the park.

Overnight Accommodation: Egret Tented Camp Nakuru, Lake Nakuru Lodge, Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge Nakuru, or Lake Nakuru Flamingo Resort & Spa 
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 5: Lake Nakuru – Drive to Lake Naivasha

Breakfast will be served at the lodge, followed by checkout. Today’s Safari adventure takes you to the sparkling waters of Lake Naivasha, where you arrive at the lodge in time for lunch.

Lake Naivasha is the highest of the Great Rift Valley lakes and the second-largest freshwater lake in Kenya. The lake has no known outlet, which is unusual for a freshwater lake, and is home to over 450 species of birds.

Spend the afternoon at leisure, or enjoy optional activities such as a nature walk, biking, a bird walk along the lake shore, and a visit to Crescent Island.

There are also cultural dances, horse riding, rock climbing, and boat trips on the lake, as well as excursions to Hell’s Gate National Park, one of the few remaining places where you can walk alongside wildlife.

Overnight Accommodation: Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge or Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 6: Lake Naivasha – Drive to Nairobi

Breakfast will be served at the camp, and depart by road to Nairobi with game viewing en route. Lunch will be served at the famous Carnivore Restaurant in Nairobi. After lunch, transfer to Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your international departure flight with Africa Safari memories that will last forever.

Meal Plan {Breakfast & Lunch}