8 Day Kenya Safari Ol Pejeta Samburu Aberdare Nakuru & Masai Mara

Day 1: Nairobi – Drive to Sweetwaters/ Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Day 2: Sweetwaters/ Ol Pejeta – Samburu National Reserve
Day 3: Explore Samburu National Reserve
Day 4: Samburu – Drive to Aberdare National Park
Day 5: Aberdare – Drive to Lake Nakuru National Park
Day 6: Lake Nakuru – Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 7: Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 8: Masai Mara – Drive to Nairobi

Day 1: Nairobi – Drive to Sweetwaters/ Ol Pejeta Conservancy

This morning we depart Nairobi and proceed north, driving through lush tea and coffee estates to Sweetwaters Conservancy. Sweetwaters land, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, and its sumptuous ranch were once the private domain of famed multi-millionaire, Adnan Kashoggi.

We visit the Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a charming haven established by the Jane Goodall Institute to provide a home for orphaned chimps, and the specially protected, fenced refuge for black rhinos, with its stunning 40 specimens!

In fact, Sweetwaters boasts excellent game viewing with the highest ratio of game to area of any park or reserve in Kenya. Moreover, the Sanctuary has several private waterholes and salt lick so we’ll be guaranteed unprecedented close encounters.

Whether it’s day or night game drives, camel trekking, lion tracking, al fresco dining, or relaxing by the pool, Sweetwaters is bound to delight.

Overnight Accommodation: Sweetwaters Serena Tented Camp or Porini Rhino Camp or Similar
Meal Plan {Lunch & Dinner}

Day 2: Sweetwaters/ Ol Pejeta – Drive to Samburu National Reserve

After breakfast, depart for Samburu, passing through lush farmlands, and cross the Equator where you can stop for pictures. Proceed to Samburu, which is fiercely beautiful with its arid savannahs watered by the lovely Uaso Nyiro River.

The river attracts and supports the wildlife of Samburu in this otherwise arid part of Kenya. We arrive in time for lunch and later embark on a game drive through the reserve in our pop-up roof safari vehicle, taking in the grasslands, river forests, and acacia trees while searching for wildlife.

Not only is the reserve home to iconic animals such as elephants, lions, and leopards, but it’s also home to the Samburu Special Five – reticulated giraffes, Somali ostrich, gerenuk, Besia oryx, and the Grevy’s zebra.

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

Day 3: Explore Samburu National Reserve

Day three is for rewarding 4×4 game drives in Samburu National Reserve. We take early and mid-morning game drives, have lunch at the lodge/camp and relax before our afternoon game drive. We may come across lions, cheetahs, and leopards, and are likely to see elephants, hippos, and buffalo.

Grevy’s zebras, oryx, giraffes, gerenuks, other antelopes and wild dogs are also found in Samburu. The reserve is also rich in bird life, hosting over 350 species. Samburu is one of the two areas where Elsa the lioness, of Born Free fame, was raised by George and Joy Adamson.

Another highlight is encountering the traditional Samburu people, whose indigenous culture still follows ancient practices.

Overnight Accommodation: Larsens Tented Camp or Samburu Intrepids Camp or Samburu Serena
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 4: Samburu – Drive to Aberdares National Park

Rise and shine in the peaceful Samburu Game Reserve after a good night’s sleep surrounded by nature. After breakfast at the lodge, we travel up into the cooler Aberdare Mountains in our 4×4 vehicle to our next game-viewing destination.

Arriving in the Aberdare Highlands, we have lunch at the Aberdare Country Club or the Outspan Hotel, which overlooks the surrounding wilderness.

Once we have had lunch, we move on to our nearby accommodation, The Ark Tree Lodge or the Treetops Hotel. Watch the animals that frequently visit the lively waterhole beside the lodge from a series of viewing decks and areas at different levels.

Spot animals at the floodlit salt lick and water hole into the night, with common visitors including elephants, buffalo, rhinos and even leopards.

Overnight Accommodation: The Ark Forest Lodge or Treetop Forest Lodge
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 5: Aberdare – Drive to Lake Nakuru National Park

Wake up to a refreshing tea or coffee at The Ark or the Treetops Lodge, then head to the Aberdare Country Club or the Outspan Hotel for a tasty breakfast. After breakfast, we collect our belongings at the lodge and drive down to Lake Nakuru, one of the Great Lakes of East Africa’s Rift Valley.

Upon reaching Lake Nakuru National Park, we make our way to our next safari lodge, game-viewing en route. Tuck into lunch at the lodge, and take a nap or dip in the pool.

This afternoon we go game viewing in Lake Nakuru National Park, set around the shallow soda lake. Originally established as a bird sanctuary, Nakuru is a Ramsar Wetland Area, known for its spectacular bird life. When water levels are high enough, massive flocks of flamingos have been known to gather at Lake Nakuru.

Highlights on our 4×4 game drive may include sightings of tree-climbing lions and both black and white rhinos, for which the reserve is better known today. Commonly sighted animals include giraffes, baboons, zebras, buffalos, antelopes, and hippos, with rare sightings of leopards.

Overnight Accommodation: Lake Nakuru Lodge or Sarova Lion Hill Lodge
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 6: Lake Nakuru – Drive to Masai Mara National Reserve

Then the time has come to explore Masai Mara – one of the most famous game parks on the planet, considered by many to be the finest wildlife safari destination in all of Africa.

We drive southwest in our 4×4 safari vehicle, passing through the Rift Valley Province of Kenya, en route to Masai Mara National Reserve, which borders Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. This is traditional Maasai land, so we should spot some of these proud, red-robed people in the area.

Arriving at our lodge, we enjoy lunch, take it easy, or swim in the pool. Next up is our first game drive in the Masai Mara Game Reserve. In this dream safari landscape of undulating plains scattered with acacias, we look out for the diverse and abundant wildlife of Mara.

We may come across herds of wildebeest, elephants, zebras and antelopes, along with prides of lions, coalitions of cheetahs, a crash of rhinos and lone leopards.

Overnight Accommodation: Sarova Tented Camp or Siana Tented Camp or Mara Simba Lodge
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 7: Masai Mara National Reserve

Look forward to a full day of wildlife viewing in the world-renowned Masai Mara National Reserve. We embark on three game drives in one day – early morning, mid-morning and afternoon 4×4 adventures in this Big Five Mecca. Our lunch break is back at the lodge, surrounded by the vast fertile plains of Mara.

The lodge is located along the route of the Great Migration – the unparalleled wildlife spectacle that sees over a million wildebeest, gazelles, zebras and other herbivores stampeding across the plains and crocodile-infested rivers every year. The predators of Masai Mara also come out in full force for the migration, which provides plenty of fair game. Optional hot Air Balloon rides are available on this day at an additional cost. On this final day in the Mara, you also have an opportunity to visit an authentic Masai village.

Overnight Accommodation: Sarova Tented Camp or Siana Tented Camp or Mara Simba Lodge
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 8: Masai Mara Game Reserve – Drive to Nairobi

On the final day of your Safari, we get to have breakfast in the quintessential safari setting before leaving the Masai Mara. We journey back to the bustling city of Nairobi. Arrive in Nairobi midafternoon, where you will be dropped off at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or at your hotel.

The balance of the day is leisurely for last-minute assisted shopping and sightseeing.

Meal Plan {Breakfast}