9 Day Kenya Safari Ol Pejeta Samburu Nakuru & Masai Mara

Day 1: Nairobi  – Drive to Sweetwaters/ Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Day 2: Explore Sweetwaters/ Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Day 3: Sweetwaters/ Ol Pejeta – Drive to Samburu National Reserve
Day 4: Explore Samburu National Reserve
Day 5: Samburu – Drive Lake Nakuru National Park
Day 6: Nakuru – Drive to Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 7: Explore Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 8: Explore Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 9: Masai Mara – Drive to Nairobi

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

After breakfast, travel to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the largest black Rhino sanctuary in all of East Africa. After lunch, enjoy a game drive in the conservancy, including a stop at the chimpanzee Sanctuary.

In partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Jane Goodall Institute, the sanctuary was established to provide a long-term home for orphaned and abused chimpanzees. Here, see the chimps and learn more about their plight.

Sweetwaters is Kenya’s only sanctuary for the rehabilitation of chimpanzees. Numbering nearly 40 animals, Sweetwaters provides an environment as close to their natural habitat as possible. The Conservancy is also a dedicated black Rhino breeding area, making it an unforgettable stopover.

Optional activities (own cost): Night game drive, guided bird walks, lion tracking (morning only), board games and library, camel rides, tree planting and watercolor painting

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

Day 2: Explore Sweetwaters/ Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Today you can participate in our morning game-viewing excursion. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya has over 10000 large mammals, and it is the only park where the big 5 and chimpanzees can be seen.

It is also home to the fastest-growing rhino population in Africa. There are southern white rhinos, about 80 endangered black rhinos, and in a special sanctuary there are two of the world’s last remaining northern white rhinos.

There are elephants, lions, leopards, Buffalo, Grevy’s Zebra, giraffes, cheetahs, Thomson’s gazelles, Grant’s gazelles, black-backed Jackals, ostriches, Baboons, Waterbuck, Oryx, eland, and more. Birds will not disappoint, with several hundred species present in the conservancy.

The day is spent on morning and afternoon game drives.

Overnight Accommodation: Sweetwaters Serena Tented Camp, Kicheche Laikipia Camp or Porini Rhino Camp
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

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

Today, depart Sweetwaters/ Pejeta and proceed by road to Samburu National Reserve, known for its arid landscape and unique wildlife. Due to the dry climate, grasses are sparse, making animals easier to spot.

Meanwhile, the Ewaso Ng’iro River, which borders the reserve, provides a year-round water supply. These two factors make for a great game-viewing experience.

During your afternoon game drive, you have the chance to see rare animals you will not see in other parts of the country. Commonly referred to as the Samburu “Special 5,” this includes Grevy’s Zebra, reticulated Giraffe, Somali Ostrich, Beisa Oryx, and the Gerenuk, a long-necked Antelope that feeds while standing on its hind feet.

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

Day 4: Explore Samburu Game Reserve

Today, enjoy morning & afternoon game drives. In addition to the Samburu “Special 5,” the reserve is home to an abundance of other species. Large numbers of Elephants and Nile crocodiles can be seen, as well as Waterbuck, Kirk’s Dik-dik, and Grant’s Gazelle.

Where there is prey, predators can be found, so lions and leopards are often spotted. A reserve is also a great place for bird watching, with over 300 species. Between game drives, there’s time to relax at your lodge.

This evening, relish sundowner drinks in the bush as the sun sets over this stunning landscape!

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

Day 5: Samburu – Drive Lake Nakuru National Park

Leave Samburu and journey through the beautiful Kenyan highlands, one of Africa’s most fertile agricultural regions, where farmers grow crops such as corn, wheat, coffee, and tea.

Stop at Nyahururu Falls, also known as Thompson’s Falls, and then on to Lake Nakuru National Park. Lake Nakuru, a soda lake on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, is rich in birdlife and home to over 400 different species. Its claim to fame, however, is its large flocks of flamingos.

The sight of millions of flamingos making the lake appear ringed in pink is spectacular. In addition to its abundant birdlife, it is an important haven for the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe and both black and white rhinos.

Lake Nakuru is rich in wildlife, giving you the chance to spot Lions, Waterbuck, Buffalo, baboons, and much more.

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

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

After breakfast, depart for Masai Mara Game Reserve. Travel through the Masai country, occasionally coming across Masai herdsmen with their livestock living harmoniously with the wildlife. After lunch at your residence lodge, another game drive is planned in these vast rolling grasslands.

The “Mara,” as locals call it, is part of the Serengeti ecosystem and boasts a strong, permanent game population. When the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra arrives, generally from August to early November, the population enlarges by almost 2 million.

This provides a great food source for predators such as Lions, Cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas. After lunch at your lodge, set out on an afternoon game drive.

NOTE: The Great Migration is a natural event, and the arrival/ departure of the migrating herds varies slightly from year to year.

Overnight Accommodation: Sarova Tented Camp, Mara Serena Lodge or Muthu Keekorok Lodge
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 7 & 8: Explore the Masai Mara National Reserve

For the next two days, we enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in this magnificent reserve. Masai Mara is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including predators and plains game.

The reserve is known for its sizeable big cat populations, hosting plenty of lions, leopards and cheetahs. The Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo) are commonly seen on game drives in this 1510 km² wilderness area. 

Other animals seen include baboons, warthogs, bat-eared foxes, grey jackals, spotted hyenas, topis, impalas, hartebeests, wildebeest, Elephants, buffaloes, zebras, and hippos.

After game viewing in the classic African safari setting of Masai Mara, we have the chance to stop in at one of the nearby Maasai Manyattas – traditional settlements where the Masai Tribes still live in their customary way.

Hot-air balloon trips are an outstanding way of viewing the savannah plains and the wildlife of Masai Mara and can be arranged at extra cost upon booking.

Overnight Accommodation: Sarova Tented Camp, Mara Serena Lodge or Muthu Keekorok Lodge
Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 9: Masai Mara – Drive to Nairobi

An early morning game drive is planned before returning to your camp or lodge for a proper sit-down English breakfast. With breakfast done, we travel overland to Nairobi and check into our hotel for day-room use. The rest of the day is at leisure for last-minute shopping and sightseeing.

In the evening, you will be escorted to the Airport for flight check-in and board the plane that takes you home with a smile and a lifetime of memories.

Meal Plan {Breakfast}