10-Day Wild Kenya Aberdare Samburu, Ol Pejeta & Mara

Depart from Nairobi and travel to Aberdare (approximately a 3-hour drive), a park situated in a mountain range offering spectacular views of Mount Kenya. The area features numerous waterfalls and mist-covered, lichen-draped trees. You may encounter elephants, black rhinos, and leopards, as well as long-haired colobus monkeys and mountain bongos if luck is on your side. You will arrive at the Aberdare Country Club for lunch, then be transferred to The Ark, a game-viewing lodge where you will spend the night. The Ark provides a unique game-viewing experience from the comfort of the lodge, with four viewing decks and a hide. Before dinner, the host conducts an interactive talk about the local fauna and flora. Dinner is available from 7:30 to 9 pm. Afterwards, you may continue to watch the wildlife or retire for the night. During the evening, the resident ranger remains on watch and will alert your room if an interesting animal visits the waterhole.

After breakfast, you’ll leave The Ark and proceed to Samburu, a scenic yet less well-known reserve. It is a semi-arid region located along the Ewaso Nyiro River that draws wildlife from the surrounding savannah plains. Samburu boasts a diverse array of wildlife, including rare Northern species such as the gerenuk, Beisa oryx, and Somali ostrich. The area is also home to several large predators, including cheetahs, lions, and leopards. Additionally, you can spot 450 different bird species, including the lesser kestrel and the Taita falcon. You’ll arrive in time for lunch at Intrepids Camp, situated on the banks of the great Ewaso Nyiro River. Each luxury en-suite tent is built on a raised wooden deck with a verandah overlooking the river, where elephants sometimes make an appearance and crocodiles can be seen lounging by the banks. After lunch, you will embark on a game drive and then spend the following day exploring the reserve.

Spend a full day in Samburu National Reserve starting with an early morning game drive along the Ewaso Nyiro River, when temperatures are cool and wildlife is most active, offering excellent chances to spot elephants, lions, leopards, and the unique Samburu Special Five such as the Grevy’s zebra and reticulated giraffe. After mid-morning breakfast at your lodge or a scenic picnic inside the reserve, continue exploring the riverine forests and open savannah, watching crocodiles, hippos, and a rich variety of birdlife. Midday is ideal for a short rest as the heat rises, before heading out again in the late afternoon for another game drive, when animals return to the river to drink and the golden light creates perfect photography conditions. End the day with a relaxed return to camp for dinner, reflecting on an intense yet rewarding safari experience in one of Kenya’s most distinctive landscapes.

After breakfast, you’ll depart from Samburu and travel to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, situated on a vast plateau. It boasts the highest density of large mammals in Kenya, including rare species such as the reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, and Lelwel hartebeest. You’ll spend two nights at the luxury Sweetwaters tented camp, located within the conservancy, offering stunning settings and views of Mount Kenya. The camp has extensive grounds, a watering hole, and a night-viewing bar. All tents are en suite, and some overlook the watering hole. You’ll embark on early morning, late afternoon, and night game drives, go lion tracking, and take part in gathering research data necessary for monitoring the collared lions (a fantastic way to learn about lions, with all the information shared with the Ol Pejeta Ecological Monitoring Department). When not out on game drives or lion tracking, you can relax in camp and watch wildlife at the watering hole.

Spend a rewarding day at Ol Pejeta Conservancy with an early morning game drive across its open plains, where you have excellent chances of seeing the Big Five, including rhinos, lions, elephants, and buffalo, against the backdrop of Mount Kenya. Visit the rhino sanctuary, home to the largest population of black rhinos in East Africa, and stop by the chimpanzee sanctuary, the only one of its kind in Kenya. After lunch at the conservancy or a picnic in the wild, continue with an afternoon game drive, tracking predators and enjoying close wildlife encounters made possible by Ol Pejeta’s conservation-focused management. Conclude the day as the sun sets over the savannah, ending a memorable safari that blends wildlife, conservation, and scenic beauty.

After breakfast, you’ll leave Sweetwaters for the Great Rift Valley and Lake Naivasha, arriving in time for lunch at the Sopa Resort. The lodge is situated close to the lakeshore and features beautiful gardens. Wildlife such as bushbuck, zebra, and giraffe often wander around the area. The lodge offers a restaurant, lounge and bar area with leather sofas and fireplaces, perfect for the cool Naivasha evenings. The rooms are spacious, Swahili-style chalets—either with a balcony or a glass-fronted lounge area for relaxing and wildlife viewing. After lunch, you’ll set out on a boat safari across the lake, where you may spot hippos and many bird species, including fish eagles and pelicans. Towards the end of your boat safari, you will stop at Crescent Island for a guided nature walk. You’ll return to the lodge for the evening, enjoy dinner, and watch the hippos come up from the lake to graze on Sopa’s grounds.

After breakfast, you will depart Naivasha for the Masai Mara, a reserve renowned for its biodiversity and home to a wide variety of bird species and wildlife. The Masai Mara is considered the jewel of Kenya’s wildlife reserves and hosts the annual wildebeest migration, involving over 1.5 million animals! You will arrive in time for lunch at Mara Elatia, located next to the Mara Triangle to the west of the reserve; this is the ideal spot to witness river crossings during migration season. The camp is small, with just 12 luxury en-suite tents overlooking the savannah grasslands of the Mara. After lunch, you will go on a game drive and then spend the following 2 days exploring the savannah plains of the Masai Mara and searching for the Big Five, along with many other species of mammals, reptiles, and birds.

Wake early for a sunrise game drive, when predators are most active and wildlife is abundant. After breakfast at the lodge, you have the option to take a hot air balloon safari over the Mara, floating above herds of wildebeest, zebras, and elephants while enjoying panoramic views of the savannah—a truly unforgettable experience. Land with a traditional bush breakfast before returning to camp for a short rest. In the afternoon, head out for another game drive along different areas of the reserve, including the Mara River, where hippos, crocodiles, and numerous bird species can be spotted. Return to camp for dinner and overnight stay.

Start the day with an early morning game drive to enjoy the Mara’s wildlife in the cool morning hours. After breakfast, visit a nearby Maasai village to learn about traditional customs, daily life, and cultural practices of this vibrant community. Spend the afternoon on a final game drive across the Mara plains, spotting any animals you may have missed and soaking in the stunning landscapes. End the day with sundowners and return to camp for dinner and an overnight stay, fully immersed in the Maasai Mara experience.

After breakfast you’ll head back to Nairobi by road (a 5.5-hour drive), stopping for lunch along the way. Alternatively, stay for lunch and fly back to Nairobi mid-afternoon (optional extra).Before ending your journey, visit the Maasai Market in Nairobi to shop for traditional crafts, jewellery, and souvenirs, completing your memorable safari experience.