Overview
Day by day
Price
This seven-day journey is Kenya distilled into its most rewarding form — four ecosystems, four iconic wilderness areas, and six nights in hand-picked luxury properties. Beginning in the remote Northern Frontier at Samburu National Reserve — home to rare species found nowhere else in Kenya — the route sweeps south through the rhino sanctuary of Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the flamingo-fringed shores of Lake Nakuru, and reaches its crescendo at the legendary Masai Mara.
Each property has been selected for its exceptional location, guiding quality and conservation credentials: Elephant Bedroom Camp in Samburu (where elephants regularly wander through); Sweetwaters Serena Camp on Ol Pejeta (Africa's largest black rhino sanctuary); The Cliff Nakuru (elevated views over the lake); and Ilkeliani Camp inside the Masai Mara reserve.
From the Samburu Special Five — Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Somali ostrich, Beisa oryx — to the Big Five in the Mara, this is Kenya's full wildlife story, told in seven extraordinary days. A Maasai village cultural visit and optional rhino tracking on foot at Ol Pejeta add depth and meaning to every game drive.
- You visit
- Nairobi(Start) SamburuNairobiOl PejetaLake NakuruMasai Mara Nairobi(End)
- Highlights
- Wildlife safarisBirding toursGreat migrationJungle safarisCultural experienceNatural SceneryRhino safarisHot-Air balloonHoneymoonWalking safaris
- Vehicle used
Day 1: Nairobi – Samburu: The Wild North
Your safari begins with a morning pick-up in Nairobi by your private guide in a customized safari 4x4 Land Cruiser. Head north past the fertile highlands of central Kenya, crossing the equator with dramatic vistas of Mount Kenya's jagged peaks before descending into the wild Northern Frontier.
Arrive at Elephant Bedroom Camp in time for lunch. Set directly on the banks of the brown, life-giving Ewaso Nyiro River, the camp regularly hosts resident elephants wandering beneath the shade of towering riverine trees. Head out for an afternoon game drive in search of Samburu’s unique wildlife, returning at dusk for a gourmet dinner under the stars.
Lunch, Dinner
Elephant Bedroom Camp
Day 2: Full Day in Samburu — Tracking the "Special Five"
Rise early to soft equatorial light for a sunrise game drive. Samburu offers an ecological contrast to southern Kenya, serving as the prime habitat for the endemic "Samburu Special Five":
Gerenuk: The long-necked antelope feeding upright on hind legs.
Grevy’s Zebra: The large, narrow-striped equine with rounded ears.
Reticulated Giraffe: Striking, geometric russet-and-white coat patterns.
Beisa Oryx: Distinctive spear-horned desert antelope.
Somali Ostrich: Blue-necked and striking against the arid red soil.
Return to camp for a midday rest and lunch overlooking the river. In the late afternoon, embark on another focused photographic drive, keeping watch for Samburu’s leopards and prides of lions lounging on smooth granite kopjes.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Elephant Bedroom Camp
Day 3: Samburu to Ol Pejeta Conservancy — Rhinos & Conservation
After breakfast, depart Samburu and ascend toward the Laikipia Plateau, arriving at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, East Africa’s largest black rhino sanctuary and home to the world's last remaining northern white rhinos. Check in at Sweetwaters Serena Camp, where tents directly face a bustling waterhole.
In the afternoon, join an armed ranger for a guided walking safari and rhino tracking experience on foot, learning firsthand about anti-poaching operations, tracking techniques, and conservation ecology. Conclude the afternoon with a visit to the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, established in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute to rehabilitate rescued chimpanzees.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sweetwaters Serena Camp
Day 4: Ol Pejeta to Lake Nakuru National Park — The Great Rift Valley
After an early breakfast, descend into the Great Rift Valley, traveling toward Lake Nakuru National Park. Arrive at The Cliff, a designer tented camp perched atop a 100-meter cliff offering panoramic vistas across the alkaline lake.
Following lunch and time to take in the panoramic views, set out on an afternoon game drive along the lakeshores and through dense acacia woodlands. Lake Nakuru is renowned as a premier sanctuary for both black and white rhinos, as well as the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. Watch for leopards resting in the fever trees, tree-climbing lions, waterbucks, and thousands of waterbirds feeding along the shallows.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The Cliff
Day 5: Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara National Reserve — Kingdom of the Big Cats
Depart Lake Nakuru after an early breakfast, driving southwest past the extinct volcanoes of the Great Rift Valley into the iconic Masai Mara National Reserve. Arrive at Ilkeliani Camp, a tented retreat tucked into an indigenous forest overlooking the Talek River.
After lunch, venture out into the sweeping plains for your first Mara game drive. The reserve boasts the highest concentration of big cats in Africa. Track prides of lions, cheetahs scanning the horizon from termite mounds, and elephants moving across the plains against classic golden-hour skies.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ilkeliani Camp
Day 6: Full Day in the Masai Mara — Open Plains & Cultural Heritage
Begin the day with an optional sunrise Hot-Air Balloon Safari (optional extra) floating silently over the plains, concluding with a champagne bush breakfast. Alternatively, set out at dawn for an extended morning game drive tracking nocturnal hunters before they seek midday shade.
Midday includes lunch at camp and time to relax along the river deck. In the afternoon, visit an authentic Maasai Cultural Village (Manyatta) to engage respectfully with the community, learn about their pastoralist heritage, traditional medicine, and living harmony with wildlife. Conclude the day with a final sunset drive across the reserve.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ilkeliani Camp
Day 7: Masai Mara to Nairobi — Farewell to the Wild
Savor a final early-morning breakfast at camp before bidding farewell to the Masai Mara. Embark on a leisurely drive back to Nairobi with a packed picnic lunch en route. Arrive in Nairobi in the late afternoon for your transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) for your onward flight, or drop-off at your city hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch
