Take a step out of the track for 7 days. Go on for 2 nights in the Samburu and prepare yourself for a rewarding cultural experience. Spend a night in the mountain range setting of Aberdare, with its exquisite primate wildlife. As you come back south, ponder on what you’ve seen so far as you relax on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, surrounded by wooded and bushy grassland, gazing at Lake Nakuru. Freshened up, go on to close your trip with 2 nights of classic Big 5 action in the Mara.
Itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi to Samburu National Reserve
An early morning drive to Samburu Game Reserve. Picnic lunch en-route and afternoon or evening game drive. Samburu Game Reserve stands as one of the most beautiful Kenya Parks in Northern circuit. It holds the most indigenous wildlife as well as the home of African Elephants and beautiful species of Zebras and the Masai Giraffes. Dinner and overnight at Elephant Bedroom Camp https://www.atua-enkop.com/elephantbedroom-gallery or similar.
Day 2: Samburu National Reserve
The whole day will be spent exploring this amazing game reserve, it gives you the refreshment of your mind as the park is not populated and not many people visit here, we have concentration of the big five, Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Leopard, Buffalo, Gerenuk, Reticulated Giraffe, Somali Ostrich, Gravy Zebra, Besia Oryx, Endangered Wild Dog as well as Pun cake Tortoise – also endangered. There are over 450 species of birds identified and aquatic species in the Ewaso Nyiro River including, vultures, kingfishers, marabous, bateleurs, guinea fowl, Somali ostriches and others. The whole day will be spent exploring the park for the whole day game drive. Dinner and overnight at Elephant Bedroom Camp https://www.atua-enkop.com/elephantbedroom-gallery or similar.
Day 3: Samburu to Aberdare National Park
An early morning transfer to Aberdare National Park. The drive is scenic via the central Kenya highlands with stops to view tea and coffee plantations. There shall be a further stop to see and experience the largest open-air market in East Africa at Karatina. Aberdare National Park is home to elephants, black rhinos, leopards, spotted hyenas, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, buffalos, warthogs and bushbucks among others. Rare sightings include those of the Giant Forest hog, bongo, golden cat, serval cat, African wild cat, African civet cat and the blue duiker. Dinner and overnight at Aberdare Country Club https://marasa.net/aberdare-country-club-photo-gallery/ or similar.
Day 4: Aberdare to Lake Nakuru National Park
After breakfast, we depart for Lake Nakuru National Park. Across the equator, southwards of Bogoria, lies the rift valleys most famous lake Nakuru. Known all over the world for its flamingoes, it’s alkaline and is recognized as one of the natural wonders of the world. Lake Nakuru is now a rhino sanctuary, harbouring a population of over 40 black and over 60 white rhinos, but the flamingos, of course, have always been the main attraction. At times there may be almost 2 million flamingos in the residence, forming a stunningly beautiful deep pink band around the edge of the lake shore. Arrive in time for lunch then have an afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at Mbweha Camp https://www.atua-enkop.com/mbweha-gallery or similar.
Day 5: Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara National Reserve
An early morning drive to Maasai Mara National Reserve, it holds on as one of the few places left on earth where wildlife still lives comparatively undisturbed, in the numbers that once roamed the plains and forests of Africa. As the northern tip of the vast Serengeti ecosystem, the Mara hosts the spectacular seasonal migration of many thousands of Wildebeest, Zebras and attendant predators. Arrive in time for lunch then have an afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at Mara Leisure Camp https://marasa.net/mara-leisure-camp-photo-gallery/ or similar.
Day 6: Masai Mara National Reserve
After breakfast, we have a full day game drive, with packed lunch provided. The reserve is well known for its black-manned lion, as well as its abundant resident wildlife and its one of the few places where it’s possible to see the big five during a morning’s game drive. Many of the cheetahs are so tame they seek shelter from the hot sun under one’s vehicle and several even climb onto the roof to get a better view of prospective prey. For the bird enthusiast, almost 500 species have been recorded: among these 16 species of eagle, plus many hawks and falcons, 6 species of vultures, 8 species of storks 4 of bustard (including the Kori bustard, the world’s heaviest flying bird), and 9 species of sunbirds. Dinner and overnight at Mara Leisure Camp https://marasa.net/mara-leisure-camp-photo-gallery/ or similar.
Day 7: Masai Mara to Nairobi
Morning game drive in Mara and late departure in the morning to Nairobi, arriving at about 5 pm. Lunch en route.
End of Safari