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Majestic Kenya Safaris

  • Call: +254 711 547299 / +44 7441 477005
  • info@majesticsafaris.co.uk
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8-Day Samburu, Ol Pejeta & Masai Mara Safari

  • Visit: Samburu NR, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Masai Mara NR
  • 8 Days
  • Private
  • Mid-Range
Two rhinos herding at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy
3-giraffes-seen-masai-mara
Common elands sighting in the Masai Mara
Huge African buffalo seen in the Mara
Starts from

£1,450 pp

Overview

Samburu is north of the equator in proper semi-desert and it holds animals you will not find in the southern parks. Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, and the blue-legged Somali ostrich. Locally they get called the Samburu Special Five and they are the reason to make the drive up.

Ol Pejeta on the way back down has more black rhino than anywhere else in East Africa. Then three nights in the Mara. This suits people who have done Kenya once already and want something past the standard circuit.

Accommodations:

  • Samburu Simba Lodge (Samburu)
  • Sweetwaters Serena Camp (Ol Pejeta)
  • AA Mara Lodge (Masai Mara)

Itinerary

  • Day 1: Nairobi to Samburu National Reserve

    Driving Time: 5-6 hours

    Meals: Lunch & Dinner

    North through the highlands past Thika and Karatina, coffee and pineapple country with Mount Kenya on your right if the weather is clear. You cross the equator at Nanyuki where there is a sign and someone will offer to demonstrate water draining in opposite directions. It is a trick, but a harmless one.

    After Isiolo the land drops and dries out fast. Arrive mid-afternoon with time for a drive. The Ewaso Nyiro River runs through the middle of the reserve and everything comes to it, so that is where you start.

    Dinner and overnight stay at Samburu Simba Lodge.

  • Day 2: Full Day in Samburu National Reserve

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

    Two drives, both working the river and the doum palm groves along it. Gerenuk are the strange ones, antelope that stand upright on their back legs to reach higher branches, and they are common here.

    Leopard do well in the riverine bush and Samburu has a decent reputation for them. Elephant come down to drink through the afternoon. Bird list is long and includes several species that only occur in the dry north, so bring binoculars if that is your thing.

    Dinner and overnight stay at Samburu Simba Lodge.

  • Day 3: Samburu to Ol Pejeta Conservancy

    Driving Time: 3 hours

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

    Morning drive, then back south through Isiolo and Nanyuki. Short leg, so you are at Sweetwaters in time for lunch with the afternoon free for a drive.

    Ol Pejeta runs cattle alongside the wildlife and manages about 140 black rhino, the largest population in East Africa. Sudan, the last male northern white rhino, died here in 2018. His two daughters remain and you can visit them.

    Dinner and overnight stay at Sweetwaters Serena Camp.

  • Day 4: Full Day in Ol Pejeta Conservancy

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

    Early out for rhino before the heat. White rhino graze in the open and are straightforward. Black rhino browse in thicker cover and need more work, but the density here means your odds are better than almost anywhere.

    The chimpanzee sanctuary is worth the hour if anyone is interested. The chimps are rescues from central Africa and there are no wild chimps in Kenya at all, so this is the only place to see them. Afternoon drive covers the plains and the Ewaso Nyiro frontage.

    Dinner and overnight stay at Sweetwaters Serena Camp.

  • Day 5: Ol Pejeta to Masai Mara National Reserve

    Driving Time: 6-7 hours

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

    Long day. South through Nyahururu or Nakuru depending on road conditions, then southwest over the Mau and down into Maasai country. Lunch on the way.

    Arrive late afternoon with an hour or so of light left. Worth taking the drive even if people are tired, because the contrast with what you have been looking at for four days is the whole point.

    Dinner and overnight stay at AA Lodge Masai Mara.

  • Day 6: Full Day in Masai Mara National Reserve

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

    Where Samburu is thin and dry, the Mara is thick with grass and animals. Both are worth seeing but they need a different eye. Here you are not searching for a single gerenuk in the scrub, you are picking one pride out of several.

    Morning for the cats, afternoon for whatever the day turns up. The plains hold zebra, wildebeest, topi, eland, and Thomson's gazelle in numbers that take some getting used to.

    Dinner and overnight stay at AA Lodge Masai Mara.

  • Day 7: Full Day in Masai Mara National Reserve

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

    Full day out with a packed lunch is the better option today. It lets you get across to the river and back without rushing either end.

    Between July and October the migration herds are in and river crossings are on the cards, though the timing is anyone's guess. Outside those months the resident game is more than enough. Balloon and village visits available if booked ahead.

    Dinner and overnight stay at AA Lodge Masai Mara.

  • Day 8: Masai Mara to Nairobi

    Driving Time: 5-6 hours

    Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

    Last drive at first light, breakfast, then east through Narok and up the escarpment.

    Into Nairobi mid to late afternoon. Drop off at your hotel or the airport for an evening departure.

Accommodation

Accomodation units at samburu simba lodge
Samburu Simba Lodge
wildlife views from Samburu Simba Lodge
Samburu Simba Lodge
sweetwaters serena in Ol Pejeta
Sweetwaters Serena
AA Lodge Masai Mara
AA Lodge Masai Mara

Rates

Season2 Pax3 Pax4 Pax5 Pax6 Pax
Jan - Jun£2,050£1,750£1,600£1,500£1,450
Jul - Dec£2,650£2,350£2,200£2,150£2,050

Includes & Excludes

  • Park entry fees
  • All accommodation (full board)
  • All meals as indicated
  • Comprehensive game drives Professional tour guide
  • Pick up and drop off from your hotel/Airport
  • Transportation in a customized 4x4 safari Land Cruiser Jeep
  • Bottled water during drives/transfers
  • All government levies and taxes
  • International airfares and flights
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Travel insurance
  • Single room supplement
  • Tips and other expenses of personal nature
  • kenya eVisa (eTA)

The most Unforgettable Safari

Stanley Gichuki crafted the journey of dreams. Thanks to our incredible guide, Bonie whose fearless spirit turned every mile into magic.
The Sanks

Tim & Anouchka Sank

Australia

An Unforgettable Solo Adventure

The tour company did everything to be helpfull in picking up from the airport, taking us with their jeep to all the place we visited, and we had very nice game drives.
Mark Davis testimonial of our Kenya safaris

Goort Gelten

Netherlands

Honeymoon Paradise in Kenya

The trip completely exceeded our expectations, even despite it not being ‘peak season’ we were able to tick off Africa’s Big 5 on the very first game drive.
The Harris Testimonial

Cameron Mcdonald

UK

Budget-Friendly Safari Adventure

Budget-friendly safari with incredible wildlife sightings. Knowledgeable guides and comfortable accommodations. Highly satisfied!

Family-Safari-Review (1)

Théo Martin

France

A Luxury Safari Experience

Best safari experience ever! Saw the Big Five, learned about Maasai culture, and enjoyed delicious food. Amazing!

Jennifer Lee Testimonial

Jennifer Lee

Canada

Luxury Honeymoon in the Wild

Our Kenya safari was unforgettable! Expert guides, luxurious accommodations, and incredible wildlife sightings. Highly recommend!

Testimonial by David and Emily Johnson

David and Emily Johnson

United States

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