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Two rhinoceroses grazing in grassland beneath misty hills.

Luxury safari · Kenya

8-Day Samburu, Ol Pejeta & Maasai Mara Luxury Safari

Most Kenyan itineraries stay south. This one goes north first, to Samburu, where the country is dry, rocky and stocked with species you will not see in the Mara at all — reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and the blue-necked Somali ostrich. From there it drops to Ol Pejeta, the most significant rhino conservancy in East Africa, before finishing with three nights in the Mara. The contrast between the three is the point of the trip.

  • 8 days
  • Kenya
  • Luxury safari
  • Quoted to your dates
Get a free quoteAsk on WhatsApp
4.9/5 from 31 traveller reviews on SafariBookings (opens in a new tab)

The journey

A closer look at your trip.

Most Kenyan itineraries stay south. This one goes north first, to Samburu, where the country is dry, rocky and stocked with species you will not see in the Mara at all — reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and the blue-necked Somali ostrich. From there it drops to Ol Pejeta, the most significant rhino conservancy in East Africa, before finishing with three nights in the Mara. The contrast between the three is the point of the trip.

NairobiSamburuOl PejetaMaasai Mara
Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Countries
Kenya
Trip style
Luxury safari
Transport
4x4 Land Cruiser
Start
Nairobi
End
Nairobi
Price
On Request

Trip highlights

The places that shape this journey.

  • 01

    Samburu's northern specials — Grevy's zebra, gerenuk, reticulated giraffe and oryx

  • 02

    Black and white rhino at Ol Pejeta, and the chimpanzee sanctuary

  • 03

    Three nights in the Maasai Mara rather than two

  • 04

    Elephant along the Ewaso Ng'iro river

  • 05

    Premium tented camps throughout

Your route

Across Kenya.

Nairobi → Samburu → Ol Pejeta → Maasai Mara → Nairobi

We will confirm the day-by-day sequence and overnight stops in your detailed proposal.

KENYATANZANIANairobiSamburuMaasai Mara

Schematic route · See the day-by-day programme for travel details.

Day by day

8 days in East Africa.

  1. Day 1

    Nairobi to Samburu

    Drive north from Nairobi, skirting the western flank of Mount Kenya and dropping into progressively drier country as the highlands fall away — the change in vegetation over a few hours is dramatic. Arrive at Samburu National Reserve for lunch, then an afternoon game drive in a 4x4 Land Cruiser along the Ewaso Ng'iro, the river that makes the reserve possible. Almost everything here concentrates on that green ribbon in the middle of otherwise arid country. Dinner and overnight at camp.

    Overnight
    Elephant Bedroom Camp, Samburu
    Meals
    Lunch and dinner

  2. Day 2

    A full day in Samburu

    Samburu's appeal is that its species list is genuinely different. The so-called Samburu Special Five — reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich — are all dry-country specialists found here and almost nowhere else on a standard Kenyan circuit. Gerenuk in particular are worth watching: they stand on their hind legs to browse at heights no other antelope reaches. Elephant use the river throughout the day, and leopard are seen along the doum palms with reasonable regularity. Full day out with a picnic lunch.

    Overnight
    Elephant Bedroom Camp, Samburu
    Meals
    Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

  3. Day 3

    Samburu to Ol Pejeta Conservancy

    A morning game drive, then the drive south-west to the Laikipia plateau and into Ol Pejeta, arriving for lunch. Ol Pejeta is a working conservancy rather than a national park, which changes what is possible — the afternoon game drive can go off the main tracks, and the guiding tends to be more detailed because the area is smaller and intensively monitored. It carries the largest black rhino population in East Africa alongside southern white rhino. Dinner and overnight.

    Overnight
    Sweetwaters Serena Camp, Ol Pejeta
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  4. Day 4

    A full day at Ol Pejeta

    A full day lets you take in what makes the conservancy unusual as well as the game itself. The Sweetwaters chimpanzee sanctuary houses rescued chimpanzees from central Africa — they are not native to Kenya, and the sanctuary is open about that. Ol Pejeta also runs a well-regarded canine anti-poaching unit and, for those who want it, the endangered species enclosure. Beyond the conservation work, the plains hold lion, elephant, buffalo and very good numbers of plains game with Mount Kenya on the eastern horizon on a clear day.

    Overnight
    Sweetwaters Serena Camp, Ol Pejeta
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    Two rhinoceroses grazing in grassland beneath misty hills.
    Ol Pejeta holds the largest black rhino population in East Africa.

  5. Day 5

    Ol Pejeta to the Maasai Mara

    The longest transfer of the trip, south across the equator and down the Rift Valley to the Mara — a full day's drive, though a scheduled flight can replace it and we will quote that if you prefer. Arrive at camp in the afternoon and take an orientation game drive before dark. The shift in landscape from Laikipia's scrub to the Mara's open grassland is immediate and marks the start of the last section of the journey. Dinner and overnight.

    Overnight
    Governors' Camp, Maasai Mara
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  6. Day 6

    A full day in the Maasai Mara

    The Mara holds the highest density of large predators in Kenya, and a full day with a picnic lunch is what it takes to use that properly — following a pride through the morning rather than turning back for a fixed lunch. Along the Mara and Talek rivers there are very large crocodile and resident hippo pods; out on the plains, cheetah favour the open ground and termite mounds for a vantage point. Between roughly July and October the migration herds are usually somewhere in the reserve, although their position varies with the rain.

    Overnight
    Governors' Camp, Maasai Mara
    Meals
    Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner
    Elephants crossing a hillside in orange evening light.
    Conservancy land bordering the reserve carries far fewer vehicles.

  7. Day 7

    The Maasai Mara at your own pace

    A second full day, which is what separates this itinerary from a standard circuit. A sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the plains can be arranged at extra cost, finishing with breakfast on the ground. Otherwise the day is yours to use on whatever you have not yet found, or to spend with a Maasai community from the group ranches bordering the reserve — arranged directly rather than as a staged performance. Evening game drive and overnight at camp.

    Overnight
    Governors' Camp, Maasai Mara
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  8. Day 8

    Maasai Mara to Nairobi

    A last early game drive while the light is low, then breakfast at camp and either the road transfer to Nairobi through Narok, arriving mid-afternoon, or a short scheduled flight to Wilson Airport if you would rather not spend the day driving. Your driver can take you to your hotel or to Jomo Kenyatta International for an evening departure.

    Meals
    Breakfast

Where you stay

Accommodation for your journey.

Your written proposal will name the accommodation, room or tent arrangements and meal plan for each night. Share your preferences so we can confirm suitable available options.

Suggested accommodation

Suggested accommodation is subject to availability. A property of a similar standard may be proposed where necessary.

What is included

Your written quotation itemises every one of these for your dates, so you can compare it line by line with any other:

  • Park, reserve and conservancy entry fees
  • Accommodation for each night, named
  • Meals on each day
  • Game drives in the 4x4 Land Cruiser, with its seating
  • Driver-guide and fuel
  • Airport or hotel pick-up and drop-off
  • Whether the vehicle is private or shared

What to allow for

Most travellers also budget separately for the items below. Your quotation confirms which apply to this trip.

  • International flights
  • Kenya eTA and any Tanzania visa
  • Travel and medical insurance (Tanzania now requires inbound cover)
  • Optional activities such as a balloon flight
  • Drinks and tips for guides and camp staff
How safari prices and park fees work →

When to travel

Seasonal considerations.

Game viewing across Kenya is at its most reliable in the dry months, roughly June to October and again in January and February, when the grass is shorter and animals concentrate around permanent water. The long rains fall around April and May and the short rains in November; both bring green country, fewer vehicles and lower rates, at the cost of some unpredictability on the roads. There is no month in which this journey cannot run.

Read the full season guide →

Who it suits

Is this the right journey?

  • Travellers who want more than a sampler: enough days to settle into each area rather than moving on every morning.
  • Parties who want the vehicle and the pace to themselves; this journey is arranged privately.

Pricing

Plan with the details in view.

On Request

This journey is quoted to your dates, party size and chosen properties.

This itinerary can also be arranged privately in a 4x4 Land Cruiser on request. A private departure is quoted separately and confirmed with your dates and group size.

Request a quotation

Free quotation

Get a quote for this trip.

Tell us when and how many. We will reply with a written quotation for the 8-Day Samburu, Ol Pejeta & Maasai Mara Luxury Safari, and adjust the pace, parks or accommodation if you would like something different.

4.9/5 from 31 traveller reviews on SafariBookings (opens in a new tab)
  1. 01

    Tell us your dates

    Send the quick form or a WhatsApp message. It is free and commits you to nothing.

  2. 02

    Get a written quotation

    Our Nairobi team checks availability and sends a quotation stating the route, accommodation and exactly what is and is not included.

  3. 03

    Adjust it until it fits

    Change the pace, the style of accommodation or the parks. Ask anything before you decide.

  4. 04

    Book when you are ready

    Nothing is reserved or charged until you accept the quotation in writing.

Rather talk it through? Ask on WhatsApp

Free and without obligation. Nothing is booked or charged until you accept a written quotation.

Your questions, answered.

Can we fly between Ol Pejeta and the Maasai Mara?

Yes. The road transfer is a long day, and scheduled flights via Nairobi's Wilson Airport are a common alternative. We will quote both so you can compare.

Are the chimpanzees at Ol Pejeta wild?

No, and the conservancy is clear about it. Chimpanzees are not native to Kenya. The Sweetwaters sanctuary cares for individuals rescued from the illegal trade in central and west Africa.

How likely are we to see rhino?

Ol Pejeta is among the best places in East Africa for both black and white rhino, but nothing is guaranteed with wild animals on a conservancy of that size. Sightings are common rather than certain.

Is the named property guaranteed?

No. Properties are suggested for fit and current operation, and are confirmed on your written quotation. If a camp is full for your dates we will propose a comparable one rather than substitute something lesser without telling you.

Before you choose

Understand the places, stays and practical details.

Read the destination guides alongside this itinerary to compare access, wildlife habitat and accommodation position. The named comfort option and written quotation confirm the actual overnight stays, meals and activities.

Places on this route

Useful preparation

Keep exploring

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Kenya is one of the few countries where you can finish a serious safari and be swimming in the Indian Ocean the same afternoon. This journey takes the three parks that best justify the time — the Mara for predators, Nakuru for rhino and birds, Amboseli for elephants and the mountain — and then flies to Diani for three nights on the coast. The beach is not an afterthought here; it is three genuine nights, which is what it takes to actually unwind after six days of early starts.

Quoted to your dates

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