Overview
This is Kenya at its most exclusive. Light aircraft whisk you between some of the country’s finest camps, so no time is lost on the road. After a night in a Karen manor hotel, fly north to Samburu for riverside luxury and rare northern species, then to a private conservancy in Laikipia for walking, night drives and rhino.
The finale is four nights in a Maasai Mara conservancy, where vehicle numbers are limited and your guide can go off-road. A sunrise hot-air balloon flight with champagne breakfast is included.
Route
Highlights
- Scheduled light-aircraft flights between camps
- Luxury riverside camp in Samburu
- Private conservancy walking and night drives
- Four nights in a Maasai Mara conservancy
- Hot-air balloon flight included
Activities
- Nairobi National Park game drive
- Elephant orphanage visit
- Giraffe Centre
- Game drives
- Samburu village visit
- Riverside sundowners
- Game drives and night drives
- Walking safaris
- Rhino conservation visit
Day-by-day itinerary
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Day 1:
Karibu Nairobi
NairobiArrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where our team will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, relax in the gardens or enjoy dinner at one of the city's excellent restaurants. Your guide will brief you on the journey ahead.
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Day 2:
North to Samburu
SamburuAfter breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your flight from Nairobi to Samburu. After lunch overlooking the Ewaso Nyiro River, head out to look for reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra and elephants coming to drink.
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Day 3:
Samburu Special Five
SamburuSpend the day tracking the northern specials — gerenuk standing on their hind legs to browse, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich — and watching for leopard in the riverine forest. In the afternoon, visit a Samburu community to learn about their pastoral way of life.
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Day 4:
Laikipia & Ol Pejeta
LaikipiaAfter breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your flight from Samburu to Laikipia. After lunch, head out into Ol Pejeta Conservancy to look for black and white rhino and visit the enclosure of the last northern white rhinos, learning how conservationists are working to save the species.
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Day 5:
Conservancy Adventures
LaikipiaChoose from a morning walking safari, a camel ride or a game drive across the conservancy, then return to camp for lunch. After an afternoon drive, set out after dark on a night drive to look for aardvark, hyena and leopard.
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Day 6:
Into the Maasai Mara
Maasai MaraAfter breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your flight from Laikipia to Maasai Mara. After a rest, set out on your first afternoon game drive across the open plains, looking for lion prides, grazing herds of topi and zebra, and elephant families moving towards the river as the light turns golden.
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Day 7:
Full Day in the Maasai Mara
Maasai MaraLeave early, when the predators are most active, with a packed breakfast in the vehicle. Your guide will follow the latest news on the radio — perhaps a cheetah hunting on the short-grass plains or a leopard in the riverine forest. Return to camp for lunch and a rest before an afternoon drive into a different area of the reserve.
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Day 8:
Mara River Day
Maasai MaraSpend a full day exploring towards the Mara River with a picnic lunch. In migration season you may wait near a crossing point as herds of wildebeest gather on the banks; at other times of year the river is a reliable place for hippos, huge Nile crocodiles and big herds of buffalo.
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Day 9:
Sunrise Balloon Option & Maasai Visit
Maasai MaraAn optional hot-air balloon flight lifts off at dawn for an hour over the plains, landing for a champagne bush breakfast. Later, visit a nearby Maasai manyatta with a community guide to learn about traditional homesteads, cattle and beadwork, before a final evening drive.
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Day 10:
Maasai Mara to Nairobi
Maasai MaraEnjoy a final early-morning activity and breakfast, then transfer to the airstrip for your flight to Nairobi. You will be met on arrival and transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward journey, or to a day room on request.
Meals: B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner.
Accommodation
This itinerary is priced with luxury accommodation. Every property is chosen for its location, guiding and service; final properties are confirmed at booking and we can upgrade or adjust any night.
- NairobiBoutique manor hotel in Karen1 night
- SamburuLuxury riverside camp beneath doum palms2 nights
- LaikipiaExclusive-use luxury camp in a private conservancy2 nights
- Maasai MaraLuxury tented camp in a private conservancy bordering the reserve4 nights
Meals: Full board on safari; breakfast and dinner in cities and at the beach
What's included
Included
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof and a professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Accommodation as listed (or similar, subject to availability)
- Meals as listed in the day-by-day itinerary
- All national park, reserve and conservation fees
- Arrival and departure airport transfers
- Bottled drinking water during the safari
- All government taxes and levies
- 24-hour in-country support from our Nairobi office
- Domestic and light-aircraft flights as described in the itinerary
- Maasai Mara hot-air balloon flight with champagne breakfast
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Comprehensive travel insurance (required)
- Tips and gratuities for guides and lodge staff
- Drinks other than drinking water, unless stated
- Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls and souvenirs
Travel information
Best time to travel
July to October for the Great Migration and river crossings; January to March for dry, quieter game viewing with good predator action. April and May are wetter but green, peaceful and good value.
What to pack
- Neutral-coloured, lightweight clothing (khaki, olive, beige)
- A warm fleece or jacket for early mornings and evenings
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sun hat, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen
- Binoculars and a camera with spare batteries and memory cards
- Insect repellent and personal medication
- Soft-sided duffel bag — light aircraft allow around 15 kg per person
Experiences on this safari
Frequently asked questions
Is this a private safari?
Yes. This itinerary runs privately for your own group, with your own vehicle and guide. It can start on any date, and we can adjust the route, pace and accommodation to suit you.
What does the price include?
The guide price from USD 9,800 per person is based on two people sharing luxury accommodation in the low season. It includes accommodation, the meals and activities listed, park fees and transfers. Prices vary by season and group size; we confirm an exact quote when you enquire.
Is there a luggage limit on the flights?
Yes. Light aircraft and some domestic flights allow around 15 kg per person including hand luggage, packed in soft-sided bags. We can store extra luggage for you.
When can I see a river crossing?
Crossings most often happen between late July and early October, but the herds move with the rain, so no date can be guaranteed. Spending at least three nights in the Mara gives you the best chance.
Gallery
Open image: Zebra in Nairobi National Park
Open image: Masai giraffe in the Serengeti
Open image: Elephant calf in the Maasai Mara
Open image: Elephant herd in Samburu National Reserve, northern Kenya
Open image: Dry-country landscape of Samburu National Reserve
Open image: African elephants in the Maasai Mara
Open image: Ol Pejeta Conservancy on the Laikipia Plateau
Open image: The peaks of Mount Kenya: Batian, Nelion and Point LenanaEnquire about this safari
Every date is available on request. Tell us when you would like to travel and we will send a tailored quote — adjustments welcome.
