Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Samburu - Meru & the North - The Masai Mara
100% customisable for you
Pack your binoculars and camera, your Kenya adventure kicks off today. Head to the airport, fast-track through security and relax in the airport lounge before you direct flight to Nairobi, a journey that takes just under nine hours.
Touching down in the Kenyan capital this evening, you'll be privately transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay. Hit the hay after a tiring day of travel, before the action begins tomorrow…
Rise bright and early this morning to board your short flight north to Samburu National Reserve, the first stop of your trip. On arrival at the airstrip, you'll be greeted by a friendly local guide and taken directly to your luxurious lodge.
After settling in, head out for an afternoon game drive in search of resident elephants, waterbucks, giraffes and impalas. See if you can also spot the famous 'Samburu Five': gerenuks, reticulated giraffes, Somali ostriches, Grevy's zebras and beisa oryx. Stop for sundowners in a beautiful setting, before heading back to camp for a delicious dinner, served in the dining area or in the comfort of your lodge. How’s that for day one?
Start the day early to make the most of cool temperatures and catch the animals when they’re at their most active. Hop into a 4x4 with one of your camp's expert guides, who’ll regale you with stories about the local area and its wildlife species. Elephants, lions and leopards are regularly spotted here, and with no time restrictions or other 4x4s to worry about, you'll have plenty of opportunities to observe them in action. While out in the wild, enjoy a hearty bush breakfast before returning to camp.
For the rest of the day, bask in the beautiful natural surroundings, enjoy some chill-out time and tuck into a light lunch at the lodge. Come evening, head back out into the bush, where a mouthwatering dinner will be laid out for you to enjoy beneath the starry sky. In front of the flickering firelight, your Samburu warrior guides will treat you to some traditional dancing.
After breakfast, set off with your trusty guide to your next destination in Samburu, around a two-hour drive away. Settle into your picturesque camp and see if you can spot any wandering wildlife nearby.
Tuck into a tasty lunch in the shade, before it's time for the main event: tracking the endangered black rhino in a rhino sanctuary. As part of intense efforts to recover numbers of this much-loved species, conservationists have tagged resettled rhinos with great success here. With rangers exchanging live updates on the animals’ locations, you'll be driven up close to the colossal creatures before tracking them on foot, all under the watchful eye of your guide and ranger, of course.
After your thrilling rhino encounter, head back to camp and compare snaps from your camera rolls while enjoying a delicious bush supper.
Today, set off on an early game drive to visit the extraordinary Fifty Wells, or Kisima Hamsini. Here, witness a Samburu tradition, where warriors form a human chain and chant as they carry water up from deep wells, giving the pools the nickname of the ‘Singing Wells’. These ancient wells were dug by local herdsmen to provide water for their cattle, and this fascinating ritual remains an important part of Samburu culture.
Back at camp, munch on another fine lunch in the shade of swaying palm trees, maybe with local elephants for company. On this afternoon’s agenda?
Either head back out into the rhino sanctuary for another exhilarating tracking experience, or visit the nearby Reteti Elephant Orphanage, the world’s first community-owned African elephant sanctuary (you won’t regret it).
In the evening, enjoy a final feast under the stars. What better way to end your rhino safari adventure?
This morning, hop on a short flight to a private Mara conservancy just northwest of the Masai Mara. On arrival, you'll be met by your local guide and driven by 4x4 to your next camp, set among the sweeping plains of the Mara. See if you can spot any grazing animals as you enjoy a first taste of this spectacular wildlife area en route.
After settling into your new scenic surrounds, head out on an afternoon game drive in search of an incredible array of game, including elephants, buffalo and lions. You can also see herds of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle, which are all famed for their annual migration.
All that wildlife viewing is thirsty work, so enjoy a well-earned stop for sundowners while spying on the emerging nighttime animals.
Back at camp, a gourmet dinner awaits in the charming dining room. Swap stories with fellow safari-goers and savour a nightcap around the fire before turning in for the night.
To maximise your chances of seeing the very best of Africa's wildlife, an early start is essential (sorry, night-owls). Made a little sweeter with a hot cup of tea or coffee and a bite to eat, set off with your expert guide to explore the bush. Whether you see scuttling warthogs rounding up their brood or witness a thrilling lion hunt and kill, every game drive is different. Who knows what you’ll see today?
Your bellies will likely be grumbling after all that wildlife watching, so return to camp for a hearty brunch and a relaxing afternoon.
Come dusk, it’s time for another exciting game drive. Like in the early morning, this is when animals are at their most active, and your knowledgeable guide will know the best routes for seeing as much as possible. Full of tales from your latest wildlife encounters, head back to camp for another exquisite supper.
This morning, leave the confines of your safari vehicle for an immersive walking safari with your trusty guide (don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe). With no engine noise, you'll have a better chance of picking up on bush clues, from bird calls to footprints, allowing you to track various animals, and see species you'd never get close to in a 4x4. This exhilarating experience might just be the highlight of your trip.
Return to camp for a well-earned breakfast and put your feet up for the rest of the day, before one last game drive later this afternoon. Can you tick off any new species? Back at camp, tuck into a final delicious dinner and toast to your Kenyan adventure.
Your trip might be coming to an end today, but the animal action isn’t over yet. With the option of one last bush walk or game drive this morning, you’re bound to make a few more wonderful wildlife memories.
Afterwards, you'll be driven to the airstrip for a short flight to a domestic airport, where you'll be met for a private transfer to Nairobi's international airport.
Board your eight-and-a-half-hour overnight flight back to the UK, arriving early the next morning ready to regale friends and family with tales from your bush adventures.
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
