Overview
An 8-day luxury expedition from Samburu's arid north through the Laikipia Plateau to the iconic Masai Mara — Kenya's finest wildlife corridor.
This 8-day luxury safari traverses Kenya's most spectacular wildlife corridor, from the sun-baked plains of Samburu in the north to the verdant savannas of the Masai Mara in the southwest. The journey reveals Kenya's extraordinary ecological diversity and introduces you to wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. Samburu National Reserve is home to the 'Samburu Special Five' — Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, and the gerenuk, an otherworldly antelope that feeds standing on its hind legs. The Ewaso Nyiro River, the lifeline of this arid landscape, attracts dense congregations of elephants, crocodiles, and predators. From Samburu, you journey south to the Laikipia Plateau, a conservation success story where private ranches and community conservancies have created one of Kenya's highest concentrations of wildlife outside the traditional parks. Here, you track endangered black rhinos on foot, ride horses alongside giraffes, and enjoy the intimacy of a private conservancy with just a handful of fellow guests. The grand finale unfolds in the Masai Mara, Kenya's crown jewel, where lion prides rule the open grasslands and the Great Migration delivers its annual spectacle of life and death on an epic scale. Throughout the journey, you stay in handpicked luxury camps that embody the romance and adventure of a bygone safari era.
Package Highlights
Your Journey, Day by Day
Day 1
Arrival in Nairobi
Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and transfer to your boutique hotel in the leafy Karen suburb. Take the afternoon to rest after your journey, explore the hotel grounds, and prepare for the adventure ahead. A welcome dinner features Kenyan cuisine paired with local wines.
Overnight: The Karen Blixen Coffee Garden & CottagesMeals: DinnerPrivate airport transfer to KarenHotel check-in and relaxationOptional visit to the nearby Karen Blixen MuseumWelcome dinner and safari briefingDay 2
Nairobi to Samburu National Reserve
Drive north from Nairobi, crossing the equator and passing through the Laikipia foothills to reach Samburu National Reserve by lunchtime. This semi-arid landscape, carved by the Ewaso Nyiro River, is dramatically different from Kenya's southern parks. Your afternoon game drive introduces the Samburu Special Five and the elephants that wade through the river shallows.
Overnight: Saruni Samburu LodgeMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerMorning departure from Nairobi heading northEquator crossing photo stop at NanyukiScenic drive through Laikipia foothillsAfternoon game drive along the Ewaso Nyiro RiverSamburu Special Five spotting — Grevy's zebra and gerenukDay 3
Full Day in Samburu
Explore Samburu in depth with morning and afternoon game drives. The morning takes you upstream along the river, where breeding herds of elephants cross in the dawn light and leopards emerge from their rocky lairs. The afternoon focuses on the open plains where cheetahs hunt and reticulated giraffes browse the tops of acacia trees. A visit to a Samburu community introduces the culture of these semi-nomadic pastoralists.
Overnight: Saruni Samburu LodgeMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDawn river-edge game drive — elephants and leopardsReticulated giraffe and Beisa oryx observationMidday relaxation at the lodge infinity poolAfternoon plains game drive — cheetah and lionSamburu community cultural visitDay 4
Samburu to Laikipia Plateau
Depart Samburu and drive south to the Laikipia Plateau, a patchwork of private conservancies and community ranches that has become one of Kenya's most important wildlife areas. Your intimate lodge sits on a vast private ranch where black and white rhinos roam freely. An afternoon bush walk with an armed guide brings you face-to-face with the wilderness at ground level.
Overnight: Lewa Safari Camp, LaikipiaMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerMorning departure from SamburuScenic drive across the Laikipia PlateauLodge check-in and orientationAfternoon guided bush walk — rhino trackingSundowner on a scenic hilltop viewpointDay 5
Full Day on the Laikipia Plateau
Dedicate the day to Laikipia's unique conservation landscape. Morning and afternoon game drives reveal large herds of elephants, packs of wild dogs, and the endangered Grevy's zebra. An optional horse ride alongside giraffes and zebras offers a truly magical perspective. The evening brings a night drive, revealing nocturnal treasures like aardvarks, porcupines, and hunting leopards.
Overnight: Lewa Safari Camp, LaikipiaMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerMorning game drive — elephants and wild dogsOptional horse riding alongside zebras and giraffesVisit to a community conservation projectAfternoon game drive for Grevy's zebraNight drive — nocturnal species spotlightDay 6
Laikipia to Masai Mara
Fly from Laikipia's Nanyuki airstrip to the Masai Mara, landing on a bush strip amid the golden grasslands. Transfer to your luxury tented camp in a private conservancy, where the Mara's legendary wildlife is on display from the moment you arrive. An afternoon game drive reveals why the Mara is considered Africa's greatest wildlife arena.
Overnight: Angama Mara, Masai MaraMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerMorning at leisure or optional bush walk at LaikipiaFlight from Nanyuki to the Masai MaraAerial views of the Great Rift ValleyAfternoon game drive — lion prides and elephant herdsSunset at the camp's infinity-edge viewpointDay 7
Full Day in the Masai Mara
A full day exploring the Masai Mara's vast ecosystem. Your guide navigates the open savannas, riverine forests, and rocky outcrops in search of the Mara's legendary big cats. Watch cheetahs sprint, lions stalk, and leopards lounge. If the migration is in residence, witness the spectacle of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest on the move. A Maasai cultural visit rounds out the day.
Overnight: Angama Mara, Masai MaraMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDawn game drive — big cat hunting behaviorMigration herd viewing (seasonal)Bush picnic lunch in a scenic kopjeAfternoon game drive with golden-hour photographyMaasai warrior dance and cultural exchangeDay 8
Masai Mara to Nairobi — Departure
Enjoy an optional early morning game drive or a relaxed breakfast at camp before flying back to Nairobi's Wilson Airport. Transfer across the city to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your international departure, or extend your stay. Your epic Kenya traverse — from the arid north to the lush Mara — concludes with an extraordinary collection of memories.
Overnight: N/A — departure dayMeals: Breakfast, LunchOptional dawn game drive or bush breakfastFlight from Masai Mara to Nairobi Wilson AirportTransfer to JKIA for international connectionsOptional Nairobi city tour if time permits
What's Included
Included
- All airport and inter-park transfers
- All park and conservancy fees
- Full-board luxury tented camp accommodation
- Professional English-speaking naturalist guide
- 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- All game drives as per itinerary
- Guided bush walk in Laikipia
- Night game drive in Mara conservancy
- Maasai cultural visit
- Drinking water and soft drinks during activities
- Flying Doctor emergency evacuation insurance
- Laundry service at all camps
Not Included
- International and domestic flights
- Kenya e-Visa
- Comprehensive travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Premium wines and spirits
- Optional horse riding in Laikipia ($150 pp)
- Optional hot air balloon safari in the Mara
- Personal expenses
Where to Stay
TENTED_CAMPMara River Tented Camp
Masai Mara National Reserve
An exclusive tented camp on the banks of the Mara River, positioned for front-row seats to the Great Migration river crossings.
from $600 / night
LUXURY_LODGEAmboseli Kilimanjaro Lodge
Amboseli National Park
A lodge with iconic Kilimanjaro views and direct access to Amboseli's legendary elephant herds.
from $350 / night
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