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Samburu gemsbok by Filiberto Strazzari

7 Day Samburu, Lake Nakuru & Masai Mara Safari in Kenya

Tour Length7 days
Priced from pps $2550 R48619 £2022 2365 A$3930 C$3467 NZ$4277 Full pricing info
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Summary of this Exclusive Small Group Camping Safari

  • Max. Group Size 6 Travellers
  • Starts & ends in Nairobi, Kenya
  • Accommodation Lodge & Camping Combo
  • Transport 4x4 Vehicle
  • Wildlife Big 5, Elephant, Leopards, Lions, Migration Safari (Seasonal) & More
  •  See Departure Dates

Quick Itinerary Overview

The first stop on our 7-day wildlife safari in Kenya is Samburu National Reserve in the north. Samburu has a permanent water supply resulting in spectacular bird life, including species endemic to this area of Kenya. Next, we travel to the Great Rift Valley Lake of Nakuru, famous for its impressive birdlife and diversity of wild animals, including black and white rhinos. From Lake Nakuru, we drive south via the beautiful Great Rift Valley to Kenya's premier game reserve - Masai Mara.

The Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the top safari destinations in Africa - home to an impressive abundance of wildlife, especially big cats. At certain times of the year, we will witness the Wildebeest Great Migration, one of the most spectacular wildlife displays on earth.

This private Samburu, Lake Nakuru & Masai Mara Safari in Kenya ends back in Nairobi.

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Itinerary for this Tour

Day 1: Nairobi to Samburu Game Reserve - Kenya

The 7-Day Samburu, Lake Nakuru & Masai Mara Safari starts with collection from your pre-tour hotel in Nairobi at 7:30 in the morning.

Your guide tells you more about the journey ahead before we set off. Leaving Nairobi we head north via the shoulder of Africa's second-largest mountain, Mount Kenya, making our way to the Samburu National Reserve. Arriving at our first lodge we have lunch and embark on our first wildlife adventure - an exciting afternoon game drive in Samburu.

We overnight at a lodge overlooking the bushveld inside Samburu National Reserve.

Day 2: Samburu National Reserve - Kenya

Day two is set aside for game viewing in Samburu National Reserve, exploring its open grasslands and diverse landscapes in search of the variety of wildlife found here.

Samburu hosts beautiful forests, springs, and rivers, offering stunning scenery. The game park is part of a lava plain that includes varied habitats, from thorn scrub, red dirt and dried river beds, to broken volcanic rock, steep hills, and rocky outcrops. This region of Kenya is home to the uncommon Grevy's zebra with huge fury ears, gerenuk antelope standing on hind legs to feed, Somali ostriches with distinct blue legs, and the shy Oryx. Elephants and crocodiles are guaranteed sightings and lions, hippos, and giraffes are also found in the reserve. The bird watching is excellent, with over 365 species, including numerous varieties of weaverbirds and the martial eagle. Leopard sightings are also a special feature here. The Samburu area is also home to interesting people with a rich heritage, making for a colorful cultural experience.

After a rewarding day of game viewing in the vast Samburu Reserve, we return to our lodge for dinner and a relaxing evening under the stars.

Day 3: Samburu to Lake Nakuru - Kenya

After breakfast we break up camp and hit the road again, game viewing on our way out of Samburu National Reserve. We travel south through Kenya to Lake Nakuru National Park, stopping for lunch en route. Arriving at Lake Nakuru Park we take a scenic afternoon game drive in this compact wildlife area.

This Kenyan game park has retained its reputation as an ornithologist's delight, with more than 400 species of bird found here. Bird species include the Great White Pelican, African Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Stork, Lesser and Greater Flamingo, and Long-crested Eagle.

The Lake Nakuru National Park surrounds the lake and was first gazetted to protect the rich bird life found here, later becoming a national park to provide sanctuary for endangered species such as the rhino. There are about 25 white and black rhinos, one of the largest concentrations in the country. Predators are also residents of this park while Rothschild’s giraffes have been translocated into the park for safety This small park (180 sq km) is also home to warthogs, baboons, waterbuck, buffaloes, reedbucks, zebras, and the occasional leopard.

This evening at our comfortable lodge in the national park we enjoy dinner and a relaxing evening after game spotting and bird watching around the lake.

Day 4: Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara - Kenya

Today we depart from the lodge after breakfast and travel south towards the famous Masai Mara Game Reserve, in southwest Kenya.

We drive through beautiful savannah grasslands and plains of the Great Rift Valley making our way to our next overnight accommodation, in a private conservancy near Masai Mara. Arriving at our luxury tented camp on the banks of a river, we settle in for a peaceful night under starry African skies.

Day 5: Masai Mara National Reserve - Kenya

The next two days are spent embarking on exhilarating game-viewing drives in Masai Mara.

On clear days, the Masai Mara National Reserve offers fantastic orange-tinged sunsets worth capturing on camera. The Mara reserve covers 1510km² of incredible wide-open landscapes and fertile riverine woodlands, following the meanders of the Mara and Talek rivers. One glimpse is enough to explain its appeal as an iconic savannah, with a mass of amazing wildlife.

An optional hot-air balloon safari can be arranged at an extra cost.

After our action-packed day of wildlife sightings on the scenic plains of Africa, we return to our tented camp for dinner. Fall asleep in the comfort of your tented room, listening to the sounds of nature.

Day 6: Masai Mara National Reserve - Kenya

Spend another full day exploring the spectacular Masai Mara Park. Wherever you go in the Mara Reserve you will see an abundance of wildlife, such as Masai giraffes, baboons, warthogs, bat-eared foxes, grey jackals, spotted hyenas, topis, impalas, hartebeests, wildebeests, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, and hippos. It is common to see lions either basking after a heavy meal or surveying the plains for their next meal. Cheetahs and leopards are harder to spot but are still reasonably common.

The ultimate wildlife action here is, without doubt, the annual wildebeest exodus in July and August when millions of these grass-eaters move north from the Serengeti in search of greener grass before turning south again in October. The Great Migration is one of the most awe-inspiring wildlife spectacles on earth!

We spend our final night on safari under star-studded skies at the tranquil camp in the wilderness near Masai Mara.

Day 7: Masai Mara to Nairobi - Kenya

Your last day on budget safari in Kenya kicks off with breakfast at our tented camp in the private Masai Mara Conservancy. Then it is time to leave the African bush behind and drive back to Nairobi.

This unforgettable Samburu, Masai Mara & Lake Nakuru Safari ends this afternoon upon arrival in Nairobi.

Masai Mara Safari Accommodation

Accommodation on this tour is at a luxury tented camp in a 30-acre private conservancy near Masai Mara Game Reserve. The camp is set on the banks of the Oloirigynyisho River, drawing elephants, wildebeest, zebra and other animals, which are regularly sighted. The tented camp overlooks the Oloolotikoshi Hills, lying 2,5 kms from the Ololaimutia gate to Masai Mara.

We stay in permanent, walk-in tents with beds. All tents have en-suite bathrooms, with flush toilets, washbasins and hot showers, and are fitted with mosquito nets. The luxury tents are tastefully decorated in rustic style, with linen provided. Each luxury tent has its own veranda where guests can sit back and enjoy the views.

Facilities include bar and lounge areas, a shop stocked with local products and a spacious restaurant designed like a traditional hut.

Samburu & Lake Nakuru Safari Accommodation

We stay at a lodge overlooking the surrounding wilderness in Samburu Reserve.

Stay at a comfortable lodge with leafy gardens, inside Lake Nakuru National Park. Accommodation is in en-suite rooms with views of the national park and lodge gardens. Facilities include two bars, a restaurant and a pool.

Kenya Safari Transport

This safari will be conducted in a custom-made 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof for game viewing. The 4x4 Land Cruisers are adapted for game viewing and fitted with refrigerators to keep your drinks cold out in the bush.

The maximum group size on this Kenya Safari is six people, to guarantee each person a window seat on game drives.

Wildebeest Great Migration Explained

Please note that the Wildebeest Great Migration is seasonal. As a natural wildlife phenomenon, it is fluid and unpredictable. For this reason, seeing the Great Migration cannot be guaranteed.

The wildebeest and other wild herbivores migrate between Masai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti in Tanzania. These herds move in a massive circular route covering some 1200 miles (1931km). It is a continuous movement of wildlife that can be seen in different areas at different times of the year. During certain phases of this annual trek the animals disperse or slow down, whilst at other times the migration picks up speed, with the herds becoming larger and denser. Not only does the Wildebeest Great Migration vary from place to place and season to season but the movement of these large wildlife herds varies from year to year.

Please talk to a travel expert from African Budget Safaris about seeing the Wildebeest Great Migration on your safari to find out more. Also, check out our detailed article about the Great Migration in Serengeti and Masai Mara.

Optional Extras and Excursions

For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.

  • Cultural Maasai tours
  • Masai Mara hot-air balloon trips

Child Policy

This tour does take children.

Children of all ages, travelling with accompanying parents or guardian, are accepted on this safari.

Please contact African Budget Safaris for further information.

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+Where does the tour go to?
+Optional Activities & Day Trips
For confirmed pricing on these optional items, please drop us an enquiry
  • Cultural Maasai tours
  • Masai Mara hot-air balloon trips
+Included in the Tour Price
  • Transport in a custom-made 4x4 Land Cruiser (guaranteed window seat per person)
  • Services of a professional English speaking guide
  • Game drives as per the itinerary
  • Game park entry fees and government taxes
  • Drive to Mara River (during Great Migration)
  • Lodge in Samburu & twin-share hotel rooms in Nakuru
  • Tented camp accommodation in Masai Mara
  • Three meals per day on safari
  • 1 litre of Mineral water per person per day
+Not Included in the Tour Price
  • Drinks and tips
  • Cultural visits to Maasai & Samburu villages
  • Personal items
  • Kenya Visas
  • Accommodation in Nairobi (pre- and post-tour)
  • Nairobi airport transfers
+Departure Dates

This tour departs daily with a minimum of 2 people.

Scheduled Tour Departures
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If you do not see departures listed for your dates, please do contact us for further info.

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