11-Day Grand Kenya Safari: Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Naivasha, Amboseli and Tsavo

The private safari leaves Nairobi for Samburu National Reserve. Arrival is followed by an afternoon game drive along the Ewaso Nyiro River corridor, introducing the reserve’s riverine woodland and semi-arid plains.

The guide searches for wildlife associated with these northern habitats, including the Samburu Special Five, and pauses at animals encountered along the viewing circuit. The drive returns to the safari base for the first of two Samburu nights.

Morning and afternoon game drives provide a full day in Samburu. The morning outing follows the Ewaso Nyiro River and neighbouring woodland, with time to observe wildlife using the river corridor.

The afternoon circuit explores further areas of the reserve’s open plains and thornbush. The guide searches for reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich alongside other wildlife encountered during the drive, before the second Samburu overnight.

The safari leaves Samburu and continues to Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The destination programme combines game viewing with the included northern white rhino visit and Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary visit.

The conservation visits introduce the protection of the rhinos and the care of rescued chimpanzees, using the conservancy’s booked visitor arrangements. The game-drive circuit adds time to observe wildlife in Ol Pejeta’s grassland and woodland habitats before the single conservancy overnight.

The party leaves Ol Pejeta for Lake Naivasha, changing from the Laikipia wildlife landscape to the Rift Valley’s freshwater lake setting. The afternoon programme begins with the included boat ride on the lake.

The boat guide leads the outing along the lake’s viewing areas before the included Crescent Island walk. Time on foot provides a different perspective on the sanctuary’s open wildlife landscape, followed by the Naivasha overnight before continuing to Amboseli.

The safari leaves Lake Naivasha for Amboseli National Park. After arrival, the scheduled afternoon game drive introduces the park’s open plains, wetland margins and dried lakebed landscape.

The guide follows the viewing circuit for elephant observation and other wildlife encountered along the route. Views towards Mount Kilimanjaro depend on visibility; the outing returns to the safari base for the first of two Amboseli nights.

A full day of morning and afternoon game drives explores Amboseli’s plains and wetland viewing areas. The morning outing provides time to observe elephant behaviour, other wildlife and waterbirds around the marshes.

The scheduled Observation Hill stop adds a panoramic view of the park. The afternoon circuit continues through the grassland and wetland habitats, with photography opportunities shaped by the wildlife and light present, before returning for the second Amboseli overnight.

The party leaves Amboseli and continues to Tsavo West National Park. The afternoon programme combines vehicle-based wildlife viewing with the included Mzima Springs visit.

At the springs, the party follows the designated visitor route to observe the pools and their surrounding habitat. The game-drive circuit introduces Tsavo West’s volcanic landscape before the first of two nights in the park area.

Morning and afternoon game drives provide a full day in Tsavo West. The programme explores the Ngulia Hills landscape and includes the scheduled Poacher’s Lookout viewpoint for a broader view of the surrounding wilderness.

The afternoon outing continues through the Chaimu area’s volcanic scenery and the Tsavo River’s neighbouring wildlife habitats. The guide pauses at animals and birds encountered along the park circuits before the return to the same safari base.

The safari leaves Tsavo West and continues to Tsavo East National Park. Arrival is followed by an afternoon game drive through the park’s open savannah and red-earth wildlife landscape.

The guide follows the viewing circuit and stops at animals encountered on the plains, with views towards the Yatta Plateau forming part of the wider setting. The outing returns to the Tsavo East base for the first of two nights.

The full Tsavo East day combines morning and afternoon game drives across the park’s open plains and Galana River viewing areas. The scheduled Lugard Falls stop adds time to observe the river’s rapids and rock formations.

The afternoon drive continues through the savannah for further wildlife observation and photography. The guide follows the animals encountered along the circuit before the second and final Tsavo East overnight.

The party checks out after the final Tsavo East night and begins the road journey back to Nairobi. No additional game drive is scheduled on this departure day.

The private vehicle completes the transfer to the agreed Nairobi drop-off point. This return stage closes the eleven-day safari after Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Naivasha, Amboseli and the two Tsavo parks.