Spend 6 days and 5 nights on a private Kenya safari through Meru, Ol Pejeta, Samburu.
Overnight plan: 2 nights in Meru, 2 nights in Ol Pejeta, 1 night in Samburu. The daily itinerary below sets out the travel stages and scheduled activities.
Your safari arrangements are private to your party. The selected accommodation, vehicle, travel dates and party determine the applicable offer. Wildlife sightings and any migration crossings depend on natural conditions; they cannot be guaranteed.
At Ol Pejeta, the northern white rhino visit and chimpanzee sanctuary visit are included.
Explore Meru National Park, the Born Free homeland of Elsa the lioness
Track black rhinos and visit the last northern white rhinos at Ol Pejeta
Samburu Special Five sightings including Grevy's zebra and gerenuk
Three distinct northern Kenya ecosystems on a single road safari
Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary visit at Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Remote and uncrowded Meru wilderness with diverse riverine habitats
Ewaso Nyiro River game drives with elephants, crocodiles, and leopards
Rich birdwatching across Meru, Ol Pejeta, and Samburu ecosystems
Born Free heritage sites and conservation history of Joy Adamson
Itinerary
Six days connect Meru's Born Free heritage, Ol Pejeta's conservation experiences and Samburu's northern wildlife. Two Meru nights and two Ol Pejeta nights are followed by a Samburu night. The included northern white rhino and chimpanzee visits complement the game drives, with a final morning Samburu outing before the return to Nairobi.
Day 01 :
Nairobi to Meru National Park
The private safari travels from Nairobi through the eastern highlands towards Meru National Park. The guide introduces the Born Free story associated with the Adamsons and Elsa as the landscape changes from highland farms to the park’s drier country. An arrival-afternoon game drive explores Meru’s open grassland and the Rojewero River area, looking for the wildlife present across the riverine and palm-dotted habitats. The outing returns to the Meru base for the first of two nights.
10 hours
Lunch + Dinner
Day 02 :
Full Day Meru National Park
Morning and afternoon game drives provide a full day in Meru National Park. The programme explores river and grassland habitats and includes the historical areas associated with the Adamsons and Elsa’s return to the wild. The guide connects the Born Free heritage with the landscape visited while searching for the mammals and birds present along the route. The afternoon continues through further permitted viewing areas before the return to the Meru base for the second night.
12 hours
Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
Day 03 :
Meru to Ol Pejeta Conservancy
The safari leaves Meru and travels by road towards Ol Pejeta Conservancy through the Mount Kenya highland region. An arrival-afternoon game drive introduces the conservancy’s grassland and woodland habitats. The guide searches for rhinos and other wildlife while explaining the conservation work that distinguishes Ol Pejeta. The drive follows normal permitted viewing routes; it does not promise access to monitoring operations or private tracking data. The day ends at the Ol Pejeta base for the first of two nights.
9 hours
Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
Day 04 :
Ol Pejeta Conservation Drives
The Ol Pejeta day combines game viewing with the included northern white rhino visit and Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary. These experiences introduce the protection and care of the animals and the conservation work carried out at the conservancy. Further drives explore the highland grassland and wooded habitats, following wildlife movements and viewing opportunities. An optional night game drive is a separate conservancy experience rather than part of the included daytime viewing programme. The safari returns to the Ol Pejeta base for the second night.
12 hours
Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
Day 05 :
Ol Pejeta to Samburu National Reserve
The private road journey continues north from Ol Pejeta to Samburu National Reserve. The arrival-afternoon game drive introduces the dry-country landscape around the Ewaso Nyiro River. The guide searches for Samburu’s northern species, including reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich, alongside other animals encountered along the permitted route. The riverine vegetation and open scrubland provide different viewing habitats. The programme returns to the Samburu base for the overnight stay.
9 hours
Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
Day 06 :
Samburu to Nairobi
A final morning game drive explores Samburu before departure. The guide follows the wildlife viewing opportunities along the Ewaso Nyiro River and nearby habitats, building on the observations made on arrival. The outing returns to the safari base for checkout before the private road journey back to Nairobi. The agreed Nairobi drop-off completes the six-day programme through Meru, Ol Pejeta and Samburu without adding a further scheduled attraction on the return journey.
8 hours
Breakfast
Cost Details
What's Included
Return road transport Nairobi to Meru, Meru to Ol Pejeta, Ol Pejeta to Samburu, Samburu to Nairobi
All game drives in a 4x4 safari vehicle
Professional English-speaking safari guide throughout
Five nights full board accommodation at lodges and camp
Meru National Park entry fees
Ol Pejeta Conservancy entry and conservation fees
Northern white rhino enclosure visit
Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary guided tour
Samburu National Reserve entry fees
Drinking water during game drives
What's Not Included
International flights
Kenya electronic travel authorisation (eTA) fees, where applicable
Travel and medical insurance
Night game drive at Ol Pejeta
Guided bush walk at Ol Pejeta
Tips and gratuities for guide and lodge staff
Alcoholic and premium beverages
Personal expenses such as laundry and souvenirs
FAQs
What is the Born Free connection to Meru National Park
Meru National Park combines wildlife habitats and a rhino sanctuary with the Born Free history of George and Joy Adamson and Elsa the lioness.
Is Meru National Park crowded
Visitor numbers vary by date, property and route within each park. A large reserve can have busy wildlife-viewing areas, while a smaller property can limit access. There is no fixed crowd comparison that applies to every safari day or guarantees solitude.
Can I combine Meru, Ol Pejeta, and Samburu in 6 days by road
Ol Pejeta combines black and white rhino conservation with the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary and managed conservation experiences. Rhino populations change and require a dated conservancy count. General game drives and separately booked specialist encounters have different access arrangements; the booked programme identifies the included experience.
What are the Samburu Special Five
The Samburu Special Five are Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich. The name describes a northern Kenya wildlife grouping, not five species exclusive to one reserve. Their presence in the ecosystem does not establish that all five will be encountered on one trip.
Is this safari suitable for first-time visitors to Kenya
The programme is 6 days / 5 nights, with the following daily stages: Day 01: Nairobi to Meru National Park; Day 02: Full Day Meru National Park; Day 03: Meru to Ol Pejeta Conservancy; Day 04: Ol Pejeta Conservation Drives; Day 05: Ol Pejeta to Samburu National Reserve; Day 06: Samburu to Nairobi. Transfer days and full destination days provide different amounts of activity time. The suitability of that pace depends on your available days and travel priorities.
Location markers are approximate. Connections show the journey sequence, not roads, exact driving distances or live vehicle tracking. The itinerary sets out each stage.
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4.9
Based on 664 reviews
Erica Anderson
What an amazing tour: we saw an incredible number and variety of animals and got to learn so much from our fantastic guide Kelvin. He was very knowledgable and patient with us andWhat an amazing tour: we saw an incredible number and variety of animals and got to learn so much from our fantastic guide Kelvin. He was very knowledgable and patient with us and he made our experience unforgettable. Could not have asked for a better introduction to Kenya!…
Laura H
Very knowledgeable and friendly
michael graham
Kelvin met us at the airport, took us to our hotel and then picked us up next morning for a 5 day Safari through the Masai Mara. Brilliant experience! Kelvin is knowledgeable,Kelvin met us at the airport, took us to our hotel and then picked us up next morning for a 5 day Safari through the Masai Mara. Brilliant experience! Kelvin is knowledgeable, patient and great fun. Rustic Nature Tours are well organised and quick to respond from my very first enquiry. You won’t be disappointed.…
Peter M
Great experience! Kelvin is an excellent guide and is full of knowledge. He made sure our 3 experiences were to the max. I highly recommend Rustic Nature Tours and I recommendGreat experience! Kelvin is an excellent guide and is full of knowledge. He made sure our 3 experiences were to the max. I highly recommend Rustic Nature Tours and I recommend asking for Kelvin as your guide.…
Ruth
My husband and I completed a half-day Nairobi Park and Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage tour and the variety of wildlife was amazing: enormous dazzle of zebras cautiously drinking atMy husband and I completed a half-day Nairobi Park and Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage tour and the variety of wildlife was amazing: enormous dazzle of zebras cautiously drinking at the lake, three lions slinking past our vehicle as they hunted an impala, a huge crocodile incubating eggs, two white rhinos napping on the side of the road, and so much more. Our guide was happy to provide knowledgeable answers to all of our questions and was amazing at locating wildlife. I absolutely recommend this company.…
Michael G
Rustic Nature Tours were responsive from my very first contact and flexible with what we wanted to do and when. The Safari was excellent and accomodation/food spot on. If someoneRustic Nature Tours were responsive from my very first contact and flexible with what we wanted to do and when. The Safari was excellent and accomodation/food spot on. If someone says they had a better guide than Kelvin, they are making it up! He’s the MAN. We had a blast.…
Fernando Estaragues
It was a really good experience, it's totally recommended, the service of the office guys is good, they answer to you everytime and with a lot of enthusiasm.The truck was reallyIt was a really good experience, it's totally recommended, the service of the office guys is good, they answer to you everytime and with a lot of enthusiasm.The truck was really good with a lot of personalized service.The guide was the best one, fully recommended our guide, Kelvin Ndolo, he drive through all the safari to let us catch some good pictures, the service is really good with him, he was a nice person with a lot of experience, telling you about everything in Kenya in general, nice time with him, helping, giving advices, experienced man.He is el chingon!!In general we can say that we wouldn't be in a better tour and guide for the first experience in Kenya!…
Nicole S
We had a wonderful day exploring Nairobi and learning so much about the history of both the city and Kenya. This private tour was great value, offering pick-up directly from ourWe had a wonderful day exploring Nairobi and learning so much about the history of both the city and Kenya. This private tour was great value, offering pick-up directly from our hotel and a comfortable ride to each site.Our driver/guide, Denish, was fantastic! extremely safe, knowledgeable, and always ready to answer any questions we had. Every guide we met at the individual stops was equally kind and full of insights.Highlights of our day included a delicious lunch, visiting local community shops for souvenirs, and especially the museum and Kobe Tough! It was the perfect blend of culture, history, and city highlights. If you have a day in Nairobi, we highly recommend booking this tour!…
Marc-Antoine Ladouceur
I booked a four-day trip with Rustic Nature Tour (Safari tour) in Kenya at the very last minute, and they absolutely nailed it. They put together a beautiful itinerary, adapted toI booked a four-day trip with Rustic Nature Tour (Safari tour) in Kenya at the very last minute, and they absolutely nailed it. They put together a beautiful itinerary, adapted to my preferences, at a price that really surprised me, in a good way. My guide was fantastic, not just knowledgeable about wildlife but also about the socialBiophysical environmental, geomorphology and human stories behind the places we visited. Everything just flowed. I couldn’t be happier with the experience and highly recommend them to anyone looking for an authentic Kenyan adventure…
FarAway57601419658
Just completed a half-day Nairobi Park and Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage tour and the variety of wildlife was amazing: enormous dazzle of zebras cautiously drinking at the lake,Just completed a half-day Nairobi Park and Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage tour and the variety of wildlife was amazing: enormous dazzle of zebras cautiously drinking at the lake, three lions slinking past our vehicle as they hunted an impala, a huge crocodile incubating eggs, two white rhinos napping on the side of the road, and so much more. Our guide was happy to provide knowledgeable answers to all of our questions and was amazing at locating wildlife. I absolutely recommend this company.…
Katie Richards-Schuster
Kelvin and Rustic Nature Tours were the absolute best choice for the two day trips we did during our time in Nairobi. We could not have asked for a better experience. The tripsKelvin and Rustic Nature Tours were the absolute best choice for the two day trips we did during our time in Nairobi. We could not have asked for a better experience. The trips were completely seamless. We had terrific communication beforehand in preparation for the experiences, and we felt that all aspects were accounted for. Kelvin was absolutely exceptional as a guide. He was very knowledgeable about the animals, the local history, and the elements of the safari experience. His ability to navigate us to exactly the spots where we could see the most, be the closest, and truly experience all that Kenya has to offer.For the first-day experience, we traveled to Amboseli. People in our group really wanted to see elephants. And elephants we saw! Kelvin helped position the Land Cruiser so that we had multiple herds of elephants (including babies) walk in front of the vehicle, less than 10 feet away!! It was a memorable sight. We also saw lions, zebras, wildebeests, birds (of all kinds), giraffes, and so much more. Kelvin has a college degree in wildlife management, and he is both extraordinarily knowledgeable and professional in the trip. He answered our questions, provided information, and helped us experience the wildlife in the safest manner possible. I would definitely recommend taking the Land Cruiser over the Safari van. The roads in the park are bumpy, and the Land Cruiser ensured a safe, comfortable ride while also getting us into the perfect spot to see the animals. After 4 hours or so in the park, we headed to a beautiful lodge to eat. The food and experience at the lodge were wonderful. After that, we did another drive before leaving to head back to Nairobi. A long but unbelievable day!For the second experience, we headed to Nairobi National Park, then the Sheldrick Elephant Trust, Kobe Beads, lunch, and the Giraffe Center. Again, Kelvin was a masterful guide. In the park, he got us close to hippos, rhinos, zebras, giraffes, ostriches, and even a crocodile- among many other animals. He found the perfect spots and maneuvered the vehicle just right (and sometimes even off the beaten path) to make sure we saw the best views of the animals (again, we recommend the Land Cruiser for the best experience!). After talking with others who took different trips to Nairobi National Park, we realized how special our visit was. Many of them didn’t have Kelvin guiding them and, as a result, missed seeing all that we saw. We can’t emphasize enough how amazing Kelvin is. From there, Kelvin got us to the Elephant Sanctuary. He had the tickets already set, so all we needed to do was walk in, and then he got us to the perfect spot where we could be feet away from baby elephants, a baby rhino, and a baby zebra. Truly spectacular! After that, we visited a local bead factory that is a microenterprise supporting local women. We had a tour, learned about the beading process, and then had the opportunity to visit their shop (no hassling or pressure to buy- but we did get some beautiful items!). Then to a hidden garden for lunch at a local restaurant, and then finally to the giraffes. By the time we got to the giraffes, it was very busy, but again, Kelvin worked his magic to get us through the line quickly (we felt like VIPs!) and to the perfect spot to feed them. He clearly knows the staff, as he was able to get us pictures and even additional food to feed the animals. After a long day, he masterfully navigated traffic (which is no joke) to return us to the hotel.All in all, our time in Kenya would not have been the same without Kelvin and Rustic Nature Tours. We can’t recommend their tours any higher. You will not be disappointed!!!…
Brianna D
Our amazing guide Faith was right on time to pick us up at our hotel. We started the morning with a trip to Kobe Tough where we saw the bead making process. Then we headed to theOur amazing guide Faith was right on time to pick us up at our hotel. We started the morning with a trip to Kobe Tough where we saw the bead making process. Then we headed to the elephant orphanage where Faith knew the whole system and was able to get us up close spots in the “splash zone.” Next up was the giraffe center where we got up close to hand feed giraffes. Faith knew all of the giraffes by name and personality and even took photos on our camera for us. Afterwards we stopped for traditional Kenyan lunch (at your own expense) and we elected to do the Karen Blixen museum for the entrance fee as well. Since it was just me and my husband, Faith even drove us to the local mall before taking us back to the hotel. Overall it was a day well spent with memories to last a lifetime!…
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