6-Day Boutique Lodge Safari – Samburu Ol Pejeta & Mara Gems

The private road safari leaves Nairobi for Samburu National Reserve through the central highlands and the Nanyuki–Isiolo corridor. The landscape changes from cultivated highland country to the drier northern plains. The arrival-afternoon game drive introduces Samburu’s riverine woodland, doum palms and open scrub habitats. The guide looks for wildlife along permitted reserve routes, including the northern species associated with Samburu, and allows time to observe the animals encountered. The outing returns to the Samburu base for the first of two nights.

Morning and afternoon game drives explore Samburu National Reserve. The programme follows the Ewaso Nyiro River habitats and the surrounding dry-country plains, looking for elephants and the distinctive northern wildlife, including reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk and Beisa oryx. The guide selects viewing routes according to animal movements, with time to observe behaviour and birdlife at the sightings encountered. The afternoon outing explores additional reserve areas before returning to the same Samburu base for the second night.

A final morning Samburu game drive completes the northern reserve stage before the road journey to Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The arrival programme combines conservancy game viewing with the included northern white rhino visit and Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary. The conservancy team explains the animals’ care and conservation and directs the visiting arrangements. The programme follows their operating schedule before returning to the Ol Pejeta base for the overnight stay. An Ol Pejeta night game drive remains optional and paid for separately.

The road journey leaves Ol Pejeta for the Maasai Mara through the Rift Valley corridor. The route crosses contrasting highland farmland and open valley landscapes before reaching the Mara area. Following arrival, a short afternoon game drive in Maasai Mara National Reserve introduces the grasslands and the wildlife currently using the accessible viewing areas. The guide focuses on the animals encountered and explains the reserve setting. The outing returns to the Mara base for the first of two nights.

Morning and afternoon game drives provide a full day in Maasai Mara National Reserve. The guide explores practical reserve sectors from the overnight base, allowing time at wildlife sightings rather than following a fixed list of animals. Open grassland, acacia woodland and accessible river habitats provide contrasting viewing settings, with the day’s route shaped by wildlife movements. The afternoon programme continues within the National Reserve and includes the planned sundowner stop before returning to the same Mara base for the second night.

The final morning is reserved for preparing for departure and checking out of the Mara base. There is no morning Mara game drive on this programme. The private road journey returns through the Rift Valley corridor to Nairobi, passing from the Mara’s open-country landscape towards the central highlands and the city. Arrival in Nairobi completes the six-day circuit through Samburu, Ol Pejeta and Maasai Mara National Reserve, with the vehicle and guide remaining with the travelling party for the return.