9-Day Samburu Ol Pejeta Nakuru Mara & Diani Complete Kenya Safari

The safari travels north from Nairobi to Samburu National Reserve. An afternoon game drive introduces the semi-arid landscape, acacia woodland and Ewaso Nyiro River corridor. The guide looks for Samburu’s northern species, including reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra and gerenuk, alongside other wildlife encountered during the outing. The contrast between the river vegetation and surrounding dry country provides the focus of this first exploration.

Morning and afternoon drives explore Samburu’s river corridor and interior habitats. The guide searches for the northern Special Five species while also observing elephants, predators and birds encountered along the route. Riverine forest, open scrub and rocky landscapes provide different wildlife settings. The full day allows time to compare these habitats and remain at rewarding sightings, without treating any species as a guaranteed encounter.

An early Samburu game drive precedes the journey to Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The afternoon includes the northern white rhino visit, with the ranger-led interpretation explaining the conservation work surrounding the animals. A game drive continues through the conservancy’s grassland and wooded habitats, looking for rhinos and other wildlife. This stage adds a conservation focus to the safari alongside the vehicle-based wildlife viewing.

A morning game drive and the included Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary visit complete the Ol Pejeta programme. The sanctuary visit introduces its work with rescued chimpanzees before the route continues to Lake Nakuru. An afternoon game drive explores Nakuru’s woodland, grassland and alkaline lake margins. The guide looks for black and white rhinos and other animals, while birdwatching adds another perspective on the change from highland conservancy to Rift Valley lake.

A morning game drive continues the Lake Nakuru visit before the road journey to the Maasai Mara. The afternoon outing introduces the Mara’s broad grasslands and wooded wildlife corridors. The guide follows current animal activity and allows time to observe the wildlife encountered, from grazing herds to predators. This first Mara drive establishes the setting for the full wildlife day that follows.

Morning and afternoon game drives provide a full day in the Maasai Mara. The programme explores open plains and river habitats, including the Mara River area for observation of hippos and crocodiles. The guide selects the route through the included sectors according to animal activity and access, with time for photography and behaviour watching. Migration herds may form part of the experience when present, but neither their location nor a crossing is guaranteed.

The programme leaves the Maasai Mara for the included light-aircraft flight to Ukunda, followed by the transfer to Diani Beach. The afternoon is at leisure at the coast, replacing game drives with time at the beach and hotel. The Indian Ocean setting provides a contrast to the northern dry country, highland conservancy, Rift Valley lake and Mara plains already explored during the safari.

A full day at Diani remains at leisure. Time can be spent at the beach and hotel, while snorkelling, diving, fishing, dhow sailing or a Shimba Hills excursion are optional activities arranged independently or on request. These excursions are separate from the included safari programme. The free day provides an unstructured coastal pause before the journey back to Nairobi.

The final day is the road return from Diani Beach to Nairobi. No flight or additional game drive is scheduled for this stage. The route leaves the coast and continues towards the capital, completing the journey from Samburu through Ol Pejeta, Nakuru and the Mara to the Indian Ocean. The programme ends with the arranged Nairobi hotel or airport drop-off.