5 Days Samburu & Ol Pejeta Safari
Northern wildlife and rhino conservation on a Kenya highlands circuit
5 Days Samburu & Ol Pejeta Safari
North of the equator, the animals change with the landscape. Reticulated giraffe step between thorn trees, Grevy's zebra carry fine stripes and a gerenuk may rise on its hind legs to browse above the scrub. Samburu introduces you to this dry-country cast before the route turns towards Ol Pejeta and its grasslands. There, rhino viewing becomes a way to understand the work behind conservation, with questions about habitats and people as valuable as the photographs you bring home.
Travel north from Nairobi for two nights in Samburu, including a full day exploring the reserve. Drive towards the Mount Kenya region and spend two nights around Ol Pejeta, with another full wildlife day and public conservation interpretation stops when open. Return south to Nairobi on day five. Specialist conservation encounters remain optional and require separate advance confirmation, keeping the included programme clear.
You travel with a driver-guide who leaves room for questions, patient wildlife watching and proper breaks. The daily plan follows park rules, weather and actual animal movement; sightings can never be guaranteed. Your confirmed itinerary lists the arrangements and inclusions clearly, while optional activities are agreed separately before you travel. Bring curiosity, comfortable layers and enough space on your camera for the moments between the headline sightings.
Ideal for: Visitors interested in northern Kenya's distinctive wildlife and practical conservation.
The journey in brief
Travel north from Nairobi for two nights in Samburu, including a full day exploring the reserve. Drive towards the Mount Kenya region and spend two nights around Ol Pejeta, with another full wildlife day and public conservation interpretation stops when open. Return south to Nairobi on day five. Specialist conservation encounters remain optional and require separate advance confirmation, keeping the included programme clear. Your guide handles the transfers and entry arrangements, with meals and accommodation as listed in the itinerary. Drive times, wildlife routes and activity order remain flexible around local conditions. The final travel plan is agreed before departure, including arrival timing, optional activities and any personal requirements.
Highlights
Day by day
From Nairobi to Samburu
Meet your driver-guide at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after an early arrival, or at your Nairobi address. A short briefing covers the route, comfort stops and the wildlife etiquette you will use throughout the trip. Travel north through the central highlands and across the equator before descending towards Isiolo and the dry country of Samburu; this is a full transfer day. You pause for lunch before settling into the landscape at an unhurried pace. Any afternoon wildlife drive depends on road conditions and your arrival time; your guide keeps the following full day clear for exploration. Bring your camera into the vehicle rather than packing it away, because the journey itself often brings your first memorable sightings.
Northern species along the Ewaso Nyiro
Follow the reserve roads beside the Ewaso Nyiro and then into drier country, where doum palms give way to thorn scrub. Look for reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich, learning the details that distinguish these northern species. Elephants may come towards the river, although water levels and wildlife routes change with rainfall. Your guide balances patient viewing with a break through the hottest part of the day. A second drive catches the softer light on the surrounding hills, and you finish with a better feel for how animals live in this demanding environment.
Onward to Ol Pejeta
After breakfast you pack up and continue with your driver-guide, leaving time for breaks and a proper lunch. Climb from the dry north towards Nanyuki and Ol Pejeta, where cooler grassland replaces Samburu's thorn scrub and distant mountain views may appear. As you travel, your guide explains how rainfall, altitude and land use shape the country outside your window. The afternoon programme stays flexible around road conditions and park entry formalities. You arrive with time to settle in and talk through the next day, choosing a practical start that gives you the best light without making the transfer feel rushed.
Rhinos and the work of conservation
A day inside Ol Pejeta brings wildlife viewing together with the practical work of protecting a busy living landscape. Drive through grassland in search of rhino, elephant and other plains animals, allowing your guide to explain why different species need different forms of protection. Visit public conservation interpretation facilities when open, with time for questions about habitat, livestock and people. Specialist northern white rhino visits are optional, separately booked activities subject to current availability and animal welfare requirements. Your included programme focuses on game drives and public visitor areas, with a lunch break and another afternoon out on the conservancy roads.
Return to Nairobi
Enjoy breakfast and a last look at Ol Pejeta before beginning the return journey to Nairobi. Drive south through the central highlands, pausing along the way to stretch your legs and enjoy a relaxed lunch. Your guide plans comfort stops and leaves a sensible buffer for traffic approaching the capital. Choose an evening international departure only after the road schedule has been agreed, or finish at your Nairobi address and fly the following day. Before saying goodbye, you have time to compare favourite sightings, check that your bags and camera equipment are with you, and exchange the notes that will help you identify the birds and animals in your photographs.
Your route
The parks, lakes and towns you'll travel through, in order.
What's included
Prices
Book as a group and the saving is applied to your quote.
Rates are per person per day, sharing a room, and cover everything under what's included. Your tailored quote confirms the final price for your dates. International flights are not included.
Frequently asked questions
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Let's plan your safari
5 Days Samburu & Ol Pejeta Safari · 5 days
Tell us when you'd like to travel and who's coming. A Geob safari specialist in Nairobi will reply within one working day with availability, a tailored quote and any changes you'd like.
- No account or payment needed to enquire
- Every itinerary can be adjusted to your dates and pace
- Prefer to talk? +254 728 136 167
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