6 Days-Masai Mara - Lake Naivasha - Samburu
6 Days-Masai Mara - Lake Naivasha - Samburu
Explore Kenya's diverse landscapes on a 6-day safari through Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, and Samburu.
Witness the Big Five in Masai Mara, enjoy bird watching and boat rides at Lake Naivasha, and discover unique wildlife in Samburu. This adventure offers unforgettable wildlife experiences and scenic beauty.
Itinerary
Our driver guide will pick you up at 0700hrs from your accommodation in Nairobi where you start your journey to Masai Mara. Arrive in the afternoon and check in and have lunch before settling for your afternoon game drive. You will pick the two guests flying from Nairobi from the Airstrip and proceed with your afternoon game drive.
Everything about Mara during this season is incredible. The wildlife is abundant, and the vast grasslands ensure that animals are rarely out of sight, and the Birdlife is impressive, great herds of elephant browse among the rich tree-studded grasslands, along with an occasional black rhino. Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, topi, eland and many more species of plains game offer rich pickings for the dominant predators – lion, leopard and cheetah – that hunt in this pristine wilderness. Later in the evening you will return to the lodge around the fireplace. When you’re ready, one of the Masai night guards – known as Askaris – will escort you back to your room.
Dinner and overnight the Camp
Awake to the magnificent ‘wake up call’ symphony of Masai Mara’s astonishing bird life. Grab a quick cup of coffee and some snacks before embarking on an early morning game drive into the Masai Mara National Reserve. Don’t forget your camera since it is a beautiful time of the year for photography: the air is clear and bright, and the bush alive with vibrant colour and new life creating great photo opportunities. Abundant wildlife on the savannah gives fantastic photo opportunities. The incredible backdrop of clear blues and the rolling Savannah will captivate you providing you with memories to last a lifetime. Catch the action as the predators hunt their prey and stalk the herds just like the lions and the cheetahs, capturing them with your lens and in your heart. Enjoy an exceptional wilderness for there is never a dull moment on the savannah.
Return to lodge at for a well-deserved breakfast followed by relaxation
After lunch take some time to relax and later depart with your driver/guide for an afternoon game drive in search for the big five. The low afternoon light is perfect for photographing the beautiful rolling plains of the Masai Mara.
In the early evening as you make your way back to lodge, you may get lucky and spot a leopard on the prowl.
Have dinner and overnight the lodge
Alternatively,
Awake to the magnificent ‘wake up call’ symphony of Masai Mara’s astonishing bird life. Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast before embarking on a full day safari in the Masai Mara National Reserve. Abundant wildlife on the savannah gives fantastic photo opportunities. The incredible backdrop of clear blues and the rolling Savannah will captivate you providing you with memories to last a lifetime. Catch the action as the predators hunt their prey and stalk the herds just like the lions and the cheetahs, capturing them with your lens and in your heart. Enjoy an exceptional wilderness for there is never a dull moment on the savannah.
Return to to the lodge for dinner followed by relaxation at the as you tell of your experiences on the African wilderness
Wake up for breakfast after which you check out and after bidding your host goodbye, drive west past Narok through Mahi Mahiu for Naivasha. The drive takes you through the Rift Valley enjoying the fascinating views of the escarpment on your way towards Lake Naivasha. This is a beautiful freshwater lake, fringed by thick papyrus is almost 13 km's across, but its waters are shallow with an average depth of five metres. The waters of the lake draw a great range of game to these shores. Giraffes wander among the acacia, Buffalo wallow in the swamps and Columbus monkeys call from the treetops while the Lakes large hippo populations sleep the day out in the shallows.
Check in at the lodge. You may choose between going for a boat ride on Lake Naivasha or going out for a walking tour on Crescent Island ( Boat ride and Conservancy fees payable directly) where you will experience up close views of Buffalo, Waterbuck, Antelope, Giraffes, Zebra among others. From the top of the hill, there is a 360-degree view across the Lake from Longonot to Hell’s Gate to the Mau Escarpment to Eburu and onto the Aberdares. Walking along the ridge in the golden hour before sunset whilst watching the animals grazing with the water shimmering beyond. Return to the hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight at Lake Naivasha country Club
Overnight at the Lodge
Optional:
Guided walk at Crescent Island (Conservancy fees payable directly)
Boat ride (Boat ride fees payable directly)
Crescent Island Game Sanctuary
There is just one “Crescent Island Game Park”. Located on Lake Naivasha, Kenya in the Great Rift Valley. It is one of the most beautiful parks in Kenya and is Naivasha’s best-kept secret. Guides are on a first come first serve basis, for whom there is no charge, but they should be given a tip. Surrounded by water, it is actually a peninsula and is accessible by boat from East or West as well as by road. From the top of the hill, there is a 360-degree view across the Lake from Longonot to Hell’s Gate to the Mau Escarpment to Eburu and onto the Aberdares. Walking along the ridge in the golden hour before sunset whilst watching the animals grazing with the water shimmering beyond, is what Africa is all about.
We leave Naivasha after breakfast and head Samburu, a place of endless skies, dust-red plains and palm-fringed rivers,. Have a stop at the Thompsons Falls, with the awesome views of the thundering waters, you will take photographs with its background. You can opt to go to the waters and get wet. After a brief stop continue with your journey towards Samburu. Samburu National Reserve lies on the fringes of the vast and arid desert once known as the Northern Frontier District, whose heat-scorched scrublands extend all the way to the jade-green waters of Lake Turkana and beyond. Physically dramatic, the 104 sq kilometres landscape of the Reserve features rocky battlements, craggy scarps, dry river beds and fallen boulders rising out of the thorn scrub against a backdrop of the far-distant hills and the great red table mountain known as Lololokwe.
If you still have some energy left, you may opt to go for an afternoon game drive that will introduce you to the wonderful view of the country side and vastness of the reserve with red volcanic soil, rock outcropping against dense woodland vegetation. Samburu is a Masai word which means a traditional leather bag Masai used for carrying honey and milk. Samburu's savannahs and forests make for diverse big game country. Home to all the big cats, it's especially good for leopard as well as providing a haven for super-rare wild dogs and large numbers of elephants. The 450 bird species will delight birders while it's also the best destination for wildlife enthusiasts who want to see unusual animals that don't occur in Kenya's more well-known reserves. Top of the list are the 'Samburu Big 5' - Grevy's zebra; the long-necked gerenuk; reticulated giraffe; besia oryx; and Somali ostrich. Alternatively, you may opt to go direct to the camp for check in and relaxing.
Overnight: Samburu Simba Lodge
Samburu National Park
Samburu National Reserve is situated within the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. Measuring approximately 104sq. kilometres (approx. 65sq. miles) in size, this unfenced savannah grassland is roughly 350km (217 miles) from Nairobi. It is relatively small in size compared to other Kenyan parks, such as Tsavo or Masai Mara.
Pride of Lions in Uaso Nyiro River - Samburu National Reserve
Samburu national reserve derives its name from the Samburu people of Kenya who have lived in the area for many years.
The Uaso Nyiro River cuts through this reserve, drawing a big population of Kenya animals to the park. The river bustles with activity from its huge population of Nile crocodile.
The reserve's topography is mainly open savannah (grassland) with clusters of acacia trees, forest, thorn trees and grassland vegetation.
Samburu National Reserve was one of the two areas in which conservationists George and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the Lioness. Their story was made famous by the bestselling book and award-winning movie "Born Free".
The game reserve is renowned for its rare species of animals unique to the park, namely: the long necked gerenuk, Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe and Beisa onyx. The elusive Kenya leopard is often known to visit the park, especially in the evenings.
Other Kenyan wildlife present in the park includes cheetahs and lions, as well as elephants, buffalo and hippos.
Birdlife is as plentiful as wildlife at Samburu National Reserve, which boasts over 350 different species of birds including vultures, kingfishers, marabous, bateleurs, guinea fowl, Somali ostriches and others.
Samburu National Reserve - weather and climate
The climate in Samburu is hot and dry during the day, and cool during nights and evenings.
Average maximum temperatures are around 30°C (85°F) with minimum temperatures of approximately 20°C. Most rain falls between March and May, with short rains falling from November to December, recording a total maximum rainfall of 350mm. July through October and January through March are mainly hot and dry.
Wake up for an early cup of coffee before setting out to the wild and rugged, Samburu. The conservancy is fiercely beautiful with its arid savannahs watered by the lovely Uaso Nyiro River.Spend the whole day bird watching at the park. In the afternoon we have some time to relax before embarking on our late afternoon game drive to try and capture what was not seen during the day before the dusk engulf us Depending on your choice of adventures, breakfast and lunch can be taken in camp, or enjoyed as a picnic in the wild
Game ViewingIn the southern part of the park, you are guaranteed to see most of the Kenyan animals found in Samburu, namely: cheetahs, lions, leopards, impalas, buffalo, hippos, and dik-diks, as well as the native gerenuk, Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe and Beisa Oryx. You are guaranteed to see most animals during the dry season as they converge at the Usaso Nyiro River, their main source of water during the long dry weather. Elephants are also spotted during this time, and you can watch the Nile crocodiles swim in the river.
Bird ViewingSamburu National Reserve is a paradise for bird lovers, with over 350 species of birds already recorded. You can enjoy a colorful assortment of birds such as vultures, kingfishers, marabous, bateleurs, guinea fowl, Somali ostriches and many more.
Samburu Cultural Tours:Visit the local Samburu villages where you get a chance to interact with the colorful Samburu people in their traditional setting and experience their culture. This is a good opportunity to purchase traditional Samburu souvenirs, art and collectibles.
Wake up for breakfast and checkout. You may choose to drive directly to Nairobi or drive to Hells Gate Park National Park where you may choose to take a game drive or a guided walking safari with the help of the local guides who know the park very well. Other options available at an extra fee include rock climbing and cycling whereby you hire bikes at the park's entrance and go cycling inside the park– just don’t expect high quality bikes.. Alternatively enjoy game drives using your safari land cruiser which has an open rooftop.
Leave the park and drive to Nairobi to arrive at your hotel late in the afternoon
Tour Activities
- Game Drive
- Guided Nature Walk
- Birding
- Hot Air Balloon Safari
What's included
Tour Map
Featured Safari Trips
Travel Guide
Customer Reviews
Excellent
Seremara Safaris booked a wonderful 3-night safari at Basecamp and Leopard hill. Our guide Tonkei was amazing, we saw leopards, lions, hyenas, elephants, buffalo, hippos, and even a cheetah kill. The basecamp staff and Leopard hill staff were so friendly and kind. We felt so cared for throughout our stay, especially mealtimes.
Kelly L
Absolutely Brilliant Go On Book It !!!
Seremara Safaris were absolutely magnificent, from initial contact, We were delighted and amazed with the entire adventure, service and communication. From collecting us from the local Airport taking us to our hotel and collecting us in the morning for Safari !!
Julie R
We saw a good number of animals and sites our guide showed us!
They gave me a memorable safari and adventure best location of the hotels great vehicles and guides. I really recommend any one who would like to travel.
jackson m
Jambo Kenya
The Tour guide are conversant with the parks, time management, patient and great hospitality. Safari well organised.
Julia M
Completely satisfied and referred friends!
A trusted provider referred us to Seremara and we worked with Seremara to book a trip to Amboseli. Benson was very helpful in identifying options and handled all aspects including booking flights, hotels, transfers, etc.
Jessica I
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