Safari Overview
This 6 days Samburu, Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha safari takes you from the dry northern landscapes of Samburu to the Great Rift Valley. You spend 3 nights in Samburu, giving you plenty of time for game drives, before heading south to Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha for two very different wildlife and scenery experiences.
Samburu National Reserve is the main part of the safari. The reserve is known for its rugged scenery, the Ewaso Ng'iro River and wildlife that is not commonly found in southern Kenya. You have a good chance of seeing the Samburu Special Five — Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich — alongside elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah and buffalo.
Lake Nakuru National Park gives you a completely different setting. The park is surrounded by the Rift Valley escarpment and is one of Kenya's best places to look for black and white rhino. You can also see buffalo, giraffe, lion, leopard and large numbers of birds around the lake.
Lake Naivasha is a peaceful finish to the safari. The freshwater lake is home to hippos and many water birds. You will enjoy a boat ride on the lake, getting close to hippos and birdlife before continuing to Nairobi on the final day.
Best Time to Visit
January to March is an excellent time for this safari. The weather is generally dry, wildlife is easier to spot around water sources and the roads are in good condition.
July to October is another very good period. Samburu is dry and game viewing is strong, while Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha are also good for wildlife and birdlife.
April to June is the long rainy season. Some roads can be muddy, but the parks are greener, birdlife is excellent and prices are often lower.
Animals You Can Expect to See
Samburu
- ✓ Grevy's zebra
- ✓ Reticulated giraffe
- ✓ Gerenuk
- ✓ Beisa oryx
- ✓ Somali ostrich
- ✓ Elephant
- ✓ Lion & leopard
Lake Nakuru
- ✓ White rhino
- ✓ Black rhino
- ✓ Buffalo
- ✓ Rothschild's giraffe
- ✓ Lion
- ✓ Leopard
- ✓ Flamingos & water birds
Lake Naivasha
- ✓ Hippos
- ✓ Fish eagles
- ✓ Pelicans
- ✓ Herons
- ✓ Cormorants
- ✓ Giraffe nearby
- ✓ Zebra & antelope nearby
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Nairobi to Samburu National Reserve
Depart Nairobi early morning and drive north towards Samburu National Reserve. The journey takes around 5 to 6 hours and the scenery changes as you leave Nairobi behind and head into the drier northern part of Kenya. You arrive at your lodge in time for lunch.
After lunch and a short rest, head out for your first game drive in Samburu. The reserve is very different from the parks around Nairobi — dry hills, rocky landscapes and the Ewaso Ng'iro River running through the area. Keep an eye out for elephant, giraffe, zebra and the unique northern species Samburu is known for.
Full Day Game Drive — Samburu
Start early with a sunrise game drive in Samburu. The cooler morning hours are one of the best times to look for wildlife. Your guide will take you through different parts of the reserve and along the Ewaso Ng'iro River, where animals often come to drink.
This is a full day to look for the Samburu Special Five — Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich. You can also see elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo and many bird species. Return to the lodge for lunch or enjoy a picnic lunch in the reserve before continuing the afternoon game drive.
Full Day Game Drive — Samburu
Another full day in Samburu gives you more time to explore areas you may not have reached on the first two drives. Start early and follow the wildlife activity of the morning. Your guide will look for fresh tracks and recent sightings of lion, leopard, cheetah and other animals.
Continue exploring the reserve through the afternoon. Samburu is especially good for photography because of its open views, rocky hills and the riverine scenery. This extra day also gives you a better chance of finding the Special Five you may have missed earlier. Return to the lodge after a final evening game drive.
Samburu to Lake Nakuru National Park
After breakfast and check-out, leave Samburu and drive south towards Lake Nakuru National Park. The journey takes around 5 to 6 hours, with changing scenery as you travel back towards the Great Rift Valley. Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch.
After lunch, head into Lake Nakuru National Park for an afternoon game drive. The park is one of Kenya's best places to see black and white rhino. You can also look for buffalo, giraffe, zebra, lion and leopard, with plenty of birdlife around the lake.
Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha
Start the morning with a final game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park. This is another chance to look for rhino and other wildlife before breakfast and check-out. You then drive to Lake Naivasha, a journey of around 1 to 2 hours.
After lunch, enjoy a boat ride on Lake Naivasha. The lake is home to hippos and a large number of water birds, including fish eagles, pelicans, herons and cormorants. The boat gives you a different view of the lake and the surrounding Rift Valley landscape. If you would like to visit Crescent Island, this can be arranged as an optional activity.
Lake Naivasha to Nairobi — Departure
Enjoy breakfast at the lodge and, depending on your flight time, have a relaxed final morning around Lake Naivasha (optional). If you missed the boat ride on Day 5 or would like another activity, we can arrange it before leaving.
Drive back to Nairobi, normally taking around 1½ to 2 hours depending on traffic. Your driver drops you at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in time for your flight home. If your flight is the next day, we can arrange an extra night in Nairobi.
Optional Nairobi Experiences Before Your Flight
If your flight is later in the evening, we can arrange one or more optional Nairobi activities before taking you to the airport. Choose from the Giraffe Centre, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Karen Blixen Museum or lunch at the famous Carnivore Restaurant. The exact activities depend on your flight time and the day's traffic.
- ✓ City Tour — explore Nairobi's highlights
- ✓ Giraffe Centre — see and feed Rothschild's giraffes
- ✓ Sheldrick Wildlife Trust — visit the elephant rescue and rehabilitation centre
- ✓ Karen Blixen Museum — visit the former home of the author of Out of Africa
- ✓ Carnivore Restaurant — enjoy lunch before heading to the airport
After your chosen Nairobi activity or lunch, continue to the airport for your departure flight. We recommend allowing enough time for traffic and airport check-in, especially for international flights.
What's Included & Excluded
Included
- Airport pickup and final JKIA drop-off
- 5 nights mid-range lodge accommodation
- 3 nights in Samburu, 1 night at Lake Nakuru and 1 night at Lake Naivasha
- All meals — full board throughout the safari
- All game drives in private 4×4 Land Cruiser
- Samburu and Lake Nakuru park fees
- Lake Naivasha boat ride
- Certified expert safari guide
- Bottled water throughout
- 24/7 support from Wild Safaris & Travel
Not Included
- International flights
- Kenya eTA / visa fees
- Travel & medical insurance
- Optional Crescent Island visit
- Alcoholic & premium beverages
- Gratuities for guide & lodge staff
- Optional extra night in Nairobi
- Personal expenses
Frequently Asked Questions
The best times are January to March and July to October. These are generally dry months and wildlife is easier to spot. Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha can be visited throughout the year.
In Samburu you can see Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, elephant, lion and leopard. At Lake Nakuru you can look for black and white rhino, buffalo, giraffe, lion and leopard. At Lake Naivasha you can see hippos and many water birds.
Yes. This is a good route for first-time visitors because you get three very different parts of Kenya in one trip — the dry northern landscape of Samburu, the wildlife of Lake Nakuru and the freshwater scenery of Lake Naivasha.
This is a mid-range safari using comfortable lodges throughout. You spend 3 nights in Samburu, 1 night near Lake Nakuru and 1 night near Lake Naivasha. Rooms are en-suite and meals are included as shown in the itinerary.
Samburu is famous for the Samburu Special Five — Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich. You can also see elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah and buffalo.
The main activity is a boat ride on Lake Naivasha. You can see hippos and many water birds from the water. A visit to Crescent Island can also be arranged as an optional activity.
Most nationalities need a Kenya eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) applied for online before travel. We guide all clients through the process after booking.