KENYA // NORTHERN FRONTIER
4 Days Samburu and Ol Pejeta Safari
Black rhino and the last two northern white rhinos at Ol Pejeta, then the dry north of Samburu and five species you will not see on the standard circuit.
4 Days / 3 Nights
DURATION
$750
FROM, PER PERSON
Samburu, Ol Pejeta
DESTINATIONS
2 to 6
GROUP SIZE
ABOUT THIS SAFARI
About This 4 Day Samburu and Ol Pejeta Safari
This 4 day Samburu and Ol Pejeta safari heads north from Nairobi into a side of Kenya most visitors never see. You start at Ol Pejeta Conservancy on the Laikipia plateau, the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, then continue to the Samburu National Reserve, a dry country of red earth, doum palms and the Ewaso Ng’iro river.
Ol Pejeta is home to the last two northern white rhinos in the world, guarded day and night, along with lion, elephant and the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees, at the Sweetwaters sanctuary. Samburu is known for the Special Five: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and beisa oryx, plus leopards that are often seen along the river.
You travel in a private 4×4 Land Cruiser with your own driver guide, with full board and all park and conservancy fees included. It suits second time visitors, photographers and anyone looking for quieter parks. Add a tree lodge night in the Aberdares with the 5 Days Aberdare, Ol Pejeta and Samburu Safari.
AT A GLANCE
Trip Summary
| Detail | This safari |
|---|---|
| Price from | USD 750 per person |
| Duration | 4 days / 3 nights |
| Safari style | Wildlife |
| Countries | Kenya |
| Parks visited | Ol Pejeta Conservancy and Samburu National Reserve |
| Starts | Nairobi |
| Ends | Nairobi |
| Group size | Private departure. Typically 2 to 6 guests per vehicle |
| Best time to go | All year. Jun to Oct is driest |
| Difficulty | Easy |
ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
Your Route, Day By Day
| Day | Route | Overnight | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nairobi to Ol Pejeta | Lodge, Ol Pejeta | L, D |
| 2 | Ol Pejeta to Samburu | Tented camp, Samburu | B, L, D |
| 3 | Full day in Samburu | Tented camp, Samburu | B, L, D |
| 4 | Samburu to Nairobi | Departure | B |
B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner. Accommodation is shown by type and area. We confirm the exact camp or lodge in writing with your quote.
DAY BY DAY
The Full Itinerary
Your driver guide collects you from your Nairobi hotel or the airport after breakfast. The road runs north through the central highlands, past coffee and tea farms and the foothills of Mount Kenya, to Nanyuki and Ol Pejeta Conservancy, about four hours in total. You arrive at your lodge in time for lunch.
Your afternoon game drive includes the endangered species enclosure, home to Najin and Fatu, the last two northern white rhinos on Earth, and the many black and southern white rhinos that roam the conservancy. Ol Pejeta also has a healthy lion population, elephant, buffalo and the rare Jackson’s hartebeest.
Activities: Drive to Ol Pejeta, afternoon game drive, endangered species enclosure
Meals: Lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Ol Pejeta
After an early game drive you visit the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a refuge for chimpanzees rescued from across Africa and the only place in Kenya to see them. You then cross the equator and drive north to Samburu, about three hours, arriving for lunch.
In the afternoon you follow the Ewaso Ng’iro river, where elephant herds come down to drink and bathe and crocodiles lie on the sandbanks. The riverine forest is good leopard country, so your guide will scan the trees as the light fades.
Activities: Morning game drive at Ol Pejeta, Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, drive to Samburu, afternoon river game drive
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Tented camp, Samburu
A full day in the Samburu National Reserve searching for the Special Five: Grevy’s zebra with its narrow stripes, reticulated giraffe, the blue legged Somali ostrich, the long necked gerenuk that feeds standing on its hind legs, and the beisa oryx. Lion, cheetah and leopard are all found here, and the dry season brings large elephant herds to the river.
You return to camp for lunch and a rest, then head out again in the late afternoon. If you wish, you can visit a Samburu community near the reserve to learn about the traditions of these semi nomadic herders, who are close cousins of the Maasai.
Activities: Morning and afternoon game drives in Samburu, optional Samburu village visit
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Tented camp, Samburu
An early game drive while the predators are still active, then breakfast and check out.
The drive back to Nairobi takes about six hours, past Mount Kenya, and you arrive in the middle of the afternoon. Your driver guide drops you at your hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Activities: Early morning game drive, drive back to Nairobi
Meals: Breakfast · Overnight: Departure day
THE ROUTE
Where This Safari Takes You
Nairobi → Ol Pejeta Conservancy → Samburu National Reserve → Nairobi. Around 700 km return.
How To Get There
This safari starts and ends in Nairobi. Fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) and we collect you from the airport or your hotel on the morning of day 1.
Ol Pejeta lies about 220 km north of Nairobi, around four hours by road through Nyeri and Nanyuki. Samburu is about three hours further north via Isiolo, and the return to Nairobi takes around six hours. The full loop is about 700 km on good tarmac roads.
Scheduled flights from Wilson Airport also serve Nanyuki and the Samburu airstrips, if you prefer to fly one way. Ask us to add flights to your free quote.
WHAT IS COVERED
Included and Not Included
Included
- All park and conservancy fees
- Professional English speaking driver guide
- 4×4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- Full board accommodation
- Bottled drinking water throughout
- Airport or hotel transfers
Not included
- International flights and eTA
- Travel insurance
- Chimpanzee sanctuary donation
- Drinks and personal items
- Tips and gratuities
GOOD TO KNOW
Samburu and Ol Pejeta Safari FAQs
Yes. Najin and Fatu, the last two northern white rhinos in the world, live in a protected enclosure at Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Your game drive includes a visit, and you can learn about the work to save the species.
They are five animals found in northern Kenya but not on the southern circuit: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and beisa oryx. The Samburu National Reserve is the best place to see them.
Chimpanzees are not native to Kenya, but the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary at Ol Pejeta cares for rescued chimps and is the only place in the country to see them. A donation to the sanctuary is paid on the day.
Samburu is good all year. June to October and January to February are the driest months, when animals gather along the river. The short rains in November turn the reserve green.
This safari starts from $750 per person. The price depends on the season, the camps and your group size. Use our Kenya safari cost calculator or request a free quote.
Yes. Many guests continue south to Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara. See our 8 Days Samburu to Masai Mara Safari for a ready made route.
NO OBLIGATION
Enquire About This Safari
Send us your dates and we will confirm availability and a firm price within 24 hours.
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TAILOR MADE SAFARI
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