Day 1: Nairobi to Samburu Game Reserve - Kenya

The 7-Day Samburu, Lake Nakuru & Masai Mara Safari starts with collection from your pre-tour hotel in Nairobi at 7:30 in the morning.

Your guide tells you more about the journey ahead before we set off. Leaving Nairobi we head north via the shoulder of Africa's second largest mountain, Mount Kenya, making our way to the Samburu Game Reserve. Arriving at our first lodge we have lunch and embark on our first wildlife adventure - an exciting afternoon game drive in Samburu.

We camp beside the Ewaso Nyiro River under shady palms and woodlands inside Samburu. The camp has refreshing cold showers to cool off in the African heat.

Day 2: Samburu Game Reserve - Kenya

Day two is set aside for game viewing in Samburu Reserve, exploring its open grasslands and diverse landscapes in search of the variety of wildlife found here.

Samburu hosts beautiful forests, springs and rivers, offering stunning scenery. The game park is part of a lava plain that includes varied habitats, from thorn scrub, red dirt and dried river beds, to broken volcanic rock, steep hills and rocky outcrops. This region of Kenya is home to the uncommon Grevy's zebra with huge fury ears, gerenuk antelope standing on hind legs to feed, Somali ostriches with distinct blue legs and the shy Oryx. Elephant and crocodile are guaranteed sightings and lion, hippo and giraffe are also found in the reserve. The bird watching is excellent, with over 365 species, including numerous varieties of weaverbirds and the martial eagle. Leopard sightings are also a special feature here. The Samburu area is also home to interesting people with a rich heritage, making for a colourful cultural experience.

After a rewarding day of game viewing in the vast Samburu Reserve, we return to our camp along the river for dinner and a relaxing evening out under the stars.

Day 3: Samburu to Lake Nakuru - Kenya

After breakfast we break up camp and hit the road again, game viewing on our way out of Samburu Park. We travel south through Kenya to Lake Nakuru National Park, stopping for lunch en route. Arriving at Lake Nakuru Park we take a scenic afternoon game drive in this compact wildlife area.

This Kenyan game park has retained its reputation as an ornithologist's delight, with more than 400 species of bird found here. Bird species include the Great White Pelican, African Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Stork, Lesser and Greater Flamingo, and Long-crested Eagle.

The Nakuru National Park surrounds the lake and was first gazetted to protect the rich bird life found here, later becoming a national park to provide sanctuary for endangered species such as the rhino. There are about 25 white and black rhinos, one of the largest concentrations in the country. Predators are also residents to this park while Rothschild’s giraffes have been trans-located into the park for safety This small park (180 sq km) is also home to warthogs, baboons, waterbuck, buffaloes, reedbucks, zebras and the occasional leopard.

Returning to our comfortable lodge we enjoy dinner and a relaxing evening after game spotting and bird watching in Nakuru Park.

Day 4: Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara - Kenya

Today we depart from the lodge after breakfast and travel south towards the famous Masai Mara Game Reserve, in southwest Kenya.

We drive through beautiful savannah grasslands and plains of the Great Rift Valley making our way to our next overnight accommodation, near Masai Mara. Arriving at our luxury tented camp overlooking the African bush, we settle in for a peaceful night under starry African skies.

Day 5: Masai Mara Game Reserve - Kenya

The next two days are spent embarking on exhilarating game viewing drives in Masai Mara.

On clear days, the Masai Mara offers fantastic orange-tinged sunsets worth capturing on camera. The Mara reserve covers 1510km² of incredible wide-open landscapes and fertile riverine woodlands, following the meanders of the Mara and Talek rivers. One glimpse is enough to explain its appeal as an iconic savannah, with a mass of amazing wildlife.

An optional hot-air balloon safari can be arranged at an extra cost.

After our action-packed day of wildlife sightings on the scenic plains of Africa we return to our tented camp for dinner. Fall asleep in the comfort of your tented room, listening to the sounds of wildlife and nocturnal creatures, surrounded by nature.

Day 6: Masai Mara Reserve - Kenya

Spend another full day exploring the spectacular Masai Mara Park. Wherever you go in the Mara Reserve you will see an abundance of wildlife, such as Masai giraffe, baboons, warthogs, bat-eared foxes, grey jackals, spotted hyena, topis, impala, hartebeests, wildebeest. elephants, buffaloes, zebras and hippos. It is common to see lions either basking after a heavy meal, or surveying the plains for their next meal. Cheetahs and leopards are harder to spot, but are still reasonably common.

The ultimate wildlife action here is without doubt the annual wildebeest exodus in July and August when millions of these grass-eaters move north from the Serengeti in search of greener grass before turning south again in October. The Great Migration is one of the most awe-inspiring wildlife spectacles on earth!

We spend our final night on safari under star-studded skies at the tranquil camp overlooking the wild Mara habitat.

Day 7: Masai Mara to Nairobi - Kenya

Head off into the bush on an early morning game drive in Masai Mara Reserve, before enjoying breakfast back at camp.

Then we return to bustling Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, arriving in the afternoon. This Budget Samburu, Masai Mara & Lake Nakuru Safari ends upon arrival in Nairobi.

Masai Mara Tour Accommodation

Accommodation on this tour is at a luxury tented camp in the wilderness near Masai Mara Game Reserve. We stay in permanent, walk-in tents with double beds. All tents have en-suite bathrooms, with flush toilets, washbasins and hot showers, and are fitted with mosquito nets. These spacious canvas tents are set apart in the bush, featuring private verandas for surveying the surrounding savannahs.

Samburu & Lake Nakuru Tour Accommodation

We camp beside a river amid palms and woodlands near Samburu Reserve. The safari camp features refreshing, cold showers.

Stay at a comfortable lodge near Lake Nakuru. Facilities include a bar and restaurant, free WiFi, in-room tea and coffee facilities, DSTV, complimentary bottled water and toiletries.

Safari Transport

Custom-made 4x4 safari vehicles with pop-up roofs, are used for game viewing drives on this tour. The maximum group size is six people, to guarantee each person a window seat on game drives.