This itinerary heads north of Nairobi into Kenya’s arid Samburu ecosystem and the private conservancies of Laikipia, including Ol Pejeta — genuinely different terrain, wildlife and pace from the more visited southern circuit, with the added benefit of off-road driving and night game drives that public reserves don’t permit.
Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1
Your driver-guide meets you at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for the drive north, crossing the equator at a marked line near Nanyuki — a popular photo stop with a small demonstration of water drainage direction on either side — before continuing into Samburu. Afternoon game drive on arrival.
Nairobi to Samburu National Reserve
Accommodation Options
Mid-rangeSamburu Sopa Lodge
LuxuryElephant Bedroom Camp
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
DAY 2
A full day along the Ewaso Nyiro riverbanks for Samburu’s distinctive “special five” — Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich — alongside elephant and predators drawn to the river in this otherwise arid landscape.
Full Day Samburu Game Drives
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3
The drive south to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a private reserve straddling the equator on the lower slopes of Mount Kenya, arriving with time for an afternoon game drive across genuinely varied terrain — savannah, forest edge and swamp within one boundary.
Transfer to Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Accommodation Options
Mid-rangeSweetwaters Serena Camp
LuxuryPorini Rhino Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4
A dedicated visit to Ol Pejeta’s rhino sanctuary, home to Najin and Fatu, the last two northern white rhinos on Earth, under round-the-clock protection from a dedicated security team. In the evening, a night game drive using spotlights to find nocturnal species — genuinely one of Ol Pejeta’s key advantages as a private conservancy, since Kenya’s public reserves prohibit driving after dark.
Ol Pejeta Rhino Tracking and Night Game Drive
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5
A visit to Ol Pejeta’s chimpanzee sanctuary, home to chimps rescued from the pet trade and conflict zones across Central Africa and rehabilitated here since the sanctuary’s founding, followed by an optional guided bush walk with an armed ranger — walking safaris being another activity public parks generally don’t permit.
Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Bush Walk
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6
A further full day exploring the conservancy’s varied terrain, off-road where wildlife sightings call for it, another advantage of the private conservancy model over public reserves’ fixed-track rules — lion, leopard and the Big Five in a genuinely uncrowded setting.
Full Day Game Drives
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7
Morning game drive before the return transfer to Nairobi, timed against your onward flight.
Return to Nairobi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Permits & Costs
| Samburu park entry | ~$70 per person per day |
| Ol Pejeta conservancy fee | ~$90 per person per day |
| Night game drive | Included in tour price |
Who This Itinerary Suits
Travellers wanting a quieter, more exclusive experience with activities not permitted in Kenya’s public reserves — off-road driving, night drives and guided walks.Tour Includes
- Travel in a 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof hatch
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- All accommodation per itinerary
- Meals as specified
- Conservancy fees & activities
Tour Excludes
- International flights
- Visas
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tips & gratuities
- Travel insurance