Northern Kenya Wilderness and Laikipia Safari

7 Days / 6 Nights Conservation Safaris Samburu National Reserve Private Safari 5.0 Rating

Overview

The Northern Kenya Wilderness and Laikipia Safari is the most immersive and adventurous itinerary in the Nina Safa collection, designed for the experienced safari traveller who wishes to go beyond the well known southern circuit and explore the vast, largely undiscovered wilderness that stretches across the northern half of Kenya. This seven day journey covers four extraordinary destinations across the Northern Frontier District and Laikipia Plateau, each offering a profoundly different wildlife and landscape experience that together build a comprehensive portrait of northern Kenyas ecological richness. Samburu National Reserve opens the safari with its incomparable Special Five species and the atmosphere of wild remoteness that defines the northern frontier. Meru National Park, traversed by fourteen permanent rivers and immortalised by Joy Adamsons Born Free, continues the journey through one of Kenyas least visited and most biodiverse parks. Ol Pejeta Conservancy on the Laikipia Plateau brings the most profound conservation experience in East Africa, from the last two northern white rhinos on earth to the most successful black rhino sanctuary on the continent. The Laikipia Plateau itself concludes the safari on a private conservancy where African wild dog, night game drives and guided bush walks add dimensions of wildlife experience impossible in the national parks. This is a safari for those who believe that the greatest wildlife experiences are found beyond the beaten path.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1
Nairobi to Samburu National Reserve
A morning flight north from Nairobi carries you over Mount Kenya and the equatorial highland to Samburu in approximately one hour. The aerial view of the semi arid landscape below as the vegetation transitions from highland forest to acacia scrub is a dramatic introduction to the northern frontier. An afternoon game drive immediately delivers the Special Five species along the Ewaso Nyiro River in the golden afternoon light.
Morning flight Nairobi to Samburu, aerial views of Mount Kenya, afternoon Ewaso Nyiro game drive, Special Five introduction, reticulated giraffe and gerenuk, elephant at the river
Lunch and Dinner
Day 2
Full Day Samburu with Buffalo Springs Reserve
The second day in Samburu allows a comprehensive exploration of both the main reserve and the adjacent Buffalo Springs National Reserve, doubling the effective wildlife viewing area and introducing additional habitat diversity. The morning hours in Samburu are dedicated to tracking the Special Five in their various microhabitats, while the afternoon in Buffalo Springs focuses on the more open grassland areas where Grevy zebra territorial disputes are regularly observed and large elephant family groups move through the doum palm groves lining the river.
Morning Special Five tracking in Samburu, afternoon Buffalo Springs full exploration, Grevy zebra territorial display, elephant doum palm forest, large predator tracking, raptor identification session
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3
Samburu to Meru National Park
A light aircraft flight east from Samburu reaches the Meru airstrip in approximately 30 minutes, crossing the Ewaso Nyiro River and the transition from the semi arid northern plains to the wetter and greener landscape approaching the slopes of Mount Kenya. Meru National Park entry by vehicle begins the afternoon drive through the park network of rivers, where elephant, buffalo and hippo are immediately encountered and the first of the parks impressive bird diversity reveals itself.
Light aircraft flight from Samburu to Meru, river network afternoon drive, elephant and buffalo, hippo pools in the Tana, first Meru bird diversity, park interior exploration
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4
Full Day Meru National Park
A full day in Meru begins before dawn on the Ura Plains where cheetah are resident and regularly active in the cool morning hours. The black rhino sanctuary in the western park is visited with a dedicated ranger for what consistently produces the finest wild black rhino encounters in Kenya, as individuals are large in number and the sanctuary habitat is wild and unmanaged. The Tana River in the afternoon provides exceptional birding, crocodile watching and the dense riverine forest habitat that shelters leopard and the rare Tana River mangabey.
Pre dawn Ura Plains cheetah drive, black rhino sanctuary ranger walk, cheetah on open grassland, Tana River afternoon exploration, crocodile, hippo and riverine forest, specialist birding, leopard tracking
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5
Meru to Ol Pejeta Conservancy
The road south and west from Meru across the Mount Kenya foothills to Ol Pejeta takes approximately three hours through highland smallholder farming country. Arrival at Ol Pejeta in the early afternoon allows for an immediate entry game drive where the open plateau grassland produces cheetah, large elephant herds, reticulated giraffe and the beginning of the rhino encounters that will form the centrepiece of the following day.
Road transfer from Meru to Ol Pejeta through Mount Kenya foothills, afternoon Ol Pejeta entry game drive, cheetah on plateau grassland, reticulated giraffe, first rhino sightings, Mount Kenya sunset views
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6
Northern White Rhino Conservation Day and Transfer to Laikipia
The morning at Ol Pejeta is devoted entirely to the global conservation significance of the northern white rhino programme. Accompanied by a conservancy scientist, guests spend extended time with Najin and Fatu in what is one of the most meaningful wildlife encounters available anywhere in the world. The afternoon transfer deeper into the Laikipia Plateau to a private conservancy introduces night game drives, a wildlife experience only available on private land in Kenya, and guided bush walks at dawn with a full armed ranger escort.
Northern white rhino conservation experience with scientist, Najin and Fatu the last two, road transfer deeper into Laikipia, private conservancy arrival, afternoon bush walk with ranger, first night game drive
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7
Laikipia Private Conservancy and Return to Nairobi
A dawn bush walk across the Laikipia plateau grassland with an armed ranger explores the wildlife and ecology of the Laikipia landscape at a pace and intimacy impossible from a vehicle. African wild dog, if the pack is resident and denning, are encountered during the morning game drive before the afternoon light aircraft flight returns to Nairobi. The flight south over Mount Kenya provides the most memorable aerial farewell of any Kenya safari route.
Dawn bush walk with armed ranger, African wild dog morning search, morning game drive, light aircraft flight to Nairobi over Mount Kenya, private transfer to hotel or airport
Breakfast

What's Included

Included

  • Return airport transfers in a private safari vehicle
  • All game drives in a customised 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with a pop up roof
  • Full board accommodation throughout (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
  • Professional English speaking Kenya Wildlife Service certified safari guide
  • All national park and conservation area entry fees
  • Bottled mineral water throughout the safari
  • Flight between destinations where indicated in the itinerary
  • Complimentary airport meet and greet service
  • All government taxes and levies
  • Night game drives in private conservancy areas
  • Guided bush walks with armed ranger escort

Not Included

  • International flights to and from Nairobi
  • Visa fees (available on arrival for most nationalities at USD 51 per adult)
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Optional hot air balloon safari at the Maasai Mara (USD 480 per adult)
  • Alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages beyond water
  • Personal shopping and laundry
  • Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers and lodge staff
  • Any activities not specified in the itinerary
  • Single supplement surcharge where applicable

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