Safari in Samburu, Nakuru & Masai Mara — with a Zanzibar Coastal Retreat

Duration:

13 days

Guide Language:

English

Group Size:

2 - 10 people

Transport:

Flight, 4WD Safari Cars

Tour Meals:

Breakfasts, Lunch, Dinner

Tour Type:

Bush to Beach, Kenya, Luxury, Zanzibar

Accommodation:

Lodges, Resorts

Thirteen days, three Kenyan landscapes, zero wasted time. Wake to lion tracks in the Mara, drift over the migration at dawn by balloon, watch elephants move beneath Kilimanjaro in Amboseli — each leg linked by private air, so the journey never loses momentum to the road. Then the itinerary does something rarer still: it stops. Twelve nights end on Zanzibar, where the only decision left is which stretch of sand to disappear onto.

Journey Highlights

The moments that make this journey unforgettable.

Standing on the Equator
Samburu's Rare Wildlife
Nakuru's Rhino & Flamingos
Full Days in the Masai Mara
Zanzibar Coastal Retreat

Itinerary

Day 1 — Arrive Nairobi

Met on arrival and transferred directly to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, ease into the trip with an afternoon by the pool, or let your host arrange a private excursion into the city — the choice is yours before the safari begins in earnest tomorrow.

Stay at: Argyle Grand Hotel or Hilton Garden Inn

Day 2 — Nairobi to Samburu

After breakfast, you’ll depart with your private guide for Samburu, crossing the equator near Mount Kenya along the way — a small ceremony of geography, standing with one foot in each hemisphere as the Coriolis effect is demonstrated firsthand. The landscape shifts as you go, lush highlands giving way to drier, more open country. On arrival, lunch waits at your lodge, followed by your first game drive.

Samburu is unlike anywhere else in Kenya — an arid plateau at roughly 1,000 metres, its terrain shifting from grey to reddish-brown, cut through by the Ewaso Ng’iro, the “brown river” that sustains the region’s wildlife. The reserve holds species found nowhere else in the country: Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, oryx, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe — alongside elephant, leopard, lion, and cheetah. Dinner awaits back at the lodge.

Day 3 — Full Day, Samburu

A full day of game drives across the reserve, with a picnic lunch out in the field so no time is lost returning to camp. Beyond the wildlife, there’s the chance to meet the Samburu people themselves — close relatives of the Maasai, known for their pastoralist way of life and striking traditional dress. In the evening, unwind with a drink by the fire as the day’s impressions settle.

Day 4 — Samburu to Lake Nakuru

The journey turns south after breakfast, passing Mount Kenya once more as the Great Rift Valley comes into view — a fault line stretching nearly 5,000 kilometres across East Africa. A stop at Thompson Falls offers a chance to stretch your legs and take lunch at the falls-side café before continuing to Lake Nakuru, arriving in time for an afternoon game drive.

Nakuru is one of the most reliable places on the continent to see the endangered black rhino — close enough to a guarantee that it’s rarely disappointing. Along the lakeshore, thousands of flamingos may paint the water pink. At the lodge, take in the view and a swim before dinner.

Day 5 — Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara

The day opens with a morning game drive in Nakuru, home to over 450 bird species and a genuine paradise for birdwatchers, alongside waterbuck, impala, buffalo, giraffe, and zebra. (The one animal you won’t find here is the elephant — the Mara and Samburu have already taken care of that.)

By late morning, you’ll depart for the Masai Mara, the Kenyan half of the Serengeti ecosystem and, in season, home to one of the greatest concentrations of wildlife on Earth. The drive takes much of the afternoon, passing small villages and local markets en route, arriving in the late afternoon with the rest of the day free.

Day 6 — Full Day, Masai Mara

A full day of game drives across the Mara’s open plains, rolling grassland, and acacia-studded horizon, with the Mara River cutting through it all. Elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, lion, cheetah, and leopard all move freely here. A picnic lunch out in the field keeps you in the wild for as much of the day as possible — the Mara never repeats itself, its light, color, and wildlife shifting by the hour.

Day 7 — Masai Mara to Zanzibar

After breakfast, you’ll leave the Mara behind and travel to Nairobi, where a private flight carries you onward to Zanzibar — six nights on the coast waiting at the other end. On arrival, you’re met and transferred directly to your coastal retreat.

Day 8–12 — Zanzibar Coastal Retreat

Unstructured days on Zanzibar’s beaches, with Stone Town, a spice tour, or a dhow sail available on request — or nothing at all.

Day 13 — Departure Day

You’ll be collected from your hotel and transferred to the airport, where your journey home begins.

 


What’s Included

  • International flight coordination to Nairobi, with private transfer on arrival
  • Dedicated English-speaking guide throughout your Kenya safari
  • Six nights across the Kenya safari legs, full board included (excluding dinner on Day 2 and lunch on Day 5)
  • Samburu Game Reserve — crossing the equator en route to rare wildlife found nowhere else in Kenya
  • Lake Nakuru National Park — rhino and flamingo sightings among Africa’s most reliable
  • Masai Mara — home to the world’s greatest concentration of wildlife
  • Private 4WD Land Cruiser for every game drive, fitted with Wi-Fi and power outlets
  • Daily bottled water throughout every safari day
  • All national park and game reserve fees
  • Private flight from Nairobi to Zanzibar, transfer included
  • Six nights at your Zanzibar coastal retreat
  • Option to extend your time at the coast
  • Private flight and transfer home from Zanzibar
  • A private journey — no shared group, guided exclusively for you
  • Full financial protection on your booking
  • A single 24/7 point of contact throughout your journey
  • No minimum group size — your journey departs on your dates, guaranteed

What’s Not Included

✗ International flights to and from Nairobi (quoted separately based on your preferred routing and cabin class)
✗ Visa fees and travel insurance
✗ Optional excursions beyond the itinerary — including the dawn balloon safari, Stone Town tour, spice tour, or dhow sailing

✗ Alcoholic beverages and premium drinks beyond what’s specified at each property
✗ Gratuities for guides, camp staff, and drivers
✗ Personal expenses — spa treatments, laundry, souvenirs, and similar
✗ Vaccinations and any required travel health documentation
✗ Any additional nights or extensions beyond the confirmed itinerary

Signature Experiences

  • The Equator Crossing — a hands-on demonstration of the Coriolis effect, one foot in each hemisphere
  • Samburu’s Endemic Wildlife — species like the gerenuk and reticulated giraffe, unique to this corner of Kenya
  • Thompson Falls — a scenic stop through the Great Rift Valley, on the road between Samburu and Nakuru
  • Meeting the Samburu People — a glimpse into a pastoralist way of life closely tied to the Maasai

Why Choose This Journey

  • Experience three entirely different safari ecosystems — Samburu’s rugged north, Nakuru’s rift lakes, and the iconic Masai Mara
  • Look forward to rhino and flamingo sightings at Lake Nakuru, among Africa’s most reliable
  • Encounter both the Big Five and species found nowhere else in Kenya, only in Samburu
  • Close the journey on Zanzibar — white sand, turquoise water, six nights with nothing left to plan
Frequently Asked Questions
  • Samburu sits in Kenya's arid north and holds species found nowhere else in the country — Grevy's zebra, gerenuk, and reticulated giraffe among them — offering a genuinely different safari from the Mara's classic Big Five plains.

  • Yes — Nakuru is one of the most reliable places in Africa to see the endangered black rhino, to the point where sightings are close to guaranteed.

  • The road sections themselves are part of the experience — crossing the equator, stopping at Thompson Falls, and taking in the Great Rift Valley — while three full safari days are spent purely on game drives across Samburu and the Masai Mara.

  • Yes — the coastal retreat portion of this journey can be extended if you'd like more time at the beach before departing.

Map

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From Original price was: $3,850.00.Current price is: $3,629.00.

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Extra

Stone Town Private Tour ($99.00)

Dhow Sunset Sail ($120.00)

Nakuru Rhino Tracking Add-On ($150.00)

Private Vehicle Upgrade ($1,200.00)

Hot Air Balloon Safari (Masai Mara) ($550.00)

Guided Walk with a Samburu Warrior ($90.00)

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Total = $3,629.00

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    From Original price was: $3,850.00.Current price is: $3,629.00.

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