Kenya Northern Frontiers and Rift Valley Safari

Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, where a representative will warmly welcome you. This arranged reception provides a clear transition from your airport arrival to the next scheduled step, with the representative in place as your seven-day journey through Kenya begins.

After the welcome, proceed with your transfer from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport into Nairobi. The first day centers on these arrival logistics, following the planned sequence from landing and meeting the representative to completing your scheduled transfer within Nairobi.

The name “Nairobi” comes from the Maasai phrase “Enkare Nyrobi,” translated as “cool water.”

After breakfast, leave Nairobi and travel north through Kenya’s scenic central highlands. Pass coffee plantations and the slopes of Mount Kenya as you continue toward Samburu National Reserve. Arrive in time for lunch, completing the journey before the afternoon wildlife program begins.

Set out on your first game drive through Samburu’s unique semi-arid wilderness. Look for the Samburu Special Five: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, Beisa oryx, and gerenuk. The reserve also supports elephants, lions, leopards, and a rich diversity of birdlife.

Samburu takes its name from the Samburu people who live throughout the area.

Spend the day exploring Samburu National Reserve on morning and afternoon game drives along the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River. Travel through landscapes characterized by rocky hills, acacia woodlands, and open plains, with both drives providing opportunities for exceptional wildlife viewing across the reserve.

Watch for elephants gathering along the riverbanks, large predators, and unique wildlife species found only in northern Kenya. During the day, also visit a typical Samburu village. This exciting cultural experience is intended to leave you with extraordinary memories of your time in the reserve.

The Samburu are pastoralists whose livestock traditionally includes goats, sheep, cattle, and, in more arid areas, camels.

After breakfast, depart Samburu and drive south to the award-winning Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Arrive in time for lunch before beginning the afternoon program. Set out on a game drive through the conservancy, renowned for its successful rhino conservation programs and diverse wildlife populations.

Continue to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary, the only place in Kenya dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of chimpanzees. You will also explore the rhino sanctuary, which is home to both black and white rhinos, completing the day’s scheduled conservation-focused visits.

Chimpanzees are not native to Kenya, and the conservancy’s chimpanzee sanctuary has operated since 1993.

Spend a full day discovering the remarkable wildlife and conservation initiatives of Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Join morning and afternoon game drives, with opportunities to encounter the Big Five, endangered rhinos, elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, and numerous plains game.

Throughout the day, learn about the conservancy’s internationally recognized wildlife protection efforts while experiencing one of Kenya’s finest safari destinations. You will also get involved in one of the community projects initiated by the conservancy as part of the day’s program.

Ol Pejeta began as a cattle ranch before developing into a wildlife conservancy focused on conservation and community development.

After breakfast, depart for Lake Nakuru National Park and arrive in time for lunch. In the afternoon, begin a game drive through this picturesque park, following the day’s planned sequence from the morning journey to wildlife viewing within the park.

During the drive, look for thriving populations of black and white rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, tree-climbing lions, and buffaloes. The park also supports an impressive variety of birdlife, while the alkaline lake attracts seasonal flocks of flamingos and numerous water birds.

Formal conservation at Lake Nakuru began in 1961 through the creation of a bird sanctuary.

After breakfast, leave Lake Nakuru and begin a leisurely drive back to Nairobi. Travel through the scenic Great Rift Valley, completing the final overland journey of your seven-day Kenya safari. The relaxed pace defines this return segment before you arrive in Nairobi.

On arrival, continue with your transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. This transfer connects with your onward international flight, bringing your unforgettable Kenyan safari to a close after the return journey from Lake Nakuru through the Great Rift Valley.

The Great Rift Valley forms part of the active East African Rift, a continental rift system extending more than 3,000 kilometers.