8 Day Samburu, Solio Ranch, Lake Nakuru, and Masai Mara Safari in Kenya

Kenya Tru Nomads's friendly travel guides will ensure that your safari will be safe, enjoyable, and unforgettable. Take a walk on the wild side with them and experience a once-in-a-lifetime trip to see everything that Kenya has to offer! Their team is dedicated to providing the best African safari experiences possible and making dreams come true.

Day 1: Nairobi - Samburu Game Reserve

After pick-up from the airport or Nairobi hotel / residence at 07:00, you will depart by road, driving north and crossing the equator from the southern to the northern hemisphere and to Samburu Game Reserve, a semi-arid region excellent for photographers.

Arrive at the camp in time for lunch, followed by some leisure hours for a siesta / swim before you depart at around 16:00 for an afternoon game viewing. Then, return to the camp before sunset.

Samburu is a name of Masai origin, ‘Samburu,’ a traditional leather bag for carrying honey and milk. The region is characterized by vast, open landscapes, dried riverbeds (depending on the season of the year), and red volcanic soil. Rock outcroppings contrast against the dense woodland vegetation along the banks of Ewaso Nyiro, meaning ‘river of brown water,’ the river that gives life to the reserve.

Day 2: Samburu Game Reserve

This full day in the Samburu Game Reserve will be spent searching for the Big Five, the Samburu five, and observing the vast, unspoiled scenery during morning and afternoon game viewing drives, watching crocodiles basking on muddy riverbanks, and velvet monkeys frolicking in the late afternoon sun.

These five particular animals are usually only found north of the equator: the long-necked gerenuk, the reticulated giraffe which is characterized by its liver-colored geometric patches defined by narrow white lines, the Grevy’s zebra which is smaller than the common zebra and looks more like a horse, the Beisa oryx with a black horizontal stripe running across its lower flank, and the Somali ostrich males which have blue-grey necks and thighs.

In addition, you will have a chance to interact with the Samburu people to learn about their culture.

Day 3: Solio Ranch

Solio Ranch or Solio Game Reserve is a privately owned wildlife conservancy located in Kenya's Central Province. The ranch is a fenced, protected area geared toward rhino conservation. The 17,500-acre reserve, 22 kilometers north of Nyeri Town, plays a major part in the protection and breeding of black rhinos in Kenya.

The rhino is a member of the 'Big Five,' which is a key tourist attraction. By the end of 2009, Kenya had 635 black rhinos and 353 white rhinos in various conservation areas around the country. Other wildlife includes the buffalo, zebra, giraffe, and plains game such as eland, oryx, impala, waterbuck, Thompson's gazelle, and warthog.

Day 4: Lake Nakuru National Park

After breakfast, depart for Lake Nakuru National Park, then arrive for lunch at Ziwa Bush Lodge. This will be followed by an afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru.

On the floor of the Great Rift Valley, surrounded by wooded and bushy grassland, lies the beautiful Lake Nakuru National Park. There, visitors can enjoy the wide ecological diversity and varied habitats that range from Lake Nakuru itself to the surrounding escarpment and picturesque ridges. This national park is ideal for bird watching, hiking, picnics, and game drives.

Day 5: Masai Mara National Reserve

Have breakfast at the hotel and then depart for the Masai Mara. Arrive for lunch at Mara Sopa Lodge, then at 16:00, depart for an afternoon game drive. Explore the Masai Mara, Kenya's finest and most outstanding wildlife sanctuary, where gentle rolling grassland ensures that animals are never out of sight.

The first sight of this game park will be breathtaking. There is nowhere else on earth to compare to this wildlife marvel. The combination of a gentle climate, scenic splendor, and untold numbers of wildlife makes the Masai Mara National Reserve Kenya's most popular inland destination.

Day 6: Masai Mara Game Reserve

After breakfast, leave for a full-day game drive with picnic lunch at the Mara River. Wherever you go in the vast Masai Mara, you will see a frequent amount of wildlife such as Masai giraffe, baboons, warthogs, bat-eared foxes, grey jackals, spotted hyena, topis, impala, hartebeests, and wildebeest. Elephants, buffalo, zebras, and hippos can also be found in great numbers.

The ultimate action there is, without doubt, the annual wildebeest exodus, the Great Migration. In July and August, millions of these grass eaters move north from the Serengeti in search of lusher grass before turning south again in October to December.

Day 7: Masai Mara Game Reserve

Depart for a full-day game drive at 08:30, enjoying about six hours of extensive game drives in the Mara. This full-day safari game drive will enable you to discover other areas of the Masai Mara Game Reserve. An optional hot air balloon safari can also be organized.

Day 8: Departure

Depart for Nairobi after breakfast, then be dropped off at the airport or your hotel / residence in the afternoon. This will mark the end of the tour of unforgettable memories!