8 Days Kenya Off-Road Adventure: Samburu & Laikipia – Hidden Gems

Safari Overview: Samburu Laikipia Off Road Safari

Leave the crowded reserves behind and venture into Kenya’s most extraordinary hidden gems. This 8 Day Kenya Off-Road Adventure takes you to the rugged, semi arid landscapes of Samburu National Reserve and the private conservancies of Laikipia, two regions that offer wildlife encounters found nowhere else in the country. Here you will see the Samburu Special Five: the reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, and the long necked gerenuk standing on its hind legs to browse. Unlike the Maasai Mara, these northern territories are remote, exclusive, and rich with unique species. You will track lions on foot with armed guides, sleep under canvas in mobile camps, visit a rhino sanctuary, and engage with Samburu warriors who have lived alongside wildlife for generations. Africa Exotic Safaris has designed this off road journey for travelers who crave authenticity, solitude, and the thrill of discovering Africa’s lesser known treasures. This is not merely a safari. It is an expedition into the wild heart of Kenya.

Quick Tour Specifics: Samburu Laikipia Off Road Safari

• Kenya Off-Road Adventure: Samburu & Laikipia – Hidden Gems
• Number of People: Tailored (private safari, small groups recommended)
• Start/End: Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
• Availability: All year throughout; best during dry seasons June to October and December to March
• Activities: Off road game drives, walking safaris, night game drives, rhino tracking, cultural visits, camel riding (optional)
• Destinations: Samburu National Reserve, Kalama Conservancy, Laikipia Plateau, Ol Pejeta Conservancy
• Price: Request a Quote for this Trip

Safari Highlights: Samburu Laikipia Off Road Safari

• Discover the Samburu Special Five: reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, and the graceful gerenuk.

• Explore the rugged Ewaso Nyiro River, where elephants, lions, and leopards gather during the dry season.

• Walk with armed guides through the Kalama Conservancy, learning to track animals on foot.

• Visit Ol Pejeta Conservancy, home to the last two northern white rhinos on Earth and a large population of black rhinos.

• Enjoy night game drives in Laikipia, spotting aardvarks, bat eared foxes, and hunting hyenas.

• Stay in exclusive eco camps and lodges with stunning views of Mount Kenya.

• Engage with Samburu warriors, learning their traditional songs, dances, and beadwork.

• Experience a camel safari along the Ewaso Nyiro River, a unique way to see wildlife at dawn.

Detailed Day by Day Safari Activities: Samburu Laikipia Off Road Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi – Gateway to the North

Your off road adventure begins the moment you land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. An Africa Exotic Safaris representative will greet you and transfer you to your comfortable hotel in Nairobi. Depending on your arrival time, you may visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to see orphaned elephants being fed, or the Giraffe Centre to feed endangered Rothschild giraffes. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel or at a renowned restaurant. Your safari guide will conduct a thorough briefing, explaining the off road driving conditions, packing tips, and the unique wildlife of Samburu and Laikipia. Rest well, for tomorrow you head north into the wild.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation Options: Luxury: Hemingways Nairobi | Mid Range: Tamarind Tree Hotel | Budget: Eka Hotel Nairobi

Day 2: Nairobi to Samburu National Reserve – Flying North

After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to Wilson Airport for a scheduled light aircraft flight to Samburu National Reserve. The one hour flight offers spectacular views of Mount Kenya and the vast northern frontier. Upon landing at the Samburu airstrip, your guide will meet you and drive you to your lodge or camp, located on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River. After checking in and enjoying lunch, you will set out for your first afternoon game drive. Samburu is known for its unique species. Within minutes, you may see a reticulated giraffe with its striking geometric pattern, a Grevy’s zebra with its narrow stripes and large ears, or a gerenuk standing on its hind legs to reach high branches. The river attracts large herds of elephants, and lions are often seen resting under acacia trees. Return to camp as the sun sets. Dinner is served under the stars, with the distant call of a leopard adding to the magic.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation Options: Luxury: Saruni Samburu | Mid Range: Ashnil Samburu Camp | Budget: Samburu Sopa Lodge

Day 3: Full Day in Samburu – The Special Five

Wake before dawn for a sunrise game drive, the best time to see predators returning from a hunt and to catch the special five in golden light. Your guide will take you deep into the reserve, searching for leopards along the riverine forest and cheetahs on the open plains. After a bush breakfast, continue your exploration. You may encounter a large herd of elephants crossing the dry riverbed or a pride of lions finishing a kill. A picnic lunch will be served at a scenic spot overlooking the Ewaso Nyiro. In the afternoon, visit a Samburu village to learn about this proud pastoralist culture. The Samburu are cousins of the Maasai, known for their elaborate beadwork and warrior dances. Return to camp for a late afternoon rest. As dusk falls, embark on a short night game drive within the reserve or a nearby conservancy, where you may spot aardvarks, genets, and hunting hyenas. Dinner is served back at camp.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation Options: Same as Day 2

Day 4: Samburu to Laikipia – Into the Private Conservancies

After breakfast, you will drive south west to the Laikipia Plateau, a journey of approximately three hours. Laikipia is a vast region of private ranches and conservancies that have pioneered community based conservation. You will arrive at your exclusive lodge or camp in time for lunch. Laikipia offers activities that are not possible in national reserves, including walking safaris, night drives, and off road driving. In the afternoon, you will join an armed guide for a walking safari. Track elephants, zebras, and giraffes on foot, learning to read footprints and understand animal behavior. The feeling of approaching a herd of zebras on foot is exhilarating. As the sun sets, you will enjoy sundowner drinks on a hilltop with panoramic views of Mount Kenya. Return to camp for a gourmet dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation Options: Luxury: Loisaba Tented Camp | Mid Range: Laikipia Wilderness Camp | Budget: Elewana Lewa Safari Camp (budget options limited in Laikipia)

Day 5: Full Day in Laikipia – Rhinos and Camels

Today you have a choice of extraordinary activities. Option one: visit the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a short drive from Laikipia. Ol Pejeta is home to the last two northern white rhinos on Earth, as well as a thriving population of black rhinos. You will join a ranger for a rhino tracking experience, learning about the intense anti poaching efforts. You will also visit the chimpanzee sanctuary, the only place in Kenya where you can see rescued chimpanzees. Option two: enjoy a camel safari along the Ewaso Nyiro River. Camel riding is a traditional way to explore the bush, and you will have a picnic breakfast in the riverbed. Alternatively, you can go mountain biking, fishing, or simply relax at your lodge. In the evening, enjoy a night game drive in a conservancy vehicle with a spotlight, searching for elusive nocturnal creatures. Return to camp for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation Options: Same as Day 4

Day 6: Laikipia to Lake Nakuru – Flamingos and Rhinos

After breakfast, you will drive south to Lake Nakuru National Park, a journey of approximately three hours. Known as the pink lake for its vast flocks of flamingos, Lake Nakuru is also a rhino sanctuary. You will arrive in time for lunch at a lodge overlooking the lake. In the afternoon, you will enjoy a game drive around the lake shore. The flamingos create a breathtaking carpet of pink, but they are not the only attraction. Lake Nakuru is also home to both black and white rhinos, often seen grazing on the grasslands. You may also spot Rothschild’s giraffes, lions, leopards, and large herds of buffalo. The park’s acacia forest is a favorite hiding place for leopards. As the sun sets behind the rift valley escarpment, return to your lodge for dinner. The views from the lodge over the lake are unforgettable.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation Options: Luxury: Lake Nakuru Lodge | Mid Range: Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge | Budget: Flamingo Hill Camp

Day 7: Lake Nakuru to Nairobi – Final Game Drive and Farewell

Wake early for a final morning game drive around Lake Nakuru, catching the sunrise over the pink waters. After breakfast, you will drive back to Nairobi, a journey of approximately three hours. You will arrive in time for a farewell lunch at a restaurant of your choice. In the afternoon, you have the option to visit the Karen Blixen Museum, the former home of the author of Out of Africa, or go souvenir shopping at the Utamaduni Craft Centre. Your guide will then transfer you to your hotel or directly to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport depending on your departure plans. Enjoy a final dinner in Nairobi, reflecting on the hidden gems you have discovered.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation Options: Same as Day 1

Day 8: Nairobi – Departure

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time for a last minute visit to the Nairobi National Museum or a relaxing walk in the Karura Forest. Your Africa Exotic Safaris representative will transfer you to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport three hours before your departure flight. As you check in, you will carry with you the image of a reticulated giraffe against a dusty sky, the thunder of rhinos in the bush, and the warmth of Samburu warriors. This 8 Day Kenya Off-Road Adventure has taken you to the hidden gems of Samburu and Laikipia. Africa Exotic Safaris thanks you for choosing us and looks forward to welcoming you back to Kenya.

Meals: Breakfast

Inclusions: Samburu Laikipia Off Road Safari

• All airport transfers in Nairobi on arrival and departure.

• Light aircraft flight from Nairobi to Samburu (including luggage allowance of 15 kg per person).

• Private, custom built 4×4 safari vehicle with pop up roof for all game drives and transfers.

• Professional English speaking safari guide with extensive knowledge of northern Kenya.

• Accommodation for 7 nights as per the itinerary in your chosen category.

• All meals as indicated (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

• All park entry fees and conservancy fees.

• Game drives as described, including night game drives in Laikipia.

• Guided walking safari in Laikipia with armed ranger.

• Rhino tracking experience at Ol Pejeta Conservancy (if chosen).

• Samburu village visit with cultural performance.

• Bottled drinking water throughout the safari.

• Flying doctor emergency evacuation cover (limited to first aid and evacuation).

• Government taxes and service charges.

Exclusions: Samburu Laikipia Off Road Safari

• International flights to and from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

• Visa fees for Kenya (obtainable online or on arrival for most nationalities).

• Travel and medical insurance (mandatory for all travelers).

• Tips and gratuities for guides, rangers, drivers, and lodge staff.

• Alcoholic and soft drinks except for water.

• Personal expenses such as laundry, souvenirs, phone calls, and spa treatments.

• Optional camel safari, mountain biking, or fishing activities (can be arranged at extra cost).

• Any item not explicitly mentioned in the inclusions.