Your journey begins inNairobi to the iconic Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a global model for wildlife protection. Over two days, you’ll connect with Kenya’s conservation story through game drives to see the “Big Five” and the world’s last two northern white rhinos, a visit to the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, and unique experiences like horseback safaris. Evenings bring sundowners against the backdrop of Mount Kenya, with dinners under the stars at your bush camp, setting the tone for an adventure defined by purpose and wild beauty.
Venturing north, the landscape transforms into the arid drama of Samburu National Reserve. Here, for two nights, your focus shifts to seeking the rare “Samburu Special Five”—the gerenuk, Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, and Somali ostrich—along the life-giving Ewaso Ng’iro River. An afternoon cultural visit to a traditional Samburu village adds a rich human dimension to your exploration, while mornings may offer the silent spectacle of a hot air balloon safari. The journey then turns towards the cool, lush highlands for a restorative stop at the Ngare Ndare Forest. Walking its 450-meter canopy walkway, swimming in crystalline blue pools, and spotting forest wildlife provides a serene and magical interlude between the vast plains.
Your adventure culminates in the remote and lush wilderness of Meru National Park, the historic home of Elsa the Lioness. Over two final days, you’ll explore this quiet, crowd-free park on game drives teeming with elephant and cheetah, visit the highly successful Meru Rhino Sanctuary, and pay respects at Elsa’s Grave—a poignant tribute to conservation. The journey is framed by serene sundowners and farewell dinners, leaving you with enduring memories of Kenya’s untamed north, its pioneering conservation efforts, and its profound, wild spirit.
Trip Facts
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Nairobi
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June to October and January to February
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Nairobi
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English, Spanish. French, German, Chinese, Italian
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Full board
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6 to 24
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Safari Jeep
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comfortable lodges to authentic tented camps
Safari Overview
This itinerary takes you on a journey through the wild and conservation-focused landscapes of northern Kenya. You’ll start at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, meeting rhinos and chimpanzees, before heading north to track the unique “Samburu Special Five” in the dramatic arid reserve. The adventure includes a serene stop at the Ngare Ndare Forest’s canopy walkway and culminates in the remote, lush wilderness of Meru National Park, completing a week of profound wildlife encounters and pioneering conservation stories.
Safari Highlights
- Conservation Pioneers at Ol Pejeta: Begin your journey in a world-renowned sanctuary, coming face-to-face with rhinos, including the last two northern white rhinos on Earth, and visiting the unique Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
- The Samburu "Special Five": Venture into an iconic arid landscape to track rare species found nowhere else in Kenya—the graceful gerenuk, the stripy Grevy's zebra, the elegant reticulated giraffe, the Beisa oryx, and the Somali ostrich.
- Canopy Walk & Forest Oasis at Ngare Ndare: Experience a stunning change of scenery on a walk high above the forest floor on East Africa's longest canopy walkway, followed by a swim in breathtakingly clear, turquoise natural pools.
- Remote Wilderness of Meru National Park: Explore the lush, crowd-free park that inspired "Born Free," visiting Elsa's Grave and tracking wildlife in a pristine landscape of rolling grasslands and meandering rivers.
