Kenya’s Ol Pejeta, Meru & Samburu Epic Safari

Jambo!  You’ll be met by your local guide in Nairobi at 7:30 am, before setting off on your tour of central Kenya’s wildlife hotspots.  Heading north, our destination is 223 km (138 mi) away and should take 4-5 hours.  En route, you’ll pass the towering presence of Kenya’s tallest mountain, Mount Kenya whose snow-capped peak is sometimes hidden by clouds.  The landscape becomes ever gentler; the quintessential savannahs of East Africa before we arrive at your first stop.

Ol Pejeta is a privately funded conservancy where you will spend two nights.  After checking in, lunch is served.  Then it is time for your first safari experience, wildlife viewing from a vehicle, known as a game drive.  The conservancy was largely established to aid both black and white rhinos, whose existence across Africa has been threatened by poaching.  Given its success, you’ll be sure to spot some of the 165 black rhinos and 40-plus white rhinos in residence on the 360 sq. km (140 sq mi) property.  As the sun dips to the horizon, you’ll return to your lodge or camp in time for dinner and rest.

• Accommodation at your camp or lodge
• Overnight stay in Ol Pejeta Conservancy
• Lunch and dinner, but not breakfast
• Drinking water, other drinks are extra

As wildlife is generally most active when it’s cooler, we set off on a morning game drive after breakfast.  Ol Pejeta is said to have the second-highest density of predators in Kenya, so there is every chance of seeing lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and African wild dogs.  You can be sure that there is abundant prey, such as giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and various antelope.  During the course of the morning, we’ll also visit the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary – a refuge for chimps rescued from the black market.

We return to the camp for lunch, followed by a siesta.  As the temperature drops, we set off on an afternoon game drive.  During the course of the excursion, you’ll get to meet two gentle souls who represent the last of their kind on the planet.  Once widely roaming in central and northeast Africa, Najin and Fatu are the last two northern white rhino on the planet.  Sad but inspirational, this encounter will surely impress upon you the urgent crisis facing our wildlife.

Back at your camp, it’s time for dinner and bed.  However, if you’d like to see what goes on after the lights go out, we offer the option of a night game drive where you may see unusual species such as aardvark and zorillas

• Accommodation at your camp or lodge
• Overnight stay in Ol Pejeta Conservancy
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Drinking water, other drinks are extra

With all the activity, you’ll be forgiven if you decide to sleep in one morning.  If the fear of missing out is just too much though, set off on the morning game drive and you just might be rewarded with a sighting of a leopard feeding on last night’s catch high up in a tree.  Too grisly? Ol Pejeta has over 500 species of birds and you  could have some fun testing your guide to see how many they can identify.

Returning for breakfast, it is then time to depart for your second destination.  Ensconced in the comfort of our vehicle, watch the ever changing scenery as we head west for some 194 km (120 mi) over 4-5 hours.  In 1956, an orphaned lioness cub, Elsa, was raised and released back into the wild.  The book and subsequent movie about this was called, “Born Free”, and took place largely in what is now Meru National Park, where you’ll arrive in time for lunch.  Afterwards, we set off in search of Elsa’s lion descendants and other members of the Big 5 (leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo).  The park has a pleasing variety of lush and semi-arid vegetation, supporting a diversity of other wildlife, birds and plants.  Dinner around a roaring fire brings the day to a close.

• Accommodation at your camp or lodge
• Overnight stay in Meru National Park
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Drinking water, other drinks are extra

Set off again at sunrise to explore more of the 870 sq. km (335 sq. mi) national park.  The landscape is dotted with granite outcrops which act as viewpoints.  Pause here to take in the magnificent vista before heading back to camp for breakfast.  Saying goodbye to new friends, it is now time to depart Meru and head about 134 km (83 mi) northwest.  The journey should take in the region of three and a half hours after which you’ll arrive at the final national park on this itinerary and your home base for the next two nights.

On arrival, lunch is served.  Afterwards, take a moment to appreciate your new surroundings  before jumping into the safari vehicle to explore Samburu National Park in more detail.  This park is 165 sq. km (63 sq. mi) in size, with an arid to semi-arid landscape.  Along its southern border, the Ewaso Ng’iro river forms the only permanent water source for the park and is lined with riverine forest.  In other areas, grasslands and woodlands predominate.  This variety of habitats support some species especially adapted to this dry part of the country.  On returning to the camp, freshen up before dinner and a well earned rest.

• Accommodation at your camp or lodge
• Overnight stay in Samburu National Reserve
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Drinking water, other drinks are extra

Day 5 is wholly devoted to viewing the wildlife of Sambura and your vehicle will carry picnic baskets and refreshments to last the full day.  Since it is in the area, we also offer our guests the option of visiting the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, where rescued elephants are prepared for their return to the wild.  One of the key attractions of Samburu, and a point of pride for every guide to show their guests is the Samburu Special Five, namely the strikingly marked reticulated giraffe, the Grevy’s zebra with distinctive narrow stripes, Beisa oryx with its scimitar-like horns, the Somali ostrich (the world’s largest bird) and the long-necked Gerenuk.

Of the Big 5, rhino are absent.  However, you have an excellent chance of spotting lions, leopards, elephants and buffalos as you traverse the park.  During game drives, the guides are in contact with one another so that they can share information about sightings.  Other predator species you can hope to see are cheetahs and African wild dogs.  These are two of the most endangered predators in Africa, where habitat loss has resulted in them being concentrated in areas like Samburu where they currently thrive.  In the case of Samburu, it is the dry and diverse habitats that account for the excellent birdwatching in the area.  

After a full day, your dinner and bed await back at the lodge. 

• Accommodation at your camp or lodge
• Overnight stay in Samburu National Reserve
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Drinking water, other drinks are extra

Once again, we’re off before dawn on a game drive.  With the safari drawing to an end, you might want to savor the occasion.  Take note of the undulating waves of grass.  See the eagle silhouetted among the branches of a dead tree.  Delight in the clumsy gait of a young giraffe.  Catch your breath as the dappled coat of the leopard moves out of the shadows.  In Africa, nature holds her own and is as unapologetic in her beauty as she is in her brutality.  As author Francesca Marciano commented, “You can never hope to describe the emotion Africa creates? You are lifted. Out of whatever pit, unbound from whatever tie, released from whatever fear. You are lifted and you see it all from above.” 

With these and other memories safely stored, it is time to leave Samburu and the wild plains of East Africa.  The journey back to Nairobi should take 6-7 hours, covering roughly 315 km (195 mi).  At journey’s end, we say our goodbyes, with an open invitation to return – one we’re sure many of you will accept.

• No accommodation, this is the final day
• Breakfast and lunch, no dinner
• Drinking water. other drinks are extra