Come with us to Kenya for this amazing 6-Day Safari in Aberdare Sweetwater’s Samburu and Lake Nakuru. Kenya is known for its diverse landscapes and exceptional wildlife. This 6-Day Safari in Aberdare Sweetwater’s Samburu and Lake Nakuru offers a rich experience blending mountain forests, open plains, semi-arid savannahs, and alkaline lakes. The trip provides close encounters with the Big Five, rare species like the Grevy’s zebra and Rothschild’s giraffe, and unmatched birdlife all while crossing unique ecosystems in the central and northern regions of Kenya. This 6-Day Safari in Aberdare Sweetwater’s Samburu and Lake Nakuru circuit from the central highlands to the arid north and down into the Rift Valley delivers a rich safari experience. Aberdare offers a tranquil forest retreat. Sweet waters balances game viewing with conservation education. Samburu brings heat, color, and unique species. Lake Nakuru wraps up with open plains, birdlife, and rhinos.

Each location adds a different layer to the overall journey. The mix of landscapes, wildlife, cultural encounters, and intimate lodges makes this itinerary one of the most balanced and rewarding safaris you can take in Kenya.

Day 1: Nairobi to Aberdare National Park

The journey begins with a morning departure from Nairobi, heading north past the agricultural highlands of central Kenya. The views of tea and coffee plantations are constant as you climb in altitude. By early afternoon, the safari reaches Aberdare National Park an alpine park known for its lush rainforest, waterfalls, and misty atmosphere.

Check into your hotel room and after lunch, guests are transferred in lodge vehicles into the forest. The real charm begins in the evening. Visitors watch from balconies and lounge areas as animals, including elephants, bushbucks, warthogs, buffaloes, and sometimes leopards, gather at the waterhole. There’s no game drive on this day; instead, it’s a night of quiet observation, immersion, and anticipation.

Location: Aberdare National Park

Accommodation Option

Luxury: Treetops lodge

Mid-Range: Giraffe Ark Game Lodge

Budget: Green Hills Hotel

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2:  Transfer from Aberdare to Sweetwater’s (Ol Pejeta Conservancy)

After breakfast, the journey continues north toward the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, located on the Laikipia plains near Nanyuki. This private conservancy offers a more intimate wildlife experience, with fewer crowds and excellent conservation programs.

After check-in and lunch at your lodge, the afternoon is spent exploring the conservancy. Ol Pejeta is home to the only chimpanzee sanctuary in Kenya, where rescued chimps from Central Africa live in a large natural enclosure. Visitors also learn about rhino conservation, as the conservancy houses both black and white rhinos including the last two northern white rhinos on earth. Game drives here provide close sightings of lions, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and sometimes cheetahs. A major draw is the chance to see the Big Five in one location.

Optional night drives can be arranged to see nocturnal animals like aardvarks, servals, and lions on the hunt.

Location:

Accommodation Option

Luxury: Sweetwater’s Serena camp

Mid-Range: Falcon Heights Hotel

Budget: Peaks Hotel Nanyuki

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3:  Transfer from Sweetwater’s to Samburu National Reserve

After breakfast, the safari leaves the Laikipia plateau and descends into the drier, rugged landscapes of northern Kenya. Samburu National Reserve sits on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River and is known for its hot climate, dramatic scenery, and wildlife not found elsewhere in Kenya.

By early afternoon, you will arrive and check in at a lodge or camp. The afternoon game drive introduces guests to Samburu’s unique ecosystem. Here, you’ll find the “Samburu Special Five” Gravy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk, and Beisa oryx.  Elephants are plentiful and often seen bathing along the river. The dry terrain and open bush also make predators easier to spot. Leopards and lions are frequent sightings, often lazing on rocky outcrops or under acacia trees.

Location: Samburu National Park

Accommodation Option

Luxury: Samburu Game lodge

Mid-Range: Samburu Sopa lodge

Budget: Sarova Shaba Game lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Full Day in Samburu National Reserve

Day four is dedicated to exploring the Samburu reserve in depth. A typical schedule starts with an early morning game drive, when animals are most active. This is the best time to spot big cats on the move, hyenas returning to dens, or herds of elephants crossing the river.

After breakfast back at the lodge or picnic-style in the park, guests relax before the late afternoon drive. Samburu’s terrain dominated by doum palms, rocky hills, and the wide Ewaso Nyiro River makes it scenic and different from Kenya’s more well-known parks.

Between drives, an optional visit to a Samburu village can be arranged. This offers a look at the semi-nomadic lifestyle of the Samburu people, closely related to the Maasai, but with their own unique customs, attire, and traditions. Guests can participate in traditional dances, see how homes (manyattas) are constructed, and buy handmade jewelry.

Location: Samburu National Park

Accommodation Option

Luxury: Samburu Game lodge

Mid-Range: Samburu Sopa lodge

Budget: Sarova Shaba Game lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Transfer from Samburu to Lake Nakuru National Park

After breakfast, you will begin on your journey to Lake Nakuru National Park. This is the longest driving leg of the safari starting after an early breakfast. The route heads back south, through the equator line near Nanyuki, into the Great Rift Valley. The drive is scenic, with panoramic views of escarpments, farms, and lakes.

Upon arrival at Lake Nakuru National Park in the afternoon. You will check-in and have lunch at a lodge. There’s time for an afternoon game drive. Well-known for its flamingos, the lake has seen changing water levels in recent years, which have affected bird populations, but large flocks can still be seen.

Lake Nakuru is now better known for its rhinos, especially the endangered black rhino. It’s one of the best places in Kenya to see both black and white rhinos in the wild. The park also hosts leopards, Rothschild’s giraffes, buffaloes, and lions. Birdwatching is superb, with over 400 species recorded.

Location: Lake Nakuru National Park

Accommodation Option

Luxury: Lake Nakuru lodge

Mid-Range: Eagle palace Hotel

Budget: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Lake Nakuru to Nairobi

On the final day, guests enjoy an early morning game drive to catch one last look at the park’s wildlife and scenic views. Mornings around the lake are peaceful and offer great photo opportunities, especially with the rising sun lighting up the water and birdlife.

After breakfast, the safari concludes with the return drive to Nairobi for your departure flight or to your Hotel.

Meal plan:  Breakfast and Lunch

Safari includes

• 4*4 vehicle Transportation
• Park Entry fees
• Activities
• Meals
• Accommodation for 5 nights.
• Packed drinking water
• An English speaking guide.
• Airport Pick-ups and drop offs

Package excludes

• International Air tickets
• Visa fees
• Alcoholic drinks
• Personal shopping and needs