A Samburu ol Pejeta safari takes you north of the equator into genuinely different terrain, red earth, dry river beds and a set of animals you simply will not see in the Maasai Mara.
- FromUSD 1,050per person sharing, mid range, low season, 6 people
- Duration5 days, 4 nights
- StartsNairobi
- Best forRepeat visitors and first timers wanting northern Kenya’s special wildlife plus rhinos
- StylePrivate 4×4, fly drive option available
Rated 5.0 on Google from 46 reviews. Price confirmed in writing before you pay.
Ol Pejeta adds the last two northern white rhinos on earth and one of Kenya’s strongest black rhino populations, while Lake Nakuru rounds out the trip with flamingos and its own rhino sanctuary before you head back to Nairobi.
This Samburu ol Pejeta safari guide covers the full day by day plan, honest pricing across three tiers and the questions travelers ask us most before booking this specific northern Kenya route.
Highlights
- The Samburu Special Five, animals found here and barely anywhere else in Kenya
- Ol Pejeta Conservancy, home to the last two northern white rhinos on earth
- Strong black rhino sightings at both Ol Pejeta and Lake Nakuru
- Crossing the Equator near Nanyuki, a popular quick photo stop
- Lake Nakuru’s flamingos and dense rhino sanctuary to close the trip
- Private 4×4 Land Cruiser and one driver guide for the full 5 days
Day by day plan
- Day 1
Nairobi to Samburu
You leave Nairobi early morning, driving north past Mount Kenya’s foothills and crossing the Equator near Nanyuki, a popular quick photo stop, before continuing on to Samburu National Reserve, arriving by early afternoon in time for your first game drive.
- Day 2
Full Day in Samburu
A full day of game drives across Samburu and Buffalo Springs, hunting for the Samburu Special Five, Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Somali ostrich and beisa oryx, alongside the more usual elephant, lion and leopard sightings this dry country reserve is known for.
- Day 3
Samburu to Ol Pejeta Conservancy
A shorter drive south back toward Nanyuki and into Ol Pejeta Conservancy, where you settle in before an afternoon game drive focused on rhino tracking, since Ol Pejeta holds one of Kenya’s strongest black rhino populations alongside the world’s last two northern white rhinos.
- Day 4
Ol Pejeta to Lake Nakuru
A morning rhino tracking drive at Ol Pejeta before continuing on to Lake Nakuru, arriving in time for an afternoon game drive around the lake shore, known for its flamingos when water conditions suit them and a genuinely dense rhino sanctuary of its own.
- Day 5
Lake Nakuru to Nairobi
A final early morning game drive before breakfast, then the drive back to Nairobi through the Rift Valley escarpment, arriving by mid afternoon in time for an evening flight home.
5 Day Samburu Ol Pejeta Safari, USD per person sharing
| Tier | 2 people | 4 people | 6 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | USD 1,290 | USD 1,140 | USD 1,050 |
| Mid range | USD 1,780 | USD 1,540 | USD 1,410 |
| Luxury | USD 2,650 | USD 2,280 | USD 2,050 |
- Low season (Jan to Mar, Apr to May green) rates shown, park and conservancy fees included
- Jun to Oct peak season adds about 15 to 20 percent depending on camp availability
- Ol Pejeta conservancy fee runs about USD 110 per day non resident, itemised in your quote
- Festive dates 20 Dec to 3 Jan carry a camp surcharge, confirm at booking
Get my exact price on WhatsApp
Reserve this trip
Pick your dates and group. See the total. Hold it with a deposit.
Pay by Mpesa, bank transfer or card once we confirm in writing. Free changes until you confirm.
Included
- Private 4×4 Land Cruiser with a pop up roof and driver guide throughout
- Park and conservancy fees for Samburu, Ol Pejeta and Lake Nakuru
- 4 nights accommodation on full board
- All game drives across all three stops
- Bottled water throughout and return road transport from Nairobi
Not included
- International flights and your Kenya ETA or visa
- Tips for your driver guide and camp staff
- Alcoholic drinks and items of a personal nature
- Travel insurance
- Optional chimpanzee sanctuary visit at Ol Pejeta
Why Visit Northern Kenya Instead of the Mara
A Samburu ol Pejeta safari shows you a genuinely different Kenya, drier red earth landscapes and species you simply do not find in the Maasai Mara, rather than repeating the same open grassland scenery on a second trip.
It suits repeat visitors especially well, though first timers with a full week to spend often combine this route with a few days in the Mara for the fullest possible picture of Kenya’s wildlife variety.
Can I See the Last Northern White Rhinos at Ol Pejeta
Yes, Ol Pejeta Conservancy is home to the world’s last two northern white rhinos, both female, kept under close protection since the subspecies is functionally extinct in the wild everywhere else on earth.
Viewing is respectful and distanced for the animals’ welfare, arranged through the conservancy directly and included as part of your Samburu ol Pejeta safari itinerary at this specific stop.
Do I Cross the Equator on This Trip
Yes, the drive north from Nairobi to Samburu crosses the Equator near Nanyuki, a popular quick stop with a small demonstration and photo opportunity most drivers are happy to pull over for.
It adds only about 15 minutes to your travel day and is one of the small, memorable extras that makes a Samburu ol Pejeta safari feel different from a standard southern Kenya circuit.
How Much Is a 5 Day Samburu and Ol Pejeta Safari
A 5 day Samburu ol Pejeta safari starts from about USD 1,050 per person for 6 travelers sharing a budget camp, rising to about USD 2,650 per person for 2 travelers in luxury camps.
Mid range, the tier most of our clients choose, runs from USD 1,410 to USD 1,780 per person depending on group size. See our 3 day Samburu safari page if a shorter northern Kenya trip suits your schedule better.
What Is the Samburu Special Five
The Samburu Special Five refers to 5 species found here and in a handful of other northern Kenya reserves but rarely further south, Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Somali ostrich and beisa oryx.
Spotting all 5 on a single Samburu ol Pejeta safari is a realistic goal over a full day or two in the reserve, though as with any wildlife sighting nothing is ever fully guaranteed.
Rhino Tracking at Ol Pejeta
Ol Pejeta holds one of Kenya’s strongest black rhino populations alongside its famous northern white rhinos, with dedicated rhino tracking drives a highlight of most guests’ Samburu ol Pejeta safari itinerary.
Rangers know territories and recent movement well, giving genuinely strong odds of a sighting across a full day at the conservancy, alongside chimpanzee, lion and a healthy general plains game population.
Lake Nakuru: Flamingos and a Rhino Sanctuary
Lake Nakuru’s flamingo numbers shift with water levels and algae conditions year to year, spectacular in some seasons and thinner in others, so treat any flamingo sighting as a bonus rather than a guarantee on this leg of your Samburu ol Pejeta safari.
The park’s dense rhino sanctuary and strong general game viewing remain reliable regardless of flamingo numbers, along with good odds of lion and leopard around the acacia woodland bordering the lake.
Is 5 Days Enough for This Route
Yes, 5 days gives a full day at Samburu, a half to full day at Ol Pejeta and an afternoon plus morning at Lake Nakuru, enough time to properly settle into each stop rather than rushing through.
Travelers with more time can extend Samburu by a night and our 10 day Kenya safari page shows how this same northern route fits into a longer, more complete circuit including the Mara.
Vehicle, Guide and Pace on This Route
You keep the same driver guide and vehicle for the full 5 day Samburu ol Pejeta safari, which matters since your guide learns your interests and specific wildlife priorities by the second day.
- Pop up roof for standing photography without leaving your seat
- One guide for the whole trip rather than a new one at each stop
- Flexible daily timing, earlier starts on request for serious photographers
- Charging points and a cooler box for water in most vehicles
What to Pack for a Samburu Ol Pejeta Safari
Pack for genuinely hot, dry conditions at Samburu and Ol Pejeta, cooler mornings at higher altitude Lake Nakuru toward the end of the trip.
- Neutral coloured, breathable clothing for hot northern days
- A warm layer for Lake Nakuru’s cooler higher altitude mornings
- Binoculars, especially useful for spotting the Samburu Special Five at distance
- See our full what to pack for a Kenya safari checklist for everything else
Best Time for a Samburu and Ol Pejeta Safari
Jun to Oct and Jan to Mar offer the driest roads and strongest game viewing across all three stops on this Samburu ol Pejeta safari, since animals gather predictably around permanent water sources in dry weather.
See our Kenya safari month by month guide for a full seasonal breakdown before you lock in your travel dates.
Comparing This Route with a Maasai Mara Safari
If this is your first Kenya trip and you can only pick one region, the Maasai Mara’s Big Five odds and Great Migration usually win out, see our 4 day Maasai Mara safari page for that route.
For a second trip, or a first trip with a full week to spend, combining a Samburu ol Pejeta safari with a few Mara days gives the fullest, most varied picture of Kenya’s wildlife across two very different landscapes.
Chimpanzee Sanctuary at Ol Pejeta
Ol Pejeta also hosts the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, home to rescued chimps from across Central Africa, an optional add on visit alongside your rhino tracking drives on this Samburu ol Pejeta safari.
It sits inside the same conservancy, so adding it costs little extra time, mainly the sanctuary’s own entry fee, well worth it for guests who enjoy primates alongside the conservancy’s rhinos and big cats. Our Kenya safari animals guide covers the fuller range of species across this whole route.
Extending North Beyond This Route
Travelers who enjoy the northern circuit sometimes extend further into Laikipia’s private conservancies for an additional 2 to 3 nights, adding walking safaris and horseback options not available in Samburu or Ol Pejeta themselves.
See our Nanyuki getaway packages page and our Kenya walking and adventure safaris page if a walking focused extension appeals alongside your main Samburu ol Pejeta safari.
Booking Your Samburu Ol Pejeta Safari
Tell us your travel dates and group size on WhatsApp and we will send a private quote across all three tiers within a day, usually the same day you get in touch with us.
This route runs well year round with less seasonal price swing than the Mara, so a Samburu ol Pejeta safari can often be arranged with just a few weeks notice, even during the Jun to Oct peak months elsewhere in the country.
How to book your Samburu ol Pejeta safari
Booking your Samburu ol Pejeta safari with us takes about five minutes of your time. The rest is our job. Here is exactly what happens, step by step, so there are no surprises along the way.
- Send your dates. Message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates, how many people are coming and the ages of any children. Tell us if you have a budget in mind. We plan with it, not around it.
- Get a written quote. We reply with a clear price per person, what it includes and what it does not. No hidden park fees and no vague extras. If a cheaper camp or a shorter route makes more sense, we say so.
- Tweak it until it fits. Change a camp, add a night or swap a park. Ask as many questions as you like. Changes cost nothing until you confirm.
- Confirm with a deposit. A deposit holds your vehicle, guide and rooms. You get a written confirmation with every detail and the date the balance is due.
- Travel day. Your driver guide meets you at your hotel or the airport with a name board. You have their number and ours for the whole trip.
What every trip with us includes
Every Samburu ol Pejeta safari plan we put together comes with the basics done properly. You ride in a safari vehicle with a pop up roof, with a professional driver guide who knows the parks. Water is in the cooler box and park fees are sorted in advance so you do not stand in a queue at the gate.
We also stay reachable. If something changes on the road, a flat tyre, a closed route or a sudden storm, we sort it and keep you posted on WhatsApp.
Paying safely
We share payment details in writing only and every payment gets a receipt. The payment options and the balance date sit on your written quote, so nothing is left to memory or a phone call.
Why book with a Nairobi team
We live here. We drive these roads all year, we know which camps are honest about their photos and we know when a park is too busy to enjoy. That local knowledge is what turns a good Samburu ol Pejeta safari into a great one. Our Google rating sits at 5.0 from 46 reviews and we plan to keep it that way.
Ready when you are. Send us a message and we will put a plan together for you shortly.
Questions people ask
Why visit northern Kenya instead of (or as well as) the Mara?
A Samburu ol Pejeta safari shows you drier red earth landscapes and species not found further south, the Samburu Special Five and the last northern white rhinos among them. It pairs well with a Mara trip for repeat or full week visitors.
Can I see the last northern white rhinos at Ol Pejeta?
Yes, Ol Pejeta Conservancy protects the world’s last two northern white rhinos, both female, viewed respectfully and included as a stop on your Samburu ol Pejeta safari itinerary.
Do I cross the Equator on this trip?
Yes, the drive north to Samburu crosses the Equator near Nanyuki, a popular photo stop that adds about 15 minutes to your travel day on this Samburu ol Pejeta safari.
How much is a 5 day Samburu and Ol Pejeta safari?
From about USD 1,050 per person for 6 travelers in budget camps, up to USD 2,650 for 2 travelers in luxury camps. Mid range typically runs USD 1,410 to USD 1,780 per person, see our table above.
What is the Samburu Special Five?
Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Somali ostrich and beisa oryx, 5 species found here and rarely further south in Kenya. Spotting all 5 is a realistic goal on a Samburu ol Pejeta safari.
Is 5 days enough for Samburu, Ol Pejeta and Nakuru?
Yes, giving a full day at Samburu, time at Ol Pejeta for rhino tracking and a stop at Lake Nakuru, enough to settle into each without rushing through on this Samburu ol Pejeta safari.
Will I see flamingos at Lake Nakuru?
It depends on water levels and algae conditions that year, spectacular in some seasons and thinner in others. The park’s rhino sanctuary and general game viewing stay reliable regardless of flamingo numbers.
Can I combine this with the Maasai Mara?
Yes, our 10 day Kenya safari combines a Samburu ol Pejeta safari with Mara days for travelers with a full week or more to spend, giving the widest possible variety of Kenyan landscapes and wildlife.
Official information: Kenya Wildlife Service.
Ready when you are. Send your dates and group size. We reply with a clear price and a plan you can change.
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