Locate Kenya’s dramatic highlands and arid north on this carefully crafted 4 days Aberdares and Samburu safari. First, you’ll leave Nairobi; then, over four days you’ll enjoy game drives, riverside picnics, and dramatic scenery including Mount Kenya, Lenkiyo Hills and the Mathew Ranges while searching for iconic and rare wildlife. Finally, you return to the capital with unforgettable photos and memories.
Highlights
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Fast facts: 4 days, departs/returns Nairobi, ideal for wildlife lovers and photographers.
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Key places: Aberdares National Park and Samburu National Reserve.
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Wildlife to expect: lions, leopards, elephants, eastern black rhino, cheetahs, hippos, crocodiles, buffalo and the Samburu “special five” (reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich).
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Landscapes: Mount Kenya views, Lenkiyo Hills, Mathew Ranges, and Ewaso Ng’iro River scenery.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi → Aberdares National Park
Firstly, your guide picks you up from Kenyatta International Airport or your Nairobi hotel. Then, you drive through the lush central highlands, passing coffee and pineapple farms and local Kikuyu communities. After lunch at your lodge, enjoy an afternoon game drive where you may see lions, eastern black rhinos, leopards, elephants, East African wild dogs, giant forest hogs, bushbuck and more. Finally, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Aberdares → Samburu National Reserve
After an early breakfast, depart Aberdares and head north toward Samburu along the Ewaso Ng’iro River corridor. Upon arrival, check into your lodge at lunchtime. Later, take an afternoon game drive across the plains to encounter elephants, leopards, spotted hyenas, olive baboons, colobus monkeys, warthogs, impala and northern specials like gerenuk and Beisa oryx. Then, relax with dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3: Full day in Samburu National Reserve
Early in the morning, enjoy a full-day game drive with a packed picnic lunch on the riverbank. During the day, you will explore riverine habitats and open plains, where you’re likely to spot lions, elephants, leopards, Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, hippos and crocodiles, plus abundant birdlife. Afterwards, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Samburu → Nairobi
To maximize sightings, wake early for a final game drive around 06:00. Then, return to the lodge for breakfast; next, depart Samburu and drive back to Nairobi. Finally, you will be dropped at your hotel or the airport, marking the end of the safari.
Inclusions
Complimentary arrival & departure airport transfers.
Transport as per the itinerary.
Accommodation as listed or similar.
Meals as indicated (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
Services of a literate English-speaking driver/guide.
National park & reserve entrance fees.
Excursions and activities listed in the itinerary.
Recommendation: mineral water while on safari.
Exclusions
Personal expenses (drinks, tips, laundry, phone calls).
International flights.
Optional activities not listed in the itinerary (for example, balloon safari).
Why book this safari?
Moreover, this short but immersive circuit pairs montane forests and dry-country wildlife, so you see Kenya’s varied ecosystems in just four days. In addition, expert guides increase your chances of great sightings, and consequently of incredible photos. Therefore, it’s perfect for busy travellers who still want a meaningful wildlife experience.