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6 Day Samburu, Lake Nakuru and Naivasha Safari

Search for Samburu's northern wildlife, explore Lake Nakuru's rhino country and finish with a boat safari on Lake Naivasha.

Plan This Safari

6 Days / 5 Nights / Private Road Safari / Nairobi Return

Wildlife in the dry landscapes of Samburu
Samburu / Northern Kenya
6 Days 5 Nights
2 Samburu Nights Northern Wildlife and River Scenery
2 Nakuru Nights Rhinos and Lake Birdlife
1 Naivasha Night Boat Safari Included
Your Journey at a Glance

Northern Kenya's dry country meets the Rift Valley lakes.

Travel from Nairobi to the Samburu area, continue to Lake Nakuru and finish beside Lake Naivasha.

01 / DAYS 1 AND 2

Samburu

2 nights in the Samburu area with river and dry-country game viewing.

02 / DAYS 3 AND 4

Lake Nakuru

2 nights, rhino viewing and game drives through varied habitats.

03 / DAY 5

Lake Naivasha

1 lakeside night and a boat safari for hippos and birds.

04 / DAY 6

Nairobi Return

Breakfast by the lake before your private road transfer.

The Safari Experience

Northern species, rhino country and lake wildlife.

A gerenuk reaching into a thorny shrub, a rhino grazing beside woodland and a fish eagle perched above the lake bring different wildlife encounters to this Kenya journey. Spend 6 days travelling between northern dry country and the Rift Valley, with a private vehicle and driver guide.

Start in the Samburu wildlife area , where the Ewaso Nyiro River creates a green corridor through a much drier landscape. Search for Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich, collectively known as the Samburu Special Five.

Continue to Lake Nakuru National Park for rhinos, giraffes, buffaloes and birdlife. Explore beyond the shoreline, taking in woodland, grassland and viewpoints. Flamingo numbers change with lake conditions, so the safari focuses on the whole park.

Finish at Lake Naivasha , where a boat safari replaces the game-drive vehicle. Look for hippos and waterbirds before spending your final night beside the lake. Crescent Island can be added as an optional guided walk.

The route includes a full wildlife day in Samburu and another at Lake Nakuru. Expect longer road journeys at the start and between those destinations. For a wider holiday, browse our Kenya safari packages .

Why Choose This Journey

Safari Highlights

01

Search for the Samburu Special Five in northern Kenya's dry-country habitats.

02

Follow wildlife activity around the Ewaso Nyiro River.

03

Spend a full day exploring Lake Nakuru's rhino and wildlife areas.

04

Look for flamingos, pelicans and other birds around the lakeshore.

05

Enjoy a Lake Naivasha boat safari before your final lakeside night.

06

Travel with a private driver guide from Nairobi and back.

Dry-country wildlife in the Samburu area
Samburu's Northern Wildlife
White rhino feeding beside Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru Rhino Country
Boat safari on Lake Naivasha in Kenya
Lake Naivasha by Boat
Your 6 Day Journey

Samburu and the lakes, day by day.

2 nights in the Samburu area, 2 nights at Lake Nakuru and 1 night at Lake Naivasha. Named accommodation is subject to availability. Meals follow your confirmed quotation.

01

Nairobi to the Samburu Wildlife Area

Meet your BLS Safaris driver guide at your Nairobi hotel early in the morning. Travel north through Kenya's central highlands towards Nanyuki and Isiolo.

Allow around 6 to 7 hours for the journey, depending on traffic, stops and the final camp approach. As you continue north, cultivated highlands give way to drier scrub and rocky hills.

Check into Ashnil Samburu Camp in the wider Samburu ecosystem. Have lunch as arranged and head out for wildlife viewing if arrival time allows. Explore the river corridor and surrounding habitats with your guide.

Return to camp before evening. Keep your binoculars and camera ready for tomorrow's full wildlife day.

Ashnil Samburu Camp Private Road Transfer Afternoon Wildlife Viewing
Ashnil Samburu Camp is in neighbouring Buffalo Springs Reserve. The booked game-drive route and necessary reserve fees are matched to the camp location.
02

Full Wildlife Day in Samburu

Set out early while temperatures are lower. Search for the Samburu Special Five across open scrub and acacia woodland. Notice the differences between Grevy's zebra and the more familiar plains zebra.

Spend time around the river, watching for elephants and other animals using the water and shade. Scan thicker vegetation carefully for predators, and pause to enjoy the smaller wildlife and birds.

Return to camp for lunch and a midday break before another afternoon drive. A packed lunch can be arranged if you prefer a longer circuit and conditions suit the plan.

An optional Samburu community visit can be arranged separately. Meet your hosts, learn about local life and ask before taking photographs. Time for the visit is allowed within the day's programme.

Ashnil Samburu Camp Morning and Afternoon Game Viewing Community Visit Optional
03

Samburu to Lake Nakuru National Park

Leave after an early breakfast and travel south towards Lake Nakuru National Park . Keep much of the day for the road journey, with lunch and comfort stops along the way.

The scenery changes as you leave the dry northern country and approach the Rift Valley. Arrival time depends on the route, traffic and stops. Your guide will coordinate check-in and park entry.

Check into Lake Nakuru Lodge. If time allows, enjoy an afternoon game drive through the park's grassland and woodland. Look for rhinos, giraffes, buffaloes and other wildlife before returning for dinner.

Lake Nakuru Lodge Long Road Transfer Game Drive Subject to Arrival Time
04

Full Day Lake Nakuru Wildlife Safari

Explore Lake Nakuru with your guide, moving between open ground, woodland and suitable shoreline viewing areas. Watch for both black and white rhinos while keeping a respectful distance.

Look for Rothschild's giraffes, waterbucks, zebras and buffaloes. Lions and leopards also inhabit the park, although sightings depend on their movements and the available cover.

Bring binoculars for birds around the lake and trees. Flamingo numbers vary, while pelicans and other waterbirds add interest to the shoreline. Your guide will stop where viewing conditions are suitable.

Include a viewpoint and Makalia Falls where access and the day's route allow. Take a picnic lunch or return to the lodge as arranged, then continue wildlife viewing before the evening.

Lake Nakuru Lodge Full Wildlife Day Viewpoints and Falls Where Accessible
05

Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha and Boat Safari

Have breakfast and continue to Lake Naivasha . The transfer is shorter than the previous travel days. Timing depends on your starting point, park exit and lakeside accommodation location.

Settle into Camp Carnelley's Bandas and Cottages. Later, meet your boat guide for the included lake outing. Watch for hippos and scan the shoreline for African fish eagles and other waterbirds.

Follow the boat guide's directions and remain seated as instructed. The route is adjusted to lake conditions and wildlife activity on the day.

A Crescent Island guided walk can be added at an extra cost if time and access allow. Otherwise, return to your accommodation and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at the lake.

Camp Carnelley's Bandas and Cottages Lake Naivasha Boat Safari Included Crescent Island Walk Optional
06

Lake Naivasha to Nairobi

Enjoy breakfast and a final quiet morning beside the lake. Check out at the agreed time and begin your road transfer to Nairobi.

Allow around 2 to 3 hours to reach Nairobi in favourable conditions, with additional time for city traffic and the final drop-off point.

Your guide will take you to the agreed hotel or airport. Confirm your onward flight before finalising departure from Naivasha so there is enough time for the road journey and airport check-in.

Private Nairobi Transfer Hotel or Airport Drop-off as Agreed No Overnight Included
Your Safari, Clearly Explained

Safari Inclusions and Exclusions

What's Included

  • 5 nights of accommodation as confirmed.
  • Meals listed in your final quotation.
  • Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof.
  • Professional English-speaking driver guide.
  • Agreed Nairobi pickup and final drop-off.
  • All scheduled road transfers.
  • Scheduled Samburu-area game drives.
  • Applicable Samburu and Buffalo Springs fees for the confirmed camp and game-drive route.
  • Lake Nakuru National Park entry and scheduled game drives.
  • Lake Naivasha boat safari.
  • Bottled drinking water during drives and road transfers.
  • In-country safari coordination.

What's Not Included

  • International and domestic flights.
  • Kenya entry authorisation or visa charges where applicable.
  • Travel and medical insurance.
  • Optional Samburu community visit.
  • Optional Crescent Island entry and guided walk.
  • Alcoholic, soft and premium drinks unless quoted.
  • Meals not listed in the confirmed quotation.
  • Tips for guides, boat crews and accommodation staff.
  • Laundry, telephone calls, souvenirs and personal expenses.
  • Accommodation before or after the safari.
  • Additional activities not included in the agreed programme.
Before You Travel

Frequently Asked Questions

Prepare for the road journeys, northern wildlife and final lake stay.

Does the safari include Lake Naivasha?

Yes. The route includes 2 nights in the Samburu area, 2 at Lake Nakuru and 1 at Lake Naivasha. A Naivasha boat safari is included before the return to Nairobi on Day 6.

What are the Samburu Special Five?

They are Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich. Your guide will search suitable habitats, although seeing every species is not guaranteed. Our Samburu National Reserve guide introduces the area's wildlife.

Is this a road safari or a fly-in safari?

The standard itinerary travels by private road vehicle from Nairobi and back. Expect longer drives on Day 1 and between Samburu and Nakuru. A flight alternative can be quoted separately, with the remaining route adjusted around it.

Is Ashnil Samburu Camp inside Samburu National Reserve?

It is in neighbouring Buffalo Springs Reserve within the wider Samburu ecosystem. We coordinate the camp location, game-drive routes and required reserve fees in your quotation.

Will Lake Nakuru have large flamingo flocks?

Flamingo numbers vary with water levels and feeding conditions. Large flocks cannot be promised. The Lake Nakuru safari experience also includes rhinos, other wildlife, woodland birds and varied park scenery.

Do we track rhinos on foot at Lake Nakuru?

No. Rhino viewing on this itinerary takes place during vehicle game drives. Your guide searches suitable areas and manages the viewing distance. A walking rhino tracking activity is not included.

Are the Naivasha boat trip and Crescent Island walk included?

The boat safari is included. Crescent Island is an optional extra, with entry and guiding quoted separately. Tell us in advance if you want the walk so time can be allowed. Read our Lake Naivasha guide for more about the destination.

Can we fly out of Nairobi on Day 6?

Yes, when the departure time allows enough room for the road transfer and check-in. Share the flight details before booking. For an early flight, add a Nairobi overnight or revise the final day's arrangements.

Your Kenya Safari Starts Here

Explore Samburu. Discover the lakes. Travel at your own pace.

Send your travel dates and group size. BLS Safaris will coordinate your private vehicle, lodge stays, wildlife drives and Lake Naivasha boat safari.

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BLS Safaris Ltd