9-Day Kenya Hidden Gems Safari
$8,200 / personPrivate · lowest rate, US$, subject to availability
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Kenya
9-Day Laikipia, Samburu & Maasai Mara Safari
The Laikipia plateau, Samburu's northern specials and three full days on the plains of the Maasai Mara, joined entirely by scheduled flights.
Duration9 days8 nights
From$8,600per person sharing, US$. Estimate, subject to availability
Trip overview
A private circuit that opens on the Laikipia plateau, a conservancy landscape rather than a single park, before continuing to Samburu and closing with three nights in the Maasai Mara.
Two nights each are set aside at Laikipia and Samburu, three at the Mara, so the pacing never asks a single day to cover both a transfer and a full game drive.
CountryKenyaKenya
Duration9 days8 nights
ArrangementPrivateyour own vehicle and guide
Starts & endsNairobi
Best timeJun – Oct
From$8,600Per person sharing, in US dollars. An indicative starting price: your exact rate is quoted for your dates and party size, subject to availability. All prices shown are estimates. Your final price is confirmed in your written quote.
Map route
The route, stop by stop
1
Nairobi
Day 1 · Arrive
2
Laikipia
Days 2 to 4 · 2 nights
3
Samburu
Days 4 to 6 · 2 nights
4
Maasai Mara
Days 6 to 9 · 3 nights
5
Nairobi
Day 9 · Ends here
What you are likely to see
Elephant
Lion
Grevy's zebra
Reticulated giraffe
Cheetah
Wild dog
Solid tone means often seen on this route. Outline means possible, and worth the patience. Sightings vary with season and luck, and nothing wild is guaranteed.
Best months to travel
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best
Quieter
Green season
Gallery
The ground this safari covers
Day by day
9 days, in order
Each day lists the route, the meals included and the lodge for that night. Ask us for the expected driving time on any day.
01
Nairobi
Arrival in Nairobi
The long flight ends at Jomo Kenyatta International, where a private transfer is waiting to continue to the hotel. The rest of the day is unhurried: time to rest, adjust to the altitude and the clock, and sleep well before the flight north in the morning.
Private arrival transferEvening at leisure
Accommodation
One night
8 photos
The Fairmont Norfolk Hotel
Harry Thuku Road, central Nairobi Hotel · 8 photos
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Fairmont The Norfolk is one of Nairobi’s most historic hotels, opened on Christmas Day 1904 on what is now Harry Thuku Road, close to the city centre. For more than a century it has welcomed explorers, hunters and famous travellers, including Theodore Roosevelt, and it appeared in the film Out of Africa, so a stay […]
One night in Nairobi, at a property such as The Fairmont Norfolk Hotel. The exact hotel is confirmed with the final itinerary.
02
Nairobi to Laikipia
Nairobi to Laikipia
From Wilson Airport a light aircraft heads north to the Laikipia plateau, a patchwork of private conservancy land rather than a single reserve, with Mount Kenya rising to the south east. Because the land is private, the safari here can go well beyond the vehicle.
Lunch is taken on arrival, followed by a first game drive in the afternoon, across open plains and acacia country where elephant, reticulated giraffe and Grevy's zebra are all at home.
Scheduled flightAfternoon game drive
Accommodation
Night 1 of 2
3 photos
Loisaba Lodge
On the Laikipia plateau Lodge · 3 photos
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Night 1 of 2 on the Laikipia plateau, at a property such as Loisaba Lodge. The exact lodge is confirmed with the final itinerary.
03
Laikipia
Full Day in Laikipia
Laikipia's conservancies play by different rules from the national parks, and that shapes the day. Alongside the morning and afternoon drives there is a wider range of activities than a reserve allows, from guided walks to time with the communities who share the land with the wildlife.
The plateau is also one of the best places in Kenya for rarer animals, including African wild dog, and there are rarely other vehicles in sight.
Morning and afternoon drivesConservancy activities
Accommodation
Night 2 of 2
3 photos
Loisaba Lodge
On the Laikipia plateau Lodge · 3 photos
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A second night at the same property on the Laikipia plateau.
04
Laikipia to Samburu
Laikipia to Samburu
Laikipia is at its liveliest before breakfast, so the day opens with one more game drive on the plateau, and then the transfer to the airstrip for the flight to Samburu. The land below turns hotter and redder, cut through by the green line of the Ewaso Ng'iro River.
Lunch is at camp, and a first afternoon game drive follows along the river, where elephant come down in the late light to drink.
Early game driveScheduled flight
Day 42 photos
Accommodation
Night 1 of 2
8 photos
Soroi Larsens Camp
Ewaso Nyiro River, Samburu National Reserve Tented camp · 8 photos
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Soroi Larsens Camp is a luxury tented camp on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River inside Samburu National Reserve in northern Kenya. The river is the lifeline of this dry, rugged country, drawing elephants and other wildlife to drink. Accommodation comes in two styles: river tented suites with king-size beds and decks overlooking the […]
Night 1 of 2 in Samburu, at a property such as Larsen's Camp. The exact lodge is confirmed with the final itinerary.
05
Samburu
Full Day in Samburu
Samburu and its neighbour, Buffalo Springs, sit on either side of the Ewaso Ng'iro, and the day covers both, with drives in the cool of the morning and again as the heat breaks. The river draws in everything: elephant families, lions resting under the doum palms, crocodiles on the sandbanks.
This is also where the dry north's own species live, found nowhere on the southern circuit: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, the Somali ostrich with its blue grey legs, beisa oryx, and the gerenuk, which stands on its hind legs to feed.
Morning and afternoon drivesNorthern specials
Day 52 photos
Accommodation
Night 2 of 2
8 photos
Soroi Larsens Camp
Ewaso Nyiro River, Samburu National Reserve Tented camp · 8 photos
View lodge & photosClose
Soroi Larsens Camp is a luxury tented camp on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River inside Samburu National Reserve in northern Kenya. The river is the lifeline of this dry, rugged country, drawing elephants and other wildlife to drink. Accommodation comes in two styles: river tented suites with king-size beds and decks overlooking the […]
A second night at the same property in Samburu.
06
Samburu to the Maasai Mara
Samburu to the Maasai Mara
The flight south crosses the Rift Valley, and from the window Samburu's red and ochre turn slowly to the green and gold of the Maasai Mara.
The transfer from the airstrip is worked as a game drive, so the Mara makes its first impression before camp is even reached: herds on the plains, and a good chance of lion before lunch.
Scheduled flightAfternoon game drive
Day 62 photos
Accommodation
Night 1 of 3
5 photos
Sanctuary Olonana
Mara River, near the Siria escarpment, Maasai Mara Tented camp · 5 photos
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Sanctuary Olonana is a luxury tented camp on the banks of the Mara River in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, reached by a short flight from Nairobi to the Kichwa Tembo airstrip followed by a brief transfer. Its riverside setting is ideal for watching hippos and other wildlife from camp, and it gives access to the western […]
Night 1 of 3 in the Maasai Mara, at a property such as Olonana Camp. The exact lodge is confirmed with the final itinerary.
07
Maasai Mara
Full Day in the Maasai Mara
Out at dawn, while the big cats are still moving and hyenas lope home across the grass; back at camp through the heat; out again for the long gold light of the afternoon. That is the rhythm of the first of two full days on the reserve.
The Mara has one of the highest densities of lion in Africa, and a day here usually brings more than one pride.
Morning and afternoon drivesBig cats
Day 72 photos
Accommodation
Night 2 of 3
5 photos
Sanctuary Olonana
Mara River, near the Siria escarpment, Maasai Mara Tented camp · 5 photos
View lodge & photosClose
Sanctuary Olonana is a luxury tented camp on the banks of the Mara River in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, reached by a short flight from Nairobi to the Kichwa Tembo airstrip followed by a brief transfer. Its riverside setting is ideal for watching hippos and other wildlife from camp, and it gives access to the western […]
A second night at the same property in the Maasai Mara.
08
Maasai Mara
Second Full Day in the Maasai Mara
In the migration months, the second full day can bring tens of thousands of wildebeest bunching on the bank of the Mara River, and the guide follows the herds wherever the morning's reports place them. The rest of the year, it is the resident zebra, topi and gazelle, and the cheetah and leopard that follow them.
The evening is the last in the bush, and a good one for watching the sun go down over the plains.
Morning and afternoon drivesMigration plains
Day 82 photos
Accommodation
Night 3 of 3
5 photos
Sanctuary Olonana
Mara River, near the Siria escarpment, Maasai Mara Tented camp · 5 photos
View lodge & photosClose
Sanctuary Olonana is a luxury tented camp on the banks of the Mara River in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, reached by a short flight from Nairobi to the Kichwa Tembo airstrip followed by a brief transfer. Its riverside setting is ideal for watching hippos and other wildlife from camp, and it gives access to the western […]
A third night at the same property in the Maasai Mara.
09
Maasai Mara to Nairobi
Departure
One last game drive at first light, then breakfast and the flight back to Nairobi. Lunch is at a well known Nairobi restaurant, and a day room at a hotel such as Emara Ole Sereni allows a shower and some rest before the transfer to the airport for the evening departure.
Flight to NairobiDeparture
Accommodation
No overnight
8 photos
Emara Ole Sereni
Mombasa Road, Nairobi, bordering Nairobi National Park Hotel · 8 photos
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Emara Ole Sereni is a contemporary hotel just off Mombasa Road in Nairobi, set between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airport and right on the edge of Nairobi National Park. Opened in 2019 as the newer wing of the Ole Sereni complex, it offers 148 stylish, air-conditioned rooms and suites, some on the upper […]
No overnight. Day room at a property such as Emara Ole Sereni before the departure flight.
The price
The price, in full
Written plainly so there are no surprises at the airport. Anything optional can be added to the quote before you pay.
Included
Already in the price you see.
- All internal flights
- Accommodation as specified
- All meals as mentioned
- Transfers and game drives
- Park fees and entrance charges
- Services of a professional guide
Not included
Budget for these separately.
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses, including tips
- Drinks and meals not mentioned
- Optional activities and excursions
Before you book
Questions, answered
What travellers ask us most about a safari like this one. Anything else, ask below and a specialist in Nairobi replies within one business day.
Is this a private safari?
Yes. This safari is private: your own vehicle and guide for the whole trip, and we never merge your party with another to cut costs.
How do we book, and how much is the deposit?
Press Book this safari. You can hold your dates for three days without paying while a specialist checks availability with the lodges and parks, or pay a deposit of 30, 40 or 50 percent, or the full amount, by credit or debit card through Pesapal. You can also pay by bank transfer, or in person at our Nairobi office by card. The standard schedule is a 30 percent deposit to confirm and the balance 60 days before arrival; bookings made within 60 days of departure, and gorilla or chimpanzee permits, are paid in full at booking. Card details go to Pesapal, never to Volcan.
Will we see the Great Migration and a river crossing?
The herds usually reach the Maasai Mara around July and stay until about October, crossing the Mara River many times in that period. For the rest of the year they are in the Serengeti in Tanzania. The timing is set by the rains, so no operator can promise a crossing on a given day, but our guides follow the reports every morning and position you as well as experience allows.
Is there a luggage limit on the flights?
Light aircraft on safari routes usually allow about 15 kg per person, hand luggage included, in a soft-sided bag without wheels or a frame. We confirm the exact allowance for your flights, and anything you do not need on safari can usually be stored until you return.
Do we need a visa?
Kenya: most visitors need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), applied for online before travel at etakenya.go.ke. Rules depend on your passport and change from time to time, so check them before you book flights, and always apply through the official government portal, never a third-party agent. We tell you what applies to your route when we confirm your trip.
Which vaccinations and health precautions do we need?
See a travel clinic at least six weeks before you go. Malaria is present in most safari areas of East Africa, so ask about antimalarials, insect repellent and cover-up clothing for the evenings. A yellow fever certificate can be required depending on your route and where you arrive from.
Can children come on this safari?
Yes, and a private vehicle makes it easy to set the pace around them. Child rates depend on the lodges, and some camps and activities set minimum ages, so tell us the ages of everyone travelling and we confirm what applies before you pay anything.
What happens if we need to cancel?
Tell us in writing as early as possible. The cancellation charges for your trip are set out in your written booking confirmation. Gorilla permits, internal flights and non-refundable lodge deposits already paid on your behalf cannot be recovered, so they are charged in full. Refunds go back to the card or account the payment came from. The detail is in our Booking & Payment Terms.
Enquire
Plan this safari with us
Send your dates and who is travelling. A specialist checks availability with the lodges and parks and replies within one business day with an itemised price.
- Free, and no obligation
- Ask about changing the dates, lodges or pace
- Answered by the team in Nairobi who plan the trip
Availability
9-Day Laikipia, Samburu & Maasai Mara Safari
Dates are held for 72 hours without payment while you check flights. Nothing is charged until the itinerary is confirmed in writing.
From
$8,600
Per person sharing, in US dollars. An indicative starting price: your exact rate is quoted for your dates and party size, subject to availability. All prices shown are estimates. Your final price is confirmed in your written quote.
Prices are for guidance and are confirmed against current lodge and park rates before any payment.
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