Routing
A superb second park
And, on a first week, usually the wrong choice. Here is how to tell which trip you are planning.
When to include it
| Your trip | Verdict |
|---|---|
| First safari, one week | Usually not — Mara plus Amboseli gives more variety for less travel |
| First safari, two weeks | Yes — there is room, and the contrast is the point |
| Second or third Kenya trip | Yes. The single best addition in the country. |
| Photographer wanting unusual subjects | Yes, strongly — nobody else is shooting these species |
| Already going to Laikipia or Ol Pejeta | Yes — it is on the same road north |
| Travelling with young children | Probably not — hot, and a long way |
| You want high density of animals | No. Go to the Mara. |
Getting there
- Fly: about an hour from Nairobi Wilson to Samburu or Kalama airstrip.
- Drive: five to six hours from Nairobi, much of it good tarmac past the flank of Mount Kenya. The drive itself is interesting — you watch highland farmland turn into dryland scrub.
- From the Mara: fly. Do not attempt this by road.
The route that works best
Because Ol Pejeta and Laikipia sit on the road north, the natural shape is a road journey that picks them up on the way:
- Nairobi (1 night)
- Ol Pejeta (2 nights) — rhino, chimps, a gentle start
- Samburu (2–3 nights) — the special five and the river
- Fly to the Masai Mara (3 nights) — density and big cats
Eight or nine nights, one flight, three completely different ecosystems. It is the best two-week-lite itinerary in Kenya.
How many nights here
Two if it is a stop on a longer route. Three if you want a real chance at wild dog and leopard, or if you are photographing.
More than three and you will have seen the reserves thoroughly — at which point consider going further north into the community conservancies instead.
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