About this safari
Give your family more time to understand Kenya’s wildlife on this 9 day conservation and safari journey. Two nights at Ol Pejeta create a fuller introduction to conservation landscapes before two nights in Samburu explore northern habitats. Nakuru and Naivasha then link the road journey to two final nights in the Masai Mara.
The extra Ol Pejeta day changes the character of this itinerary. Instead of arriving and immediately moving on, you can explore by vehicle in the morning and afternoon, discuss rhino conservation and enjoy a break at the accommodation. Any specialist conservancy activity is an optional addition, checked for age restrictions and booked separately.
This private lodge safari is suited to curious families who value varied habitats and a little more depth at each stop. It still includes one long northern transfer, described clearly in the daily programme. Read about Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Samburu National Reserve and Lake Nakuru, then ask Esperanza Tourism to plan your dates.
Why travellers choose this journey
- Two nights at Ol Pejeta for a deeper wildlife introduction
- Two nights in Samburu to explore northern habitats
- A morning Lake Nakuru wildlife visit
- A Naivasha overnight between major destinations
- Two nights in the Mara with private family guiding
Follow your journey through Kenya
A clear look at where the safari begins, the destinations you visit and where the journey ends.
How this journey is designed
These categories describe the style of safari you are booking.
Your safari itinerary
Open each day to view the route, activities, meals, transport and accommodation details.
Meet your driver guide in Nairobi and begin the journey toward Ol Pejeta in the central highlands. Comfort stops are planned along the route, and clear weather may reveal Mount Kenya from suitable viewpoints. The guide introduces the itinerary and the difference between national parks, reserves and a conservancy as you travel.
After an included lunch and check in, enjoy an introductory vehicle safari when arrival allows. Look for wildlife in open grasslands and wooded areas while learning how conservation depends on habitat, monitoring and visitor responsibility. This first drive is kept flexible rather than tied to specialist encounters. Dinner is served at your selected lodge or permanent tented accommodation, where the family stays for two nights.
Spend the day exploring Ol Pejeta with your driver guide. A morning wildlife drive allows time to search for rhinos and other animals while discussing the challenges of protecting endangered species. Children can observe feeding patterns and animal relationships without the pressure of a long road transfer later in the day.
Return to the accommodation for lunch and a quiet midday break before an afternoon outing. Special conservancy experiences, guided encounters and behind the scenes activities are not included in the standard programme; they can be requested separately, subject to current access and age rules. Your guide can help explain the distinction between regular game viewing and these additional activities. Dinner and a second overnight are at the same property.
Have breakfast and leave the Ol Pejeta area for Samburu. As the road moves north, the scenery becomes drier and warmer, providing a useful introduction to the habitats you will explore next. Your guide arranges a comfort break and coordinates lunch with the chosen lodge or camp.
Once your family has settled in, an afternoon drive introduces Samburu National Reserve where the entry schedule permits. Look for elephants along the river corridor and learn to recognise animals adapted to northern Kenya. The first outing provides orientation rather than a promise to see every notable species. Return to your accommodation for dinner, with tomorrow kept free for a full Samburu wildlife day.
Begin with an early drive through Samburu’s riverine areas and dry scrub habitats. Your guide looks for reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk and other species that make northern Kenya distinctive, while remaining open to elephants, birds and predator sightings. Children can compare body shape and feeding methods as different animals appear.
Return for lunch and a rest during the hottest hours, then head out for a second drive. The afternoon route responds to the morning’s activity and current conditions rather than repeating a fixed circuit. Cultural visits can be requested as an optional addition with separate arrangements and fees. Finish the day with dinner and your second night at the Samburu property.
Depart early after breakfast for the drive toward Nakuru. This substantial road section is planned as a travelling day, with several comfort breaks and an included lunch stop. Your guide keeps you informed about progress, as traffic, weather and road works can change arrival time beyond the estimated hours.
On reaching the Nakuru area, check into your lodge and relax before dinner. The programme does not promise a game drive after this long transfer; Lake Nakuru is visited the next morning. This arrangement avoids rushing through the park at the end of a tiring day. If your children need shorter road sections, ask about an additional central Kenya overnight when the safari is being customised.
Breakfast is followed by a vehicle safari in Lake Nakuru National Park. Explore woodland edges, open areas and lake viewpoints as your guide searches for rhinos, buffalo and giraffes. The morning offers a useful contrast with Samburu, showing how changes in water, vegetation and altitude influence the animals you encounter.
Enjoy an included lunch before continuing to Lake Naivasha. Check into your hotel or lodge and spend the remaining afternoon at leisure within its grounds. A boat excursion is optional, requires separate payment and must be suitable for the children and the day’s conditions. Dinner and overnight are at Naivasha, providing a quieter pause before the road journey to the Mara.
Leave Naivasha after breakfast and follow the route toward Narok and the Masai Mara. Your guide includes breaks and an appropriate lunch arrangement, keeping the transfer practical around road conditions. The final approach may be slower than the main highway, so arrival is treated flexibly rather than promised at a precise hour.
Check into your lodge or permanent tented accommodation for a two night stay. Where timing permits, a first game drive introduces the plains and their grazing herds. Otherwise, enjoy a relaxed afternoon at the property, with the main wildlife day scheduled for tomorrow. Dinner is included, and your guide will discuss the next day’s plan around your family’s preferences.
Spend your final complete safari day in the Masai Mara. Your driver guide can seek out different habitats and respond to animal movements, with time for patient viewing at interesting sightings. Alongside big cats and large mammals when encountered, look for birds, smaller animals and the interactions that connect the whole landscape.
A packed lunch at an authorised picnic location allows a longer outing. Families who prefer a break can discuss returning to the lodge for lunch before a later drive, subject to its location. Migration herds may be present seasonally but sightings and crossings are not guaranteed. Balloon flights and extra cultural activities remain separate bookings. Return for dinner and your eighth overnight in Kenya’s safari country.
After breakfast, check out and travel back to Nairobi with your driver guide. Planned breaks allow everyone to stretch and refresh during the drive. There is no additional reserve game drive included this morning, so the programme gives priority to a sensible return and your agreed drop off time.
The safari concludes at your Nairobi hotel or airport terminal. Only breakfast is included on the last day, while lunch and any further overnight stay are arranged separately. Share your onward schedule before confirmation so the team can allow appropriate road travel time. If an international flight departs too early for this route, an additional Nairobi night can be quoted to make the connection more practical.
Know before you go
Accommodation and family rooms
Accommodation uses hotels, lodges or permanent tented rooms with beds and private bathroom facilities. You do not pitch tents or carry camping equipment. Properties, room types and their child policies are confirmed in your written quotation, subject to availability. Family rooms, connecting rooms, swimming pools and childcare are not guaranteed unless specifically confirmed.
Road travel and daily timing
Driving estimates exclude comfort stops, wildlife viewing, traffic and weather delays. Safari tracks can be rough. Your guide adjusts the schedule within park opening times and confirmed entry arrangements. Tell us about motion sickness, mobility requirements and preferred rest intervals before booking.
Children and activities
Provide each child’s age at the time of travel so accommodation and entry arrangements can be checked. Children remain under their accompanying adult’s supervision. Specialist walks, boating and balloon flights require separate suitability checks. Tell us about any child seat requirement before confirmation.
Meals and dietary requests
Lunch and dinner are included on the first day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included on intermediate days. Breakfast is included on the final day. Lunch can be a packed meal or a scheduled stop. Please share dietary requirements before booking so the selected properties can confirm what they can provide.
Wildlife and seasons
Animal sightings, migration herds, river crossings, flamingo numbers and mountain views depend on natural conditions. No particular sighting is guaranteed. Discuss your travel dates with us so the itinerary can be matched to current conditions and your priorities.
Arrival and departure
The road itinerary starts with a morning collection in Nairobi. Travellers arriving later may need a separately arranged Nairobi overnight. The return drop off is at an agreed Nairobi hotel or airport. Send flight details before confirmation so sufficient road travel time can be planned.
What is included
- A private road safari vehicle with a viewing roof for your party during the itinerary, with fuel and the services of an English speaking driver guide.
- 8 nights in the lodge, hotel or permanent tented room accommodation confirmed in your written quotation.
- Meals as listed for each day, including lunch and dinner on day one, all three meals on intermediate days and breakfast on the final day.
- Standard entry fees for the scheduled visits to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Samburu National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara National Reserve, based on the ages and residency details supplied for the quotation.
- Game drives and road transfers described in the daily programme, within park opening times and the confirmed access arrangements.
- Morning collection from an agreed Nairobi hotel or airport point and the return drop off at an agreed Nairobi hotel or airport terminal.
- Drinking water carried in the safari vehicle during transfers and game drives.
- An included lunch arrangement on transfer days, with packed meals or suitable meal stops organised around the route.
- Accommodation reservations and safari coordination for the itinerary confirmed with Esperanza Tourism.
What is excluded
- International flights and any domestic flights not expressly added to the written quotation.
- Entry authorisation or visa charges, passports and personal travel documentation.
- Travel insurance, personal medical expenses and any emergency service not expressly included in the written quotation.
- Nairobi accommodation before or after the safari, early check in and late check out.
- Breakfast before the first day’s collection, and lunch or dinner on the final day.
- Alcohol, soft drinks and other beverages apart from drinking water carried in the safari vehicle.
- Tips, gratuities, laundry, souvenirs and personal shopping.
- Balloon flights, cultural visits, lake boating, guided walks and other optional activities.
- Special conservancy encounters, private conservancy access and activities beyond the standard game drives described.
- Accommodation upgrades, additional nights and transfers outside the agreed itinerary unless added to the quotation.
