Central & northern Kenya · 7 days · 6 nights · Year-round · best Jun – Oct & Jan – Mar
7-Day Aberdares, Samburu & Meru Safari
This route takes you through central and northern Kenya, where the scenery and the wildlife change every couple of days. The first two nights are at The Ark and Serena Mountain Lodge, both built to overlook waterholes and salt licks in the forest, so elephant and buffalo come to you. You then drive north to Samburu for two nights along the Ewaso Ng'iro river, looking for the northern species, before finishing with two nights in Meru National Park, one of Kenya's most unspoiled parks. You travel in a private 4x4 with a pop-up roof and your own driver-guide throughout.
From $5,355 per person
Specimen itinerary for planning purposes only — not a confirmed booking document.
Logistics & transport
- Pickup
- Confirmed 24 hours before departure on WhatsApp
- Guide language
- As selected at booking
- Group
- Private / small group · max 12 guests
Where you'll stay
Lodging varies by trip — tented camp, safari lodge, beach hotel, or city hotel as your package requires. The property for this package is confirmed in writing after you book — ask us on WhatsApp if you want options before paying.
Included in your package price — exact camp, lodge, or hotel confirmed after booking.
Indicative schedule — day by day
Planned rhythm for your trip — your guide may adjust on the day for conditions, light and wildlife.
Day 1: Nairobi → Aberdare National Park
We collect you from your Nairobi hotel in the morning and drive north through Kikuyu farmland to the Aberdares, stopping for a hot lunch at the Aberdare Country Club. From there you transfer to The Ark, a lodge built over a floodlit waterhole and salt lick, where elephant, buffalo and other forest animals come to drink by day and night.
Day 2: Aberdares → Mount Kenya
After breakfast you continue north to Serena Mountain Lodge, a tree lodge in the forest on the lower slopes of Mount Kenya, arriving for lunch. The rest of the day is for watching the waterhole and salt lick from the open deck, or from the underground hide if you want close-up photographs of elephant and buffalo.
Day 3: Mount Kenya → Samburu
You leave the mountain behind and head into the semi-arid north to Samburu National Reserve, which sits along the Ewaso Ng'iro river. After lunch and check-in, an afternoon drive runs until sunset, looking for the reserve's northern species: Grevy's zebra, gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich.
Day 4: Full day in Samburu
Morning and afternoon game drives along the river and across the rugged country around it, with good chances of seeing predators as well as the northern specialists. Samburu is also excellent for birds, from vulturine guineafowl and lilac-breasted rollers to hornbills, eagles and vultures.
Day 5: Samburu → Meru National Park
A last morning game drive in Samburu, then the drive to Meru National Park, east of Meru town. Its rivers, swamps and grassland support elephant, hippo, lion, leopard, cheetah and black rhino, as well as some less common antelope.
Day 6: Full day in Meru
Morning and afternoon game drives through Meru's mix of rivers, swamp, open plains and woodland, with all meals at camp. Meru feels remote and unspoiled, and a full day gives you time to explore it properly.
Day 7: Meru → Nairobi
A final morning game drive after breakfast, then the road back to Nairobi, arriving in the middle of the afternoon. We drop you at your hotel or at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your flight home.
Trip inclusions
- 6 nights in the lodges and camp named in the itinerary
- All meals on safari: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- All national park and reserve entry fees
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof and driver-guide
- All game drives as per the itinerary
- Hotel pickup in Nairobi, and drop-off at your hotel or the airport at the end
- 24/7 WhatsApp support from the Bookara team
Trip exclusions
- International and domestic flights
- Kenya eTA (government fee — we help you apply)
- Travel insurance
- Tips for your guide and lodge staff
- Optional activities and excursions
- Drinks and personal expenses
Preparation & packing
Before you go
- This section is general Kenya travel guidance — not a substitute for official advice or your doctor.
- We confirm trip-specific details (property, pickup times, park rules) with you on WhatsApp before departure.
- Questions about 7-Day Aberdares, Samburu & Meru Safari? Message us anytime — we'd rather you ask than guess.
Visa & entry
- Most visitors need a Kenya eTA before travel — apply at etakenya.go.ke and check the current fee and rules.
- Passport usually needs 6+ months' validity and blank pages — verify with your airline and immigration.
- Keep a printed copy of this itinerary and your eTA approval for border control.
Health
- Yellow fever certificate may be required depending on where you are travelling from — check Kenya's latest entry rules.
- Malaria prevention is commonly recommended for safari areas — ask your doctor well before you fly.
- Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is strongly recommended.
- Bring personal medication in original packaging.
Weather & clothing
- Safari mornings and evenings are often cooler than midday — layers work better than one heavy coat.
- Neutral colours (khaki, olive, beige) are standard for game drives.
- Rain can appear in any season — a light waterproof layer is worth packing.
- We send a short weather note for your dates once your trip is confirmed.
Packing list
- Comfortable closed shoes for walking + sandals for camp or lodge
- Sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
- Binoculars if you have a pair (optional — ask us if you'd like a recommendation)
- Power bank + travel adaptor (Kenya commonly uses Type G plugs, 240V)
- Soft bag often works better than a hard suitcase if your trip includes light-aircraft legs — we'll confirm luggage limits for your routing
- Some cash in USD (clean, newer bills) or KES for tips and small purchases
- Insect repellent
Money & connectivity
- Cards work in Nairobi and at many properties; cash is still useful for tips and markets.
- M-Pesa is widely used in Kenya — we can walk you through it on arrival if helpful.
- Wi‑Fi varies by property (lodge, camp, or hotel) — signal on game drives is usually limited.
- Tipping customs vary by property and guide — we share current guidelines for your trip before you travel.