Central Kenya & the Mara · 7 days · 6 nights · Year-round · best Jul – Oct (migration in the Mara)
7-Day Samburu, Nakuru & Mara
This route is built for people who want variety rather than one park done to death. You start in the cool forest of the Aberdares, watching animals come to a floodlit waterhole from the lodge decks, then head north to Samburu for the species you won't find in the south — Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx and gerenuk. On the way back down you stop at Lake Nakuru for rhino and birdlife, and finish with two nights in the Mara. It runs as a tailor-made trip, so we agree the route, pace and lodges with you before you book.
From $3,943 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 and drive north through the Kikuyu farmlands, stopping for a hot lunch at the Aberdare Country Club. From there you transfer up to The Ark, a lodge built over a floodlit waterhole and salt lick, with viewing decks where you can watch elephant and buffalo come in to drink after dark.
Day 2: Aberdares → Samburu National Reserve
After breakfast you leave the highlands and head north into the dry, open country around the Ewaso Nyiro River. Check in at Samburu Sopa Lodge on the hills above the reserve, then go out on an afternoon game drive until sunset.
Day 3: Full day in Samburu
Morning and afternoon game drives, with lunch and a rest back at the lodge in between. This is the day to look for the northern specials — Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich — alongside elephant and the big cats, and birders have well over 300 species to work through.
Day 4: Samburu → Nyahururu → Lake Nakuru
A last morning drive in Samburu, then south to Nyahururu for lunch near Thomson's Falls. You reach Lake Nakuru National Park in time for an afternoon drive along the shore and through the grassland, where both black and white rhino live.
Day 5: Lake Nakuru → Maasai Mara
After breakfast the road takes you across the Great Rift Valley to the Maasai Mara, arriving for lunch at Mara Sopa Lodge. In the afternoon you head out on your first drive in the reserve.
Day 6: Full day in the Mara
A full day of game drives across the Mara's plains and rolling hills, looking for lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and the plains herds. If you'd like to see the reserve from the air, an early-morning balloon flight can be added at extra cost.
Day 7: Maasai Mara → Nairobi
Breakfast at the lodge, then the drive back through the Rift Valley to Nairobi. You arrive around mid-afternoon and we drop you at your hotel or at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Trip inclusions
- Six nights in safari lodges, as listed in the itinerary
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner every day on safari
- All national park and reserve entry fees
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof and driver-guide (budget option: vehicle shared with other travellers)
- All game drives as described in the itinerary
- Pick-up from your Nairobi hotel and drop-off at your hotel or the airport
- 24/7 WhatsApp support from the Bookara team
Trip exclusions
- International and domestic flights
- Kenya eTA (government fee — we help you apply)
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips for guides and lodge staff
- Drinks and personal expenses
- Optional activities such as the Mara balloon flight
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 Samburu, Nakuru & Mara? 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.