Best of Kenya
The Mara is the densest concentration of big cats in Africa, and between July and October the river crossings happen on its northern bank. Everything else on this route is chosen so the Mara is not the only thing you remember.
A starting point, not a packagethe migration months change this route, and so will you
fromUSD 3,300per personfrom, per person, two sharing, full board
Everybody books the Mara.
Samburu is where the animals are different.
The Maasai Mara earns its reputation. Between July and October the wildebeest cross the Mara River on its northern edge, and outside those months it still holds more lion, cheetah and leopard per square kilometre than almost anywhere on the continent.
It is also where everyone goes. Four days in the Mara and nowhere else is a good trip with a sameness to it. Samburu, five hours north across the equator, is dry country with a completely different cast: reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, the gerenuk that stands on its hind legs to feed, and the beisa oryx. None of them live in the Mara.
Lake Nakuru between the two is a short stop and the most reliable rhino viewing in Kenya, both black and white, inside a fenced park below the escarpment.
Highlights
The journey
Nairobi, then north to Samburu
We collect you in Nairobi and head north, over the equator at Nanyuki with Mount Kenya on your right if the cloud is kind. The country dries out steadily, and by the time you drop into the Ewaso Nyiro valley it is red earth, doum palms and acacia.
Samburu is small and nothing like the Mara. The river draws everything to it, and the species here are northern specials you will not see further south: reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, gerenuk and oryx.
325 km, about 5 hours 30
LuxuryTented camp on the Ewaso Nyiro
PremiumLodge inside the reserve
Lake Nakuru and the rift floor
South again, down the eastern wall of the Rift Valley with the escarpment viewpoints opening on your right. Lake Nakuru is fenced, compact and the most reliable place in Kenya to see rhino, both black and white, often in the same morning.
The flamingos come and go with the water level and nobody can promise them. Rothschild's giraffe are resident and certain, and the lion here have a habit of climbing the yellow fever trees.
350 km, about 6 hours
LuxuryLodge on the park escarpment
PremiumLodge above the lake
Three nights in the Mara
West and down onto the Mara. Three nights is the minimum that works: it gives you three full mornings, and the mornings are when the cats hunt.
In the crossing season we position you within reach of the northern bank and wait, which is most of what a crossing involves. Out of season the Mara is quieter, cheaper and arguably better for predators, with the big prides holding territory and the cheetah out on the open plains.
There is a balloon at dawn if you want it, lifting off before the sun and landing to breakfast on the grass.
5h from Nakuru
LuxuryConservancy camp with night drives and walking
PremiumTented camp inside the reserve
The road or the light aircraft back
Five and a half hours of hard road back to Nairobi, or forty five minutes from one of the Mara airstrips. We price both, and most people who fly say it is the upgrade they would repeat.
If you are going on to Tanzania, the Serengeti is the same ecosystem across the border and the herds move between them. We can build the two together rather than treating them as separate trips.
5h 30m by road, or 45 minutes flying
Departure, or onward to Tanzania
The lodges worth staying in hold few rooms, and dry season dates go first.
Give us an approximate date and we check availability against it. No payment, no obligation.
What your trip includes
Full board throughout
Private 4x4 with a pop-top roof and driver-guide
All park and conservancy fees
Airport collection and return, Nairobi
Bottled water in the vehicle
What it does not cover
International flights
Kenya eTA
Balloon flight over the Mara, about USD 500
Tips, alcohol and personal items
Single room supplement
Not quite the trip you had in mind? Every departure is private, so the length and the lodges are yours to change. Tell us what you want.
What we tell everyone before they book
What to bring
- Binoculars, one pair per person
- A long lens if you have one, and a dust-proof bag
- Neutral colours for the walking conservancies
- A warm layer, dawn in the Mara is cold
- Sun hat and high factor sunscreen
- Insect repellent
Before you ask
When exactly is the migration?
The river crossings on the Mara's northern bank are usually July to October. The herds move on rain, not a calendar, so travelling in the window puts you in the right place but does not buy a crossing on a given afternoon. Anyone promising you one is promising weather.
Reserve or conservancy?
The conservancies bordering the Mara cap vehicle numbers and permit night drives and walking, which the national reserve does not. They cost more per night. If you have been on safari before, they are usually the better three nights.
Is Samburu worth five hours of driving?
If you want a trip that is not only the Mara, yes. Reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, gerenuk and beisa oryx live there and nowhere near the Mara. If your days are tight we will cut Samburu rather than cut your Mara nights.
What happens if I need to cancel?
Nothing is paid when you enquire. Camps in the Mara hold their own deposit terms in high season and we pass those on to you exactly as they are charged to us. Your deposit amount and balance date are put in writing before you pay anything.
Can we combine Kenya with the Serengeti?
Yes, and it is the same ecosystem across one border. The herds move between them, so which side is better depends entirely on your month. Tell us your dates and we will say which way round to build it.
How soon will you reply?
Within one working day, with a route, a price with nothing hidden in it and an honest view on what your month will actually show you.
Tell us roughly when
hello@wildroutetours.com
A trip designer replies within one working day.