Kenya, Tanzania · Safari

7-Day Samburu and Maasai Mara Safari with Reteti and Elmentaita

7 Days Round trip from Nairobi Easy pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Experience the Great Migration across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem
02 Visit the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary and learn about orphaned elephants
03 Enjoy a scenic boat ride on Lake Elmentaita amidst hundreds of flamingos
04 Embark on multiple game drives in the Samburu and Maasai Mara reserves

Enjoy a 7-day safari through Samburu National Reserve, Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, Lake Elmentaita, and Maasai Mara National Reserve. This journey combines multiple game drives with some of Kenya's most sought-after wildlife and nature experiences, including the Great Migration across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Visit Reteti Elephant Sanctuary to learn about the care of orphaned and abandoned elephant calves before their release back into adjoining wild herds, and head to Lake Elmentaita for a scenic boat ride among hundreds of flamingos.

From a special viewing platform, watch the elephants return from their walk to receive their bottles and then enjoy mud-hole playtime.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 7 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Nyahururu, Isiolo, Nyeri, Gilgil, Narok, Nairobi, Marsabit, Masai Mara, Samburu, Lake Elmenteita

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Nairobi to Samburu National Reserve Safari

Pick up by 0600 hrs EAT from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, your booked hotel, or International House.
Start the journey to Samburu National Reserve via the Nyeri-Isiolo-Marsabit road.
Take a short stop of 15-20 minutes along the way. The journey will take a minimum of 5 hours.
Check in at Samburu Simba Lodge by lunchtime.
Later, enjoy an evening game drive from 1630 hrs to 1800 hrs EAT.
Head back for dinner and a sleepover.

Day 02

Reteti Elephant Sanctuary Excursion

Go for an early game drive from 0600 hrs to 0830 hrs EAT.
Return to the lodge for breakfast and take a short rest until 0930 hrs EAT.
Start the journey to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary with a packed lunch box. It is 1 hour 35 minutes from Samburu National Reserve. The Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is situated in the remote Mathews Range, among Kenya's second-largest elephant population. It takes in orphaned and abandoned elephant calves with the aim of releasing them back into the wild herds adjoining the sanctuary.
During the visit, pair with a keeper to learn about the sanctuary and its work.
From a special viewing platform, watch the elephants return from their walk to receive their bottles and then enjoy mud-hole playtime.
Afterwards, take a behind-the-scenes tour of the sanctuary. The activity takes a minimum of 1 hour 30 minutes.
Take a break for lunch.
Thereafter, start the journey back to the lodge in Samburu National Reserve for dinner and a sleepover.
Enjoy an evening game drive while heading back to the lodge, with another chance to see more wild animals and take more photos, including sunset views over the hilly terrain surrounding the reserve.

Day 03

Samburu to Lake Elmentaita via the Great Rift Valley

Have an early breakfast between 0600 hrs and 0730 hrs EAT.
Head out to Lake Elmentaita on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, a journey of a minimum of 5 hours from Samburu via the Marsabit-Isiolo-Nyahururu-Gilgil road.
Make a stop at Thompson's Falls and the Great Rift Valley viewpoint to enjoy the beautiful scenery and take photos.
Proceed to Elmentaita and check in at Sentrim Lodge for lunch.
Later, enjoy a boat ride on Lake Elmentaita to see the flamingos and other beautiful scenery.
Check in for dinner and a sleepover at Sentrim Lodge.

Day 04

Lake Elmentaita to Maasai Mara

Have an early breakfast and check out by 0730 hrs EAT.
Start the safari to Maasai Mara in Narok County, a minimum 5-hour drive from Elmentaita via the Mai Mahiu-Narok road.
Take short breaks at designated places, then check in for lunch at Sarova Mara Camp.
After lunch, rest until 1630 hrs to 1830 hrs EAT.
Go for an evening game drive and then head back to the camp for dinner and a sleepover.

Day 05

Full-Day Maasai Mara Game Drive

Have an early breakfast by 0730 hrs EAT.
Head for a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch until 1700 hrs. Traverse a large part of the Mara to the great Mara River in search of different wild animals and wildebeest crossings at the Mara River or the Sand River on the Serengeti side of Tanzania.
Return to the camp for dinner and a sleepover.

Day 06

Morning and Evening Game Drives in Maasai Mara

Have an early breakfast by 0800 hrs EAT, then head for a half-day game drive until 1300 hrs EAT.
Come back for lunch until 1430 hrs EAT.
Head for an evening game drive until 1830 hrs EAT.
Take the opportunity to do a balloon safari, which is usually offered from the early morning hours of 0600 hrs to 0800 hrs. The balloon safari gives you the opportunity to view wild nature and the Mara River and, if lucky, experience the wildebeest crossing the river from an aerial view.

Day 07

Maasai Mara to Nairobi

Take an early game drive from 0600 hrs to 0830 hrs EAT.
Come back for breakfast.
Head back to Nairobi by 1000 hrs with a packed lunch.
Stop over at Narok for a picnic lunch on the way to Nairobi.
Arrive in Nairobi at around 1700 hrs and proceed for dinner at Carnivore Simba Saloon.
Drop off at your respective hotel or at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.