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Samburu’s Northern Plains

4 days · From $1690 per person · Easy pace · 2-6 guests

Overview

North of the equator, the country opens out into something drier and starker than the southern circuit, arid plains cut by the Ewaso Ng’iro river, and it holds species you simply won’t see further south: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, the gerenuk browsing upright on its hind legs. We base the whole stay at one riverside lodge and let the days settle into their own rhythm, drives along the water where the wildlife concentrates, long rests through the heat of the afternoon, evenings that stretch out over a much wider sky than the greener parks further south ever show you.

Highlights

  • The Samburu Special Five: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Somali ostrich, beisa oryx
  • Ewaso Ng’iro riverbank drives, the reserve’s wildlife spine
  • A genuinely quieter reserve, far lower visitor density than the Mara or Amboseli circuits
  • Wide, uninterrupted horizon views across the northern plains
  • Optional morning visit to a Samburu village

Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Samburu

Road transfer (approx. 6 hrs) or scheduled flight. Afternoon game drive along the river as the light drops.

Day 2: River circuit

Full day following the Ewaso Ng’iro, the reserve’s main wildlife corridor, with a long midday rest back at the lodge before an evening drive further north.

Day 3: The open plains

A wider circuit away from the river across Samburu’s drier open ground, tracking the reserve’s specialist species at a slow, unhurried pace.

Day 4: Final morning, departure

Short dawn drive, breakfast at the lodge, transfer to the airstrip or road for Nairobi.

What’s Included

  • 3 nights at a riverside lodge, full board
  • All game drives with a driver-guide
  • Samburu National Reserve conservation fees
  • Road or airstrip transfers within the itinerary

What’s Not Included

  • Flights to/from Kenya
  • Visa fees and travel insurance
  • Drinks beyond the lodge’s included house selection
  • Gratuities for guide and lodge staff

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Samburu worth it if I’ve already done the Mara?

Yes, genuinely, it’s a different ecosystem with a different species list and a fraction of the visitor traffic. It’s one of our most common second-trip choices for exactly that reason.

How does the pace here compare to the Mara trips?

Slower still. Samburu’s heat and openness reward a real midday rest, so the itinerary leans even more into unhurried blocks between drives.

Interested in the Samburu’s Northern Plains? Get in touch and we’ll help you plan it.

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