7-Day Samburu, Laikipia and Masai Mara Fly-In Safari

Samburu, Laikipia & Masai Mara

Rates From $9,735

About This Tour

An immersive journey across Kenya changes the way travellers view the natural world. This specific route matches the rugged character of the northern frontiers with the classic, sweeping grasslands of the south. It is carefully balanced for wildness enthusiasts, multi-generational families, and safari purists who want to see conservation in action.

The trip travels through three distinct ecosystems in one seamless flow. It starts in the dry, red-soiled shrublands of Samburu, moves onward to the high-altitude wildlife corridors of Laikipia, and finally flies south to the rich plains of the Masai Mara. The transitions are quick and comfortable, utilising light aircraft flights to save time and energy.

Travellers spend their nights at small, intimate camps that emphasise a deep connection to land and culture. The pace is intentionally steady, allowing for meaningful tracking on foot, night game drives, and resting beneath the stars. This layout guarantees that guests feel grounded, secure, and entirely looked after from start to finish.

Our Community Impact

Every booking directly supports local Kenyan families. We donate USD 5 from this itinerary to the Mathare community school to buy books, pay teachers, and provide hot meals for students. Your journey also helps pay fair wages to our Samburu and Maasai team members, ensuring that safari tourism brings real financial benefits straight to indigenous communities.

Our Sustainability Promise

We focus entirely on low-impact, eco-friendly travel practices. The camps on this circuit run on solar power, use zero single-use plastics, and source food from nearby farms. By staying inside community-owned conservancies, your conservation fees directly fund the protection of vital wildlife corridors and help stop human-wildlife conflict.

Why This Safari Works

Connecting these three distinct areas provides a comprehensive experience of Kenya’s diverse ecosystems without redundant road travel. Private conservancies offer exclusive night tracking, off-road viewing, and walking safaris away from standard tourist tracks. Flying directly between the regions maximizes time spent in the field watching wildlife. The blend of expert host communities, like the Samburu and Maasai, provides deep cultural depth to standard wildlife viewings.

Your Trip at a Glance

A snapshot of your entire experience, from key highlights to where you'll stay and what to expect each day.

  • All-Inclusive
  • All-Inclusive Meals
  • Big Five Experience
  • Children Allowed
  • Couple
  • Cultural Visits
  • Family Safari
  • Flight Transfer (Fly-in)
  • Fly-In Safari
  • Game Drives
  • Hiking / Trekking
  • Hot Air Balloon Safari
  • Luxury Safari
  • Photography Safaris
  • Walking Safari

Trip Summary

  • Day 1: Flight from Nairobi to Samburu National Reserve
  • Day 2: Full day exploring Samburu National Reserve
  • Day 3: Scenic road transfer to Laikipia Plateau
  • Day 4: Full day exploring Laikipia Conservancy
  • Day 5: Scheduled flight from Laikipia to Masai Mara National Reserve
  • Day 6: Full day tracking wildlife in the Masai Mara
  • Day 7: Return flight from Masai Mara back to Nairobi

Destinations

  • Samburu National Reserve:
  • Laikipia Plateau
  • Masai Mara National Reserve

Where You Stay

  • Elephant Watch Camp (2 Nights)
  • Loisaba Star Beds (2 Nights)
  • Olonana Lodge (2 Nights)

Safari Highlights

  • Tracking the distinctive northern species, including reticular giraffes and Grevy’s zebras, across Samburu’s red terrain.
  • Learning directly from field scientists at the Save the Elephants Research Camp.
  • Tracking elusive nocturnal wildlife using specialized UV light arrays during late-night camp walks.
  • Sleeping outdoors under clear skies on the raised wooden platforms of the Loisaba Star Beds.
  • Observing specialized anti-poaching sniffer dog teams during an interactive tracking demonstration.
  • Exploring the Laikipia wilderness on a guided camelback or horseback trek.
  • Watching large hippo pools and river crocodiles from the private decks of Olonana Lodge.
  • Visiting a traditional Maasai Manyatta to observe cultural homesteading traditions up close.

Featured Destinations

Where You Stay

Route Map

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Itinerary Highlights

  • Scenic flight across Mount Kenya
  • Tracking elephants along the riverbanks
  • An evening introduction to the semi-arid landscape.

Itinerary information

Your safari begins with a morning flight from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, soaring over the central highlands toward the rugged northern frontier. Arriving at the Samburu airstrip, a guide welcomes you for a drive to Elephant Watch Camp, scanning for wildlife along the Ewaso Nyiro River. After checking into your eco-tented suite, enjoy lunch under the shade of acacia trees. The late afternoon brings your first game drive as the sun softens, casting golden light over the rocky hillsides.

  • Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  • Accommodation: Elephant Watch Camp

Itinerary Highlights

  • Tracking the Special Five wildlife species
  • A research camp visit
  • An interactive UV light scorpion hunt.

Itinerary information

Spend the entire day exploring the unique riverine forests and open thorn bush of Samburu. Morning and afternoon game drives focus on tracking the region’s unique species, accompanied by a local Samburu warrior-nomad guide. Midday features an educational visit to the Save the Elephants Research Camp to learn about tracking collars and migration data. After dark, join a guided camp walk using UV lights to find hidden scorpions glowing in the night.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  • Accommodation: Elephant Watch Camp

7-Day Samburu, Laikipia & Masai Mara Photographers Fly In Safari

Itinerary Highlights

  • Scenic drive climbing into the highlands,
  • A 2-hour guided walking safari
  • Sleeping under the stars.

Itinerary information

Enjoy a final morning game drive through Samburu before bidding farewell to the river forests. A scenic road transfer takes you climbing up onto the high plateaus of the Laikipia ecosystem. Arrive at Loisaba Conservancy in time for an afternoon walking safari led by a professional guide, learning about local plants and tracking wildlife on foot. As darkness approaches, check into your raised star bed platform, where dinner is served open-air before your bed is rolled out onto the deck.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  • Accommodation: Loisaba Star Beds

borana conservancy

Itinerary Highlights

  • Anti-poaching dog tracking demonstration
  • A 2-hour camel or horse trek
  • Laser-pointer stargazing

Itinerary information

Wake up to the sunrise over the distant valleys. Today focuses on the diverse conservation strategies that make Laikipia famous. Visit the resident anti-poaching unit to see the specialized sniffer dogs at work, followed by an afternoon horse or camelback ride through the open plains. End your day with a scenic sundowner on a high rocky viewpoint, mapping out the clear night constellations with a high-powered laser pointer alongside your guide.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  • Accommodation: Loisaba Star Beds

7-Day Samburu, Laikipia and Masai Mara Fly-In Safari

Itinerary Highlights

  • Bush breakfast over the valley
  • Panoramic flight to the Mara
  • Tracking big cats on the plains

Itinerary information

A morning bush breakfast is served overlooking the plains before your transfer to the airstrip. Board a scheduled flight over the Great Rift Valley, descending onto the world-famous plains of the Masai Mara. A vehicle transfers you to Olonana Lodge along the Mara River, where hippos wallow in the deep pools. After lunch and a brief rest, head out into the savannah for an afternoon game drive tracking resident pride lions and spotted hyenas.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  • Accommodation: Olonana Lodge

8-Day Masai Mara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Migration Safari

Itinerary Highlights

  • Sunrise predator tracking
  • A traditional Maasai Manyatta hosted a visit
  • A celebratory farewell bush dinner

Itinerary information

Maximize your time with an early morning game drive to catch predators while they are still active in the cool dawn air. Return to the lodge for a relaxed brunch, followed by an afternoon cultural visit to a local Maasai village. Here, elders host you inside their traditional homesteads, sharing insights into their livestock herding heritages. Celebrate your final safari evening with a private bush dinner under the stars.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  • Accommodation: Olonana Lodge

7-Day Amboseli, Meru & Masai Mara Fly In Safari

Itinerary Highlights

  • Last morning river walk
  • Farewell flight over the Rift Valley
  • Smooth midday arrival in Nairobi

Itinerary information

Take a quiet morning to enjoy breakfast on your private deck overlooking the river. Head out for one final short game drive to the airstrip, capturing last views of the open plains. Your scheduled flight returns you to Nairobi’s Wilson Airport by midday, where your northern circuit safari officially concludes.

  • Meals: Breakfast

JohnBow Safari Expert Insight

❝ The shift from the arid thorn scrub of Samburu to the vast plains of the Mara shows the incredible diversity of Kenya. To experience this contrast fully, pay close attention to the animals' adaptations. The elongated necks of Samburu’s gerenuks allow them to browse high branches without water, whereas the massive herds of the Mara rely entirely on the abundance of open grasslands. ❞

~JohnBow Safari Expert Team

Rates

Competitive rates for unforgettable experiences

SeasonDate Range2 Guests4 Guests6 Guests
Peak Season1 July – 30 Sept, 2026$9,915$9,805$9,735

Important Rate Notes

  • Internal flights enforce a strict maximum limit of 15 kilograms (33 pounds) per person, packed in soft-sided duffel bags only.
  • Medical evacuation registration via AMREF Flying Doctors is compulsory for all traveling guests.
  • Park and conservancy entry fees may change due to government policies beyond our immediate control.
  • Outdoor star bed experiences depend on favorable weather; indoor shelter options are always prepared at the main lodge.

What's Included

  • Full board accommodation at all specified safari camps and luxury lodges.
  • Scheduled internal domestic flights and airstrip transfers as outlined.
  • Selected house wines, beers, premium spirits, and non-alcoholic drinks.
  • Daily morning and afternoon game drives in customized open 4x4 vehicles.
  • Guided nature walks, camel treks, night tracking walks, and sniffer dog experiences.
  • All applicable park entry fees, conservancy fees, and government tourism taxes.
  • Mountain biking (escorted) and Bush breakfast / Bush lunch

Optional Addons

  • Hot Air Balloon Flight (Masai Mara): An early morning flight over the plains, followed by a champagne bush breakfast.
  • Samburu Renyatta Dance Performance: A private, community-arranged traditional evening dance celebration.
  • Private Safari Vehicle Upgrade: Exclusive use of a customized 4x4 vehicle for all game drives throughout your itinerary.

What's Not Included

  • International flights arriving into or departing from Nairobi.
  • Road transfers to and from other camps and lodges
  • Travel insurance, boutique purchases, spa treatments, gratuities, and all other items of a personal nature
  • Premium reserve wines, boutique liquors, and specialty champagne brands.
  • Optional spa treatments, boutique purchases, and tipping gratuities for staff.
  • Personal medical and comprehensive trip cancellation travel insurance.

Ready to start planning your Safari? Tell us your travel dates, who you are traveling with, and what matters most to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Because the camp is located along historic migration paths, resident elephant herds walk through the camp property daily to feed on seedpods. Guests frequently watch them from their verandas, under the constant supervision of experienced Samburu guides who read the elephants’ behaviors.
Yes. The platforms are custom-built on high wooden pillars along raised rocky kopjes, placing you well above the paths of ground animals. Dedicated guards patrol the area throughout the night to ensure complete safety while you sleep under the stars.
Absolutely. The experience is fully educational and led by professional handlers. You participate by watching the dogs demonstrate how they pick up scents, trail tracks across the plains, and assist rangers in securing the conservancy boundaries.

See What Our Travellers Have To Say

info@johnbowtoursandtravel.com
Kenya Cinema Plaza, 3rd Floor Room 3-8. Moi Avenue, Nairobi