9 Days Kenya Safari | Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Aberdare & Masai Mara

A 9 days Kenya safari package covering Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Aberdare, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, and the Masai Mara combines Kenya’s northern wildlife circuit with its classic southern parks in one continuous road safari from Nairobi. The route covers seven distinct ecosystems over nine days, run in a private 4×4 vehicle with a professional driver-guide, making it one of the more comprehensive itineraries available for a single trip.

The safari opens in Samburu National Reserve, an arid northern reserve known for species not found in Kenya’s southern parks, referred to locally as the Samburu Special Five: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk, and Somali ostrich. Two full days here cover game drives along the Ewaso Ngiro River, with lion, cheetah, and elephant sightings alongside the reserve’s specialty species.

From Samburu, the route continues to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, one of East Africa’s largest black rhino sanctuaries and the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees, at the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Ol Pejeta is also home to the world’s last two northern white rhinos, under 24-hour armed protection, alongside a full Big Five population.

The safari then climbs into Aberdare National Park, a montane rainforest and moorland ecosystem where the format shifts from game drives to waterhole viewing. Accommodation is at a tree lodge built on stilts over a floodlit waterhole, where elephants, buffalo, giant forest hogs, and the elusive bongo antelope can be watched directly from the lodge balcony.

Lake Nakuru National Park follows, a UNESCO-listed Rift Valley lake known for its rhino sanctuary (both black and white) and a Rothschild’s giraffe breeding program, along with strong flamingo and general birdlife. The route continues to Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake offering a boat safari for hippo and bird viewing, a Crescent Island walking safari among free-roaming wildebeest and giraffe, and an optional cycling safari through Hell’s Gate National Park’s gorges and geothermal features.

The itinerary concludes with two full days in the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya’s most wildlife-dense reserve and the northern extension of the Serengeti ecosystem. Game drives here cover the Big Five, with a stop at the Mara River for hippo and crocodile viewing, and, for travelers visiting between July and October, a chance to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration.

This route suits travelers with more time who want to go beyond a standard southern-circuit safari, adding Samburu’s rare wildlife and Ol Pejeta’s rhino and chimpanzee conservation work to the usual Aberdare, Rift Valley lakes, and Masai Mara combination. It’s a longer, more comprehensive alternative to the 7-day version of this itinerary, with an added Ol Pejeta stop and more time spent overall. Accommodation is available across budget, mid-range, and luxury lodges and tented camps at every stop, so the same core route can be adjusted to different budgets.

9 Day Kenya Safari at a Glance

• Duration: 9 Days / 8 Nights
• Destinations: Samburu National Reserve, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Aberdare National Park, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara National Reserve
• Highlight Species: Big Five; Samburu Special Five; chimpanzees at Sweetwaters; northern white rhinos at Ol Pejeta
• Safari Type: Private safari
• Transport: 4×4 pop-top Land Cruiser jeep
• Best Time to Visit: July–October for the Great Migration; January–March for the green season

Your Route

From Nairobi to Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Aberdare, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, and the Masai Mara before returning to Nairobi, here’s where your 9-day safari takes you:

This 9 day Kenya safari price depends on your lodge category (budget, mid-range, or luxury), the season you travel, and your group size. As with our other packages, larger groups bring the cost per person down.

Children: free (0–2 years); 75% of adult rate (3–11 years)

Shoulder Season (1 Jan–31 Mar & 1 Nov–31 Dec) — price per person

Festive Season Supplement (22 Dec–2 Jan): Economy $40, Comfort $45, Luxury $135 per person per night, please inquire.

Peak Season (1 Jul–31 Oct) — price per person

Low Season (1 Apr–31 May) — price per person

Easter Supplement: $45 per person per night, on selected hotels, please inquire. Low season rates also apply 1–15 June on select lodges, please inquire. Single Room Extra not listed for low season in the source pricing, worth confirming with your team whether that's intentional. Indicative costs per person, excluding international flights.

Samburu Lodges

Samburu Sopa Lodge — Family-friendly, set on elevated ground with panoramic waterhole views and a swimming pool.

Samburu Game Lodge — A heritage lodge along the Ewaso Nyiro River with thatched cottages and river views.

Ashnil Samburu Camp — A luxury tented camp with riverfront tents under Ol Olokwe Mountain.

Aberdare Lodges

The Ark Lodge — Built to resemble Noah's Ark, overlooking a floodlit waterhole and salt-lick that regularly draws elephants, buffalo, and occasionally rhino.

Treetops Lodge — A heritage tree-house style property overlooking a waterhole and salt-lick.

Aberdare Country Club — Classic country-inn style accommodation on Mweiga Hill, with spacious rooms overlooking the highlands.

Lake Nakuru Lodges

Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge — Panoramic views of the lake and flamingo-lined shores from elevated terraces.

Lake Nakuru Lodge — An eco-lodge within the park boundaries, with frequent visits from grazing rhinos and waterbucks.

Flamingo Hill Tented Camp — Set between "honeymoon" and "baboon" cliffs, with tents facing plains often visited by giraffes and gazelles.

Masai Mara Lodges

PrideInn Mara Camp — Best for affordable luxury & riverside views, along the Talek River.

La Maison Royale Mara Camp — Best for boutique luxury & tranquil escapes, near Sekenani Gate.

Mara Maisha Tented Camp — Best for authentic safari ambiance & local hospitality, near the main reserve entrance.

This itinerary can be extended with a stop at Amboseli National Park, or combined with a Diani Beach coastal stay, ask us about tailoring your route, lodge selection, and travel dates.

Best Time to Visit

• July–October: peak season, best for the Great Migration in the Masai Mara
• January–March: green season, newborn wildlife, generally quieter parks
• Samburu is hot and dry year-round; Aberdare's highland climate is notably cooler, particularly at night

Travel Distances

• Nairobi to Samburu: 320 km (~5 hours)
• Samburu to Ol Pejeta: 180 km (~3 hours)
• Ol Pejeta to Aberdare: 80 km (~1 hour)
• Aberdare to Lake Nakuru: 180 km (~4 hours)
• Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha: 60 km (~1 hour)
• Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara: 240 km (~5 hours)
• Masai Mara to Nairobi: 265 km (~5 hours)

What to Pack

• Lightweight, neutral-colored clothing for Samburu and Ol Pejeta's heat
• Warm layers for cool mornings and evenings in Aberdare
• Comfortable walking or cycling shoes (for Hell's Gate)
• Camera with a telephoto lens and binoculars
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Only an overnight bag for the Aberdare tree lodge stay

Conservation Note

Ol Pejeta Conservancy funds direct rhino and chimpanzee conservation work through visitor fees, including 24-hour protection for the world's last two northern white rhinos.