Sustainable Kenyan Safari

10 Days: Nairobi – Samburu – Chyulu Hills – Masai Mara

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While we strive for sustainability in all of our luxury safaris, we’ve chosen to highlight this sustainable safari to Kenya’s Samburu, Chyulu Hills, and Mara Conservancies by including award-winning ecolodges not only for minimizing their environmental footprint, but also for pioneering wildlife conservation projects and, most importantly, support and cooperation with local communities and culture.

Your journey begins in the Samburu region, and stay at Sasaab Lodge, which has beautiful Moroccan tents. The river attracts a variety of wildlife, including Beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Gerenuk antelope, and Somali ostrich, as well as local Samburu herders and their flock. The Samburu here own the land on which the lodge is built, and they earn an income in a way that encourages the preservation of the environment. The majority of the staff and guides are Kenyan, ensuring an intimate and genuine cultural experience during village visits, camel rides, and walks – a truly unique introduction to Kenya.

Next, head south to Campi ya Kanzi in the green Chyulu Hills, the only safari lodge on a Maasai-owned reserve spanning 283,000 acres of pristine wilderness with Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop. The luxury here comes from sharing the vast landscape – dotted with roaming elephants, lions, and giraffes – with no more than 15 other guests, as well as the unforgettable experience of tracking wildlife with a Maasai guide through his own land. For many years, the lodge has prioritized the preservation of wildlife, wilderness, and culture.

End on the iconic Masai Mara plains at the one-of-a-kind Cottar’s 1920s Camp. Cottar’s Camp, which is family-run and based on community-owned land, works in partnership with the Maasai here and has funded a number of projects such as a school, footbridge, and anti-poaching efforts, thereby protecting a vital corridor for the great migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra between the Serengeti and the Mara’s preservation.

Speak with our local Experts

Contact one of our Kenya specialists to begin planning your tailor-made trip

+254 722 800 914

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Itinerary highlights:

1. Camel rides in search of exciting wildlife in the Samburu region

2. Track wildlife with a Masai guide in the Chyulu Hills

3. Search for the Big Five on daily game drives

4. Spend quality time with wonderful locals

What's included:

Luxury, sustainable accommodation throughout

All internal flights and transfers

Full support from your travel designer

All park and conservation fees

Itinerary
Days 1-2: Nairobi:

Begin your journey with a night in Nairobi, Kenya’s bustling capital. If you have time to explore, the city has a number of interesting attractions to discover. Otherwise, simply relax after your long flight before heading to Samburu tomorrow.

Accommodation:
- Tamarind Tree Hotel (1 night)
Days 2-4: Samburu:

Take a small charter flight from Nairobi to Samburu to begin your safari adventure in Kenya. In the Samburu region, you can enjoy breathtaking wildlife and fascinating cultural encounters with the local Samburu tribes. Take bush walks in between your daily safari game drives (some at night), visits local Samburu villages, camel-back riding, evenings of sundowners, gourmet food, and campfire stories, all while staying in the tranquil and sumptuous luxury of your lodge.

Accommodation:
- Sasaab Lodge (2 nights)
Days 4-7: Chyulu Hills:

Take a small charter flight from Samburu to the Chyulu Hills. In addition to game drives on the vast reserve, you can explore the area on foot with Maasai guides. Longer day hikes across the hills and plains, or up into the magical Chyulu Cloud Forest, learning to read animal signs and ending in a traditional tented fly camp under a baobab tree for the night, away from any human presence. You can also go on sunrise horseback rides, scenic flights over Kilimanjaro’s snows, or practice Transcendental Meditation with an experienced teacher.

Accommodation:
- Campi ya Kanzi (3 nights)
Days 7-10: Mara Conservancies:

Fly to the Mara Conservancies to begin your safari’s third leg. The Mara Conservancies, which surround the Masai Mara National Reserve, provide visitors with the ultimate safari experience, including low tourist density, incredible day and night game viewing, walking safaris, and authentic cultural interactions. Above all, these conservancies are managed in a way that protects the fragile ecosystem while also benefiting the landowners – the Masai people.

Accommodation:
- Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp (3 nights)
Days 10: Departure:

Transfer from your lodge to the Mara Conservancies airstrip and board your light aircraft flight from Mara to Nairobi. Transfer from Wilson Airport to Nairobi International Airport for your flight home.