8-Day Kenya Highlands & Samburu Safari: Aberdare, Mount Kenya & Samburu
Mountain forest, alpine moorland and the dry north's rare wildlife.
Go beyond the expected.
A safari that follows Kenya's central highlands north to the dry country. It moves from the mist and forest of the Aberdares, to the high moorland of Mount Kenya, to Samburu, where reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra and gerenuk live beside the Ewaso Ng'iro River.
- Forest and moorland scenery in Aberdare National Park
- Guided day walk in Mount Kenya National Park
- Game drives in Samburu National Reserve
- Northern species such as Grevy’s zebra and reticulated giraffe
- Cool mountain air and open northern plains
What's included
Included
- All accommodation as specified
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with driver-guide
- Park and reserve entrance fees for the activities listed
- Guided activities as listed in the day-by-day itinerary
- Meals as specified in the day-by-day itinerary
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic beverages
Confirm current park fees, permit availability, accommodation and pricing before booking, since these can change with season and demand. Access to remote areas should be confirmed before travel.
Day by day
Day 1 Arrival in Nairobi
Nairobi
Arrive and transfer to your accommodation, with time to rest and meet your guide for a briefing on the days ahead.
Day 2 To the Aberdares
Aberdare National Park
Drive north into the Aberdare highlands and Aberdare National Park, with time for a forest walk or a first look at wildlife around waterholes.
Day 3 Aberdare forest and waterfalls
Aberdare National Park
A guided day among forest, bamboo and moorland, with waterfalls and chances to see elephant, buffalo and birds depending on conditions.
Day 4 Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya National Park
Drive around the slopes of Mount Kenya for a guided day walk on the lower trails of Mount Kenya National Park, with views of the peaks when the cloud lifts.
Day 5 To Samburu
Samburu National Reserve
Descend to the dry north and Samburu National Reserve, arriving in time for an afternoon game drive along the river.
Day 6 Samburu game drives
Samburu National Reserve
Full-day game drives, looking for Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Somali ostrich, beisa oryx and elephants beside the river.
Day 7 More of Samburu
Samburu National Reserve
A final morning game drive before the long drive south towards Nairobi.
Day 8 Return and departure
Nairobi
Return to Nairobi for your onward flight.
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Questions about 8-Day Kenya Highlands & Samburu Safari: Aberdare, Mount Kenya & Samburu
Can I combine a Kenya safari with the coast?
Yes — pairing a Maasai Mara or Amboseli safari with a few days on the Kenyan coast (Diani, Watamu or Lamu) is a well-established combination, giving a wildlife-then-beach structure to the safari.
Do I need a visa to visit Kenya?
Most nationalities need an eTA (electronic travel authorisation) for Kenya, applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so confirm current guidance for your passport ahead of your safari.
How many days do I need for a Kenya safari?
A focused Maasai Mara safari can work in 3–4 days, while combining the Mara with Amboseli, another park or the coast generally calls for 7–10 days — we shape the length around what you want to include.
How many national parks does Kenya have?
Kenya protects its wildlife across more than sixty national parks and reserves, an unusually extensive network for a single country — from the Maasai Mara and Amboseli in the south to Samburu and the arid northern reserves, each holding a somewhat different range of species.
What wildlife can I expect to see in Kenya beyond the migration?
Kenya’s parks hold resident wildlife year-round regardless of migration timing — the Maasai Mara and Amboseli both offer strong odds of the Big Five, along with healthy cheetah populations and, in Amboseli, some of Africa’s most reliable large elephant herds.
When is the best time to see the wildebeest migration in Kenya?
The migration’s presence in Kenya’s Maasai Mara is most likely from around July to October, when large herds typically cross from Tanzania’s Serengeti, though exact timing shifts year to year with rainfall patterns.