Fly to Samburu and Laikipia for rare northern wildlife, walking safaris and uncrowded camps.
Fly north to wild, less-visited Kenya. Samburu's dry bush is home to Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe and gerenuk, while Laikipia's private conservancies add rhino, walking safaris and night drives. Small camps, dramatic scenery and very few other vehicles define this trip.
Take a scheduled light-aircraft flight from Wilson Airport to the Samburu airstrip (about 45 to 60 minutes), where your guide meets you. You arrive at your lodge on the Ewaso Ng'iro River for lunch. An afternoon game drive looks for the northern specials: reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and Beisa oryx, plus elephants and crocodiles on the river.
Search the riverbanks and dry bush for Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and Beisa oryx. This is also leopard and lion country, with elephants coming to the river in the heat of the day.
After breakfast, travel from Samburu to Laikipia (about 2 hours), with a picnic lunch or lunch stop on the way. You arrive at your conservancy lodge in time for lunch. Laikipia's private conservancies allow activities that national parks do not, and your first afternoon is a game drive on the plateau with a sundowner at a viewpoint.
Visit the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, then track black and white rhino with a ranger. Ol Pejeta is also home to the last two northern white rhinos, which can be seen on a guided visit.
After an early game drive and breakfast, you fly back to Wilson Airport in Nairobi (about 45 to 60 minutes). You are met and transferred to the airport for your onward flight, or to your hotel.
