A group of zebras gathers to drink at a riverbank in a dry Kenyan wilderness.

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Meru & Samburu Wilderness Safari

Nine days through Kenya's quietest wildlife country: Meru's rivers and rock outcrops, then Samburu and Buffalo Springs' dry-country specials.

Enquire about this trip See the day by day

Duration9 Days / 8 Nights

Group size2 – 6 travellers

Best monthsJune – October and January – February

From$3,040 per person sharing

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The Trip in Short

Meru National Park rarely appears on a first Kenya itinerary, which is part of why it’s worth including on a second or third one. Laced by permanent streams running off the Nyambeni Hills, with rock inselbergs pushing up through riverine forest, it holds strong bird numbers and game viewing without another vehicle in sight for hours at a stretch.

Samburu and Buffalo Springs, further north again, add the dry-country species the southern parks don’t have: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and beisa oryx along the Ewaso Ng’iro River.

This is a trip for travellers who have already done the Mara and want to see a different Kenya.

Fees and rules in Kenya's national parks are set by the Kenya Wildlife Service.

Highlights

Meru National Park's permanent rivers and rock inselbergs
Riverine forest birdlife, low visitor numbers
Adamson's Falls on the Tana River system
Samburu Special Five: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, beisa oryx, Somali ostrich
Buffalo Springs' clear natural springs
Ewaso Ng'iro riverbank game drives

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Where You Go, Stop by Stop

Day 1

Nairobi to Meru National Park

Day 2–3

Meru National Park

Day 4

Meru to Samburu

Day 5–6

Samburu National Reserve

Day 7–8

Buffalo Springs National Reserve

Day 9

Return to Nairobi

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Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Meru

A four to five hour drive northeast via Nanyuki, arriving at the park for lunch and an afternoon game drive along one of its permanent watercourses.

Day 2: Full Day in Meru

A full day covering the park's varied terrain, from open plains to riverine forest, with rock inselbergs breaking the skyline and a strong chance of the park's substantial bird list turning up something new every hour.

Day 3: Second Day, Meru

A slower day following the Tana River system toward Adamson's Falls, with time to simply sit at a productive spot rather than cover ground for its own sake.

Day 4: Transfer to Samburu

A half-day drive west to Samburu, arriving in time for an afternoon game drive along the Ewaso Ng'iro River.

Day 5–6: Samburu National Reserve

Two full days targeting the Samburu Special Five, species found in few other parts of the country, with morning and evening drives structured around the cooler hours.

Day 7–8: Buffalo Springs National Reserve

The route crosses the river to the neighbouring reserve for two more days, quieter again, with its clear natural springs and strong numbers of dry-country birds and mammals.

Day 9: Return to Nairobi

A final morning drive, then the road back to Nairobi, arriving by mid-afternoon.

From

$3,040

Enquire about this trip

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What the Price Covers

Included

All accommodation, twin share
All meals
Private 4x4 vehicle and driver-guide
All park and reserve entry fees
All game drives and transfers
Bottled drinking water in the vehicle

Not included

International flights
Kenyan visa fee
Tips and gratuities
Alcoholic drinks
Personal expenses

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Before You Book

Why is Meru so much quieter than the Mara?

It receives a fraction of the visitor numbers, partly due to its more remote location and partly historical, following a period of poaching pressure in the 1980s that the park has long since recovered from.

Is this trip good for a second-time visitor to Kenya?

Very much so — it covers species and landscapes the standard southern circuit doesn't.

How rough are the roads?

Some sections within both Meru and the northern reserves are unpaved and can be corrugated; a 4x4 is essential.

Is the region malarial?

Yes, prophylaxis is recommended for both areas.

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Where This Trip Goes

Tsavo East National Park

Kenya · National Park

One of Kenya's largest parks, a red-dust wilderness along the Galana River known for its rust-coloured 'red elephants' and Lugard Falls' rapids.

Amboseli National Park

Kenya · National Park

Open plains beneath Mount Kilimanjaro, with some of the best elephant viewing in East Africa and underground springs that keep wetlands green through the dry season.

Lake Nakuru National Park

Kenya · Lake

A fenced soda-lake sanctuary close to Nairobi, protecting both black and white rhino alongside large, shifting flocks of lesser and greater flamingo.

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Meru & Samburu Wilderness Safari