Quick Facts
| Duration | 3 days / 2 nights |
|---|---|
| Style | Private fly-in safari — your own vehicle and guide |
| Vehicle | 4x4 Land Cruiser jeep |
| Flight Time | Approximately 50–70 minutes, Nairobi (Wilson) to Samburu airstrip |
| Destination | Samburu National Reserve, northern Kenya |
| Price From | USD 920–2,450 pp (season-dependent, 2–6 people sharing, including flights) |
| Best For | Repeat safari travellers wanting a genuinely different landscape and wildlife mix from the Masai Mara |
Samburu National Reserve sits in Kenya's dry north, along the Ewaso Nyiro River, and holds a wildlife mix you won't find in the Masai Mara or Amboseli. This 3-day, 2-night fly-in safari gets you there in about an hour by air, straight into a landscape of acacia scrub, doum palms, and red-earth hills.
The reserve is famous for the Samburu Special Five: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, and Somali ostrich, five species adapted to this arid habitat and rarely seen further south. Leopard sightings along the river are also unusually reliable here.
This is a private safari in a 4x4 Land Cruiser jeep with your own driver-guide, not a shared van.
Safari Highlights
- Flight time around an hour, versus a 5–6 hour road transfer
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser jeep and driver-guide throughout
- The Samburu Special Five: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich
- Reliable leopard sightings along the Ewaso Nyiro River
- Elephant, lion, and buffalo also present
- Distinct dry-country scenery, a genuine contrast to the Mara or Amboseli
- Optional visit to a local Samburu community
- Connects well with Lewa, Ol Pejeta, or the Masai Mara on a multi-park itinerary
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi – Samburu National Reserve
Pickup from your Nairobi hotel or JKIA, then transfer to Wilson Airport for check-in, 60 minutes before departure. The scheduled flight to Samburu airstrip takes roughly 50–70 minutes, crossing the equator and the Central Highlands.
Your driver-guide meets you at the airstrip and takes a game-drive route to your lodge or camp. Check in, have lunch, then set out on an afternoon game drive along the Ewaso Nyiro River from around 3:30 PM until sunset. Dinner and overnight at your camp.
Day 2: Full Day in Samburu
Early morning game drive tracking the Special Five along the river's dense vegetation, followed by breakfast back at camp. A second game drive in the afternoon covers different terrain, searching for elephant, lion, and the reserve's well-known leopard population.
Sundowners and dinner at camp.
Optional Add-Ons
A visit to a local Samburu community for a cultural experience, at an additional cost.
Day 3: Samburu – Nairobi
Final early morning game drive before breakfast, then check out and transfer to the airstrip for your scheduled flight back to Wilson.
Drop-off at your Nairobi hotel or JKIA for onward travel.
Get Free Quote ›Tour Cost & Pricing
Rates are per person sharing, in a private Land Cruiser jeep with a dedicated driver-guide. Pricing depends on camp category, group size, and season.
Season Guide
- Low SeasonApril, May, November
- High SeasonJanuary–March, December
- Peak SeasonJune–October
Private Fly-In Safari Rates (Per Person Sharing)
| Season | 2 People | 4 People | 6 People |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Season | $1,150–$1,450 | $1,020–$1,280 | $920–$1,150 |
| High Season | $1,450–$1,850 | $1,280–$1,650 | $1,150–$1,480 |
| Peak Season | $1,850–$2,450 | $1,650–$2,180 | $1,480–$1,950 |
What's Included & Excluded
| ✓ | Return scheduled flights, Nairobi (Wilson) – Samburu – Nairobi |
| ✓ | Airport/hotel transfers in Nairobi |
| ✓ | All ground transfers and game drives by private 4x4 Land Cruiser jeep |
| ✓ | 2 nights full-board accommodation (breakfast, lunch, dinner) |
| ✓ | Morning and afternoon game drives as per itinerary |
| ✓ | Samburu National Reserve entry/conservation fees |
| ✓ | Dedicated English-speaking driver-guide |
| ✓ | Flying Doctors emergency evacuation cover |
| ✗ | International flights and visa/eTA fees |
| ✗ | Tips and gratuities |
| ✗ | Alcoholic and premium drinks |
| ✗ | Optional Samburu community visit (from $25 pp) |
| ✗ | Laundry, phone calls, and other personal expenses |
| ✗ | Travel insurance |
| ✗ | Credit card surcharge (5–7%) if paying by card |
Getting There
All flights depart from Wilson Airport (WIL) in Langata, Nairobi, not JKIA. If you're arriving internationally, we transfer you from JKIA to your hotel first, then to Wilson the next morning, unless timing allows a same-day connection.
Scheduled carriers run daily flights to Samburu's airstrips, generally once or twice a day depending on season. Flight time is 50–70 minutes, occasionally routed via one other airstrip, which is normal and won't meaningfully affect your total travel time.
Baggage
Baggage is limited to 15kg per person in soft-sided bags only; hard suitcases aren't accepted on the aircraft. We can store excess luggage at your Nairobi hotel or a Wilson Airport locker for a small fee.
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