Northern Circuit Itinerary Tour

After breakfast at your city hotel, depart by road driving across the equator from the Southern to the Northern Hemisphere, and onwards to the semi-arid region of the Samburu Game Reserve. The name Samburu is of Maasai origin, a ‘samburr’ is a traditional leather bag the Masai use for carrying honey and milk. This region is characterized by vast, open landscapes, dried riverbeds (depending on the season of the year) and its red volcanic soil. Rock outcroppings contrast against the dense woodland vegetation along the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River, the river that gives life to the reserve. The area is home to the Samburu tribe, who are ‘cousins’ to the Maasai people with their own distinct cultural traditions.
Arrive at the camp in time for lunch, followed by some leisure hours for a siesta or swim before you depart for an afternoon game viewing drive, and return back to the camp or lodge before sunset.

This full day in the reserve will be spent searching for the big five, the Samburu five and observing the vast unspoiled scenery during morning and afternoon game viewing drives. The park is plentiful with crocodiles that bask on muddy riverbanks and velvet monkeys that frolic in the late afternoon sun. Samburu is renowned for its rare species of fauna known as the ‘Samburu five’. These five particular animals are usually only found north of the equator – the long necked gerenuk, the reticulated giraffe which is characterized by its liver-colored geometric patches defined by narrow white lines, the Grevy’s zebra which is smaller than the common zebra and looks more like a horse, the beisa oryx with black horizontal stripe running across its lower flank and the Somali ostrich males which have blue-grey necks and thighs.
You will also have a chance to visit the local Samburu villages where you get a chance to interact with the colorful Samburu people in their traditional setting and experience their culture. This is good opportunity to purchase traditional Samburu souvenirs, art and collectibles.

Wake up to the sounds of splashing elephant in the river and after breakfast, head north again along the Trans-African highway to Marsabit. This is an astonishingly cool, green and hilly oasis rising high above the dry heat of the surrounding desert lands. The town of Marsabit is an outpost of urban civilization in the vast desert of northern Kenya. The town is situated on an isolated extinct volcano, Mount Marsabit, which rises almost a kilometer above the desert. The hills here are heavily forested, in contrast to the desert beyond, with their own “insular” eco-system. Lunch en route before proceeding towards the amazing Lake Paradise.

Spend the full day within the reserve enjoying game drives within the beautiful reserve. Carry packed picnic lunch to eat during the lunch break and continue with game drives till evening.
Marsabit National Reserve consists of a forested mountain that rises like an oasis in the middle of the desert wilderness and is the only source of permanent surface of water in the region. The three spectacular crater lakes provide habitat for a variety of bird life One of the lakes, Lake Paradise, is most scenic and famous from early films and writings of Martin Johnson and Vivien de Wattville. Ahmed, who boasted some of the biggest tusks ever recorded, died at age 55, and his body was preserved and is now on display in Nairobi National Museum.

After breakfast depart early, crossing the outskirts of the Chalbi Desert transiting North Horr before arriving at Loyangalani town; the base of Lake Turkana. (It is the largest desert lake in the world and extends for 288 kilometres up to the Ethiopian / Kenyan border surrounded by volcanic rock and desert). The name ‘Loiyangalani’ means “a place of many trees” in the native Samburu tongue.

Relax and bath only to be interrupted by short boat excursion to visit the surrounding areas; loiyangalani and the community settled there.
Loiyangalani Desert Museum was opened to the public on June 14, 2008. It is located in Loiyangalani town along the south-eastern shore of Lake Turkana. Loiyangalani Desert Museum mirrors the cultures, history and lifestyles of the eight communities that live near the area: the El Molo, Samburu, Gabbra, Rendille, Waata, Daasannach, Pokot and Turkana. It also focuses on the natural environment on the eastern shore of Lake Turkana.
In the evening make a visit to the Turkana manyattas for traditional dances under a star studded sky (at an extra cost). An experience to treasure.

After breakfast, enjoy an early morning walk in the cool and spectacular African sunrise after which you will proceed to Maralal. Maralal is the unofficial capital of the Samburu people and has a distinct frontier feel about it.
You will also have an opportunity to partake in an adventurous camel derby. (payment direct)

After breakfast, depart by road to the Great Rift Valley, with Mt. Longonot in the background. You will also see Lake Elementaita as you journey to Bogoria. Lake Bogoria is located within Lake Bogoria National reserve.
Arrive in the early afternoon and lunch follows. You will later explore the reserve on a game drive and walk around this spectacular lake in the heart of an arid landscape. The soda lake attracts massive flocks of flamingos and is often carpeted in pink due to the high concentrations of flamingoes. The western shore has hot springs and spouting geysers spurting steam and bubbling geothermal pools. Fresh water springs at the lake edge attract an abundance of birds and wildlife. The reserve also plays host to the greater shy kudu, antelopes with spiraling horns as well as impala, grant gazelle, cheetah and waterbuck.

After early breakfast set out for Lake Nakuru National park arriving in time for lunch. Thereafter set out for an afternoon game viewing drive. The park is renowned to be a bird watchers’ paradise due to the numerous populations of birds, the most famous being the thousands of flamingos which form a very beautiful deep pink coloration around the edges of the lake shore.
Apart from flamingos the lake is home to over 400 species of birds. Animals found in the park include: Rothschild's giraffe, black and white rhino, waterbuck, reedbuck, lion, buffalo, leopard, baboon and many species of plains game. We enjoy a late evening game drive then return to the lodge for dinner.

After breakfast, drive through bucolic countryside to Lake Navaisha. Our destination is Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge. Arrive in time for lunch at the lodge by the lake and early afternoon, we take a boat ride. Thereafter, enjoy a nature walk at Crescent Island for an excellent way to see wild animals while on foot. The Island is a private game sanctuary, which is home to zebra, wildebeest, gazelle, Vervet monkeys, hares, genet cats, waterbuck and giraffe.
Thereafter, you may wish to lounge by the pool admiring the view of zebras, Giraffes and waterbuck just outside the fence.

Depart Lake Naivasha for Masai Mara Game Reserve–jewel of Kenya's Game Park. This enormous Reserve actually part of the vast Serengeti plains is famously known for its spectacular great wildebeest migration and is a true home of the big five-Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Rhino and Cape Buffalo.
Upon arrival, lunch will follow. After lunch, explore the reserve on a late evening game drive. In the evening, we relax around the camp fire before an excellent dinner.

Spend these days in Masai Mara, globally famous for its exceptional population of lions, leopards and cheetahs, game, and the annual migration of zebra, Thomson's gazelle, and wildebeest to and from the Serengeti every year from July to October, known as the Great Migration.
Masai Mara Game Reserve is ranked amongst the world's finest wildlife sanctuary with well over 450 species of animals having been sighted in this marvel of nature. The endless plains of the Masai Mara are the setting for the world's greatest wildlife spectacle - over 1.5 million animals, including the wildebeest and zebra migration. They are in turn relentlessly tracked by Africa's great predators, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs, making for some of the most amazing hunting scenarios witnessed in the wild.
A visit to a Maasai is an interesting experience. As you arrive at the village, excited children and adults welcome you with song and dance, At certain times, one of the dancers will jump up and down gracefully. The jumps are several feet high! You will be invited to try jumping -(dancing), too, to your dismay you will be no match for their levitation act!! You will then be welcomed into one of the homesteads in the village, The village huts (called Manyatta) are made of cow dung and clay plastered over stick frames. this is quite practical, the Masai maintain cattle herds, and the dung is always in generous supply, and it's free. You will have an insight into Maasai life. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the history and lifestyle of these Maasai.

Spend these days in Masai Mara, globally famous for its exceptional population of lions, leopards and cheetahs, game, and the annual migration of zebra, Thomson's gazelle, and wildebeest to and from the Serengeti every year from July to October, known as the Great Migration.
Masai Mara Game Reserve is ranked amongst the world's finest wildlife sanctuary with well over 450 species of animals having been sighted in this marvel of nature. The endless plains of the Masai Mara are the setting for the world's greatest wildlife spectacle - over 1.5 million animals, including the wildebeest and zebra migration. They are in turn relentlessly tracked by Africa's great predators, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs, making for some of the most amazing hunting scenarios witnessed in the wild.
A visit to a Maasai is an interesting experience. As you arrive at the village, excited children and adults welcome you with song and dance, At certain times, one of the dancers will jump up and down gracefully. The jumps are several feet high! You will be invited to try jumping -(dancing), too, to your dismay you will be no match for their levitation act!! You will then be welcomed into one of the homesteads in the village, The village huts (called Manyatta) are made of cow dung and clay plastered over stick frames. this is quite practical, the Masai maintain cattle herds, and the dung is always in generous supply, and it's free. You will have an insight into Maasai life. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the history and lifestyle of these Maasai.

Begin today with a complete English breakfast at your lodge, followed by a game drive en–route to Nairobi. The rest of the day is at leisure for last minute assisted shopping and sightseeing.