4 Days|Ol Pejeta/Samburu Safari

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Quick check

ACCESS:

• Easily accessible by a good tarmac road through Nanyuki.

• The distance from Nairobi to Ol Pejeta is approx. 209 km, taking 3.5–4 hours by road.

• Fly-in options are available via Nanyuki Airstrip.

WEATHER:

Ol Pejeta sits on the Laikipia Plateau at a higher altitude, giving it cooler temperatures and a generally pleasant climate.

• Dry Season (June–October):
  Clear, sunny days with temperatures around 23–26°C, and chilly mornings/evenings (10–12°C).

• Short Rains (November–December):
  Light rains, but the conservancy remains accessible.

• Short Dry Season (January–February):
  Mild, warm weather and excellent wildlife visibility.

• Long Rains (March–May):
  April is the wettest month; roads may be muddy but still passable.

WILDLIFE:

Home to the Big Five, the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, and the last two northern white rhinos on Earth.

Animals:
Black rhino, white rhino, elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena, Grevy’s zebra, Jackson’s hartebeest, buffalo, chimpanzees (Sweetwaters Sanctuary), giraffe, hippo, impala, oryx.

Birds:
Superb starling, augur buzzard, lilac-breasted roller, white-backed vulture, grey crowned crane, fox kestrel.

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

• All year round.

• Best wildlife viewing occurs during June to October when vegetation is low.

• April and May rains may slightly affect road movement.

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Samburu National Reserve

Quick check

ACCESS:

• Samburu can be accessed by road or air.

• The distance from Nairobi to Samburu is approximately 310 km, taking 5.5–6 hours via the Isiolo route.

• Fly-in safaris operate to Samburu Airstrip.

WEATHER:

Samburu lies in a semi-arid region, making it hotter and drier than other Kenyan parks.

• Dry Season (June–October):
  Hot days with temperatures of 28–32°C and warm nights.

• Short Rains (November–December):
  Light showers that rejuvenate the landscape.

• Short Dry Season (January–February):
  Very hot and dry, ideal for wildlife around the Ewaso Nyiro River.

• Long Rains (March–May):
  May sees the heaviest rainfall; some roads may be challenging.

WILDLIFE:

Famous for the Samburu Special Five and excellent predator sightings.

Animals:
The “Samburu Special Five”: Grevy’s zebra, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk.
Other wildlife: Elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, dik-dik, impala, olive baboon, crocodile, hippo.

Birds:
Superb starling, vulturine guineafowl, Somali bee-eater, golden-breasted starling, secretary bird, tawny eagle, African palm swift.

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

• All year round, but the dry season (June–October) offers the best game viewing.

• Wildlife congregates along the Ewaso Nyiro River, making sightings easy.

• Roads may be difficult in April–May due to long rains.