Safari Ol Donyo Sabuk, Sagana, Meru, Samburu

7 days
From US$3,912 per person
Africa changes you forever, like nowhere on earth. Once you have been there, you will never be the same. But how do you begin to describe its magic to someone who has never felt it? How can you explain the fascination of this vast, dusty continent, whose oldest roads are elephant paths? Could it be because Africa is the place of all our beginnings, the cradle of mankind, where our species first stood upright on the savannahs of long ago?”-Brian Jackman. It starts here in Kenya, take that first step. 
  • Rhinoceros on game drive
    Rhinoceros in Meru ©Jade Sea Journeys
  • Buffalo in safari in Kenya
    Buffalo watching you ©Jade Sea Journeys
  • Samburu woman
    Samburu goat keeper ©Jade Sea Journeys
  • Giraffe and lions at Samburu
    Giraffe watching the lions ©Jade Sea Journeys
  • Elephant at Samburu in Kenya
    The elephant bath ©Jade Sea Journeys
  • Lilac Breasted Roller in Kenya
    Lilac Breasted Roller ©Jade Sea Journeys

Itinerary

  • Day 1

    Nairobi - Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park

    Depart Nairobi to Ol Donyo Sabuk, check in at the hotel. There after prepare for your departure to Ol Donyo Sabuk Park to start your 3–4 hours hike accompanied by a local guide and a game ranger. It’s a 9km hike to an amazing 360-degree view at the summit. This tiny park of just 20.7 Sq. Km is surrounded by an oasis of dense primeval forest that supports a huge variety of birds and numerous primates, including black and white colobus, and blue monkeys. The community here call Mount Kilimambongo (buffalo mountain) and buffalos are indisputably the dominant animals in this park. Back to the hotel, late lunch, siesta or relax by the swimming pool for the rest of the day. Dinner and overnight at Ol Donyo Sapuk Resort.

  • Day 2

    Ol Donyo Sabuk - Sagana

    Breakfast and for those who love horse ride and even for those with no experience can enjoy a 200m ride before departure to Sagana County. The hotel has energetic and responsive horses, and with knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides, and spectacular scenery, the ride would be a nice start of the day.

    The drive to Sagana takes approximate 2 hours, and you arrive in time for lunch at Jangwani Camp Sagana. The tented accommodation units are snuggled on a cliff-side overlooking the triple waterfalls along the famous Sagana River. In the afternoon you can choose an activity of your choice, payable directly, or choose to relax for the rest of the day. A bonfire in the evening as you enjoy drinks, share stories, with the relaxing sounds of the waterfalls on the background will cap the day.

  • Day 3

    Sagana - Jangwani Camp

    Action-pack-day and quite exciting, optional activities available and payable directly, including and not limited to:

    **Swimming – more exciting, a plunge from the highest waterfall into the water, fully protected and safe.

    **Simple Rafting – this is for beginners and done in front of the camp. You will be guided through many different activities/techniques, and you will build up new skills. Additionally, this ride also involves you rafting close to the scenic Jangwani falls and an adventurous swim into a small cave behind their biggest waterfall. You will be fully equipped and ready to face this exhilarating experience.

    **Rafting – for those who enjoy a challenge, enjoy rafting down the Sagana river. Depending on the season, you would be able to visit caves, and even plunge from other waterfalls along the way. And much more to enjoy!!

    **Fishing – for fishing enthusiasts, the river provides an opportunity to engage in sportfishing with various fish species to look forward to catching. A good catch guarantees a delicious fresh meal at dinner while enjoying the enchanting sight and sounds of the amazing Jangwani falls.

    **Kayaking – kayaking down-stream Sagana river is a perfect way to conquer the river. Under the guidance of trained guides, you will experience natural slides with the feeling of excitement, fear, laughter and as a bonus, you will enjoy the sighting of various species that are within the river as you go downstream.

    **Nature walk – a 2 hours nice and relaxing walk along the river whereby you will be exposed to various bird species, tree, and insect species, spectacular views and much more.

    **Archery – hitting the bull’s eye depends on how much fun you want to have, the more times you miss, the more fun you have trying to nail it. Bow and arrow, aim, focus and shoot!!

    **Cycling – mountain biking is a very popular activity generally, and here this is a guided activity through the exotic sites of Sagana. It’s very stimulating, adventurous, and fit way to explore the area however, prior experience of biking is required. Worth to note, biking lessons are unfortunately not available on site.

    A bonfire in the evening as you enjoy drinks, share stories, celebrate your new achievements, with the relaxing sounds of the waterfalls on the background will crown your stay at this unique camp.

  • Day 4

    Sagana - Meru National Park

    We depart after breakfast and proceed to Meru to arrive in good time for lunch at Ikweta Safari Tented Camp.
    Departure to explore Meru Park. The park covers 870 km2 straddling the equator, less than 300 meters above sea level. The game drive takes in the flatter, drier eastern part of the park, occupied by savannah and criss-crossed by lugga, seasonal rivers that are generally bordered by gallery forests where doum and raffia palms grow.
    The riverbanks and swamps attract many animals, including white rhinoceros in the sanctuary area, which is closely monitored by rangers.

  • Day 5

    Meru NP - Shaba National Reserve

    Breakfast and thereafter depart for morning game drive. Brilliant and beautiful on a magnificent scale, the Meru and Kora sister parks feature luxuriant jungle, coursing rivers, verdant swamp, khaki grasslands and gaunt termite cathedrals all under the sky’s great blue bowl. Little visited and utterly unspoilt, few places are comparable to the remote and rugged atmosphere found here. Sightings include Grevy's zebras, elephants, Bohor reedbucks, hartebeests, pythons, puff adders, cobras, buffalos and more than 427 recorded species of birds.

    In the afternoon, depart for the dramatic semi-arid scrub land of the Northern Frontier District. It is an area where the local people have a rich and colourful heritage. Stopover at a Samburu Village or homestead for cultural experience before checking in at Sarova Shaba Lodge for dinner and overnight

  • Day 6

    Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves

    Full day spent exploring the Reserves. The highlights of Buffalo Springs and Shaba game reserves is the spectacular scenic beauty, rivers and forests. The reserves have numerous permanent springs and a wealth of wildlife which includes leopard, hippo, elephant, lion, reticulated giraffe, grevy’s zebra, Beisa Oryx, and Blue necked Somali Ostrich that are rare elsewhere in the country, and crocodile found in the Ewaso Nyiro River. Over 400 species of birds have been identified or recorded in this area.

  • Day 7

    Shaba National Reserve - Nairobi

    Breakfast at leisure, check out and with packed lunch drive en route game viewing in Shaba NP, with a stopover to enjoy views of Mount Kenya and Aberdare Ranges, to Nairobi.

Prices

Price conditions for your safari in Kenya


Price Per Person

Based on 1 people: US$ 3912
Based on 2 people: US$ 2623
Based on 3 people: US$ 2193
Based on 4 people: US$ 1978
Based on 5 people: US$ 1849

Up to 11 years : $ 727 sharing with parents
12 to 15 years : $ 835 sharing with parents
Single supplement : $ 216

Price Include

  • Transport in private 4x4 land cruiser
  • Unlimited kilometers
  • Services of our professional English speaking driver guide
  • Services of our professional English-speaking driver guide parks entry fees
  • Drinking Water (refer below)
  • Hotel accommodation on Full Board basis sharing room (refer below)

Not Included in the Price

  • Visa fee
  • International flight
  • Transfers were not applicable 
  • Travel and cancellation/medical insurance cover
  • Hotel accommodation in Nairobi
  • Single Room (under single Supplement terms) 
  • Beverages, Alcohol, Spirits
  • Reusable Water Bottle for refilling (Very Important)
  • Photographic fee with the local people
  • Eventual tips
  • Any items or expenses of personal nature
  • Any other items not mentioned in the inclusions

Travel info

Here is some practical information for your safari in Kenya 


Accommodation during your safari in Kenya

Accommodation is in either twin or double rooms at carefully selected safari lodges. The lodges we use are all set in spectacular locations and provide delicious meals and comfortable airy bedrooms. Here's a list of the accommodations we use on our trips. If they are fully booked, we will offer you similar accommodation.

Transport in safari

You will be travelling in one of our comfortable safari vehicles (Minibus or 4x4).  Each vehicle has a "pop top" roof to provide excellent views of the incredible wildlife. 

Other Useful Information to travel in Kenya

  • No plastic bags in to Kenya
  • No plastic bottles in the Game Parks and Reserves
  • Carry your COVID Vaccination Certificate 

Entry requirements for Kenya

  • Mandatory passport valid 6 months after your return date
  • Since January 4, 2024, entry to Kenya has been subjected to an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), in place of a visa.
Travellers must now apply for an ETA in advance at https://www.etakenya.go.ke, and present it before boarding the plane.
Depending on your nationality, you'll need to check the entry requirements. 

Sanitary conditions for Kenya

  • Yellow fever
Yellow fever is endemic in central and western Kenya. Vaccination is strongly recommended (in approved centres). In principle, vaccination against yellow fever is only required for people arriving from a country where this fever is endemic(1), or for people who have spent more than 12 hours in transit through one of these countries. To avoid any inconvenience, we strongly recommend that you are up to date with your yellow fever vaccination and in possession of an international vaccination booklet.
(1) In Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Congo (DRC), Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Uganda. South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela. 

  • Malaria
Malaria, particularly prevalent around Lake Victoria and on the Kenyan coast, is a parasitic disease transmitted by the bites of mosquitoes infested with the malaria parasite. There are two complementary forms of malaria prevention: protection against mosquito bites and prophylactic drug treatment. Conventional measures to protect against mosquitoes in the evening and at night are strongly recommended (see “A few simple rules” below). As far as prophylactic medication is concerned, you should contact your GP or a hospital specialising in travel medicine before you leave. During your stay, and for two months after your return, in the event of fever, medical advice should be sought systematically and rapidly, in order to start anti-malarial treatment as soon as possible. 

Before you travel to Kenya, it's important to :
  • Consult your GP or an International Vaccination Centre to assess your state of health and receive health recommendations, particularly concerning vaccinations
  • Set up a personal pharmacy 

Climate

Kenya's climate is equatorial, with significant regional variations. There are two dry seasons, the first from December to March, and the second from July to October.
These alternate with rainy seasons, between April and June, then between November and early December.
There are, however, a few nuances to these generalizations. On the coast, the climate is hot and humid, but moderated by the monsoon. In the desert to the northeast, the heat is dry, except in April and May, when there is some light rain.
The climate is humid around Lake Victoria, a little less so in January and February. Higher up, the climate is drier and warmer, with cold nights.
During the dry seasons, visitors flock to the area and all the trails are passable. Animals become easily visible in the dry grass and around waterholes. There are therefore more visitors between December and March, but also in July and August.
The “in-between” months of June, September and October are less crowded, but the weather conditions are quite suitable.
The wet seasons are less frequented, but the rains can be quite violent, even accompanied by spectacular thunderstorms, which can alternate with sudden clearings. At this time of year, there's no sweltering heat and, above all, the light is magnificent for photographers. It's also the time of animal births, but the tall grass doesn't always make observation that easy.

What to Pack

  • Good quality sandals
  • Good quality light walking shoes
  • Casual shoes for evenings
  • Light boots for your own comfort in the evening
  • Lightweight waterproof rain jacket, windbreaker or fleece jacket
  • Practical safari jacket
  • T-shirts
  • Short and long sleeve shirts or blouses
  • Shorts and long casual trousers
  • Casual light dresses or skirts
  • Enough underwear, socks and hankies
  • Bathing suit
  • Toiletries, lip balm and scarves
  • Miniature wet towel and Kleenex (enough)
  • Small backpack 
  • Small reusable water bottle
  • Small flashlight or headlamp (important)
  • Hat with 'shin cord' to avoid blowing away and a safari hat or cap (important)
  • Important Quality mosquito/insect repellent (for body)
  • Waterproof sun blocker cream/sunscreen
  • Personal medication
  • Good quality sunglasses
  • Binocular and Guidebooks
  • Camera with extra battery and memory card
  • Hiking spirit, High Spirit & Energy and Good sense of Humour