Light Walking Safari in Northern Kenya - 7 Days

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: To Aberdares National Park
Depart from Nairobi to Aberdares National Park via Mutubio Gate after breakfast. Aberdare Park is one of the most pristine and less-visited national parks in Kenya. The park features the third highest mountain range in Kenya, rising up to 4,001 meters, with dramatic waterfalls that are a hallmark of this area. Due to its high peaks, waterfalls, lichen-hung forests, churning pools, and trout-filled streams, this park is a haven for nature lovers and trekkers alike. Hiking opportunities abound, allowing you to explore the summits or visit various attractions on foot. Wild animals, including elephants, buffalo, giant forest hogs, duikers, bushbucks, black rhinos, elands, leopards, and serval cats, roam freely in the park. Birdlife is abundant, along with a variety of floral species. Overnight camping at Kiandogoro Campsite inside the park in spacious tents. (B, L, D)

Day 2: To Mount Kenya Forest
Enjoy a morning game drive around the Salient area of Aberdare Park to spot any animals that eluded us yesterday. Later, we drive to Mountain Rock Lodge, a comfortable country-style resort nestled in the forested slopes of Mount Kenya. This lush environment offers opportunities for guided nature walks and visits to neighboring local villages. The virgin forest once sheltered the Mau Mau fighters during their resistance against British rule in the 1950s. En route, our naturalist guide will share insights about forest foods, herbal medicines, and survival techniques, providing an understanding of the history and ecology of these forests. In the evening, enjoy dinner and overnight at the lodge in simple but comfortable rooms. (B, L, D)

Day 3: Sweetwaters Game Sanctuary Visit
At 6 AM, enjoy a bird walk (optional) and view Mount Kenya from the forest clearings before breakfast. Afterward, we take a short drive to the nearby Sweetwaters Game Sanctuary. Sweetwaters is a private conservancy with a higher wildlife-to-area ratio than any of Kenya's national parks. It also serves as an orphanage for chimpanzees rescued from the war-torn Great Lakes region of Central Africa. Located on the plains of Mount Kenya, Sweetwaters is home to all members of the Big Five (elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, and leopard). As a leader in the Kenyan conservancy program, it boasts the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, hosts the only chimpanzee sanctuary in Kenya, and shelters large numbers of rare and endangered species. After extensive game viewing sessions before and after our picnic lunch, we head back to Mountain Rock Lodge for dinner and overnight stay. (B, L, D)

Day 4: Kikuyu Farm Visit / Samburu National Park
As we head to the local villages and Kikuyu farms, watch for black-and-white colobus monkeys in the trees above. At the village, we engage in cultural interactions and enjoy tea with the villagers. (If schools are in session, we’ll also visit a local primary school we support.) After lunch at the lodge, we depart for Samburu National Reserve. Samburu is a semi-arid ecosystem teeming with wildlife endemic to northern Kenya, including the reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, oryx, Somali ostrich, and gerenuk (the gazelle with the longest neck). In addition to these endemic species, elephants, buffaloes, gazelles, crocodiles, impalas, lions, dik-diks, elusive cheetahs, and leopards can also be found here. We will enjoy an evening game drive. Overnight camping by the Ewaso Nyiro River. (B, L, D)

Note: Given the hot and dusty environment, consider upgrading to more comfortable lodge accommodations in the park at an additional cost.

Day 5: Interaction with Samburu Tribesmen
Experience a morning of intense game drives in Samburu, where our expert guides will take you to various locations within Samburu and the nearby Buffalo Springs reserves for spectacular wildlife spotting opportunities. After lunch, we set off to the base camp of Ololokwe Mountain in the Namunyak Conservation Area, known for its magnificent hills and beautiful landscapes. Upon arrival, we meet our local hosts, the Samburu tribesmen, who will provide a detailed overview of their land and culture. Our bush camp today is at Kirish Camp at the base of Ololokwe Mountain, which we will climb the following morning. This mountain is sacred to the Samburu sub-tribe, who share cultural ties with the Maasai of southern Kenya. This evening, we will sort out logistics with local Samburu guides, security, and donkeys for the next day’s trek. Dinner and overnight at Kirish Bush Camp in tents. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Climbing Ololokwe Mountain
Start the memorable hike up Ololokwe Mountain, with donkeys carrying provisions for two days. Hike up the steep slope through high-altitude forests comprising acacia trees, pencil cedar, cycad palms, and podocarpus. Arrive at the campsite after about four hours for a picnic lunch. After setting up camp, hike to the summit of Ololokwe Mountain (2,000 meters) and explore various viewpoints. The views from these points are breathtaking; on one side, you’ll see the Mathew Ranges with its Warges Peak(2,600 meters) majestically standing out, and in the southeast, expansive plains stretching to the Nyambene Hills. The Namunyak Conservation area is managed by the Samburu community and serves as a vital dispersal area for wildlife from Samburu and Meru parks. Our visit to this conservancy significantly benefits the local community and encourages the conservation of their environment. Dinner and overnight at our bush camp on top of Ololokwe Mountain. (B, L, D)

Note: The two-day trek to Ololokwe Mountain can be substituted with a wildlife safari to Meru National Park for the same duration and price. This alternative option suits groups seeking a less demanding yet equally interesting experience.Day 7: Journey Back to Nairobi
After breakfast, begin your descent from Ololokwe Mountain and return to base camp. We will then drive back to Nairobi, stopping at Mountain Rock Lodge for lunch along the way. Expect to arrive in Nairobi in the late afternoon. (B, L)