Safari Packages | Booking | Entice Business InsightsLaikipia and Samburu combine well because both sit on the same road north from Nanyuki. Samburu National Reserve is about 118 km from Nanyuki, roughly 2 hours 20 minutes by road or a 30 to 40-minute flight, so you can spend a few days among rhinos and Grevy’s zebra in the Laikipia conservancies and reach Samburu’s river wildlife in a single morning.
Two or three nights in each area fit into 5 to 8 days, and the Masai Mara can be a third stop if you fly. Below you will find the distances, the road-or-fly choice, sample outlines and the Entice trips that already cover the north, with prices.
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Laikipia and Samburu at a glance
| Quick fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Nanyuki to Samburu National Reserve, road | About 118 km, about 2 hours 20 minutes |
| Nanyuki to Samburu, air | About 30 to 40 minutes of flying |
| Nairobi to Nanyuki, road | About 190 km, 3 to 3.5 hours |
| Nairobi to Samburu, road | About 300 to 350 km, 5 to 6 hours |
| Samburu National Reserve | 165 sq km on the Ewaso Ng’iro, 800 to 1,230 m above sea level |
| Time that works | 5 to 8 days, with 2 to 3 nights in each area |
| Adding the Masai Mara | By air from Nanyuki, about 1 hour 15 minutes; by road about 374 km and 7 hours 40 minutes |
Entice’s 10-Day Kenya Safari: Samburu to the Maasai Mara starts from USD 5,100 per person, and prices depend on season, group size and lodge choice. Most distances in this guide are route-planner estimates (mainly Rome2Rio), not official figures, so read them as “about”.
Distances and drive times in the north
Most Laikipia stays start in or near Nanyuki, so it is the natural reference point. Times are for a private car without stops.
| Route | Distance | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi to Nanyuki | About 190 km | 3 to 3.5 hours | Via the Thika Superhighway, Karatina, Nyeri and Naro Moru; Nairobi traffic adds time |
| Nairobi to Ol Pejeta | About 220 km | 4 to 4.5 hours | Ol Pejeta’s own figure, which includes the run beyond Nanyuki |
| Nanyuki to Lewa | About 51 km | About 1 hour 25 minutes | On the Isiolo road |
| Nanyuki to Loisaba | 78 to 80 km | 1.5 to 3 hours | Sources disagree; it depends on the road and the lodge |
| Nanyuki to Isiolo | About 79 km | About 1 hour 10 minutes | The gateway town on the way to Samburu |
| Nanyuki to Samburu National Reserve | About 118 km | About 2 hours 20 minutes | Route-planner estimate |
| Nairobi to Samburu | About 300 to 350 km | 5 to 6 hours | Sources range from 300 to 350 km |
Road or fly between Laikipia and Samburu
The road from Nanyuki runs north through Isiolo and on to the reserve. Both options work, and the choice comes down to time, luggage and comfort. Our guide to Samburu safari packages by road or fly-in goes deeper on the options.
| Option | Nanyuki to Samburu | Suits | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road | About 118 km, about 2 hours 20 minutes | Travelers who prefer to avoid small aircraft or carry more luggage | The time excludes stops, so allow a little extra |
| Fly | About 30 to 40 minutes in the air; about 1 hour 4 minutes including transfers | Short trips where every hour counts | Kalama Airstrip serves Samburu for scheduled and charter flights; light aircraft limit baggage and schedules change |
Sample 5 to 8-day outlines
These outlines run Samburu first, then Laikipia. That way the last drive is the shorter Nanyuki to Nairobi leg, and a flight to the Mara leaves from the Laikipia side.
| Length | Nights | Outline |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days | 2 Samburu, 2 Laikipia | Day 1 Nairobi to Samburu. Day 2 full day in Samburu. Day 3 to Laikipia. Day 4 full day in Laikipia. Day 5 back to Nairobi. |
| 6 days | 2 Samburu, 3 Laikipia | The same shape with a second Laikipia day, enough to visit two conservancies. |
| 7 days | 3 Samburu, 3 Laikipia | Three full days in each area, with the transfer in between. |
| 8 days | 2 Samburu, 2 Laikipia, 3 Masai Mara | Samburu, then Laikipia, then a flight from the Laikipia side to the Mara and a flight back to Nairobi. Tight, so add days if you can. |
For a day-by-day look at a longer northern trip, read Northern Kenya Safari: Samburu, Ol Pejeta and Laikipia in 7 to 9 Days.
Two Entice trips that cover the north
9 Days Untamed Safari to the Hidden Northern Kenya Circuit
Suits travelers who want to stay in the north for the whole trip. From USD 7,840 per person.
7 Day Untamed Skies Safari: Flying The Hidden North of Kenya
Suits travelers with a week who would rather fly than spend hours on the road. From USD 3,700 per person.
Adding the Masai Mara
Nanyuki to the Mara is about 374 km and 7 hours 40 minutes by road, which is a full day in a vehicle. Flying is the sensible choice: AirKenya Express takes about 1 hour 15 minutes on the route, and Rome2Rio shows one flight a day. Build the plan around that flight and keep the day free of other transfers. Our guide to Laikipia and Masai Mara itineraries for 7 to 12 days covers the longer versions.
Two extras to know about. An optional Masai Mara hot-air balloon ride is USD 550 per person. A Maasai village visit is included on the 10-day trip.
What you will see in each area
Laikipia
Kenya had 2,102 rhinos at the end of 2024 (KWS): 1,059 eastern black, 1,041 southern white and 2 northern white. The conservancies publish their own counts. Ol Pejeta reports over 165 black rhinos, Lewa-Borana over 280 rhinos, and Loisaba 26 black and 11 white rhinos (late 2025). The 2016 Great Grevy’s Rally found Laikipia home to the largest population of Grevy’s zebra in Kenya, out of a national estimate of about 2,350.
The June to July 2021 KWS aerial census counted 7,475 elephants across the Laikipia-Samburu-Marsabit-Meru landscape: 60 percent (4,475) in Laikipia and 17 percent (1,305) in Samburu. Wild dogs live in the region, but Kenya’s 2025 national census found wild dogs and cheetahs each down by roughly half in four years, so treat them as a bonus. See Laikipia wildlife: rhinos, wild dogs, Grevy’s zebra and more.
Samburu
Samburu National Reserve is small, at 165 sq km, and follows the Ewaso Ng’iro river. It is known for the “special five”, arid-country species that include Grevy’s zebra and reticulated giraffe. The giraffe is listed as Endangered and ranges mainly in northern and north-eastern Kenya. Our Samburu special five guide names all five.
Entice trips that cover the north, with prices
Each trip page lists the exact route, nights and lodges. If you want a different mix of nights, ask for a tailor-made quote.
- 10-Day Kenya Safari: Samburu to the Maasai Mara: from USD 5,100 per person. For travelers who want Samburu and the Mara in one trip.
- 9 Days Untamed Safari to the Hidden Northern Kenya Circuit: from USD 7,840 per person. For travelers who want the north only.
- 7 Day Untamed Skies Safari: Flying The Hidden North of Kenya: from USD 3,700 per person. For travelers with a week who prefer to fly.
These are from-prices for midrange lodges in low season, two sharing. Prices depend on season, group size and lodge choice, and your quote itemises everything.
Practical details before you book
- When to go. Both areas can be visited in any month. Rain affects roads and animal movement, so give us your dates and the quote explains what to expect.
- What to pack. Layers for cool early game drives, a hat, sunscreen, binoculars, closed shoes and soft-sided bags if you fly on light aircraft.
- Fees. Reserve and conservancy fees differ by property and change over time, so your itemised quote lists them for your dates.
- Vehicle rules. Properties set their own rules. Loisaba, for example, allows only 4×4 vehicles in green or brown colours.
Get your free safari quote in 6 hours
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Frequently asked questions
How far is Samburu from Laikipia?
From Nanyuki, the usual gateway to Laikipia, Samburu National Reserve is about 118 km, roughly 2 hours 20 minutes by road or a 30 to 40-minute flight. Conservancies on the Isiolo road, such as Lewa, start the drive closer to Samburu.
How many days do I need for both?
Five days is the minimum that gives each area a full day. Seven or eight days let you add a second Laikipia conservancy or a flight to the Masai Mara without rushing.
Should I drive or fly between them?
Drive if you have time and want to see the country. Fly if your trip is short, since the flight takes 30 to 40 minutes against about 2 hours 20 minutes on the road.
Can I add the Masai Mara?
Yes, by air. Nanyuki to the Mara is about 1 hour 15 minutes by plane, against roughly 7 hours 40 minutes by road. Plan Samburu first, then Laikipia, then the flight.
Which should I do first, Samburu or Laikipia?
Samburu first. The final leg back to Nairobi is then Nanyuki to Nairobi, about 190 km and 3 to 3.5 hours, instead of the 5 to 6 hours from Samburu.
What do the Entice trips cost?
The 10-day trip is from USD 5,100 per person, the 9-day trip from USD 7,840 and the 7-day trip from USD 3,700. Prices depend on season, group size and lodge choice.
Photo: Grevy Zebra of Samburu by Gachukia, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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