Safari Overview

Celebrate the beginning of your happily-ever-after with this 7-day Heavenly Honeymoon, an intricately crafted journey designed for total exclusivity and romance. This safari sweeps you off your feet, transitioning from the rugged, panoramic vistas of the Samburu wilderness to the iconic, teeming plains of the Masai Mara.

Stay in Saruni’s most intimate hideaways—including the renowned Honeymoon Villa and The Love Shack—where you are surrounded by untouched nature. Whether it is a champagne sundowner on a private hilltop or a lantern-lit dinner under a velvet star-lit sky, every moment is designed to offer serenity, adventure, and complete seclusion.

 

Safari Highlights

• Total Exclusivity: Stay in private conservancies far from the tourist crowds.
• The Samburu Special Five: Rare wildlife sightings found only in Northern Kenya.
• Romantic Dining: Private balcony dinners and magical bush meals under the stars.
• The Big Cat Experience: World-class predator sightings in the Mara North Conservancy.
• Authentic Culture: Guided walks and warrior-led storytelling with Samburu and Maasai experts.

 

Detailed Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival & Flight to the Rugged North

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), you will be transferred to Wilson Airport for your flight to Samburu. Your guide will meet you at the airstrip for your first game drive through the Kalama Conservancy, a 200,000-acre private wilderness. Enjoy a breathtaking sundowner as the sun sets over the Northern frontier.

• Accommodation: Saruni Samburu (Honeymoon Villa)
• Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 2: The Samburu Special Five & Private Champagne Sundowner

Explore the Samburu National Reserve to spot the Special Five (Reticulated Giraffe, Grevy’s Zebra, Beisa Oryx, Somali Ostrich, and Gerenuk). In the afternoon, retreat for a private champagne sundowner, just the two of you, on a secluded hilltop. End the day with a romantic, lantern-lit dinner on your private balcony.

• Accommodation: Saruni Samburu
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 3: Nature Walks & Starlit Bush Dinner

Discover the ancient secrets of the land with a guided nature walk to local caves featuring historic rock paintings. After a complimentary Back & Neck massage at the Samburu Wellbeing Space, head out for a night game drive. The evening culminates in a magical bush dinner with Samburu warriors dancing by the fire.

• Accommodation: Saruni Samburu
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 4: Transfer to the Iconic Masai Mara

Fly across the Great Rift Valley to the Masai Mara. Begin your exploration of the Mara North Conservancy, an exclusive corner of the Mara ecosystem bordering the main reserve. Enjoy a picnic lunch under a lone acacia tree before an afternoon game drive searching for the abundant plains game.

• Accommodation: Saruni Mara (The Love Shack) / Saruni Wild
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 5: Big Cats & Maasai Wellbeing

The Mara is world-famous for its predators. Today is dedicated to tracking lions, leopards, and cheetahs. After the excitement of the savannah, unwind with traditional treatments at the Maasai Wellbeing Space. In the afternoon, visit a special area known for its high concentration of giraffes.

• Accommodation: Saruni Mara / Saruni Wild
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 6: Walking Safari & Kilileoni Sunset

Experience the wild on foot with a guided walking safari through the valleys, or take a game drive to the summit of Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem. Celebrate your final night with a celebratory bush dinner accompanied by Maasai songs and dance.

• Accommodation: Saruni Mara / Saruni Wild
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 7: Rhino Sanctuary & Departure

On your way to the airstrip, visit the local rhino sanctuary for a final wildlife encounter. Fly back to Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, where you will be transferred to JKIA for your international flight.

Travel Note: Depending on your flight schedule, a farewell dinner at the Talisman or Carnivore restaurant can be arranged.

• Meal Plan: Breakfast

 

Safari Inclusions & Exclusions

Category	Inclusions (What is included)	Exclusions (What is NOT included)
Accommodation	All-inclusive Luxury Lodges & Tented Camps	Premium spirits, Champagne, and luxury wines
Transport	Internal flights (Nairobi – Samburu – Mara)	International flights & Visa fees
Special Romantic Touches	Private sundowners, Champagne gift, and private dining	Gratuities for staff and guides
Activities	Shared game drives, night drives, and guided walks	Entry fees to the Masai Mara National Reserve
Transfers	All airport and airstrip transfers	Items of a personal nature
Wellness	One 30-min Back & Neck massage per stay	Additional spa treatments
Refreshments	Soft drinks, beers, house wines, and select spirits	Late departure fees

Quick Facts

• Destinations: Kalama Conservancy (Samburu) and Mara North Conservancy (Masai Mara).
• Vibe: High-end romance, seclusion, and The Love Shack luxury.
• Best Time for Honeymooners: June to October (The Great Migration) and January to March.
• Wildlife Focus: The Samburu Special Five and the Big Cats of the Mara.

About the Lodges;

Saruni Samburu

Saruni Samburu’s six luxury villas are open and spacious, heralding spectacular views over Kenya’s Northern Frontier District and Mount Kenya in the distance. The warm and welcoming hospitality makes for an intimate and exceptional experience. The lodge is revered for its innovative, eco-chic architecture and interesting design and décor, as well as its Italian-inspired cuisine. Guests can enjoy the vast panoramas from the dining and lounge area, the infinity pool and the Samburu Wellbeing Space. Saruni Samburu is the only lodge in Kalama Conservancy, which borders

Samburu National Reserve, with 200,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness to explore and enjoy exclusively. You are guided from start to finish by Samburu warriors who are passionate about their land and their culture, learning first-hand about their fascinating customs and traditions and gaining ancient, local knowledge about the land and the animals – a truly authentic experience.

Activities and amenities

day and night game drives, photographic hide, bush meals, guided walks, birdwatching, Samburu Wellbeing Space treatments (payable extra), picnics, two swimming pools, helicopter excursions (payable extra), Samburu cultural visits (payable extra), Saruni Shop, Reteti Elephant Sanctuary (bookable in advance & payable extra).

 

Saruni Rhino

The secluded 3-banda camp of Saruni Rhino, in partnership with Sera Community Conservancy, offers the first rhino tracking experience in East Africa; an amazing walking safari that provides a uniquely thrilling adventure, but also allows guests to actively contribute to the protection of this iconic species. Located in the wild, undiscovered northern frontier of Kenya, the camp is a little under 2 driving hours from our Saruni Samburu lodge in nearby Kalama Conservancy.

Comprised of three elegant ‘bandas’ (rustic stone cottages) sleeping 8 guests in two double bandas & one larger family banda, and a main ‘mess’ cottage for dining and relaxing, Saruni Rhino is nestled amidst swaying doum palms dotted along a dry river bed (the Kauro ‘lugga’, in the heart of the conservancy). The camp has sweeping views of a nearby waterhole and dramatic landscape so typical of the north. There is also a beautiful infinity swimming pool, built in harmony with the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. The waterhole is a popular watering stop-off for a diverse range of wildlife: elephant, impala, birdlife, hyena, oryx, Grevy’s zebra and much more, making it great ‘bush TV’ from the comfort of your banda’s sandy verandah at any time. The dry river bed proves the quintessential torch-lit bush dinner location under the vast African skies.

Activities and amenities

Rhino tracking on foot, game drives, waterhole sightings, birdwatching, guided bush walks, sand grouse spectacular, bush dinners and picnics, sundowners, the Fifty Wells, the Singing Wells, sunset lugga walks, Reteti Elephant Sanctuary.