Safari Sundowner | You can explore the surrounds of Sassab on foot during walking safaris.

Kenya | Breakfast With Giraffe, Samburu Special Five & Big Five | 8 Nights Nairobi, Samburu Region & The Masai Mara

Although this safari – one of Kenya’s best safari itineraries – begins in the city, you’ll rarely be out of sight of wildlife. Dine with the inquisitive, long-legged residents at Giraffe Manor, encounter the massed herds passing by Sala’s Camp in the Masai Mara and venture out from Sasaab to seek the distinctive creatures of the Samburu region.

A luxury safari trip that offers an excellent mix of northern Kenya’s semi-desert and Masai Mara grasslands in the south, plus the lush gardens of Langata in Nairobi.
Opportunities to enjoy breakfast with giraffe, a Nairobi day trip, camel safaris, go on game drives in Samburu and the Masai Mara, witness the Great Wildebeest Migration, go on a walking safari, have cultural visits and go hot-air ballooning.
A unique boutique hotel with resident giraffe plus two exclusive tented camps overlooking a river. Selection of suites at Giraffe Manor, Moroccan-style tented rooms with private plunge pools at Sasaab and large safari tents at Sala’s Camp. For more information see Giraffe Manor, Sasaab and Sala’s Camp.

Two nights at Giraffe Manor

Upon arriving at Giraffe Manor after our international flight, we decided to take our time freshening up and relaxing in our beautiful room. While my partner had a short nap, I scrolled through the travel app that Art of Safari customised especially for us, getting more and more excited about the trip we were embarking on. We spent the late afternoon strolling around the lush grounds – home to warthog as well as giraffe – before venturing into the city for drinks. Nairobi was a city we’d not visited in a few years, and it was great to feel its incredible energy again. The sun was streaming into the dining room of Giraffe Manor as we enjoyed the day’s first cup of Kenyan tea the next morning. We suddenly had the distinct impression that someone was watching us through the window. Turning around, we saw a curious Rothschild’s giraffe seeking out its own breakfast of pellets! After breaking our fast, we started our Nairobi day trip. Our guide had drawn up an itinerary that touched on both colonial-era history and the city’s contemporary cultural and commercial pulse. The Utamaduni Shops were the ideal way to tick off all our gift needs and enjoy a great lunch, and we also dropped in on our old friends at the Kazuri Beads Factory. After a second breakfast with our towering neighbours the next day, we drove to Wilson Airport. As our light aircraft flight north took off, we looked back to see if we could see any long necks among the skyscrapers…

The sun was streaming into the dining room of Giraffe Manor as we enjoyed the day’s first cup of Kenyan tea the next morning. We suddenly had the distinct impression that someone was watching us through the window. Turning around, we saw a curious Rothschild’s giraffe seeking out its own breakfast of pellets! After breaking our fast, we started our Nairobi day trip. Our guide had drawn up an itinerary that touched on both colonial-era history and the city’s contemporary cultural and commercial pulse. The Utamaduni Shops were the ideal way to tick off all our gift needs and enjoy a great lunch, and we also dropped in on our old friends at the Kazuri Beads Factory.

After a second breakfast with our towering neighbours the next day, we drove to Wilson Airport. As our light aircraft flight north took off, we looked back to see if we could see any long necks among the skyscrapers…

Three nights at Sasaab

We certainly didn’t waste any time getting into adventure mode once landing! We stepped right off the plane onto quad bikes, and had great fun making our way to Sasaab, a lodge on private land next to Samburu National Reserve. After a refreshing dip in our private plunge pool, we took a camel ride to Sundowner Rock, where we sipped on aperitifs while taking in the view. Later, we enjoyed a private three-course dinner on our verandah before retiring early to our comfortable bed, eagerly anticipating our early morning game drive the next day. We’d been lucky to see both reticulated giraffe and Grevy’s zebra on our first day, and were keen to see the rest of the Samburu Special Five during our stay: the Somali ostrich, beisa oryx and gerenuk. After biscuits and tea we set off, necks craning in all directions, and were rewarded with sightings of both the ostrich and oryx, as well as elephant cavorting in the river! After a relaxing afternoon by the infinity pool, we had a wonderful time chatting to some of the other guests over dinner in the dining hall. Following a luxurious bush breakfast we did a cultural visit, meeting the proud and colourful Samburu people at their village and bartering for some authentic jewellery. Then while my partner was on an afternoon game drive I spotted some hippo in the river, and decided to paint them using the art supplies in our room. My kids will get a kick out of my attempt at art! I rewarded myself with a massage in the spa. Wanting to stretch our legs before flying to the Masai Mara, we spent our last morning doing a short walking safari, where we were delighted to see several gerenuk, standing up and browsing from the bushes. Samburu Special Five: check!

We’d been lucky to see both reticulated giraffe and Grevy’s zebra on our first day, and were keen to see the rest of the Samburu Special Five during our stay: the Somali ostrich, beisa oryx and gerenuk. After biscuits and tea we set off, necks craning in all directions, and were rewarded with sightings of both the ostrich and oryx, as well as elephant cavorting in the river! After a relaxing afternoon by the infinity pool, we had a wonderful time chatting to some of the other guests over dinner in the dining hall.

Following a luxurious bush breakfast we did a cultural visit, meeting the proud and colourful Samburu people at their village and bartering for some authentic jewellery. Then while my partner was on an afternoon game drive I spotted some hippo in the river, and decided to paint them using the art supplies in our room. My kids will get a kick out of my attempt at art! I rewarded myself with a massage in the spa.

Wanting to stretch our legs before flying to the Masai Mara, we spent our last morning doing a short walking safari, where we were delighted to see several gerenuk, standing up and browsing from the bushes. Samburu Special Five: check!

Three nights at Sala’s Camp

Our flight was fascinating, as we got to see how the terrain changed as we moved from the dry north to the lush Masai Mara in the south, passing Mount Kenya and the Rift Valley lakes. We arrived at Sala’s Camp in time for lunch, which was served communally around a single table on the manicured lawns near the river – a thoroughly delicious spread that some baboon eyed out from the other side. We lazed away the rest of the day reading on the day beds while a plethora of birds darted among the riverine trees. Up before sunrise on our second day, we soon found ourselves drifting over the Masai Mara in a hot-air balloon. We’d got the timing right perfectly, and were able to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration from above. As we soared near the Sand River we saw how many wildebeest had yet to cross it, the vast majority still straddling the border between Kenya and Tanzania. Seeing the plains covered in a sea of dark hides was one of our most memorable experiences. After a private dinner by the river we headed to bed; already we could hear the wildebeest were nearby, and we were excited to see them up close in the morning. We woke to the clamour of these grunting beasts. Quickly dressing, we headed out to our verandah to see this, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. We were so agog that it was hard to tear ourselves away, but we decided to have breakfast in the bush, among them. On our game drive afterwards we even spotted Sala’s Pride, the reserve’s resident lion. To make the most of the migration we went horse riding in the afternoon, and were astounded at the amount of wildlife around. Dinner was a subdued affair, with everyone reflecting on what they’d seen that day. On our final morning we we joined the staff, who we’d got to know well by now, for a lively game of bush volleyball. All too soon we were flying back home, awestruck at all we’d seen and experienced in just six days.

Up before sunrise on our second day, we soon found ourselves drifting over the Masai Mara in a hot-air balloon. We’d got the timing right perfectly, and were able to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration from above. As we soared near the Sand River we saw how many wildebeest had yet to cross it, the vast majority still straddling the border between Kenya and Tanzania. Seeing the plains covered in a sea of dark hides was one of our most memorable experiences. After a private dinner by the river we headed to bed; already we could hear the wildebeest were nearby, and we were excited to see them up close in the morning.

We woke to the clamour of these grunting beasts. Quickly dressing, we headed out to our verandah to see this, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. We were so agog that it was hard to tear ourselves away, but we decided to have breakfast in the bush, among them. On our game drive afterwards we even spotted Sala’s Pride, the reserve’s resident lion. To make the most of the migration we went horse riding in the afternoon, and were astounded at the amount of wildlife around. Dinner was a subdued affair, with everyone reflecting on what they’d seen that day.

On our final morning we we joined the staff, who we’d got to know well by now, for a lively game of bush volleyball. All too soon we were flying back home, awestruck at all we’d seen and experienced in just six days.

What sets it apart

From the understated tranquillity of northern Kenya to the teeming Masai Mara, our Kenyan safari gave us a fantastic overview of the country. Although both lodges were set along a river, they couldn’t have been more different: the Moroccan-styled Sasaab, with its dramatic views of Mount Kenya, and the iconic Sala’s Camp, with its distinctive old-world charm combined with the thrilling drama of the Great Wildebeest Migration. Both camps were wonderfully remote though, one in a private conservancy and the other in the lesser-visited part of the Masai Mara, Kenya’s northern frontier, which allowed us an overall exclusive experience. This safari truly did offer the best of both worlds, with just the right amount of relaxation and adventure. We dined like royalty; in fact the service was top-notch too, from our butler to our guides, who peppered the factual information they shared with personal stories that enriched our experience. Even before we headed into the wilds of Kenyan, we got to enjoy a very special wildlife experience in the city. Giraffe Manor was unique; there’s no other hotel in the world where giraffe join you for breakfast. Their presence each morning perked us up at least as much as the coffee did! And there was so much to do! We’ll have to come back for fly camping, but otherwise we packed in a lot, from quad biking to camel rides, game drives, hot-air ballooning, horse riding and more. Plus we got to see both the Samburu Special Five and the incredible Great Wildebeest Migration, and our flight gave us a wonderful look at the land from the air. This safari covered all the bases, making me feel like I’d truly felt the heartbeat of Africa.

This safari truly did offer the best of both worlds, with just the right amount of relaxation and adventure. We dined like royalty; in fact the service was top-notch too, from our butler to our guides, who peppered the factual information they shared with personal stories that enriched our experience.

Even before we headed into the wilds of Kenyan, we got to enjoy a very special wildlife experience in the city. Giraffe Manor was unique; there’s no other hotel in the world where giraffe join you for breakfast. Their presence each morning perked us up at least as much as the coffee did!

And there was so much to do! We’ll have to come back for fly camping, but otherwise we packed in a lot, from quad biking to camel rides, game drives, hot-air ballooning, horse riding and more. Plus we got to see both the Samburu Special Five and the incredible Great Wildebeest Migration, and our flight gave us a wonderful look at the land from the air. This safari covered all the bases, making me feel like I’d truly felt the heartbeat of Africa.

Day 1–2

Seeing giraffe wander around Giraffe Manor is otherworldly. © Giraffe Manor

You’ll be met as you disembark from your international flight at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, and assisted through customs and immigration. A private transfer will take you to Giraffe Manor, where you’ll spend two nights.

Day 3–5

A Samburu tribesman will escort you to your Sasaab tented room at night, keeping an eye out for wildlife.

Following a private transfer from Giraffe Manor to Wilson Airport, you’ll take a scheduled light aircraft flight to Samburu National Reserve. You’ll then take a transfer to Sasaab, where you’ll spend three nights.

Day 6–8

Bush dining is a luxurious way to experience the Masai Mara at Sala’s Camp.

After a transfer from Sasaab to the airstrip, you’ll take a scheduled light aircraft flight to the Masai Mara. A transfer will take you to Sala’s Camp, where you’ll spend three nights.

Day 9

After a transfer from Sala’s Camp to the airstrip, you’ll take a scheduled light aircraft flight to Wilson Airport in Nairobi. A private transfer will take you to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where you’ll be assisted through check-in for your international flight.

Our safaris are tailor-made to match your personal safari dream, taking into account when you’d like to travel, how long you’d like to be away for, who you’d be travelling with, what safari lodge style you’d prefer, and more.

This luxury safari trip idea is simply to show you what’s possible. For a general overview of our safari price categories, and what they include, take a look at this blog.