Wildest Kenya from the Mathews Range to the Masai Mara
Kenya is an iconic safari destination characterized by hauntingly beautiful natural landscapes of vast savannas dotted with acacia trees, arid scrublands, rocky outcrops called kopjes, and dense riverine forests brimming with an abundance of wildlife. On this active adventure you will stride across it all on expertly guided walks, discovering the wonders of remote valleys in the Mathews Range, diverse ecosystems on the Laikipia Plateau, and the legendary plains of the Masai Mara. Combine immersive explorations on foot with game drives, cultural connections, and even a hot-air ballon ride! Spend nights in a curated collection of comfortable permanent and mobile camps surrounded by nature. This ultimate Kenya walking safari trip offers an unparalleled blend of active adventure and wildlife encounters.
Kenya is an iconic safari destination characterized by hauntingly beautiful natural landscapes of vast savannas dotted with acacia trees, arid scrublands, rocky outcrops called kopjes, and dense riverine forests brimming with an abundance of wildlife. On this active adventure you will stride across it all on expertly guided walks, discovering the wonders of remote valleys in the Mathews Range, diverse ecosystems on the Laikipia Plateau, and the legendary plains of the Masai Mara. Combine immersive explorations on foot with game drives, cultural connections, and even a hot-air ballon ride! Spend nights in a curated collection of comfortable permanent and mobile camps surrounded by nature. This ultimate Kenya walking safari trip offers an unparalleled blend of active adventure and wildlife encounters.
Welcome to Kenya! You will be met and guided through immigration, customs, and luggage claim, after which you'll meet your MT Sobek representative and safari guide. Take a short drive to your boutique safari lodge on the banks of the Mbagathi River, the southern border of Nairobi National Park. Take in the breathtaking views and perhaps spot some wildlife before meeting your guide and other hikers for dinner and a briefing. You should plan to arrive before noon.
Accommodation: Ololo Safari Lodge
Transportation: Private transfer
Meals: Dinner
Safari in Nairobi National Park
Day 2
Begin your adventure with a day's exploration of Nairobi National Park. Watch for black and white rhinos, lions, leopards, buffalo, zebras, and giraffes against a backdrop of savanna grasslands, forests, and rocky gorges and the city in the distance. After savoring a farm to table lunch, game drive through the park to the Kitengela Conservancy where you can experience your first bush walk in the forested area. Back at the lodge enjoy another delicious meal and swap stories with fellow hikers about the day's sightings.
Accommodation: Ololo Safari Lodge
Activity: Game drives, 1-hour walk
Transportation: Private transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hike Rugged Trails into the Mathews Range
Day 3
After breakfast, check out of your lodge and head to the airstrip for your flight to Samburu, an arid region named after one of several tribes that call it home. A 4x4 transfer takes you through dramatic low country following dry riverbeds to meet your safari guides, crew, and camels. Spend some time meeting the women of the villag to learn about their way of life. Enjoy a picnic lunch and then choose to ride a camel or walk on an hour's journey through Samburu territory, where you'll encounter these semi-nomadic people herding their livestock. Continue walking toward the mountains, climbing into the wilds of the Mathews Range. Enter the deep forest that drapes these mountains which rise from the desert floor, and arrive at a charming and nostalgic tented camp shaded by the canopy on the banks of the Ngeng River. Enjoy a shower and gather for the beverage of your choice before dinner and slip into bed under a cozy duvet with a hot water bottle in this cooler climate.
Accommodation: Kitich Forest Camp
Activity: 4 hours/6 miles hiking with 2,132' elevation gain and 2,624' elevation loss
Transportation: 1-hour flight, 2.5-hour private transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore the Lush Keserian & Kojos Valleys
Day 4
As effervescent light and gentle birdsong fills the valley, your wake-up call of steaming hot Kenyan tea or coffee arrives on your tent's veranda. Climb up the Keserian Valley as you explore the the upper slopes of the Mathews Mountains guided by Samburu and Ndorobo people, who know these mountains and woodlands better than anyon. You are surrounded by signs of wildlife—prints in the mud, broken branches on a forest path, droppings from an elephant...the forest is alive. Your guide will lay out a breakfast spread at the summit of Murit Pass overlooking the breathtaking vastness of the plains below. Descend through the Kojos Valley, an otherworldly dell filled with giant cycads - ancient plants that have survived and evolved for millions of years. The Ngeng River gently flows by, your guides shares stories of the forest, and birds sing along the trail. Return to camp through shaded valleys studded with boulders and more prehistoric cycads. Delve into a delicious meal and some leisure time this afternoon.
Accommodation: Kitich Forest Camp
Activity: 5 hours/6.2 miles hiking with 1,200' elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Experience a Walking Safari in the Kitich Forest
Day 5
Today meander through the dense Kitich Forest on undulating hills and valley slopes past forest orchids and giant cycads, getting an intimate look at the wilderness around you. Here are chances to see a myriad of bird and butterfly species as well as elephants, leopards, buffalo, greater kudu, waterbuck, giant forest hog, and the rare De Brazza Monkey. Stop at burbling springs and crystal-clear rivers where you can take a refreshing swim or try your hand at fly fishing for barbel. Return to camp in the late afternoon for sundowners and dinner, listening to the chorus of tree frogs and perhaps the roar of a lion or trumpet of an elephant as you drift off to sleep in the wilderness. * Depending on water levels, you may cross the Ngeng River several times and be prepared for the possibility of your shoes getting wet.
Accommodation: Kitich Forest Camp
Activity: Walking 2-3 miles with optional fly-fishing and swimming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Journey to Laikipia and Begin Your Mobile Safari
Day 6
Begin your last morning at Kitich with a pre-dawn wake-up call and head out on a final walk, descending into a cool valley as the sun rises and the forest awakens with the chattering of birds and the odd elephant rumble. Explore the flora and fauna below the canopy before returning to camp for breakfast and heading to the airstrip for your charter flight to Laikipia. Meet your walking team for a short but scenic drive to camp for lunch. Begin your safari below Loseramoru kopje, hiking across large plains and through mixed bush crisscrossed with wildlife tracks, looking for herds of common and Grevy's zebra, oryx and Grant's gazelle, and the herds of reticulated giraffes that are found in large number here. Your walk culminates with a drink atop a kopje for a panoramic view of the area, and retiring to tonight's location of your mobile camp.
Accommodation: Nyarara Camp
Activity: 2 hours/1-3 miles hiking
Transportation: 2 hours/1-3 miles hiking
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride Camels or Walk in Laikipia
Day 7
Start the day with an early wake-up call and a hearty breakfast while the team takes down the camp and loads it onto pack camels, who will transport camp ahead of you while you walk. You can choose to ride camelback or just have the camels carry your day pack. Laikipia, nestled between Mount Kenya and the northern deserts, is renowned for wildlife conservation. Here you'll explore the high plains, home to diverse species including Grevy's zebras, lions, black rhinos, and elephants. Arrive at Paul's Rock, the site of your next camp at the edge of the Ewaso Nyiro River. After lunch, enjoy an afternoon walk, soaking in the rich scenery. Complete the day with a sundowner as the sun dips below the horizon, returning to camp to watch the river where elephants come to wallow in the mud and tawney and martial eagles nest in the trees.
Accommodation: Ewaso Camp
Activity: 4-5 hours/6 miles hiking
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Take a Final Walk in Laikipia
Day 8
After breakfast, walk toward your final camp, enjoying the cooler morning temperatures. Rolling plains, acacia woodlands, and rugged hills form a picturesque backdrop for your exploration, and you may encounter a variety of wildlife. Arrive in time for lunch at the permanent base camp with such luxuries as a lap pool and cocktail bar. Settle into your tent, which has views of a bustling waterhole frequented by elephants, giraffes, oryx, zebras, and warthogs. In the afternoon, explore the surrounding area with your expert guide, catching glimpses of wildlife and immersing yourself in the scenery of the Laikipia Plateau. Climb a nearby kopje for sunset views.
Accommodation: Tumaren Camp
Activity: 3 hours/6 miles hiking
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Travel to Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 9
After breakfast, drive to the airstrip for your flight to the Masai Mara. A lodge representative will meet you upon arrival and drive you to the camp for a delicious lunch. This afternoon, head out for your first game drive in the Mara, one of Africa's most famous wildlife reserves. The image of acacia trees dotting endless grass plains and perhaps a Maasai warrior epitomizes Africa for many. The highlight is undoubtedly the annual wildebeest migration traversing the vast plains of the Serengeti National Park and the Masai Mara nNational Reserve. Large prides of lions and herds of elephants, as well as giraffes, gazelles, eland, and rhino can also be spotted in the reserve.
Accommodation: Speke’s Camp
Activity: Game drive and wildlife viewing
Transportation: 1.5-hour flight
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Discover Wildlife Wonders of the Masai Mara
Day 10
Today, you will explore the breathtaking landscapes of the Masai Mara on a captivating game drive. Immerse yourself in the natural wonders of the savanna, encountering iconic wildlife up close, from majestic lions to graceful giraffes. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided walk, gaining insights into the Maasai culture and their deep connection to the land as you experience more outstanding wildlife sightings on this unforgettable adventure.
Accommodation: Speke’s Camp
Activity: Game drive and 3 hours/7 miles walking
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Float Over the Masai Mara in a Hot-Air Balloon
Day 11
Early this morning, depart on a special excursion—viewing the Mara from above on a hot-air balloon flight over the winding rivers, forests, and plains below. A beautiful champagne breakfast in the bush awaits upon landing. The rest of the day will be spent on game drives, as you soak in the last opportunity to see the nawe-inspiring animals that reside in this world-famous game park.
Activity: Approximately 1-hour hot-air balloon ride (weather dependent)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Say Farewell to Kenya & Depart
Day 12
After breakfast, check out of camp and transfer to the airstrip for your flight to Nairobi. Upon arrival, you will be met by your representative and head to a farewell lunch. You'll have use of a day room to rest and freshen up before your departure flight (please book flights to depart after 8:00 pm).
MT Sobek is a pioneering adventure travel company and that has been exploring remote destinations since 1969. Our walking safaris offer a unique perspective of the Kenyan landscape and cultures.
This perfectly paced 12-day active adventure has been uniquely crafted by our award-winning Africa expert to include exciting activities from hiking and wildlife spotting to hot-air ballooning.
MT Sobek works with professional local expert guides to provide a rare opportunity to enjoy an immersive, once-in-a-lifetime experience in the African wilderness.
Accommodation There are private shower and toilet tents for Days 6 and 7 on the mobile safari portion of your safari in Laikipia. They are located away from the sleeping tents. If you need to use the facilities at night, expect to walk to them unaccompanied. For safety, there will be askaris (Swahili for guards) patrolling around camp and a fire burning to deter wildlife.
Dates & Prices
We are currently experiencing technical issues with our online booking system. Please call us at 800-974-0300 or email info@mtsobek.com for trip details. Thank you for your patience!
Your Guides
The best people to immerse you in a destination are the ones who live there, which is why we feature local Adventure Guides on our trips. Here are a few that you might meet on this adventure.
James M.
James took his first exams in Tour Guiding in 1997 and is among the few Gold Level Guides out of thousands under the membership of Kenya Professional Safari Guide Association (KPSGA) Number 0488. Born on the biodiverse Kikuyu Escarpment, his passion for natural history grew through his childhood years, leading him to spend his time in museum libraries tackling subjects such as mammalogy, entomology, botany, osteology, ornithology, anthropology, and geology. A well-rounded guide, James loves to take a deep dive on walking tours dedicated to birds, trees, or insects.
Moses N.
After starting life as the son of coffee pickers on the slopes of Mount Kenya, Moses worked to complete a degree in Tourism and Wildlife Management at Nairobi University and set off on extensive multi-month adventures, where he acted as driver, guide, mechanic, and cook all in one. Having gained experience in the many ecosystems, tribes, and cultures across East Africa, he shifted gears to become a luxury safari guide, sharing his wealth of knowledge about natural history, and spending time with his family.
Raymond T.
Raymond is Maasai and has lived in wildlife-protected areas since his childhood. Growing up in a Maasai village in harmony with wildlife, he developed a strong interest and respect for Tanzania’s wild creatures. He graduated from a 4-year program at the College of African Wildlife Management and has been showing guests the wonders of East Africa and Zambia since 2011. He is excited to share his abundant enthusiasm for the landscapes, people, and wildlife of Tanzania with you!
Welcome to Kenya! You will be met and guided through immigration, customs, and luggage claim, after which you\'ll meet your MT Sobek representative and safari guide. Take a short drive to your boutique safari lodge on the banks of the Mbagathi River, the southern border of Nairobi National Park. Take in the breathtaking views and perhaps spot some wildlife before meeting your guide and other hikers for dinner and a briefing. You should plan to arrive before noon.
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After breakfast, check out of your lodge and head to the airstrip for your flight to Samburu, an arid region named after one of several tribes that call it home. A 4x4 transfer takes you through dramatic low country following dry riverbeds to meet your safari guides, crew, and camels. Spend some time meeting the women of the villag to learn about their way of life. Enjoy a picnic lunch and then choose to ride a camel or walk on an hour\'s journey through Samburu territory, where you\'ll encounter these semi-nomadic people herding their livestock. Continue walking toward the mountains, climbing into the wilds of the Mathews Range. Enter the deep forest that drapes these mountains which rise from the desert floor, and arrive at a charming and nostalgic tented camp shaded by the canopy on the banks of the Ngeng River. Enjoy a shower and gather for the beverage of your choice before dinner and slip into bed under a cozy duvet with a hot water bottle in this cooler climate.
As effervescent light and gentle birdsong fills the valley, your wake-up call of steaming hot Kenyan tea or coffee arrives on your tent\'s veranda. Climb up the Keserian Valley as you explore the the upper slopes of the Mathews Mountains guided by Samburu and Ndorobo people, who know these mountains and woodlands better than anyon. You are surrounded by signs of wildlife—prints in the mud, broken branches on a forest path, droppings from an elephant...the forest is alive. Your guide will lay out a breakfast spread at the summit of Murit Pass overlooking the breathtaking vastness of the plains below. Descend through the Kojos Valley, an otherworldly dell filled with giant cycads - ancient plants that have survived and evolved for millions of years. The Ngeng River gently flows by, your guides shares stories of the forest, and birds sing along the trail. Return to camp through shaded valleys studded with boulders and more prehistoric cycads. Delve into a delicious meal and some leisure time this afternoon.
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[ActivityHighlight] => Guests can expect to be walking 5-7 miles on most days on flat/undulating terrain. Some days have steeper hikes at elevations of over 6,000 feet. There are a variety of activities available like fishing, swimming, and game drives, while not on foot.
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Activity Level
This trip is rated activity level 3. Guests can expect to be walking 5-7 miles on most days on flat/undulating terrain. Some days have steeper hikes at elevations of over 6,000 feet. There are a variety of activities available like fishing, swimming, and game drives, while not on foot. Learn more about activity levels here.
Activity Snapshot
Day 2
Game drives, 1-hour walk
Day 3
4 hours/6 miles hiking with 2,132' elevation gain and 2,624' elevation loss
Day 4
5 hours/6.2 miles hiking with 1,200' elevation gain
Day 5
Walking 2-3 miles with optional fly-fishing and swimming
Day 6
2 hours/1-3 miles hiking
Day 7
4-5 hours/6 miles hiking
Day 8
3 hours/6 miles hiking
Day 9
Game drive and wildlife viewing
Day 10
Game drive and 3 hours/7 miles walking
Day 11
Approximately 1-hour hot-air balloon ride (weather dependent)
*Mileage and elevation change information is approximate and may vary slightly depending on trail conditions, weather, and route adjustments, and the guide’s discretion.
Accommodations
Experience the best of Kenya's wilderness from a variety of luxury private tented camps, all superbly located in mountain, river, or savanna settings with stunning panoramic views.
Located on the edge of Nairobi National Park in Kenya, Ololo Safari Lodge is a boutique lodge that offers guests the warmth and comfort of a home with effortless style. Spacious rooms come equipped with a private bathroom and a seating area with beautifully handcrafted furniture. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon by the pool, which overlooks the national park, or a meal and drink at the open-air restaurant and bar.
In a remote valley of the Mathews Range, Kitich Forest Camp is nestled into the dense forest that cloaks the mountain slopes. With only six guest tents, the camp offers complete privacy with traditional safari style and ensuite bathrooms with flush toilets. Watch elephants, buffalo, bushbuck and occasionally a beautiful leopard emerge from the forest at dusk in the floodlit river valley from the lounge, keeping cozy by an open fire.
Set on the edge of a plain with panoramic views towards Mt. Kenya and the Aberdare Range in the south, Nyarara was named for the cheetah often seen in the area. Your accommodation is in a classic canvas safari tent complete with comfortable mattress, feather pillows, and duvet with hot water bottle for luxury camping! A chair, table, solar lights, towels, and carpets make you feel at home in the bush. You can request a bucket shower with hot water and there is a toilet behind each tent.
Ewaso Camp is a wonderful campsite located on the edge of the Ewaso Nyiro River, which is a lifeline to wildlife in the dry season. A chair and table outside your carpet-draped canvas tent are ideal for jotting down the day's adventures while watching the horizon for wildlife. There is a toilet behind each tent. Request a hot bucket shower, then retreat to a comfortable mattress, feather pillows, and a duvet with hot water bottle under solar lights, falling asleep to the sounds of leopards and lions calling.
Tumaren Camp is perfectly situated on the edge of a wide, sweeping plain with panoramic views dotted with the iconic acacia tree. To the south, the landscape is defined by granitic inselbergs, rising like islands on the savanna. The grasslands are rich with wildlife. The camp has just seven fully furnished spacious tents on platforms, each with ensuite bathrooms and flush toilets. Enjoy a 20-meter lap pool looking out across the open plains.
Speke's Camp is a small, hosted camp located in a private area of the Masai Mara on the reserve's border. The camp enjoys fabulous access to some of the best gaming areas in the Mara. The eight traditional safari tents with ensuite bathrooms are situated alongside the Olare Orok River under the shade of majestic indigenous trees. Speke's charm lies in its simple comforts in a traditional safari camp setting with all the necessities.
Weather
Kenya's climates range from temperate subtropical in the west and southwest highlands, to hot and humid along the coast, and hot and dry in the north and east, with temperatures averaging 68F-86F.
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Dec
Masai Mara
High
Low
High
Low
High
Low
High
Low
High
Low
High
Low
Masai Mara
77
55
77
54
77
54
79
55
81
57
81
55
Nairobi National Park
High
Low
High
Low
High
Low
High
Low
High
Low
High
Low
Nairobi National Park
74
58
73
56
73
56
78
57
79
60
77
61
FAQs
Who will meet me on arrival?
Welcome to Kenya! You will be met and guided through immigration, customs, and luggage claim, after which you'll meet your MT Sobek representative and safari guide.
How can I get to Kenya from the US?
There are direct flights to Nairobi out of New York's JFK on Kenya Airways. Typically, guests fly via gateways such as London (British Airways), Amsterdam (Delta/KLM), Frankfurt (Lufthansa), Istanbul (Turkish Airways), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airways), Dubai (Emirates Airline), Abu Dhabi (Etihad), or Doha (Qatar Airways).
Do I need a visa for Kenya?
Yes, US citizens need an Electronic Travel Authorization to visit to Kenya. You must apply for this in advance of your arrival and the cost is currently $34 (subject to change without notice). We provide details about obtaining your Travel Authorization and other entry requirements in your digital trip planner.
Will I have Wi-Fi on this trip?
Wi-Fi is very limited on this trip—only available in Nairobi and Masai Mara.
Can I make this a private trip?
With at least 4 people, you can choose your dates and book this itinerary all to yourselves! Or, take over one of our scheduled departures, where space is already confirmed. As long as we don't already have guests booked on your preferred dates you can make it yours with a group of 6 or more and your trip is ready to go.
What is the minimum age for this trip?
The standard minimum age for this trip is 16 but check out our private trip options for groups with younger guests (minimum age 12).