Kenya Safari: Nairobi, Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Nakuru & the Mara — Self-Launched
12 days · Kenya
Globus charges £6,300
No-markup version: ~£2,450 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Globus's 12-day classic Kenya safari. Instead of a fully guided coach tour with high-end lodges, you'll string together budget safari camps, self-booked day tours in Nairobi, and matatu/minibus transfers along the classic Nairobi–Samburu/Shaba–Ol Pejeta–Lake Nakuru–Maasai Mara–Amboseli loop. You book game drives through the camps themselves (most budget camps include shared game drives in their nightly rate) or with Nairobi-based budget safari operators for multi-day packages. Costs are approximate, based on backpacker/mid-budget rates in GBP — expect wild variance by season (July–October and Christmas peak can double park fees and camp rates).
Day-by-day
Arrive Nairobi — settle in
Nairobi
Land at Jomo Kenyatta International (JKIA). Buy a Safaricom SIM/eSIM at the airport and withdraw Kenyan Shillings from an ATM. Take an Uber or Bolt into the city (roughly KES 1,500–2,000 / £9–12; airport taxis ask more). Base yourself in the Westlands or Kilimani area where hostels and budget guesthouses cluster. Spend the afternoon at Nairobi National Museum or just recover from the flight. Book your Nairobi day tour tonight via GetYourGuide or direct with the operator.
🚌Uber/Bolt from JKIA to city centre, ~£10
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Westlands/Kilimani (~£15/night)
- →Airport transfer by Uber/Bolt
- →Nairobi National Museum (optional, ~£10)
Nairobi day tour: park, elephants, giraffes, Karen Blixen
Nairobi
Do a self-booked combined day tour covering exactly what the Globus itinerary includes: an early morning game drive in Nairobi National Park, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust orphan elephant feeding (11am public viewing — book online in advance, ~£15), the Giraffe Centre (~£12) and the Karen Blixen Museum (~£10). A shared day tour via GetYourGuide or a local operator like a Nairobi-based budget safari company costs ~£75–95 including park entry and lunch; or DIY it with an Uber between sites (~£35 total for the day) and pay each entry separately. Evening: try nyama choma at a local grill house.
🚌Shared day-tour minivan or Uber between sites, ~£40
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse (~£15/night)
- →Nairobi National Park game drive
- →Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage
- →Giraffe Centre
- →Karen Blixen Museum
Nairobi to Shaba / Samburu National Reserve
Shaba National Reserve
The Globus tour flies internal sectors; you'll go overland. Take a morning shuttle bus or matatu from Nairobi to Isiolo/Archers Post (~5–6 hrs, ~£8–12); reputable companies including Nairobi-based shuttle operators can be booked a day ahead. From Archers Post, a boda-boda or local taxi into the Shaba/Samburu gate area costs a few pounds. Check into a budget tented camp outside the reserve (many include shared game drives in the rate). Afternoon game drive in Shaba or Samburu — the Ewaso Ng'iro river is the wildlife magnet, with Samburu specials like Grevy's zebra and reticulated giraffe.
🚌Shuttle bus Nairobi–Isiolo/Archers Post ~£10; local taxi into park area ~£5
🛏Budget tented camp near Shaba/Samburu gate, full board-friendly (~£35/night)
- →Overland transfer to Samburu/Shaba
- →Afternoon game drive in Shaba National Reserve
Full day in Shaba — game drives and Samburu village
Shaba National Reserve
Morning and afternoon game drives with your camp's guide. Between drives, arrange a visit to a Samburu village through your camp (~£15–25, includes a guided walk and often a dance/demonstration) — do this via the camp rather than flagging down a guide at random, so the community actually benefits. Ask your camp to set up a simple sundowner (a beer or soda with a view) at the end of the afternoon drive — no need to pay Globus-style prices for it.
🚌Camp game-drive vehicle (included in camp rate or ~£25/day shared)
🛏Budget tented camp (~£35/night)
- →Morning game drive, Shaba/Samburu
- →Afternoon game drive
- →Samburu village visit
- →Bush sundowner
Shaba to Ol Pejeta — chimps, weaving co-op, afternoon drive
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Drive or take a matatu south via Isiolo to Nanyuki (~2.5–3 hrs). Stop at Nanyuki Spinners and Weavers (free to visit, buy a scarf) and then head into Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Book the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary entry (~£30 including conservancy entry) direct or via GetYourGuide; the entry fee also covers a self-drive or guided game drive in the conservancy with Mount Kenya as backdrop. Budget guesthouses in Nanyuki town (~£20) are a cheap alternative to in-conservancy lodges.
🚌Matatu/shared taxi Shaba–Nanyuki ~£6; conservancy transfers ~£8
🛏Nanyuki budget guesthouse or conservancy-adjacent camp (~£25/night)
- →Nanyuki Spinners and Weavers visit
- →Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary
- →Ol Pejeta afternoon game drive
Ol Pejeta morning drive, then Nyahururu Falls to Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru National Park
Early morning game drive in Ol Pejeta — this is where you'll likely see the last northern white rhinos and plenty of black rhino. Then head south: shared matatu Nanyuki–Nyahururu (~2 hrs, ~£4), stop at the Thomson's Falls (Nyahururu Falls) viewpoint (~£2 entry), then continue to Nakuru town (~1.5 hrs, ~£3). Base in Nakuru town where budget hotels run ~£18–25/night. Book your Lake Nakuru game drive for tomorrow with a town operator or directly with a park-area lodge.
🚌Matatus Nanyuki–Nyahururu–Nakuru ~£8 total
🛏Budget hotel in Nakuru town (~£20/night)
- →Morning game drive, Ol Pejeta
- →Nyahururu (Thomson's) Falls viewpoint
Lake Nakuru — flamingos, rhino and a DIY bush breakfast
Lake Nakuru National Park
Full day in Lake Nakuru National Park (entry ~£45 for non-residents plus vehicle fee). Take a shared or private game drive — a day vehicle with driver-guide from Nakuru town costs ~£70–90 and splits well between 2–4 people. Rather than the Globus 'exclusive bush breakfast at Baboon Cliffs', buy mandazi and coffee in town and eat them at the Baboon Cliffs viewpoint yourself. Afternoon drive for Rothschild's giraffe and tree-climbing lions.
🚌Chartered safari vehicle with driver-guide, ~£40 pp shared
🛏Budget hotel in Nakuru town (~£20/night)
- →Morning and afternoon game drives, Lake Nakuru NP
- →Baboon Cliffs viewpoint picnic
Nakuru to the Maasai Mara
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Long travel day: matatu or shared shuttle Nakuru–Narok (~2.5 hrs) then onward to the Mara (~2 hrs). Budget options include Nakuru-based shuttle companies running to the Mara's Sekenani or Talek gates (~£15–20 total). Stay at a budget tented camp just outside the reserve boundary in Talek or Sekenani (~£30–40/night including simple meals). Afternoon game drive in the reserve — entry is ~£80/day for non-residents plus vehicle, so most budget travellers join the camp's shared drive (~£45 pp/day including entry share).
🚌Matatu/shuttle Nakuru–Narok–Mara, ~£20
🛏Budget tented camp, Talek/Sekenani (~£35/night with meals)
- →Transfer to Maasai Mara
- →Afternoon game drive, Maasai Mara
Full day Maasai Mara — and a proper Maasai evening
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Full-day game drive (packed lunch) covering the Mara Triangle or the rivers where wildebeest crossings happen July–October. Ask your camp about a Maasai village visit (~£15–25) and a locally-run evening — many Talek camps offer a Maasai dance/bonfire dinner for a small fee, a far cheaper and more direct alternative to the tour's farewell bush dinner. Consider a hot-air balloon if your budget allows (~£350–450 — skip if you're sticking to backpacker numbers).
🚌Camp shared safari vehicle, ~£45 pp
🛏Budget tented camp (~£35/night)
- →Full-day game drive, Maasai Mara
- →Maasai village visit and evening performance
Mara to Amboseli (long haul)
Amboseli National Park
The Globus tour has internal flights here; overland it's a serious day. Best cheap route: shared shuttle or matatu Mara–Narok–Nairobi (~5 hrs, ~£12), arriving Nairobi early afternoon, then either a matatu Nairobi–Emali–Kimana (~4 hrs, ~£5) with an overnight in Kimana/Amboseli gate area, or a budget safari operator's shared transfer. A popular budget alternative is to book a 2-day Amboseli camping mini-safari from Nairobi (~£180–220 including park fees, camping, meals and game drives) which picks up the whole Amboseli leg neatly.
🚌Matatus/shuttle Mara–Narok–Nairobi–Kimana, ~£17
🛏Budget camp outside Amboseli gate (~£35/night with meals)
- →Overland transfer to Amboseli
- →Evening at camp with Kilimanjaro views
Amboseli full day — elephants under Kilimanjaro
Amboseli National Park
Morning and afternoon game drives in Amboseli (~£60 park entry plus vehicle share). Head to Observation Hill and the swamps for big elephant herds with Kilimanjaro rising behind — clearest at dawn and dusk. If you're doing this as a self-booked camping mini-safari out of Nairobi, day 11 is the second full day and the operator handles drives and meals.
🚌Camp/shared safari vehicle, ~£40 pp
🛏Budget camp (~£35/night)
- →Morning game drive, Amboseli
- →Afternoon game drive
- →Observation Hill viewpoint
Amboseli back to Nairobi and home
Nairobi
Early game drive en route out of the park if time allows, then matatu or shared shuttle Kimana/Emali–Nairobi (~4–5 hrs, ~£6). Allow a generous buffer before your flight; if you're flying out the same evening, take the earliest departure. Buy a last Kenyan coffee or a kikoi at the Maasai market near the city centre if time permits.
🚌Matatu/shuttle to Nairobi ~£6; Uber to JKIA ~£10
🛏None (departure day)
- →Optional dawn game drive
- →Transfer to Nairobi
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. Globus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Globus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£2,450 | £6,300 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £3,850 per person (61%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Globus-style trips? Check them out here.~£2,450
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Kenya Safari: Nairobi, Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Nakuru & the Mara — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £2,450 per person for 12 days in Kenya. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Globus?+
Yes — Globus charges around £6,300 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £2,450 — a saving of roughly £3,850 (61%) per person.
How long is the Kenya trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Kenya.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, wildlife, backpacker trip through Kenya, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.