We are off to Kenya in few moths and I'm naily down the details. We'll visit the MAra and one other park, possibly Samburu.

Would it be better to go for two or three days (too long)?

Our modivation is to see leopards as we hear that our odds would be pretty good at this park.

Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

We stayed 2 days Samburu and 4 days Mara in August 2008. I would consider those minimum stays for that time of year. Used internal flights Wilson-Samburu-Mara-Wilson to save much time and wear/tear.

Samburu was terrific, don't miss it. Jim.

Leopards are the most elusive of all the animals; leopards are night animals, but that doesn't mean you might not catch one resting in a tree mid-day, even possibly on the ground. I've seen the same amount of leopards in Samburu as in the Masai Mara, so it's always by chance and luck where and how many.

However, if you have 3/days to spend at Samburu as you'll only be visiting two parks, do so... it's a lovely reserve with diverse game and being smaller than the Mara, more ground can be covered. Then spend 4/days in the Mara. This is assuming you have 7/full days for safari. If it's only 6/days you can do 2/4 or 3/3. It's your choice.

Granted your interest is leopard but Samburu offers several animals you will not see in the Mara. Grevy's zebra, Oryx, Gerenuk, Somali ostrich and Vulturine Guineafowl are likely to be seen at Samburu but not in the Mara.

As Sandi says, seeing leopard is a hit or miss situation. We did not see them during our Nov 2009 stay in Samburu but saw quite a few several days later in the Serengeti and Tarangire NP and even one along the road as we drove the N. Crater rim road.

So, given the differences in habitat and wildlife try to work Samburu into your trip for at least 2 nites.

Here's another vote for Samburu. I visited Samburu in 2005 and was very lucky with good leopard, gerenuk and vulturine guinea fowl sightings. The park is very picturesque and the quintessential African view of elephants and flat-topped acacia frequently occur. Like rsnyder writes, Samburu offers animal viewing opportunities not found in the Mara.

Photos here, http://picasaweb.google.com/Treepol/Samburu2005#


Regards,

Pol

In 2008 we had a lovely stay at Samburu, but no leopard during our short visit. No viewing is ever guaranteed but leopard is more illusive than most!

We did love the elephant viewing and the gerenuk, grevy zebra, reticulated giraffe.

We were also extremely fortunate to see wild dogs there, which an unexpected and immense thrill!

Thanks everyone.

: - >

If you have not yet been convinced to go, I'll add one more vote. I devoted 4 nights to the region last September and I was richly rewarded.

Samburu is a nice park where you will see some different species than in the Mara. During our visit there in 08 we did not see any leopards( the park is a good place for them) but saw lion and cheetah.

Make sure that in the Mara you stay-visit the Talek area , at this moment a great place to see leopard in the reserve , but of course never guarantee .

Samburu and Mara , excellent combination , go for it.

We loved Samburu. Do not miss it.