 Kenya Travel Guide
Kenya is the original safari destination. Home of the famous Masai Mara, the country has a decades-long history as the place to see the epic annual wildebeest migration Kenya is renowned as the original safari destination, with the famous Masai Mara being a major attraction. The country has a long history as the go-to place for witnessing the annual wildebeest migration.
- Experience the essence of safari in Kenya, the birthplace of the safari industry, where legends like Roosevelt, Hemingway, and Churchill infused romance into hunting. Today, while Kenyan safaris focus on photography, the thrill remains, especially in the Masai Mara, known for its abundant wildlife during the annual wildebeest migration and year-round predator sightings.
In the east, Amboseli, framed by Kilimanjaro, is a small park teeming with elephants, though its game is affected by diminishing meltwater from the mountain's ice cap. Tsavo offers vast landscapes where animals roam freely with fewer vehicles around, while Shimba Hills National Park, close to southern beach resorts, is famous for its roan antelope and playful bushbabies.
To the north, Nakuru features a stunning lake filled with flamingos, making it easy to spot rhinos, while Aberdares, on Mount Kenya's foothills, presents a lush but challenging environment for wildlife viewing. Samburu, a beautiful yet arid park, rewards those who know where to find water sources. For a more exclusive experience, consider private reserves like Laikipia Plateau and Chyulu Hills.
Traveling east from the central plateau leads you to Kenya's Indian Ocean coast, where Mombasa boasts a picturesque island setting and a historic Portuguese fort, though accommodations are primarily found across the causeway. The coastal road takes you to the quaint village of Watamu and the lively Malindi, eventually reaching the serene island of Lamu, known for its rich Muslim culture.
Heading south from Mombasa requires a ride on the Likoni ferry, revealing stunning, often undeveloped beaches, with Diani Beach being the most renowned. Don't overlook the heart of Kenya: its people. With over 70 tribes, each with unique traditions, you'll find opportunities to connect with local guides in private reserves or by venturing beyond your safari experience. In the north, meet the Samburu and Turkana communities near Lake Turkana, while the proud Maasai warriors dominate the south, navigating the challenges of a changing world.
International airports
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) 15km from Nairobi;
Moi International (MBA) 12km from Mombasa.
When to Visit
Upcountry Kenya sits at an elevation of 600 meters or more, offering a delightful climate with warm days and cool nights. contrast, coastal areas tend to be hot and humid year-round, with a higher presence of mosquitoes.
The peak season in Kenya occurs from January to February, characterized by dry and hot weather, attracting flamingos to the Rift Valley lakes. During this time, prices soar, and accommodations fill up quickly.
For better rates and fewer crowds, consider visiting during the shoulder season from June to October, which coincides with the Great Migration in the Masai Mara—one of the most remarkable wildlife events in the world.
March to May and October to December typically experience more rainfall, but it usually doesn't rain all day. The lush vegetation during this time offers great accommodation deals, while the best time to climb Mount Kenya is during the drier months.
Getting around
Kenya boasts a robust network of internal flights, ideal for travellers with limited time and those looking to reach remote lodges in the bush via small, sometimes wildlife-populated airstrips. Renting a car can be expensive, and a 4WD is often necessary for many regions. Be cautious, as some rental companies include a hefty excess in their agreements, which is concerning in a country where car-jacking can occur; it's wise to hire someone to guard your rental whenever you park. Matatus (shared taxi minivans) are a common and affordable way to travel, though they leave only when full and can frequently break down. Buses connect major cities, but their quality can vary, so inspect the vehicle before boarding. It's advisable to avoid night travel due to unlit cattle, vehicles, and the occasional bandit. Along the coast, sailing by dhow (traditional boat) offers a charming way to reach offshore islands.
Kenya's Best Safari Parks & Reserves
Explore Our Curated Selection of the Best Safari Parks and Reserves in Kenya
Kenya, known as one of the best African safari destinations, offers a variety of safari hotspots. Choosing where to start can be overwhelming, but we've compiled a list of Kenya's best safari parks to help you decide where to go. From the renowned Masai Mara to the lesser-known Chyulu Hills, we've got you covered.
Kenya's safari experience is synonymous with luxury travel, thanks to its diverse landscapes and incredible wildlife encounters. The country is home to numerous protected areas, each offering unique experiences.
The Masai Mara is undoubtedly one of Kenya's most famous safari destinations, largely due to the Great Wildebeest Migration. Highlights of a safari here include witnessing the herds crossing the Mara River and engaging in cultural experiences with the Masai people. Their rich heritage far outweighs their relative lack of material possessions.
Northern Kenya, though more remote, offers a wealth of activities, from spending a day with elephants along the riverbanks in Samburu to witnessing the imposing Mount Kenya on game drives in Meru.
In the shadow of Kilimanjaro, Amboseli is renowned for its extensive elephant research. Visitors have the opportunity to learn about these magnificent creatures while capturing iconic images.
For a more leisurely experience, consider a visit to Chyulu Hills, where you can relax in a hide and observe wildlife at close range, or head to the South Coast beaches for some seaside relaxation.
Naturally, safaris in Kenya often begin or end in Nairobi, the capital city, where you can enjoy unique experiences such as having breakfast with giraffes.
​Best Masai Mara Safaris
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The best Kenya safaris invariably include the Masai Mara, one of Kenya’s best safari parks. It has all the drama and excitement you could wish for, plus magical moments of romance. Among other things, it’s the stage on which one of the world’s most amazing wildlife spectacles, the Great Wildebeest Migration, takes place, and what a performance it is!
Each day is an adventure: you can choose to drift over the endless plains at dawn in a hot-air balloon or marvel at the bravery of the first wildebeest to run the gauntlet of the crocodiles and begin a Mara River crossing. Later, take a guided walking safari through wild, private land untouched by cattle or vehicles, or go on an exciting night drive, when you might chance upon a nocturnal hunt.
Even the accommodation, and taking a bath or a shower, can be thrilling in the Masai Mara. You can indulge your childhood fantasies as you camp out in a luxury treehouse, fall asleep to a hippo lullaby, or have the unique experience of bathing with views over the Mara River.
And let’s not forget the five-star bush meals and sundowners you can experience here, perhaps while a leopard calls nearby. In addition to the ample excitement, luxury comes as standard in the best Masai Mara safari lodges – there’s nothing quite like enjoying fine dining by candlelight in remote areas, with your private butler to attend to your every need.
But, like many visitors to Kenya, you’ll probably remember the warmth and character of the Masai people most. They take real pride in their cultural identity and readily share their fascinating traditions with visitors to their villages and schools. Your kids will leap at the chance to become warriors for a day, although it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to jump as high as the Maasai dancers.
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Drifting Over The Masai Mara In A Balloon
A Masai Mara balloon safari, one of Kenya’s best safari experiences, is a dream-like adventure that you'll one day tell your grandchildren about. It offers the ultimate 'romantic Africa' moment: being suspended in a wicker basket above the untamed plains of Africa, with the sun peeping over the horizon and a waking wilderness below you. This is game viewing like you've never experienced it before."
I woke up early for a sunrise balloon safari in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve. After getting coffee at the safari lodge, I got dressed and joined a small group on the back of a Land Rover. We were driven to the launch site in a bush clearing where a rainbow-colored balloon lay semi-inflated. Flames from the burners lit the dawn with eerie tongues of fire.
Our incredible Masai Mara balloon safari had begun. We coasted along the trees, with vultures and baboons at eye level. As we approached the Mara River, an enormous crocodile noticed us and leaped into the water with a powerful flick of its tail.
We could see the vastness of the Masai Mara, like a giant green tapestry, with the first battalions of wildebeest arriving in the distance as part of the greatest migration on earth.
Passing over the grasslands, we experienced a spell of silence as animals like buffalo, hyena, and a graceful serval cat ran from our shadow.
Flying over a herd of elephants, we saw them flap their ears and sniff the breeze with their trunks. After an hour, we drifted back to earth before climbing out onto the lush grass from the basket.
The ground team had prepared a spot where we landed. There, a three-course champagne breakfast was laid out on red tablecloths, as herds of wildebeest watched curiously. It was a scene straight from Out of Africa, with a full English breakfast served on bone china, linen tablecloths, and the King’s silver. Masai spears were driven into the ground to deter the yellow-billed kites waiting to raid the table. As we sipped our champagne and enjoyed our breakfast, I marveled at an experience that had quite literally blown me up, up, and away.
After breakfast, we drove back to the lodge, enjoying game viewing along the way. It was an unforgettable addition to our Kenya safari.
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Best Amboseli Safaris
​Watching Elephant In The Shadow Of Kilimanjaro
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Amboseli National Park, one of Kenya’s best safari parks, is a place of superlatives, and a place of contrasts. On your game drives, there’ll be new vistas around each bend in the track, from dry, fossil lake bed to verdant swamp. And of course, Africa’s highest mountain towers over Amboseli; indeed, the only thing that prevents Mount Kilimanjaro from completely stealing the show is the vast array of wildlife around.
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Amboseli National Park is one of the finest places in Africa for an elephant safari. The prize is to watch a herd of elephants browsing in the foreground with the cone of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro rising behind them. It’s one of Africa’s iconic sights and one of Kenya’s best safari experiences.
We’d come on this particular Kenyan safari to witness one of Africa’s most iconic sights: an elephant viewed against the backdrop of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro. Like the pyramids of Egypt or Victoria Falls, nothing quite prepares you for the majesty of this encounter with ancient, sublime Africa.
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Most notable is the park’s elephant, as Amboseli is one of the best places in Kenya – if not the world – to see these free-ranging giants at close quarters. Viewing elephant against the impressive backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro is a sight you’ll never forget. Certainly, the shots I have of this iconic scene have pride of place in my safari photo collection.
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Our quest for our elephant safari brought us to Amboseli National Park in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. The lodge we’d chosen – one of Kenya’s best safari lodges – had a fine location, with uninterrupted views of Kilimanjaro. What’s more, it lay directly in the path of seasonal elephant migrations.
Just like the elephants, you can explore Amboseli on foot with your guide on a walking safari. Bush breakfasts and bush sundowners let you enjoy the best parts of the day in style – you may be in the wild, but welcome touches of luxury are never far away if you stay at one of Kenya’s best safari lodges, nearby. Whether it’s a campfire breakfast or a G&T, some things just taste better in Africa!
Best Northern Kenya Safaris
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Remember the following information:
Northern Kenya, known as one of Kenya's top safari regions, has a starkly different landscape compared to the lush, green plains of the south. The region is generally drier, hotter, and offers a more rugged and off-the-beaten-track experience.
There are various regions to explore in this captivating hinterland, each with its own unique attractions. Beginning with a helicopter excursion will provide you with a fantastic overview of the area. You can fly to the slopes of Mount Kenya and other inaccessible locations, and even fish for trout in mountain lakes. Additionally, you can take an exhilarating biplane ride in Laikipia, which was used in the filming of Out of Africa. While there, make sure to spend a night sleeping on a star bed for a truly unforgettable experience.
On the ground, you can explore the region using the most suitable local transport: camels! Alternatively, if you prefer a more adventurous option, you can ride quad bikes instead.
Embark on game drives in Samburu, along the Ngiro River lined with doum palms, for a chance to spot the Samburu Special Five and more.
For those interested in cultural experiences, a visit with the Samburu people is a must. You will have the opportunity to admire their traditional red and white clothing and intricate beadwork, as well as learn about the ways of the Samburu warrior.
If you're looking for a royal touch, take a game drive in Meru National Park, where Prince William proposed to Catherine Middleton. It's also the place where Elsa the lioness, of Born Free fame, grew up.
Lastly, make sure to visit the rhinos in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that serves as a sanctuary for these endangered creatures.
Exploring Marvellous Meru On Safari
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Meru National Park is located in the dry wilderness of northern Kenya, far off the beaten track of the regular safari. When on a Meru safari – one of Kenya’s best safari experiences – you’ll discover arid country, punctuated by iconic baobab and doum palm trees, and frequented by large prides of lions, herds of elephants, and a good-sized population of rhinos.
Meru has all the essential ingredients for a classic safari, with excellent prospects of seeing elephants, lions, and rhinos, and a landscape that incorporates arid hill country and fast-flowing streams bordered by riverine forests. It’s also northeast of Mount Kenya, and you frequently see it in the background.
Meru is a birder’s paradise, boasting well over 400 recorded species. The park also offers botanical treasures, including the giant baobab, rare paperbark albizzia, and exotic doum palms which, at times, give the landscape a Saharan feel.
Apart from a spectacular sighting of a pride of Meru’s famous lions, our game drive produced a couple of Grévy’s zebras, bohor reedbucks, and the graceful lesser kudu.
Meru incorporates a thriving 8,400ha rhinoceros sanctuary, home to dozens of black and white rhinos. The size of the sanctuary ensures that finding the rhino is still a challenge, but we were eventually rewarded with a mother and calf bathed in the last rays of the sun like unicorns dipped in honey. It’s a sight I’ll not be forgetting in a hurry.
We stopped and climbed down for a sundowner drink at a dramatic spot beside a rocky outcrop.
Then it was back to our luxury Kenyan lodge in the gathering gloom. This offered us the chance to see some of the park’s nocturnal creatures. Game driving in the early evening opens up a whole new world: bush babies, predators on the hunt, and owls. Best of all was the shaggy shape of an aardwolf, cantering beside our vehicle. What a sighting to round off a remarkable Meru safari!"
Rhino Tracking In Northern Kenya
Experience the primaeval thrill of getting close to game on foot – a sensation that’s heightened by the creatures in question being critically endangered black rhinos in Kenya. The Sera Community Conservancy is the only place here where you can go rhino tracking, and help conserve them at the same time. It’s one of Kenya’s best safari experiences.
Best Kenya South-Coast Beaches Escapes
The Kenya south-coast beaches are a perfect blend of beautiful crescents of white sand, warm clear waters teeming with marine life, and rich Swahili culture and history. They are a great complement to Kenya’s top safari reserves for those looking for a safari-and-beach holiday.
There is a continuous stretch of Kenya south-coast beaches waiting to be explored, beginning just north of Tanzania with Msambweni and the nearby time-warp Wasini Island. Next on the list is Diani Beach, followed by Watamu and Malindi. Along this coastline, there are several marine reserves that ensure the area remains pristine.
With so many options, it might seem overwhelming to choose, but we can help you discover this part of Kenya with our carefully selected beach lodges.
As for activities, Kenya's south-coast beaches offer a wide range to satisfy both the leisurely and the adventurous. Whether you want to fish for marlin or simply soak up the sun, there's something for everyone. You can swim, snorkel, or scuba dive in the Indian Ocean, which is your playground.
You can also explore ashore, much like the nesting turtles of Funzi Island, and wander through the aromatic alleyways of Mombasa, an ancient port city featuring the Renaissance Fort Jesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There's plenty of local history to explore, including the more sombre insights to be gained from the Shimoni Slave Caves down south.
If you prefer natural history, head inland for a game drive in the Shimba Hills National Reserve, known for its elephant and sable antelope population.
Best Safaris from Nairobi
Nairobi is an amazing East African city and a gateway to Kenya’s best safari parks. It’s a wonderful melting pot, where modern African life in all its color and vibrancy continues at pace, alongside fascinating reminders of Kenya’s rich colonial history. People come to Kenya for the wildlife, but there’s lots to do in the capital too, at the beginning or end of a safari.
A great way to ease into safari mode is to have breakfast with giraffes for a wonderful Nairobi experience. You can continue the wildlife theme with a visit to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where you can meet and feed baby elephants at the orphanage. You can even adopt one of the elephant calves! If you need more wildlife and have time to spare, go to the Nairobi National Park, which has great diversity.
The Out of Africa house is also located in Nairobi. The original farmhouse is now the fascinating Karen Blixen Museum, in the suburb named after the author. Kenyans take great pride in their culture and heritage, but they also delight in reinventing it. If you’re looking for gifts, Nairobi is the right place to be. Explore craft studios like Kazuri (for beads), Kitengela (for glass), and Marula (for pottery, leatherware, and more) to buy authentic souvenirs from local artists.
Having Breakfast With Giraffe In Nairobi​
Giraffe Manor offers guests one of Kenya’s finest safari experiences: the extraordinary opportunity to have breakfast with giraffes in a charming, colonial home on the outskirts of Nairobi. During your stay, you will also have the chance to learn about the fascinating story of the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe at a local conservation center.
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The house, built in 1932 by Sir David Duncan, is modeled after a Scottish hunting lodge. It features a stately facade, elegant interiors, lush gardens, sunny terraces, and charming courtyards, exuding a wonderfully colonial and old-world ambiance.
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As soon as you walk through the front door, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a scene from the film "Out of Africa." The rooms are adorned with elegant furnishings, Art Deco touches, and spacious four-poster beds draped with romantic mosquito netting.
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After acquiring the house in 1974, Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville discovered that the remaining Rothschild’s giraffes in Kenya were in grave danger. To save them, the Leslie-Melvilles agreed to relocate one of the giraffes, a 2.4m, 200kg baby they named Daisy, and later wrote a book about her titled "Raising Daisy Rothschild," which was later adapted into the film "The Last Giraffe."
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Daisy was soon joined by another baby giraffe, Marlon, named after Marlon Brando. The manor, in collaboration with organizations like Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire, England, has been running a breeding program to reintroduce Rothschild’s giraffes into the wild and expand the gene pool. At any given time, the manor is home to about a dozen giraffes.
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At breakfast time, the giraffes come to the house and poke their heads through the open windows in hopes of a treat before returning to their forest sanctuary. Guests can feed the giraffes directly from the breakfast table and even through their bedroom window.
Best Kenya Safari Lodges
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A Curated Selection Of Kenya's Best Safari Lodges
There’s no shortage of stellar Kenya safari lodges on offer, whether it’s a treehouse in the Masai Mara or a hilltop villa in Samburu, you can be sure it’s one of the best African safari lodges.
Ask anyone involved in Kenya safaris, and they’ll tell you that this is where the concept of safari was invented. Safari, after all, is a Swahili word. The benefit of having a head start is everywhere on display: Kenya offers a range of unparalleled, sublime accommodation options, and Kenya’s safari lodges are among the best in Africa.
Kenya does, of course, have some distinct natural advantages: few other countries can compete when it comes to variety of landscape and location. Kenya’s lodge owners have made the most of this, designing accommodation options that fit perfectly in settings ranging from savannah to seaside.
Wherever they’re found, these lodges invariably offer a seamless entry into their surroundings. Luxury tented camps on the plains of the Masai Mara are perfectly suited to setting out on the trail of the Great Wildebeest Migration (indeed, some camps are themselves mobile). On the Indian Ocean coast, beachside villas take their design cues from traditional Swahili architecture to give unfettered access to pristine, palm-fringed beaches.
In Kenya’s Laikipia high country and in the semi-arid Samburu region, different styles prevail – but again, they draw on local traditions and organic materials to underline the sense of place and create a comfortable closeness to the surrounding bush. Whether facing sunrise or sunset, the best Kenya safari lodges truly have a glow about them
Take me there
Inspired to visit Kenya but have yet to book your trip? Here are the best packages from Expedia.*
• Discover holiday packages to Nairobi*
• Discover holiday packages to Maasai Mara*
• Discover holiday packages to Lamu*
• Discover tours in Kenya with Get Your Guide*
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