Kenya safaris offer an incredible opportunity to explore diverse wildlife, including the Big Five (lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and rhinos), and witness the mesmerizing wildebeest migration.
Known for its splendid national parks, reserves, distinct cultures, and welcoming people, Kenya is a top safari destination in East Africa. Key safari destinations include Maasai Mara National Reserve, famous for the Great Wildebeest Migration from July to October, and Tsavo National Park, known for its large elephant population.
Amboseli National Park offers excellent game viewing with a backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. Lake Nakuru National Park is renowned for pink flamingos and diverse bird species, while Lake Naivasha and Nairobi National Park offer unique wildlife experiences.
Other notable destinations include Mombasa, with its rich cultural heritage and beautiful beaches, and Lamu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Activities range from game drives, bird watching, and mountaineering to hot air balloon safaris and cultural encounters. The best time for a safari holiday in Kenya is from July to September.
Kenya safaris offer amazing opportunity for holidaymakers to explore diversity of Kenya’s wildlife while in their habitat. From the big game (lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, rhinos), birds, cultures to mesmerizing wildebeest migration experience, a Kenya safari holiday is incredibly one of a kind.
Kenya is one spectacular East Africa safari destination and it is of no doubt one of the preferred destinations in Africa when it comes to big game safaris. It is blessed with splendid national parks, reserves, forests, distinct cultures, warm welcoming people, mountains, lakes, rivers and a lot more.
Where to go for Kenya safari holiday.
Maasai Mara Safari
Maasai Mara National Reserve also well-known as The Mara, is a magnificent reserve along the Great Rift Valley. This reserve lies in the Southwestern Kenya and expands up to 1510sq.kms to cover border areas of Tanzania. This is popular for the gigantic wildebeest migration experience from July to September. The Masai safari to witness wildebeest migration rewards beyond magical encounter of wildebeest. Thousands of other wildlife accompany wildebeest especially the Thomson gazelles, zebras and there are also big game plus other species to catch a glimpse.
Masai Mara Reserve derives its name from Masai the red cloak which the Maasai people put. The Masai live nearby Masai Mara National Reserve. Besides wildebeest migration, Maasai Mara is a popular game viewing destination, protecting an estimate of about 450 bird species, zebras, gazelles, lions, hyenas, buffaloes, elephants, leopards, giraffes, cheetahs, crocodiles, elands. The wildebeest migration experience is best experienced from July to October each year.
The Mara is found 270kms from Nairobi Kenya, approximately 4-5 hours’ drive and about 45 minutes by flight. This reserve is also excellent for camping, night game drives, photography and honeymoon holidays. The places for visitors’ night stay include Governors’ Camp, Mara Serena, Mara Siria Camp and others.
Tsavo tours.
Tsavo National Park is one of the biggest conservation areas in Kenya and also listed among the oldest parks. It expands about 13,747 Sq. Km and comprises of Tsavo East and Tsavo West. The Tsavo National Park lies around the semi-desert side also famous as the Taru Desert. It has existed since 1948 and derives its name from Tsavo River that flows from West to Eastern side of the park.
Tsavo East is famed for its huge population of elephants which come to bathe around the red dust. This is an incredible site to have magical view of wildlife, birds, crocodiles and others. Tsavo East is 9065sq.kms and protects hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, zebras, black rhinos, hyenas, buffaloes, lions, impalas, waterbucks and others. The lodges here include Kitani Lodge Tsavo, Gladessa Bush Camp, Red Elephant Safari Lodge, Ithumba Camp Tsavo and Ndololo Safari Camp.
Amboseli National Park holiday.
Amboseli National Park is undoubtedly the second most popular destination in Kenya and derives its name from the Masai word which denotes Salty Dust. This was originally the Masai Amboseli Game Reserve. This is 8000sq.kms extensive protected area, boasting of its excellent game viewing experiences.
Amboseli is an amazing place to explore waterbucks, elands, giraffes, big cats especially cheetahs, lions; impalas, elephants and there are also about 400 bird species including kingfishers, pelicans. The lodges include among others Africa Amini Maasai Lodge, Weru Weru River Lodge, AA Lodge Amboseli, Sentrim Amboseli Lodge, and Mount. Kilimanjaro View Lodge or check in at Maasai Simba Camp.
Lake Nakuru National Park.
Located around Lake Nakuru, Central Kenya is a magical Lake Nakuru National Park also famous for its pink flamingoes. This has existed as a park since 1961 and shelters about 450 bird species, 550 floral species, 56 mammal species including rhinos, waterbucks. From Nairobi, Lake Nakuru is 156kms and you can also take flight services up to Naishi airstrip. Places for a night stay after your game viewing or birding tour in this park include Makalia Campsite, Kambi Nyuki Campsite, Rhino Campsite, Naishi Guesthouse, Lake Nakuru Lodge, Baboon Cliff and Sarova Hill Lodge.
Lake Naivasha.
This is one of East Africa’s freshwater lakes and it features the thick papyrus. Set just outside Naivasha Town within Nakuru County, Northwestern Nairobi, Lake Naivasha is a spectacular place of its own. It is found on the highest point of the mighty rift valley.
Lake Naivasha is blessed with about 400 bird species especially the African fish eagles plus other wildlife. These include waterbucks, giraffes, buffaloes, elands, zebras, hippos and others. While on safari in Lake Naivasha, there is possibility for you to also visit Lake Nakuru National Park, Hell’s Gate National Park and Crater Lake Game Sanctuary.
Nairobi safaris.
Nairobi is the biggest and also vibrant capital city of Kenya, set in the south-central. It is famous for its historical background especially the colonial history and today, most of the historical sites are visited by holidaymakers on Kenya safaris. Besides, holidaymakers can easily pay a visit to the Nairobi National Park. This is the closest park to Nairobi capital city.
Nairobi National Park offers a perfect alternative destination for tourists to see wildlife after conference and business meetings in Nairobi. It is blessed with diversity of wildlife including cheetahs, buffaloes, wildebeest, zebras and rhinos. Other sites to explore include the Giraffe Centre, David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and many more.
Mombasa holiday.
This is the second largest city and also biggest port in Kenya. Set in the Southeastern Kenya, Mombasa is an amazing multicultural destination known for its distinct cultures especially Portuguese, Arab, Indian cultures, Kenyan and Asian. These are evident with distinct cuisines and architectures.
Other amazing sites to visit in Mombasa include Old Town, Fort Jesus that were constructed in the 16th century. If you are interested in beach holiday, Mombasa also never disappoints. The spectacular beaches to relax from include Diani, white strands of shelly along the southern side of Mombasa.
Lamu safari holiday.
Lamu is a tiny yet spectacular island in the North-eastern Mombasa. It is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and Lamu Town was founded in the 12th century. There is also a chance to explore the unique architectural houses of Indians, Europeans, and Arabs or pay a visit to Lamu Fort, dhows, arts and crafts.
Other places to visit on Kenya safaris include Mount Elgon National Park, Lewa Reserve, Mount Kenya National Park, Aberdare National Park, Samburu Reserve, Marine National Park and many more.
Activities to do during Kenya safari.
Witnessing the wildebeest migration; this is top safari highlight in the Masai Mara National Reserve Kenya.
Game drive; Kenya offers the best of wilderness game drive experiences in its pristine national parks and reserves. The best places to enjoy the big game safari in Kenya include Masai Mara, Tsavo National Parks, Amboseli National Park, Nairobi National Park, Lake Nakuru, Mt. Kenya National Park and Mount Elgon National Park for mountaineering adventures.
Bird watching, Kenya is undoubtedly a birder’s paradise. There are diversity of birds to identify on Kenya safaris in various habitats including parks, wetlands, reserves and forests.
Mountaineering, Kenya safaris also reward climbers or hikers with excellent hiking experiences. The best areas to visit include Mount Elgon, Mount Kenya, and Aberdare.
Hot air balloon, this is best done in The Mara Reserve Kenya. You have excellent aerial view of wildlife rather than in a pop-up roof tent Land Cruiser or Super Customs.
Honeymoon holidays; visit the Mombasa and have the best of your lifetime honeymoon and beach safari holiday.
You can also add on your wildebeest migration experience with horseback riding, fly fishing tours, camel rides, cultural experiences (especially in the communities of Turkana, Maasai, Samburu, Kikuyu and others).
What to carry during your Kenya safari holiday?
What you need to have to enjoy Kenya safari? Before setting off for Kenya safari, ensure that you have essentials for your trip. These should include a camera, binoculars, and snacks, bottle of drinking water, right attire, safari shoes and boots for mountaineering, insect repellents, sun hat, sunscreen, sun glasses, trousers, first aid kit or medical kit.
What to consider when costing Kenya safari?
The total cost of Kenya safari normally depends on the number of days the travelers plan to spend. Other factors to look at include accommodation type (these usually exist as budget, mid-range and luxury), transportation (different cars are useful for different purposes but our fleet range from Toyota Rav4, Land Cruisers, Super Customs, Coaster buses, Safari Vans, Coaster buses), number of people, destinations, other activities.
When to go for safari holiday in Kenya?
Kenya is open to all holidaymakers all-year-round. But the best time to enjoy the amazing Kenya safari holiday is from July to September. This is also ideal for tourists to witness the great wildebeest migration where millions of wildebeests can be sighted move along the Mara River plus thousands of zebras, gazelles among others. Most wildebeest start calving or giving birth from January till February.
For birders, December is the best months especially if you are interested in sighting the migratory avifaunal species or if you need to sight newborn animals. Long rains begin from March till May and this is the best period to explore the lush green vegetation in various parks.
