Travel to Kenya for the greatest natural show on earth: the Masai Mara wildebeest migration. With a million animals on the move, it is a sight never forgotten; it’s also a great opportunity to watch Africa’s top predators – big cats, wild dogs and crocodiles – in action. You’ll stay at tented camps and thatched safari lodges, enjoying game drives and guided walks as well as hot air balloon safaris and visits to local communities. It’s the quintessential safari experience.
Kenya is, after all, where safari travel began. Blessed with abundant wildlife, the country is home to parks and reserves of dazzling diversity. Away from the rolling grasslands of the Masai Mara, Kenya is a land of soaring mountains, flamingo-covered lakes and lush forests. There’s Big 5 game viewing, palm-fringed Indian Ocean beaches and hideaway tropical islands, making Kenya the perfect safari and beach destination.
Visitors to Kenya can join scheduled and guided overland tours or choose a fly-in itinerary to save on time. Many Kenya travel itineraries mix overland and air travel. You’ll have a huge range of tours and accommodation to choose from: family-friendly, honeymoon, super-luxury or value-for-money.
You’ll also enjoy the advantage of a smooth-running and experienced safari industry. Kenya’s wildlife destinations are safe, and Nairobi accommodation lies in quiet suburbs away from the main city. The standard of guiding and service is high and you’ll sit down to great cuisine in locations ranging from elegant dining rooms to lantern-lit woodlands. Hotels and lodges have facilities like swimming pools and health spas; many specialise in family-oriented safaris and beach holidays. Others are honeymoon favourites.
Kenya combines easily with other travel destinations too. Next-door Tanzania is home to the Serengeti, where the wildebeest herds roam when they are not in the Masai Mara. It’s simple to experience both destinations on the same itinerary and Tanzania also offers Big 5 viewing at the Ngorongoro Crater as well as chimp trekking in its rainforests. Gorilla trekking add-ons are the speciality of Uganda and Rwanda and are easily combined with Kenya via Nairobi.
A Kenya safari can be as simple or as diverse as you like. All tours start with your arrival in Nairobi; most need an overnight stay at one of the city’s accommodations. The first destination on the list of any Kenya safari is the Masai Mara, home to the seasonal wildebeest migration as well as excellent year-round game viewing. Second in popularity is Amboseli National Park, perhaps most famous for its postcard views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Fast claiming the attentions of safari-goers are the private conservancies of the Mount Kenya area and Laikipia Plateau, home to great game viewing and multi-activity safaris.
And with its own glittering Indian Ocean coastline, combining a Kenya safari with a beach holiday is as simple as a short plane journey and minibus transfer. We also have Kenya and Tanzania combination safaris, ensuring you see the very best of East Africa. Browse our recommended Kenya safaris below or simply contact us for advice on the best itinerary for your needs and budget.
A diverse geography means a varied regional climate but Kenya is generally regarded as a year-round holiday destination. However, if you’re looking for a specific experience – the wildebeest migration, the best beach weather or swimming with whale sharks – then you’ll need to plan according to season.
Low, shoulder & peak season: Kenya’s January to March peak safari season delivers in terms of comfort and game viewing. It’s warm and mostly dry and sunny with many animals concentrated around water. Visitor numbers are high – especially in popular parks – so it’s worth thinking about an ‘out-of-season’ safari if you want to avoid the crowds. Kenya’s safari destinations turn green and leafy during the ‘long rains’ of late March to June and the ‘short rains’ of October to December. It makes for great photography and you’ll also enjoy low season accommodation and tour rates.
The Great Migration: By late July the wildebeest are arriving in the Masai Mara and it’s the best time to see the herds crossing crocodile-infested rivers. It is however a very popular time to travel so book well in advance! The wildebeest and zebra herds stay in the Masai Mara until the short rains send them south into Tanzania’s Serengeti but the Mara is worth visiting any time of year thanks to its diverse and abundant wildlife.
Beach break: Visitors to Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast and islands can expect hot and humid conditions all year round. Rain can fall at any time but is heaviest between mid-March and late May. The best conditions for diving and snorkelling is between October and January (especially November). Divers keen to swim with whale sharks should visit Kenya between October and April when these gentle giants migrate along the Kenyan coast.
Our team of destination experts will design a holiday to meet your budget and interests. Let’s start planning your tailor-made African safari today!
Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is East Africa’s major flight hub. Not only will you fly into and out of Nairobi on your tour but it’s also the gateway to Zanzibar and Tanzania as well as Uganda, Rwanda and the Seychelles. And thanks to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International, it’s easy to connect with South Africa too. We can help you plan an itinerary that gives you the best of Kenya plus anything from the Kruger and Okavango Delta to Victoria Falls and Cape Town.
