Kenya
“The Origin of Safaris “.
Luxury Kenya Safaris
When it comes to choosing the best places for an African safari, it’s difficult to beat a safari to Kenya’s national parks and conservancies. Kenya delivers some of the best African safaris so far, from unforgettable African family safaris with child-friendly safari lodges to exclusive hide-outs for couples and honeymoon trips, there’s not much that beats a Kenya safari.
It’s no surprise that safaris in Kenya tops as a bucket list adventure for most travelers going on a first-time trip to Africa. Even if you don’t visit during Kenya’s Great Wildebeest Migration – when millions of wildebeests, zebras, and other herbivores follow the rain north from Tanzania’s Serengeti – Kenya’s striking natural beauty and abundance of wildlife offer good game viewing throughout the year.
Excellent with Big Cat’s safaris and picture-perfect Kenyan beaches, a perfect place to relax after an exciting bush safari, Kenya is one of the busiest, most popular wildlife destinations on the world and is highly recommended for both experienced safari-goers and those booking their first-time safari in Africa.
Find a Trip
Browse our recommended Kenya tour packages or simply get in touch with one of our Africa safari experts to help custom-make your Kenya safari itinerary that matches your travel wishes; from exciting wildlife encounters to out-of-this-world white sand beach holiday tours, it’s a journey designed to immerse you in the extraordinary.
Wildebeest Migration Safari
Ol Pejeta & Masai Mara Safari
Samburu, L. Nakuru & Masai Mara
Masai Mara & Amboseli Safari
Masai Mara, L.Nakuru & Amboseli
The Kenyan Explorer Safari
Kenya Safari Highlights
Whether you are travelling alone or wish to lead your group, we understand what makes these successful photo safari tours, safaris that will immerse you in culture, dramatic scenery and epic wildlife game-viewing as you capture the diversity of Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda under the guidance of a true photographer.
Ways to Explore
Kenya Safari Experiences
With plenty of exciting safari activities. The following is what travellers most enjoyed about tours to Kenya. Going on a game drive, great birdlife photography safaris, experience the Great Wildebeest Migration, float over the Masai Mara in a hot air balloon, guided walking safari through the wilderness plains to scenic Helicopter flights just to mention a few, Kenya has no shortage of experiences.
Best Places To Visit In Kenya
Kenya is a safari heavyweight where wildlife wanders in abundance. The main safari circuit connects Lake Nakuru with the Masai Mara and Amboseli (where Mt Kilimanjaro provides a stunning background). Ol Pejeta, Samburu, Tsavo West, and Tsavo East are popular add-ons if you have extra time on your trip to Kenya. Not enough? Extend your safari by another week and trek up Mount Kenya (Africa’s second-highest mountain (after Kilimanjaro).
Any combination of these top safari parks in Kenya would ensure abundant sightings of Big Cat’s, plenty of elephants, rhinos and all of the plains animals, such as buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, and all types of gazelle and antelope species.
Wildlife In Kenya
When it comes to wildlife, this is what to expect: Kenya offers excellent wildlife viewing, with the African Big Five frequently seen on safari. The Masai Mara is also one of the best places in Africa to see Big Cat’s while the endangered black & white rhinos are easily seen at Lake Nakuru Park and Ol Pejeta Conservancy. As for elephants, they are common in many places, especially Amboseli National Park. The Rift-Valley Lakes Bogoria, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, and the lakes of Amboseli Park, attract flamingos and lots of birdlife.
The best safari parks for bird watching in Kenya; Top wildlife-viewing parks, like Masai Mara and Amboseli National Park, happens to be great birding destinations. The Rift Valley lakes, namely Lake Nakuru and Lake Bogoria, are good for waterbirds (including flamingos, which you can also see in Amboseli Park). The northern part of Kenya, including Samburu National Reserve, and Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve are birding hot spots.
Kenya Travel Guide
Kenya is the land that inspired The Lion King Disney movie, Out of Africa Film, and Born Free. Furthermore, Kenya is a center stage for the Great Wildebeest Migration tour, which sees two million wildebeest and zebra racing for their lives across crocodile infested Mara River onto the other side awaited by big cats and other predators.
Let’s break it all down, from big-tusked elephant sightings in Amboseli with the iconic background of Mount Kilimanjaro, to catching the drama of the great wildebeest migration, here’s everything you need to know when planning a Kenyan safari holiday.
Best Time To Visit Kenya, Safari & Migration
Kenya is a year-round top safari and beach holiday destination, with separate wet and dry seasons. With that in mind, the best months for visiting Kenya (and the best time for wildlife game viewing) are during the Dry season from June to October; as for the wildebeest migration, it usually reaches the Masai Mara in July or August and remains in Kenya throughout September, explore more of our month-by-month Kenya weather guide.
How To Get To Kenya
With a number of flight airlines to Kenya, Kenya’s main airport is (JKIA) Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), located 15km/9mi southeast of the capital city Nairobi, all flights will land there. Moi International Airport (MBA) is Kenya’s second international airport, located 9km/6mi west of Mombasa. Aside from flights to Zanzibar, this airport is primarily used for domestic and charter flights. Therefore, just book flights to JKIA, Kenya first.
From Nairobi or Mombasa, you can fly or drive between parks and reserves, or combine both. There is a reliable network of light aircraft flights that connect Nairobi with the majority of National Parks in Kenya, as well as with Tanzania and Zanzibar. Most of these domestic flights out of Nairobi departs from Wilson Airport (WIL), 6km/4mi south of the city.
When booking flights to Kenya, please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Kenya and what tickets would cost.
As for the documentations you need for your holiday in Kenya, keep in mind entry requirements can change, so please contact your local Kenyan embassy or high commission to verify that the following information below is up to date.
A passport is required for all foreign visitors and must be valid for at least six months.
No visa is required. Instead, all visitors must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA).
Visitors must apply in advance for the eTA on www.etakenya.go.ke.
The standard processing time is three days, but you can apply up to three months prior to travel and early application is recommended.
When arriving from a yellow-fever-infected country in Africa or the Americas, a yellow-fever vaccination certificate is required.
For more information we strongly direct checking the website of your local Kenyan embassy/high commission or the government travel advisories below:
Australia – www.smartraveller.gov.au
Canada – travel.gc.ca
EU Member States – ec.europa.eu
Ireland – www.ireland.ie
New Zealand – www.safetravel.govt.nz
United Kingdom – www.gov.uk
United States – travel.state.gov
Top Kenya Safari Activities
Let us show you a different take on safari holidays in Kenya, including a safari for kids, beach holidays and an African wildlife safari in top conservancies like no other.
Hot Air Balloon Safaris
Safari Sundowner
Night Game Drives
Walking Safari Experience
Masai Mara Conservancies
Let us show you a different take on safari holidays in Kenya, including a safari for kids, beach holidays and an African wildlife safari in top conservancies like no other.
FAQ’s About Kenya Luxury Safaris
We’ve taken our time to answer everything you may need to know about visiting Kenya for safari.
The cost for a Kenya safari starts from USD $250 to USD $2,500 per person per day depending on your level of safari; either travelling on a mid-range comfort safari or a luxury Kenya safari. Talk to one of our African travel experts to ensure the best Kenya safari experience in line with your time and budget. Your final Kenya safari cost depends on the following factors:
Time of year you’re travelling; low and high season prices.
Your choice of luxury safari lodges and tented safari camps.
Duration of your stay in Kenya.
Where you are visiting and in what means, you have the option to choose between fly-in Kenya safaris or by road, using a comfy 4 X 4 Land Cruiser jeep with open rooftop. The cost for the two greatly differ.
Your choice of additional safari activities which range from inclusive wildlife activities to optional activities like hot air balloon rides and visits to the Masai villages for cultural interactions.
About medicine on your trip to Kenya, we recommend anti-malarial medication no matter what time of year you plan on visiting Kenya for safari. Kindly consult with your doctor at home for advice on the right choice of prophylaxis for your body well in advance of your departure date. Additionally, if you live in a yellow fever region or plan to travel through a region where it is endemic during your stay, you will need a yellow fever vaccination and certificate.
With hundreds of excellent luxury safari lodges and tented safari camps, you will be spoilt with lots of choices to pick from during your stay. But worry not, we will help you select the best lodges to stay in during your trip.
Additionally, when we talk about safari standards, the service level is high, with the ability to deliver the best luxury African safaris, suitable accommodations from lavish safari lodges to modern day boutique hotels and classic tented safari camps.
We shall share our list of top luxury accommodation options in Kenya – from eco-friendly architecture to the best luxury tented camps with a front-row seat to experience African wildlife mostly near game viewing hot spots like the Mara River where the Wildebeest Migration safari takes place. Our list of the best Kenya safari lodges also covers mid-range camps which can come in handy If you are travelling on budget.
When you think of Africa, Kenya is most likely the image you have in mind. Therefore, some of the top 10 best places to visit in Kenya, include the following destinations;
- Masai Mara: Catch the Wildebeest Migration & all year-round excellent game-viewing.
- Lamu Archipelago: Experience a classic barefoot luxury beach experience.
- Nairobi City: Feed the giraffes and visit the baby elephant’s shelter.
- Mombasa & Kenya Beaches: Explore coastal family resorts & luxury lodges, good with family trips to Kenya.
- Amboseli National Park: Photography safari destination, watch the big tusked elephants and the best views of Mt Kilimanjaro.
- Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia: Kenya’s hidden gem; visit the chimpanzee sanctuary, feed and touch the blind rhino and spend your nights in some of the top luxury lodges.
- Mount Kenya: for the mountain trekking enthusiasts, go on a 5 days trekking tour at Mount Kenya (the second tallest mountain in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania)
- Lake Nakuru: Excellent game viewing, from rhino’s, leopards, tree climbing lions, endangered giraffes to birdlife, Lake Nakuru has it all.
- Shaba and Samburu: Kenya’s hidden gem, more than a wilderness where the special 5 wildlife roam; additionally, all the big 5 are here.
- Kenya South-Coast beaches.
