Kenya Safaris

Masai Mara game drives, the Great Migration, and the Diani coastline.

Overview

About Kenya

Kenya has built its reputation over decades as one of Africa's premier safari destinations, sitting in east-central Africa alongside Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and the Indian Ocean. From Mount Kenya's peaks to the open plains of the Mara and the Great Wildebeest Migration, it offers a genuine range of safari and landscape experiences within a well-developed travel infrastructure.

This page is the starting point for planning Kenya with Ameera Africa Safaris. Below you will find our ready-made Kenya itineraries, a guide to every major park, reserve and coastal area, and links to the detailed planning pages we have written for each: where to stay, how to get there, the best time to visit, wildlife, birding and activities. Kenya pairs naturally with our Uganda programme, so we also point to the combination guides that join the two countries on one trip.

Kenya works well for a first safari because distances between the main parks are manageable, road and domestic air links are well established, and the choice of accommodation runs from simple tented camps to private conservancy lodges. It also rewards a second or third visit: the northern reserves, the Rift Valley lakes and the Lamu archipelago feel very different from the Mara and Amboseli circuit. If you are unsure where to start, read our Kenya travel guide and the month-by-month best time to visit Kenya, then send us your dates through the enquiry form.

At a glance	Kenya
Known for	Masai Mara, Amboseli elephants, the Great Migration, Rift Valley lakes, Indian Ocean coast
Best for	First safaris, big cats, classic savannah scenery, safari-and-beach trips
Main regions	Southern parks, Central Highlands, Rift Valley, Northern reserves, Coast
Main gateways	Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta International) and Mombasa
Dry seasons	Roughly January to February and June to October
Rainy seasons	Long rains March to May, short rains October to December

Ready-made itineraries

Kenya Tours

Where to go

Top Kenya Attractions

Each card below links to our main guide for that destination. Under every card you will find quick links to the detailed pages on that area: best time to visit, where to stay, getting there, itineraries, wildlife, birding and activities.

Masai Mara National Reserve

Kenya's best-known reserve is open savannah on the Tanzanian border, famous for lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants and large herds of plains game. The wildebeest migration arrives in the second half of the year, and the Mara River crossings draw most visitors. Private conservancies on the reserve's edge offer quieter game drives and, in some cases, night drives and walks that the reserve itself does not allow.

Masai Mara National Reserve guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · Birding · FAQs · Masai Mara Big Cats and Game Dr... · Masai Mara Conservancies Explained

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli is known for large, relaxed elephant herds against the profile of Mount Kilimanjaro, which rises just across the border in Tanzania. Swamps fed by snowmelt draw elephants, buffalo and hippos through the dry months, and the open plains suit photography. It sits a comfortable distance from Nairobi and combines easily with Tsavo West or the Mara.

Amboseli National Park guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · Birding · FAQs · Amboseli in the Dry Season · Amboseli in the Rainy Season

Tsavo East and Tsavo West

Together Tsavo East and Tsavo West make up Kenya's largest protected area. Tsavo East is dry, red-earth plains where elephants are often coated in dust; Tsavo West is more varied, with volcanic hills, springs and rocky scenery. Both are reached from Nairobi or the coast, which makes them a natural link between a bush safari and a beach stay.

Tsavo East guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · Birding · FAQs · Tsavo East in the Dry Season · Tsavo East in the Rainy Season

Samburu National Reserve

Samburu lies in Kenya's drier north along the Ewaso Nyiro River and is known for species rarely seen in the southern parks, often called the special five: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, beisa oryx and gerenuk. Elephants and big cats use the river corridor, and the Samburu people add a cultural dimension to the visit.

Samburu National Reserve guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · Birding · FAQs · Samburu Culture Guide · Samburu in the Dry Season

Lake Nakuru National Park

A compact park around a shallow soda lake in the Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru is a rhino sanctuary and a good birding destination, with large numbers of waterbirds and, when conditions suit, flamingos at the shore. Its small size means short drives between sightings, which suits a one-night stop between the Mara and the Central Highlands.

Lake Nakuru National Park guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · Birding · FAQs · Lake Nakuru in the Dry Season · Lake Nakuru in the Rainy Season

Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate

Naivasha is a freshwater Rift Valley lake with hippos, fish eagles and papyrus-fringed shores, easily explored by boat. Nearby Hell's Gate National Park is one of the few Kenyan parks where visitors can walk or cycle among zebra, giraffe and buffalo, with dramatic cliffs and gorges as the setting.

Lake Naivasha guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · Birding · FAQs · Naivasha Town Guide

Laikipia and Ol Pejeta Conservancy

The Laikipia plateau, north-west of Mount Kenya, is a patchwork of conservancies and private ranches with a strong conservation focus. Ol Pejeta is home to black rhinos, the last northern white rhinos and a chimpanzee sanctuary, and many Laikipia properties offer walking, horse and camel safaris as well as night drives.

Laikipia guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · FAQs · Nanyuki Guide

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

Lewa is a long-established rhino conservancy in the foothills of Mount Kenya and one of the better-known examples of community-linked conservation in the country. It is a calm, scenic area for game drives, walks and horse riding, and it works well in a northern Kenya itinerary alongside Samburu or Laikipia.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Activities · Birding · FAQs

Mount Kenya

Africa's second-highest mountain is a forested, glaciated massif on the equator. Trekkers can reach the main peaks on several routes, while shorter day hikes and forest walks on the lower slopes suit those who prefer a gentler pace. The mountain's moorlands, giant lobelias and montane forest also bring a different set of birds and plants to a Kenya trip.

Mount Kenya guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · Birding · FAQs · Mount Kenya Day Hikes

Aberdare National Park

Moorland, bamboo and montane forest make the Aberdares a cool, misty contrast to the savannah parks. Treetop-style lodges overlook waterholes where elephants, buffalo and forest animals come to drink, and waterfalls and trout streams add to the scenery.

Aberdare National Park guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Activities · Birding · FAQs

Meru National Park

Meru is a quieter park east of Mount Kenya, with rivers, swamps and open grassland, and relatively few visitors. It has been restocked and protected over recent decades and appeals to travellers who want a less crowded safari with varied scenery.

Meru National Park guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Activities · Birding · FAQs

Nairobi and Nairobi National Park

Nairobi is the arrival point for most visitors and also has a national park on its southern edge, where rhinos, lions and giraffes are seen against the city skyline. The leafy suburbs of Karen and Langata, museums, markets and restaurants make it worth a night or two before or after a safari.

Nairobi guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · Birding · FAQs · Karen and Langata · Nairobi Museums and Heritage Sites

Diani Beach and the South Coast

Diani is Kenya's best-known beach, a long stretch of white sand and warm Indian Ocean water south of Mombasa. Snorkelling, diving, kitesurfing, dhow trips and the nearby Shimba Hills rainforest make it a full beach destination and a popular finish to a bush safari.

Diani Beach guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · Birding · FAQs

Lamu Island and the Lamu Archipelago

Lamu Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest continuously inhabited Swahili settlements on the coast. There are no cars on the island; donkeys and dhows are the main transport. Shela Beach has quiet sand and a small number of guesthouses and hotels.

Lamu Island guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Lamu Dhow Trips · Lamu vs Zanzibar

Mombasa, Watamu and Malindi

North of Diani, the coast holds Mombasa's Old Town and Fort Jesus, the marine parks around Watamu and the beaches of Malindi. This stretch suits travellers interested in Swahili history, snorkelling and relaxed beach stays, and the Gede ruins are an easy inland excursion.

Mombasa guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Malindi Beach Guide · Malindi Guide

Lake Baringo, Bogoria and Elementaita

The northern Rift Valley lakes are strong birding country: Baringo with its cliffs and freshwater shores, Bogoria with hot springs and flamingos, and Elementaita with pelicans and soda-lake waders. They fit well on the road between Nakuru and the northern reserves.

Lake Baringo guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Birding

Kakamega Forest

Kakamega in western Kenya is the country's remnant of equatorial rainforest, with forest birds, monkeys and butterflies that differ from those of the savannah. It pairs well with a Kenya-Uganda overland trip, since the western border is the usual route between the two countries.

Kakamega Forest guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Birding

Where to Go in Kenya: Choosing Your Regions

Kenya is easiest to plan if you think in regions rather than individual parks. The southern circuit of the Masai Mara, Amboseli and the Tsavo parks is the classic first-safari route, with the strongest concentration of big cats and elephants. The Central Highlands and Rift Valley, including Mount Kenya, the Aberdares, Lake Nakuru, Naivasha and Hell's Gate, add mountains, lakes, forest and good walking. The north, with Samburu, Laikipia and Lewa, is drier and quieter, with species and landscapes you will not see in the south. The coast is the place to finish: Diani and the south coast, Watamu and Malindi in the north, and Lamu further up.

A common structure is three to five nights in the Mara, one or two in the Rift Valley or Laikipia, and a few nights at the coast. Travellers with more time add Amboseli and Tsavo or push north to Samburu. Our planning pages cover each of these routes in detail, including three-day, seven-day, ten-day and fourteen-day itineraries, as well as themed trips such as honeymoons, family safaris and birding.

If you want to see Kenya together with Uganda, the Uganda and Kenya safari holiday joins gorilla or chimpanzee trekking with the Mara, and the comparison of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania helps you decide which country, or combination, suits your interests.

Best Time to Visit Kenya

Kenya can be visited all year, but game viewing and trail conditions change with the seasons. The two dry periods, roughly January to February and June to October, are the most popular: grass is shorter, animals gather near water and roads are easier. The long rains fall from about March to May and the short rains in October to December, bringing green landscapes, fewer visitors and more flexible rates, though some camps close or roads become difficult in the wettest weeks.

The wildebeest migration reaches the Masai Mara in the second half of the year, and river crossings can occur at any time while the herds are present, so they cannot be guaranteed on a given day. For detail by month, see best time to visit Kenya, the Mara migration calendar and our guides to the long rains and the short rains. There is also a page for each month, from Kenya in January to Kenya in December.

Getting to Kenya and Getting Around

Most international visitors arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, with Mombasa also receiving flights. From Nairobi, the Mara, Amboseli, Nakuru, Naivasha and Laikipia can all be reached by road, and many camps also have airstrips served by scheduled and charter flights. Our route pages cover the common transfers, such as Nairobi to Amboseli, Nairobi to Samburu, Nairobi to Lake Nakuru and Mombasa to Diani, and the domestic flights guide explains how light-aircraft hops fit into an itinerary.

Practical points are covered in separate guides: entry and money, health and malaria, luggage rules for light aircraft, tipping, park fees explained and safari safety. Park and conservancy fees are set by the managing authorities and change, so we check current rates when we prepare your quote.

People, Culture and Food in Kenya

Kenya's cultural variety is a large part of its appeal. Swahili traditions shape the coast, Maasai and Samburu communities live alongside the northern and southern wildlife areas, and Nairobi is a busy, modern city with a strong arts and food scene. You can learn more in our guides to Kenya's history, Swahili phrases for travellers, food and nyama choma, etiquette and customs, crafts and markets and festivals and events. Visits to community areas are best arranged through a guide, so that time in a village or a conservancy benefits the people who live there.

Essential Kenya Reading

Start with these planning pages before you build an itinerary.

Plan Your Kenya Trip: Where to Stay, Routes, Itineraries and Practical Guides

Every guide below is a full page on our site. Use the groups to find the planning detail you need, from where to stay in each area to route times and month-by-month advice for Kenya.

Where to Stay by Area

Routes and Transfers

Itineraries by Length and Theme

Practical Guides and Questions

Month-by-Month and Seasonal Guides

Gateway Towns and Cities

Birds and Birding

Culture, People and Heritage

Activities and Experiences

Beaches and Coast

Parks by Season: Dry and Rainy Months

Comparisons: Which Should You Choose?

Where to See Wildlife

Day Trips from Gateway Towns

More Itineraries and Group Planning

Park Birding Guides

More Places and Towns

Safety, Health and Practical Questions

Multi-Country Combinations Including Kenya

These guides join Kenya with its neighbours on one trip, with routes, border crossings, best times and sample itineraries.

FAQs

Kenya Safari FAQs

Kenya can be visited in any month. The dry periods from about January to February and June to October are the most popular for game viewing, while the rainy seasons bring green scenery and fewer visitors. See our best-time guide for a month-by-month view.

Many travellers choose between four and ten days. A short trip can cover the Masai Mara alone, while seven to ten days allow the Mara plus a Rift Valley lake or Amboseli, and longer trips add the north or the coast. Compare options in our short itineraries and the ten-day itinerary.

Yes. Kenya combines well with Tanzania, because the Masai Mara and the Serengeti form one ecosystem, and with Uganda for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking. See the Uganda and Kenya holiday and the Mara and Serengeti combination guide.

The herds generally arrive in the Mara in the second half of the year and leave again later in the year, but timing varies with the rains. River crossings cannot be guaranteed on a particular day. See the Mara migration calendar.

Millions of visitors travel to Kenya's parks and coast without problems. As anywhere, it helps to follow your guide's advice, check official travel advisories before you go and use reputable operators. Our safari safety guide covers the practical points.

Most visitors need an electronic travel authorisation before travelling, and the rules can change. Check the official government portal and read our entry and money guide before you book.

The Masai Mara and Amboseli are the usual first choices, with Lake Nakuru or Naivasha as easy Rift Valley additions. Our first-time itinerary and common first-safari mistakes pages are a good starting point.

Yes. A few nights at Diani, Watamu or Lamu is a common way to finish a bush safari. See the Diani Beach guide, the Lamu island guide and the coast travel guide.

Plan your Uganda safari

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