Kenya is home to some of the most famous national parks and reserves in the world, such as the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, and Tsavo. Visitors can witness the "Big Five" (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros) and experience the annual Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles cross the Mara River.
Kenya is home to over 40 different ethnic groups, each with its own distinct culture, traditions, and languages. Visiting Kenya allows travelers to engage with local communities, learn about the Maasai, Samburu, Swahili, and other cultures, and participate in traditional ceremonies and crafts.
Kenya's coastline along the Indian Ocean is lined with stunning beaches, coral reefs, and marine parks. Popular destinations like Diani Beach, Malindi, and Lamu offer snorkeling, diving, and relaxing opportunities in luxurious beach resorts.
For thrill-seekers, Kenya offers a variety of adventure activities, including mountain climbing, hot air balloon safaris, deep-sea fishing, and water sports. The diverse terrain also makes Kenya an excellent destination for hiking, bird-watching, and exploring caves.
Kenya has a fascinating history, from ancient Swahili settlements to colonial-era landmarks. Visitors can explore historical sites like Fort Jesus in Mombasa, the ancient ruins of Gedi, and the Karen Blixen Museum in Nairobi, which offer insights into the country's past.
Kenyans are known for their hospitality and friendliness. Visitors often find themselves welcomed with open arms, making their experience in Kenya not only memorable but also personal and enriching.
Kenya's climate is generally pleasant, with warm temperatures throughout the year. The coastal regions are humid and tropical, while the highlands, including Nairobi, enjoy a more temperate climate, making it a comfortable destination year-round.
Kenya is at the forefront of conservation efforts in Africa, with many initiatives aimed at protecting wildlife and natural habitats. Visitors can support eco-friendly lodges and participate in conservation projects, contributing to the preservation of Kenya's natural heritage.
Kenyan cuisine is a delicious mix of flavors influenced by various cultures, including African, Indian, and Arab. From street food like "samosas" and "nyama choma" (grilled meat) to coastal delicacies, Kenya offers a delightful culinary journey.
Dry Seasons (June to October & January to February): June to October: This is the most popular time to visit Kenya, particularly for safaris. The weather is dry, making it easier to spot animals as they gather around water sources. This period also coincides with the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara, where millions of wildebeest and zebras migrate from the Serengeti in Tanzania to Kenya.
January to February: Another dry period with good wildlife viewing conditions. Animals are easier to see as they congregate in more predictable areas due to the scarcity of water.
July to October: This is the best time to witness the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara. The exact timing can vary, but typically, the wildebeest start arriving in the Mara in July and remain until October before heading back to the Serengeti.
November to April: During these months, Kenya becomes a haven for bird enthusiasts as migratory birds from Europe and North Africa arrive. This period coincides with the "short rains" (November to December) and the "long rains" (March to May), which make the landscape lush and green, providing excellent conditions for birdwatching.
December to March: This is the best time to visit Kenya's coast (e.g., Diani Beach, Malindi, Lamu) as the weather is warm and dry. The Indian Ocean is calm and clear, perfect for snorkeling, diving, and relaxing on the beach.
January to February & August to September: These are the best months for climbing Mount Kenya, as the weather is relatively dry, and the trails are more accessible.
March to May (Long Rainy Season): This is the low season in Kenya due to the heavy rains. While wildlife is still present, it can be harder to spot due to the lush vegetation. However, if you don’t mind the rain, this is a great time to enjoy quieter parks, lower rates, and lush green landscapes.
Renowned for its classic savanna safaris, Kenya is a beautiful country with deserts, alpine snows, forests, open plains, colorful tribal cultures, freshwater lakes and coral reefs. The wildlife safaris have always been the top attraction in Kenya. This huge wilderness is home to the most impressive wildlife spectacle on earth; The great migration. The great migration is a pilgrimage of millions of wildebeest and zebra in search of new pastures. The herds are followed by vast numbers of predators, including lions, hyenas and cheetahs. Other activities to be experienced in Kenya include trekking Mount Kenya, ballooning over the Masai Mara and snorkeling in Malindi on the Indian Ocean coast.
The Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the top tourist attractions in Kenya and the country’s most popular game park. Each year the Masai Mara National Reserve is visited by thousands of tourists who come here to watch the exceptional population of game and the annual migration of zebra and wildebeest. The “Great Migration” takes place every year from July to October when millions of wildebeest and zebra migrate from the Serengeti in Tanzania.
Amboseli National Park is a relatively small park located close to the Tanzania border at the foot of Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. The park is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants. Other wildlife includes giraffes, zebras, cheetahs and hundreds of bird species. ‘Must do’ attractions in the Amboseli National Park include meeting the Maasai people and witnessing the spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Nairobi National Park is just a short drive from the center of Nairobi with only a fence separating the park’s wildlife from the metropolis. It is the only national park in the world to be found within the precincts of a capital city. Nairobi’s skyscrapers can be seen from the park. Despite its proximity to the city and the relatively small size of the park, Nairobi National Park boasts a large and varied wildlife population including the endangered black rhino, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, buffaloes, giraffes and diverse birdlife with over 400 species recorded.
Malindi is a town on Malindi Bay, in southeastern Kenya. It sits amid a string of tropical beaches dotted with hotels and resorts.Malindi provides a very nice introduction to the coastal tourist attractions in Kenya with its extensive coral reefs and beautiful beaches. There are surfing, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing and other water sports. The Malindi Marine National Park and nearby Watamu Marine National Park have protected areas with beautiful beaches, clear water, turtles and very colorful fish. Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve harbors elephants and more than 200 species of birds.
Mombasa is Kenya's main tourist destination. It is on the eastern coastline of Kenya, bordering the Indian Ocean which has made it a popular destination for its beaches. Mombasa is a place where both history and progress are greatly valued, where a busy harbor existence is lived at its own unique, tropical pace. Mombasa offers a diverse marine life, world-class hotels, and friendly atmosphere. There is a tropical climate all year and it is a great destination filled with activities for all ages.
Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second-highest in Africa, after Kilimanjaro. The mountain is an awe-inspiring sight and is often referred to as the ‘Place of Light’. Its ragged series of peaks are crowned with snow, and its slopes are covered with forest. The 5199 meter (17,057 ft) high summit is a difficult technical climb, several lowers peaks, however, are an easy destination for any fit trekker. The majority of animals live lower down on the slopes of Mount Kenya. Here there is more vegetation and the climate is less extreme. Various species of monkeys, several antelopes, tree hyrax, porcupines and some larger animals such as elephant and buffalo all live in the forest.
Samburu National Reserve is a very peaceful national park in Rift Valley Province of Kenya. It attracts wildlife because of the Uaso Nyiro River that runs through it and the mixture of forest and grassland vegetation. All three big cats, lion, cheetah and leopard, can be found here, as well as elephants, buffalo and hippos. The Uaso Nyiro River contains large numbers of Nile crocodile. Samburu also offers a sublime birding experience.
Hell’s Gate National Park is a small park named after a narrow break in the cliffs, once a tributary of a prehistoric lake that fed early humans in the Rift Valley. It is unique among Kenya’s wildlife parks, as you are allowed to walk or cycle without a guide. There’s dramatic scenery, with steep cliffs, gorges and basalt columns. The national park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, though many are few in number. Examples of little-seen wildlife include lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
Lamu Island is a part of Kenya’s Lamu Archipelago and has managed to stay unspoiled and untouched by the mass tourism that has hit much of Kenya’s coastline. As the oldest living town in Kenya, Lamu Town has retained all the charm and character built up over centuries. There are no roads on Lamu Island, just alleyways and footpaths, and therefore, there are few motorized vehicles on the island. Residents move about on foot or by boat, and donkeys are used to transport goods and materials.
Tsavo is one of the oldest and largest national parks in Kenya and in the world. Due to its size, the park was divided into Tsavo West and Tsavo East. The Tsavo West has spectacular scenery with a rolling volcanic landscape while Tsavo East has more open savannah than its western sibling. Tsavo National Park is the ideal destination in Kenya for people who seek solitude and privacy as well as the chance to explore the wilderness. The park is home to most of the larger mammals, vast herds of dust-red elephant, Rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard, pods of hippo, crocodile, waterbucks, Lesser Kudu, gerenuk and the prolific bird life features 500 recorded species.
Lake Nakuru is a very shallow lake in central Kenya. The lake’s abundance of algae attracts vast quantities of flamingos, sometimes more than one million at once. Often called the greatest bird spectacle on earth, the flamingos are one of Kenya’s top attractions. Visitors can enjoy the wide ecological diversity and varied habitats that range from Lake Nakuru itself to the surrounding escarpment and picturesque ridges. Lake Nakuru National Park is ideal for bird watching, hiking, and game drives.
Dec 13, 2024
Leigh-Ann Croeser from Safari.com was fantastic
Leigh-Ann from Safari.com was great to work with to plan our group safari trip. She was able to get me on the priority waitlist for a lodge that I liked, which ended up working out for our group during my preferred dates. Leigh-Ann was responsive and provided various tour recommendations for us to decide on the best option for us. There were a few email and name typos from Leigh-Ann that I had to correct, but other than that, I had a great experience.
Dec 12, 2024
Dolan was terrific
Dolan was terrific. He got back to us immediately to answer all of our questions. And was so nice to hold a room for a couple of days because of my moms passing. It gave us time to finalize her arrangements and time to book our trip. I would highly recommend using him to book your trip!!
Dec 12, 2024
Great support and communication
I had great support from Lana, she has been helping to book the dream trip to Bostwana in a very efficient way. Great communication, very responsive and precise, could not wish for more. Highly recommend her.
Dec 12, 2024
Anja Is A Fabulous Travel Consultant
Anja Mayer was extremely knowledgeable, patient, prompt with her responses to questions, and always very helpful. She was also a pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend to anyone that asks that Anja is the right person to contact if they are interested in travelling to South Africa or Botswana.
Dec 12, 2024
Anja did a fabulous job!
Anja was knowledgeble, patient prompt with her responses to questions and always very helpful. In addition, it was a pleasure working with her. I would recommend her to anyone without any reservation.
Dec 10, 2024
Mel du Toit was the perfect person to…
Mel du Toit was the perfect person to arrange and organize our trip!! She was on the ball, made sure everything was in place and travel arrangements secured! I highly recommend her!!
Dec 9, 2024
Great support from Shann
Shann made the booking experience seamless - provided very helpful information to ensure we fully understood what the experience would be like and made sure we felt safe with experiences we have booked.
Dec 9, 2024
Quick & efficient
Very fast response, polite - impressive
Dec 7, 2024
Went through Newmarket travel and Hays…
Went through Newmarket travel and Hays travel ..information about flight changes hard to get..but on arrival the holiday was taken over Safari.com..amazing ..experience everything was fine tuned and the staff ..guides drivers fabulous and friendly ..lots of knowledge..lots of fun and the surprises they did was so lovely ...loved every minute ..Paris our guide was amazing..10/10 and Eric driver ..the waiters and waitress every and everyone in the hotels .smiling and friendly..Best holiday of my life