Safari destination
Kenya
Where safari got its name.
From the Masai Mara's Great Migration to Amboseli's elephant herds beneath Kilimanjaro, Kenya offers iconic Big Five safaris and rich cultural encounters.
Kenya
The original safari
Safari is a Swahili word, and Kenya is where the classic version of it was born. This is the land of the Masai Mara's river crossings, of Amboseli's elephant herds moving beneath Kilimanjaro, and of the private conservancies that pioneered low-vehicle, high-quality game viewing across East Africa.
The pattern that works: fly into Nairobi, take a light aircraft to the Mara or Laikipia, then finish on the Indian Ocean at Diani or Lamu. Read our guide to the wildlife you are likely to see and our Kenya travel safety guide, or ask a safari specialist to build the route around the migration months.
- When are the Masai Mara river crossings?
- The herds are usually in the Mara between July and October, and crossings can happen at any time in that window. No crossing can be guaranteed on a given day, they follow rain and grazing, which is why we recommend three to four nights in the Mara during those months to give yourself the best odds.
- Kenya or Tanzania for the Great Migration?
- Same herds, same unfenced ecosystem, different months. Kenya's window is July to October, when the wildebeest mass in the Mara and cross the Mara River. Tanzania holds them for the rest of the year, including the calving season in the southern Serengeti from January to March. Kenya pairs the spectacle with private conservancies; Tanzania offers the longer season. Plenty of guests do both in one trip.
- Is Kenya safe for tourists?
- The established safari circuit, Nairobi's hotels, the Mara, Laikipia, Amboseli and the coast, is professionally run and heavily invested in visitor safety, with private camps, vetted transfers and light-aircraft connections throughout. Normal city awareness applies in Nairobi, and our safari specialists brief every guest on current conditions before travel.
- What does a Kenya safari cost?
- Kenya runs on park and conservancy fees plus light-aircraft logistics, so it prices above a comparable South African trip. The itineraries on this page carry complete per-person from-prices with internal flights included, so compare a few durations to calibrate. Conservancy camps carry a premium over the reserve, and earn it.
- Should I stay in the reserve or a private conservancy?
- The national reserve is the classic stage and holds the river crossings. The surrounding conservancies cap guest and vehicle numbers, allow night drives and off-road driving, and fund Maasai landowners directly. The ideal is a conservancy camp within easy reach of the reserve in crossing season.
- Can I combine safari and beach in Kenya?
- Easily, and you should. Light aircraft link the Mara and Laikipia to the coast, so Diani Beach or Lamu is one flight after your final game drive. A week in the bush plus four or five nights on the ocean is the classic shape.
Tailor-made safaris
Safaris in Kenya.
Most requested · 4 days · Kenya
4 Day Fly-in Masai Mara Safari
All meals · All activities · All flights & transfers
- 3 nights at &Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp in the Masai Mara
- Dawn and dusk game drives tracking lion, cheetah, elephant and buffalo
- Hot-air balloon safari at sunrise with champagne breakfast on the plains
- Guided nature walks led by Maasai trackers
From
$4,140
per person, complete package
≈ $8,285 for two · international flights excluded
Most requested · 10 days · Kenya · Tanzania
10-Day Best of East Africa Migration Safari
Most meals · All activities · All flights & transfers
- 2 nights at Karen Blixen Cottages with visits to David Sheldrick Trust and Giraffe Centre
- 2 nights at Kichwa Tembo in the Masai Mara for Big Five game drives
- 2 nights at Simbavati Grumeti Camp in the Serengeti with private guide
- Full-day game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater, staying at Melia Ngorongoro
From
$13,085
per person, complete package
≈ $26,170 for two · international flights excluded
Most requested · 12 days · Kenya
12-Day Bush to Beach Luxury Safari through Kenya
All meals · All activities · All flights & transfers
- 2 nights at Sasaab in Samburu, tracking the Samburu Special Five
- 2 nights at Solio Lodge for black and white rhino viewing
- 3 nights at Sala's Camp in the Masai Mara with bush lunches
- 3 nights at Kinondo Kwetu on Diani Beach with kite surfing and diving
Special offer available
From
$16,335 normally $20,370
per person, complete package
≈ $32,670 for two · international flights excluded
3 days · Kenya
3-Day Masai Mara Fly-in Safari with Governors Camp
All meals · Most activities · All flights & transfers
- 2 nights at Governors' Camp on the banks of the Mara River
- 45-minute scenic flight from Wilson Airport over the Great Rift Valley
- Morning, afternoon and sunrise game drives across the Masai Mara Reserve
- Big Five viewing with chance of the Great Migration (July-October)
From
$3,160
per person, complete package
≈ $6,320 for two · international flights excluded
7 days · Zanzibar · Kenya · Tanzania
7-Day All-Inclusive Masai Mara to Zanzibar Safari
All meals · Most activities · All flights & transfers
- 3 nights at Governors' Camp on the Masai Mara, then 3 at Nungwi Dreams in Zanzibar
- Twice-daily game drives and guided bush walks in the Masai Mara
- Big cat and plains game viewing from open Landcruisers
- Swim with green turtles at a community conservation lagoon in Nungwi
From
$4,060
per person, complete package
≈ $8,125 for two · international flights excluded
8 days · Kenya · Seychelles
8-Day Ultra-Luxurious Safari & Island Escape: Kenya to Seychelles
Most meals · Most activities · All flights & transfers
- 3 nights at &Beyond Bateleur Camp in the Maasai Mara
- Twice-daily game drives across the Mara plains with Big Five sightings
- Bush breakfasts, sundowners and a night drive for nocturnal wildlife
- 4 nights at Le Domaine de L'Orangeraie on La Digue, Seychelles
Special offer available
From
$9,130 normally $9,460
per person, complete package
≈ $18,260 for two · international flights excluded
9 days · Kenya · Tanzania
9 Day Masai Mara, Serengeti & Manyara Safari
Most meals · Most activities · All flights & transfers
- 1 night at Hemingways Nairobi on arrival
- 2 nights at andBeyond Bateleur Camp in the Masai Mara tracking the Big Five
- 2 nights at Serengeti under Canvas, a mobile camp following the Great Migration
- 3 nights at Lake Manyara Tree Lodge searching for tree-climbing lions
Special offer available
From
$10,250 normally $11,455
per person, complete package
≈ $20,505 for two · international flights excluded
10 days · Kenya · Tanzania
10 Day Luxury Fly-in Kenya & Tanzania Tour
Most meals · Most activities · All transfers
- 1 night at Gran Meliá Arusha, then 2 nights at Meliá Ngorongoro Lodge
- Guided game drive on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater
- 3 nights at Nimali Serengeti in the heart of the migration corridor
- 3 nights at Entim Mara Camp with twice-daily drives in the Masai Mara
From
$11,885
per person, complete package
≈ $23,775 for two · international flights excluded
10 days · Tanzania · Kenya
10-Day Exclusive Safari: Tanzania to Kenya
Most meals · Most activities · All flights & transfers
- Overnight at Katambuga House in Arusha before flying into the bush
- 4 nights at Nasikia Mobile Migration Camp in the Northern Serengeti
- Shared game drives tracking the Great Migration across the plains
- Optional sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the Serengeti
From
$6,360
per person, complete package
≈ $12,725 for two · international flights excluded
7 days · Kenya
7 Day Classic Kenyan Safari
Most meals · All activities · Most transfers
- 1 night at Severin Safari Camp in Tsavo West, exploring Mzima Springs
- 2 nights at Ol Tukai Lodge in Amboseli with elephant herds beneath Kilimanjaro
- 1 night at Naivasha Sopa Lodge with an optional boat trip on Lake Naivasha
- 2 nights at Tipilikwani Mara Camp on the banks of the Talek River
From
$4,300
per person, complete package
≈ $8,600 for two · international flights excluded
7 days · Kenya · Tanzania · Zanzibar
7-Day Luxury Beach Safari from Mombasa to Zanzibar
All meals · All flights & transfers
- 3 nights at Serena Beach Resort & Spa on the Mombasa coast
- 3 nights at Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort on white-sand beaches
- Optional snorkelling, spa treatments and water sports at both resorts
- Cultural visits to Mombasa's Old Town, Fort Jesus and Zanzibar's Stone Town
From
$2,250
per person, complete package
≈ $4,500 for two · international flights excluded
8 days · Kenya
8 Day Amboseli, Mount Kenya & Masai Mara Flying Safari
All meals · All activities · All flights & transfers
- 1 night at Nairobi Tented Camp inside Nairobi National Park
- 2 nights at Porini Amboseli Camp with Kilimanjaro views and night game drives
- 2 nights at Porini Rhino Camp in Ol Pejeta, visiting the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Baraka the Black Rhino
- 2 nights at Porini Lion Camp in the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy bordering the Masai Mara
From
$5,900
per person, complete package
≈ $11,800 for two · international flights excluded
8 days · Kenya
8-Day All-Inclusive Fly-In Samburu to Masai Mara Safari
All meals · All activities · All flights & transfers
- 4 nights at Soroi Larsens Camp in Samburu, then 3 at Soroi Luxury Migration Camp in the Mara
- Twice-daily shared game drives in custom 4x4 vehicles
- Track the Samburu Special 5: Grevy's zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe
- Sundowner on a raised viewing platform above the Koitogo Hills
Special offer available
From
$6,765 normally $7,405
per person, complete package
≈ $13,535 for two · international flights excluded
9 days · Kenya · Rwanda
9-Day Kenya & Rwanda Safari: Big Five, Maasai Mara & Gorilla Trekking Tour
Most meals · All activities · All flights & transfers
- 2 nights at Mara Sopa Lodge with game drives in the Maasai Mara
- Boat safari on Lake Naivasha and walking tour on Crescent Island
- 2 nights at Amboseli Sopa Lodge with elephants and Kilimanjaro views
- Kigali city tour including the Genocide Memorial
From
$7,550
per person, complete package
≈ $15,100 for two · international flights excluded
9 days · Kenya · Uganda
9-Day Wild Encounters: Kenya’s Big Five & Uganda’s Gentle Giants
All meals · All activities · All flights & transfers
- 2 nights at Mara Sopa Lodge with game drives across the Maasai Mara
- Boat ride on Lake Naivasha and walking safari on Crescent Island
- 2 nights at Amboseli Sopa Lodge with elephant herds beneath Mt. Kilimanjaro
- 2 nights at 5-star Gorilla Leisure Lodge near Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
From
$6,535
per person, complete package
≈ $13,075 for two · international flights excluded
No safaris matching these criteria.
Try adjusting the filters above to see more safaris.
Brochure
East Africa Guide
East Africa in signature pairings, like elephants beneath Mount Kenya: the Serengeti and Masai Mara, gorilla trekking and Zanzibar.
Where to stay
Lodges in Kenya.
41 lodges
-
Ultra Masai MaraAngama Mara
Inspired by the Swahili word meaning "suspended in mid-air," Angama Mara is a remarkable safari lodge perched high above the floor of Africa’s Great Rift Valley. Overlooking the breathtaking Maasai Mara—often regarded as one of Africa’s most beautiful game reserves—this luxurious lodge blends contemporary design with classic safari elegance, offering unforgettable wildlife encounters and world-class hospitality.
From $2,750 per person · night
-
AndBeyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp
This luxury safari camp is set at the edge of riverine forest, overlooking the sweeping plains of the Maasai Mara, and it lies within the path of the incredible annual Great Migration. At Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp, you can expect an authentic African safari experience with legendary Kenyan hospitality.
From $1,075 per person · night · normally $1,265
Special offer available
-
AndBeyond Bateleur Camp
Bateleur Camp is located in the lush forests of the world-renowned Masai Mara in Kenya where you can experience elegance amidst the diverse wildlife of Narok County. Bateleur Camp provides a truly memorable Masai Mara experience through its luxurious facilities, attentive service, and lush surroundings.
From $2,210 per person · night · normally $2,595
Special offer available
-
Elewana Sand River Masai Mara
Imagine staying in a picturesque African safari vacation camp, surrounded by lush flora and diverse wildlife. You wake up to an amazing sunrise, and fill your day with adventure and exploration.
From $1,275 per person · night
-
PremiumElsa's Kopje
Elsa's Kopje is located in the heart of the 444 789 acre Meru National Park, sculpted into the Mughwango Hill, above the site of George Adamson’s original camp where he raised and released orphan lions.
From $1,030 per person · night
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Giraffe Manor
Giraffe Manor is one of the most popular accommodation choices in the whole of Eastern Africa. Full of character and steeped in history, its ivy-clad buildings are set in 12 acres of private land and are surrounded by 140 acres of indigenous forest. Reminiscent of its 1930s "Out of Africa" heydays, it is named for its resident herd of Rothschild giraffe that often pop in for a visit.
From $1,410 per person · night
-
Governor's Camp
Experience luxury befitting Kenya’s colonial governors when you stay at Governors’ Camp. Established in 1972 as a place for local leaders, it is still the accommodations’ standards that all others are measured by.
From $995 per person · night
-
Naboisho Camp
It is unheard of to experience a private safari in the Masai Mara or Serengeti reserves but Naboisho Camp is the exception. Set in the two hundred and ten square kilometer Mara Naboisho Conservancy in the Greater Masai Mara, Naboisha Camp offers an exclusive safari experience.
From $2,250 per person · night
Rates per person sharing, per night.
January
Dry season one: cats and coast
Best time to visit
The Kenya year.
Mara crossings mid-year, calving in the south, beach weather bracketing both: Kenya rewards every calendar.
Kenya
Your guide to Kenya.
WHEN
Wildlife Safaris
The Dry Seasons (June–October and January–February)
June to October:
- This is the most popular time to visit Kenya, especially for safaris. The dry weather encourages wildlife to gather around permanent water sources, making animals much easier to spot. This period also coincides with The Great Migration in the Maasai Mara, when millions of wildebeest and zebra migrate from the Serengeti in Tanzania into Kenya.
January to February:
- This is another dry window offering superb wildlife viewing conditions. Sightings are frequent as animals congregate in predictable locations due to the scarcity of water.
The Great Migration:
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.
Bird Watching:
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.
Beaches and Coastal Activities:
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 snorkelling, diving, and relaxing on the beach.
Climbing Mount Kenya:
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.
Avoiding Crowds:
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.
WHERE
Renowned for its classic savannah safaris, Kenya is a beautiful country with deserts, alpine snows, forests, open plains, colourful 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 Maasai Mara and snorkelling in Malindi on the Indian Ocean coast.
Maasai Mara National Park
The Maasai Mara National Reserve is one of the top tourist attractions in Kenya and the country’s most popular game park. Each year the Maasai 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
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
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
Malindi is a town on Malindi Bay, in south-eastern 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, snorkelling, 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
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
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 5,199 metre (17,057 ft) high summit is a difficult technical climb, several lower 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
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
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
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 National Park
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
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.
Photos from our guests
A traveller's view.
Every photo below was taken by a guest of ours on a recent trip to Kenya. No stock imagery, no marketing shots. What they saw, on their cameras.
Imagery
Kenya, in pictures.
Recent travellers
Word from people who have just been to Kenya.
Quotes pulled directly from Trustpilot. Where we have specific reviews mentioning Kenya, those come up first. Otherwise these are recent five-star notes from across the trips we have planned.
"We booked a 5-day tour package for Kenya through Safari.com. Anja was extremely prompt with her replies, had great suggestions and walked us through formulating our itinerary. She knew the area very well and was able to suggest alternatives when we needed to move things around. Looking forward to a wonderful African adventure!"
"Anja was very helpful in getting our tour booked for our group. With date changes, time changes, even up to the last minute flight changes, she was on top of things! We will use Safari.com in the future for our Kenya safari trips."
"Spending 40 years in the travel industry and taking several Safari to Kenya, my wife and I reached out to Dolan at Safari.com to help plan our S. African Safari to Kruger. Dolan handled all aspects of the planning including transfers to and from airport, plane reservations and lodging at the 5-star Leopard Hills lodge. With just a couple of emails he made th…"
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