Whether you pronounce it ‘Ken-ya’ or ‘Keen-ya’, one thing is for sure: Kenya consistently ranks as one of Africa’s greatest safari destinations. An average of 80 000 people a month from across the globe visit this diverse country every month – thousands of safari goers are lucky enough to see the astonishing wildlife areas like the Masai Mara National Reserve and spectacles like the Great Wildebeest Migration.1. Location and Landscape
1. Location and Landscape

Kenya is a fairly small country in East Africa. Its capital and central transport hub is Nairobi, which is more or less in the centre. Safari travellers fly into the international airport known as a Jomo Kenyatta and use the domestic airport next door – called Wilson – for connecting flights.

Spotting kudu at Loisaba Tented Camp.
NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.
Using Nairobi as a central point, these are the major areas to the north, south, east and west of the capital.
NORTHERN KENYA The further north you travel, the drier and hillier the landscape becomes as the area doesn’t benefit as much from the rains the south-west of Kenya receives.
That being said, there are still superb safari options here, including Samburu National Park, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Laikipia. The more arid conditions suit species like gerenuk, the Somali ostrich and Grevy’s zebra. Lewa is also the best place in Kenya to see rhino regularly and consistently. On clear day you may be lucky enough to see Mounts Kenya and Meru.
Read more
Why go to Samburu for African Safari

Lewa with Kifaru camp.
SOUTHERN KENYA Because it shares the longest part of Kenya’s border with Tanzania, this is the best place to see glacier-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain the world. Kili actually lies in Tanzania but Amboseli National Park is so close to the border that it is clearly visible.
This part of Kenya is wetter and the terrain more varied: Amboseli, for example, is a beautiful mix of open savannah, wetlands, woodlands and hills, making it ideal for a wide variety of species, from bat-eared foxes to elephants. Nearby are the Chyulu Hills and Tsavo East and West National Parks.
Way down south on the coast are some of Kenya’s best beaches. Hit Diani and nearby Galu for top beach lodges and water sports like kitesurfing. Head to Funzi Island for snorkelling and diving.

Alfajiri Cliff Lodge near Diani.
WESTERN KENYA The biggest name in western Kenya is of course the Masai Mara National Reserve, home to some of Africa’s best year-round game viewing as well as the annual Wildebeest Migration. Present in their hundreds of thousands from about July to November, the massive wildebeest and zebra herds attract constant attention from Africa’s top predators and consequently visitor numbers are high in peak season.
The biggest reason that the Masai Mara attracts the Migration is because its open, flat savannah produces superb grazing. There are few thickets, forests or high peaks: the wide landscape is a safari classic with green grass that turns golden as the seasons pass. The plains attract plains game like topi, reticulated and Masai giraffe, and Thomson’s gazelle, and are dotted with occasional flat-topped acacia trees.
Read more
Why go to the Masai Mara for an African Safari

The Masai Mara with Elephant Pepper Camp.
CENTRAL KENYA The area around Nairobi also has plenty of conservation areas, the most popular being Nairobi National Park. Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha as well as the Aberdare mountains. The land is green and lush during the rainy season while the lakes attract plenty of bird- and wildlife.

Hemingways Nairobi hotel.2. Cost
2. Costs of a Kenya Safari
It’s really tricky to give costs for a Kenya safari because there are so many variables: the time of year you travel, the luxuriousness of the accommodation you prefer, whether you drive or fly between destinations, and what extra activities you add on like hot-air ballooning, spa treatments, mountain biking or even cultural visits.
As we don’t sell one-size-fits-all packages, we prefer to match your budget to giving you a tailor-made Kenya experience, splurging and saving where it makes sense for your individual needs. A bare-bones budget may involve overlanding through Kenya (travelling with a group on a massive truck) while a once-in-a-lifetime indulgence could mean going private all the way.
For most travellers we create a journey somewhere in-between: perhaps sharing transport but then upgrading to the area’s best lodge. Or choosing a slightly more economical tented camp in order to spend a day or two longer on safari. There are no rules and thus no two Kenya safaris are the same.
That being said, here are some ballpark figures for a safari Kenya, with transfers and accommodation included on a price-per-person-per-night (PPPN) basis:
Kenya
4-star comfort | 4-star luxury | 5-star luxury | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low | High | Low | High | Low | High |
$260 – $340 | $300 – $500 | $420 – $480 | $580 – $680 | $800 – $880 | $920 – $1120 |
Don’t be shy to chat to your Africa Safari Expert about your budget and what you hope to get out of your vacation to Kenya so that they can plan an itinerary that suits you perfectly.
Read more
Why is an African safari expensive?3. The best accommodation
3. Best Kenya Safari Accommodation
Accommodation in Kenya ranges from down-to-earth mobile camps that move with the Wildebeest Migration to very lavish lodges and modern city hotels. Here are some of our tried-and-tested favourites across the country:
NAIROBI
AccommodationNAIROBI, KENYA
House of Waine
From $370 per person sharing
Activities travellers enjoyed:
- High tea on offer
AccommodationNAIROBI, KENYA
Hemingways Nairobi
From $385 per person sharing
Activities travellers enjoyed:
- Day tours
- High tea on offer
AccommodationNAIROBI, KENYA
The Giraffe Manor
From $620 per person sharing
Activities travellers enjoyed:
- Elephant interactive experience
- Historical tours
- Day tours
- Horse riding
- Animal interactive experience
- Cultural tours
- Guided walks
- High tea on offer
MASAI MARA
AccommodationMASAI MARA, KENYA
Encounter Mara
From $315 per person sharing
Activities travellers enjoyed:
- Bird watching
- Cultural tours
- Game drives
- Local village visits
- Guided walking safaris
- Guided walks
- Night drives
- Photographic safaris
- Star gazing
AccommodationMASAI MARA, KENYA
Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp
From $330 per person sharing
Activities travellers enjoyed:
- Full-day safaris
- Game drives
- Guided walks
- Hot air ballooning
- Local village visits
- Guided walking safaris
- Specialist guides
- Bush dining
- Photographic safaris
- Bird watching
- Night drives
AccommodationMASAI MARA, KENYA
Angama Mara
From $1,250 per person sharing
Activities travellers enjoyed:
- Game drives
- Local village visits
- Guided walking safaris
- 4×4 Drives
- Bird watching
- Guided walks
- Hot air ballooning
- Picnics
AMBOSELI
AccommodationAMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK, KENYA
Porini Amboseli Camp
From $420 per person sharing
Activities travellers enjoyed:
- Bird watching
- Cultural tours
- Full-day safaris
- Game drives
- Guided walks
- Night drives
- Picnics
- Specialist guides
- Local village visits
AccommodationAMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK, KENYA
Tortilis Camp
From $375 per person sharing
Activities travellers enjoyed:
- Bush dining
- Cultural tours
- Game drives
- Guided walks
- Bird watching
- Sundowners
AccommodationAMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK, KENYA
Satao Elerai Camp
Activities travellers enjoyed:
- Game drives
- Local village visits
- Night drives
- Sundowners
- Guided walking safaris
SAMBURU
AccommodationSAMBURU, KENYA
Samburu Intrepids
From $190 per person sharing
Activities travellers enjoyed:
- Cultural tours
- Game drives
- Guided walks
- Local village visits
- Star gazing
- Bird watching
- Bush dining
- Guided walking safaris
AccommodationSAMBURU, KENYA
Saruni Samburu
From $480 per person sharing
Activities travellers enjoyed:
- Bush dining
- Cultural tours
- Game drives
- Guided walks
- Night drives
- Bird watching
AccommodationSAMBURU, KENYA
SaSaab Camp
From $750 per person sharing
Activities travellers enjoyed:
- Bird watching
- Cultural tours
- Day tours
- Game drives
- Guided walks
- Night drives
- Specialist guides
- Guided walking safaris
- Local village visits
- Star gazing
- Fly camping
LEWA AND LAIKIPIA
AccommodationLAIKIPIA, KENYA
Loisaba Tented Camp
From $475 per person sharing
Activities travellers enjoyed:
- Biking
- Camel rides
- Fishing
- Game drives
- Guided walks
- Horse riding
- Sundowners
- Bush dining
AccommodationKENYA
Lewa Safari Camp
From $220 per person sharing
Activities travellers enjoyed:
- Bush dining
- Game drives
- Guided walks
- Cultural tours
- Camel-back safaris
- Day tours
- Horse riding
- Picnics
AccommodationLEWA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY, KENYA
Sirikoi
From $845 per person sharing
Activities travellers enjoyed:
- Cultural tours
- Day tours
- Game drives
- Guided walks
- Helicopter flights
- Quad-biking
- Rhino tracking
DIANI AND THE COAST
AccommodationDIANI BEACH, KENYA
AfroChic Diani
From $230 per person sharing
Activities travellers enjoyed:
- Beach activities
- Elephant interactive experience
- Golf
- Kite surfing
- Scuba diving
- Snorkelling
- Wind-surfing
- Camel rides
- Camel-back safaris
- Deep sea fishing
AccommodationDIANI BEACH, KENYA
Kinondo Kwetu
Activities travellers enjoyed:
- Canoeing
- Cultural tours
- Day tours
- Deep sea fishing
- Golf
- Horse riding
- Kayaking
- Kite surfing
- Quad-biking
- Sailing
- Scuba diving
- Snorkelling
- Tennis
- Water-skiing
- Wind-surfing
- Boat excursions
AccommodationKENYA BEACHES, KENYA
WaterLovers Beach Resort
From $155 per person sharing
Activities travellers enjoyed:
- Beach activities
- Beach within walking distance
- Dhow cruises
- Fishing
- Game drives
- Kite surfing
- Local village visits
- Snorkelling
- Wind-surfing
4. Wildlife
4. Wildlife, the Wildebeest Migration and the Big 5
Kenya is a safari hotspot because it offers fantastic year-round game viewing. Birders and photographers flock here too, and the Masai Mara is the perfect destination for first-time safari goers and visitors to Africa for numerous reasons:
- Because the land is so flat and open, it’s really easy to get a 360-degree view and to spot game. Many Kenyan guides don’t work with trackers because seeing the game is very easy (unlike the Kruger National Park in South Africa, for example, where game can be hidden by the thicket vegetation and a tracker is vital).
- Long-standing conservation projects means that animals are generally plentiful and in good condition (notwithstanding natural phenomena like drought or sporadic outbreaks of animal disease).
- Roads are well-maintained and English is widely spoken.
- Special relationships between tribal land owners, the government, conservationists and safari operators mean that the careful balance between human, natural and agricultural need is maintained.

Migration with Mara Plains Camp.
THE WILDEBEEST MIGRATION
This is Kenya’s biggest wildlife gem: the crossing of about two million wildebeest (and zebra and gazelle) over the Mara River into the Masai Mara National Reserve where they feast on thousands of hectares of fresh grazing. They hang about for about four or five months, slowly mowing the Mara between about July and November when they cross back into the Serengeti in Tanzania (the border exists only for people, not for animals).
It’s crucial to keep the following in mind if you want to see the Migration:
- It’s a major safari highlight so book up to a year in advance to get your first choice of accommodation.
- It’s impossible to know exactly when the wildebeest will cross the Mara River – they decide and the mind of a gnu is pretty inscrutable. They don’t all cross in one place at the same time either: large groups will cross at different places on different days. This suspense is what makes safari so exciting.
- Predators make the most of the arrival of prey. Chases and kills may be exciting but they’re also not for the faint-hearted.
- This is an extremely popular phenomenon – it’s better to stay in private reserves or conservancies rather than public reserves so that you can avoid the crowds.

Cheetah chase near Mahali Mzuri.
You’ll also enjoy
How the Wildebeest Migration works
How to book and plan a Migration safari
THE BIG 5
Although Kenya is technically a Big 5 destination in the sense that lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino are found here, it’s very difficult to see them all in the same place. Rhino are the rarest and very difficult to find – although some do still live on the Masai Mara, they are very seldom seen.
It’s much easier to find leopards, lions, buffalo and elephant. The Migration brings out predators en masse and although they aren’t part of the Big 5, cheetah are ideally adapted to the Mara’s wide, flat, open plains that allow then to reach top speed with few obstacles.
If you want to see rhino, then head to Lewa. It has a successful and highly sophisticated conservation project that has seen these gentle giants thrive. Lewa rhino has some of the longest horns you’ll ever see and the hilly landscape is different enough to the Masai Mara to make the trip north worth your while.

Finding lions with Naibor Camp.5. When to go
5. Best Time to Go on a Kenya Safari
Getting your timing right depends, like how much to spend, on many things. Some travellers are locked by their personal schedules into a very specific time-frame, others want to go when they can get the best rates while others want to go at peak season.
BEST RATES | ||
---|---|---|
WHEN | Green Season: January to June | July to November Christmas to New Year |
SEASON | Spring and summer | Autumn and winter |
WEATHER | Hot with afternoon thunder showers | Cooler with no rain |
GAME VIEWING HIGHLIGHTS | Babies, birds and bugs | Wildebeest Migration |
LANDSCAPE | Lush and green | Dry and dusty |
WILDEBEEST MIGRATON | No | Yes |

Wildebeest mega-herd at Ol Seki.
Read more
Safari high season vs low season: the best time to see animals6. Best for…
6. Best for…
Kenya is an exciting destination for travellers with many options depending on your travel style.
TRAVELLER | RECOMMENDATION |
---|---|
First-timers to Africa and safari | Nairobi-Amboseli-Masai-Mara round-trip |
Second-timers | Samburu, Laikipia and Lewa |
Photographers and birders | Green Season |
Bush-and-beach breaks | Combine safari with time in Diani |
Solos travellers, families and honeymooners should tailor their safari to their interests – if you love camping at home, for example, then consider time in a down-to-earth mobile camp that moves with the Migration. If you enjoy the high life, superb food and lavish spa treatments, then Kenya offers honeymooners and couples lots of spectacular options.
As always, chatting to your Africa Safari Expert will uncover the best possible accommodation and itinerary for your personal situation.

Kids at Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp.7. Health and safety
7. Health and Safety
Kenya is a very safe country to visit. It’s tourism industry is one of the most important in the country and thousands of travellers go on safari safely every month. As with all overseas travel, it’s important to keep some pointers in mind:
- Check with your travel clinic if you need vaccinations and be sure to get them timeously.
- The risk of malaria is low during Green Season and very low during peak season. Check with your doctor about taking precautions. If you are going scuba diving afterwards, be sure to let them know so they can ensure they prescribe the correct prophylactic.
- The risk of malaria is higher if you are going into rural areas and villages outside the parks and reserves.
- Drink plenty of water and wear sunscreen and a hat. Even in winter, the African sun can affect those not used to it.
- Don’t overdo alcoholic beverages. It’s fun to partake of sundowners, drinks and nightcaps but wake-up calls are early on safari!
- Get enough sleep and stick to dedicated smoking areas (lodges are often made of timber and thatch so are flammable).
- Don’t keep food in your tent or room as the smell attracts wild animals.
- Don’t walk around camp after dark, even if it is fenced. Wait for an escort to walk with you.
- Always obey your guide’s instructions. Even if they seem ‘tame’, the animals are still wild. Never try to pet them, walk up to them or attract them in any way.

Ballooning with Governors Camp.8. Combines best with…
8. Combines Well With…
Nairobi is a transport hub for the region and it’s quite easy to get to other high-profile destinations in Africa.
COUNTRY | WHY VISIT |
---|---|
Malawi | Incredible snorkelling on Lake Malawi |
Uganda | Fantastic gorilla trekking in Bwindi |
Zimbabwe | See Victoria Falls plus classic safari |
Zambia | Enjoy Victoria Falls plus a walking safari |
Tanzania | Safari on the Serengeti and Big 5 viewing in Ngorongoro Crater |
South Africa | Visit Cape Town, the Garden Route and the Kruger National Park |
Of course, if you have the funds and time, then you can combine Kenya with any African destination like the Seychelles, Namibia or even Botswana.

Sand River lodge in the Masai Mara.
Read more
Kenya vs Tanzania: how to choose for a safari9.Popular itinerary ideas
9. Our Most Popular Kenya Safari Itinerary Ideas
Here is some inspiration to kick off your holiday planning!
BEST FOR FAMILIES
Tour & Safari10 DAYS
Kenya’s Family Bush & Beach – Best for Young Kids (4-9)
From $2,515 per person sharing
Destinations visited:
- Kenya
- Masai Mara
- Mombasa
- Nairobi
Tour & Safari8 DAYS
Kenya’s Family Safari: Great for Teens
From $4,855 per person sharing
Destinations visited:
- Laikipia
- Masai Mara
- Nairobi
Tour & Safari7 DAYS
Family Kenya’s Samburu & Masai Mara
From $3,860 per person sharing
Destinations visited:
- Kenya
- Masai Mara
- Samburu
BEST FOR COUPLES AND HONEYMOONERS
Tour & Safari9 DAYS
Ultra-Luxury Mara & Diani Beach
From $5,935 per person sharing
Destinations visited:
- Diani Beach
- Kenya
- Masai Mara
Tour & Safari7 DAYS
Kenya’s Amboseli & Mara
From $2,940 per person sharing
Destinations visited:
- Amboseli National Park
- Kenya
- Masai Mara
Tour & Safari10 DAYS
Adventurer Mt Kenya, Samburu & Mara
From $8,890 per person sharing
Destinations visited:
- Kenya
- Laikipia
- Masai Mara
- Nairobi
Help Me PlanWRITTEN BY
Angela Aschmann
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