Elephants & Kilimanjaro
Amboseli National Park
A compact park of dry lake beds and green swamps at the foot of Kilimanjaro, famous for its large, relaxed elephant families and some of Africa’s most iconic views.
Destination guide
Kenya, the classic safari
Big cats on the Mara’s open grasslands, river crossings during the Great Migration, and elephant herds walking beneath Kilimanjaro in Amboseli.
Best timeJul–Oct & Jan–Feb
Ideal length6–10 days
Headline experienceMara River crossings
ArriveNairobi (NBO)
Overview
Why Kenya?
Quick answer
Kenya is the classic safari: big cats on the Masai Mara year-round, Great Migration river crossings from roughly July to October, Amboseli’s elephants beneath Kilimanjaro, and rhino at Lake Nakuru. Six to ten days suits most trips, and Kenya combines easily with gorillas in Uganda.
Kenya is where the safari began, and the Masai Mara still delivers some of the most consistent big-cat viewing in Africa. From roughly July to October, the wildebeest and zebra of the Great Migration move up from the Serengeti and gather along the Mara River.
Combine the Mara with Amboseli’s elephants and Kilimanjaro views, the rhino and flamingo-lined shores of Lake Nakuru, or the dry northern landscapes of Samburu. Kenya also pairs easily with gorilla trekking in Uganda: Nairobi to Entebbe is a short flight.
Before you travel to Kenya
Practical guides to plan your trip with confidence:
Talk to a Kenya specialistWhatsApp +256 709 780 625
Where to go
Highlights of Kenya
White sand & coral reef
Diani Beach
A long white beach south of Mombasa, protected by a coral reef and backed by coastal forest, and the perfect place to relax after a Kenya safari.
Boats, bikes & walking safaris
Lake Naivasha and Hell’s Gate
A freshwater Rift Valley lake two hours from Nairobi, with hippo-filled waters, walking safaris among giraffes and a dramatic gorge you can explore by bike.
Rhino sanctuary
Lake Nakuru National Park
A fenced Rift Valley park around a soda lake, one of Kenya’s best places to see both black and white rhinos, with flamingos, tree-climbing lions and Rothschild’s giraffe.
Swahili heritage & dhows
Lamu
A car-free island town of narrow lanes, carved doors and dhows, where Swahili culture has been lived for centuries, with quiet beaches just along the shore.
Big cats & migration
Masai Mara National Reserve
Kenya’s most famous reserve, an endless sweep of grassland where the Great Migration crosses the Mara River and lions, leopards and cheetahs hunt in plain sight.
Born Free country
Meru National Park
A wild, rarely visited park east of Mount Kenya, crossed by rivers and doum palms, where Joy and George Adamson raised Elsa the lioness.
Rhinos with a skyline
Nairobi National Park
Kenya’s first national park, minutes from the city centre, where black rhinos, lions and giraffes roam the plains with Nairobi’s skyline on the horizon.
Rhinos & the Big Five
Ol Pejeta and Laikipia
Private conservancies on the Laikipia Plateau beneath Mount Kenya, where rhinos, the Big Five and community conservation come together, with far fewer vehicles than the national parks.
Northern specials
Samburu National Reserve
A semi-arid reserve along the Ewaso Ng’iro river in northern Kenya, home to rare species found nowhere on the southern safari circuit.
Red elephants & wilderness
Tsavo East and Tsavo West
Two vast parks between Nairobi and the coast, together one of the largest protected areas in Africa, with red-dusted elephants, lava flows, springs and open space.
Also worth adding: Samburu for the northern species (Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk), Lake Naivasha for walking and boating, and Diani or Lamu on the coast.
Practical information
Full travel essentialsGetting to and around Kenya
ArriveJomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi (NBO).
Get aroundRoad safaris in a 4x4, or short scheduled flights from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to Mara and Amboseli airstrips.
VisasApply online for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before travel, or use the East Africa Tourist Visa.
Good to knowPlastic carrier bags are banned.
MoneyKenyan shilling; mobile money (M-Pesa) is everywhere.
DrivingOn the left.
When to go
The best time to visit Kenya
July to October is peak migration season in the Mara. January and February are hot and dry with excellent game viewing. The long rains of April and May are quieter, with good-value lodge rates.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PeakGoodGreen / wet season
Journeys
All holidaysKenya itineraries
Use these as a starting point. Every trip is private and adjusted to your dates, budget and pace.
Signature 18 days Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania
18-Day East Africa Grand Safari: Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania
The ultimate East African journey across four countries: chimps and gorillas in Uganda, golden monkeys in Rwanda, the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan →
Signature 10 days Uganda & Kenya
10-Day Uganda Gorillas & Masai Mara Safari
The best of both worlds: chimpanzees, savannah and mountain gorillas in Uganda, then a short flight to Kenya for three nights among the big cats and great herds of the Masai Mara.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan → Signature 12 days Kenya & Tanzania
12-Day Kenya & Tanzania Safari: Masai Mara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
The great migration ecosystem from both sides: Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara in Kenya, Amboseli beneath Kilimanjaro, then the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire in Tanzania.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan →
Signature 15 days Kenya, Tanzania & Zanzibar
15-Day Kenya, Tanzania & Zanzibar Safari
Safari and beach across East Africa: the Masai Mara and Amboseli, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, then a flight to Zanzibar for Stone Town and the beach.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan → Signature 10 days Kenya & Tanzania
10-Day Kenya & Tanzania Safari
Two great safari countries in ten days: the Masai Mara and Amboseli in Kenya, then across the border to Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan → Beach 10 days Kenya · Safari & beach
10-Day Kenya Safari & Diani Beach
Safari and sea: the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli, then a flight to the white sands of Diani Beach on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast for four days of rest.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan →Where you’ll stay
All lodgesLodges in Kenya
Mid-range Diani Beach, south coast, Kenya
Nomad Beach Resort (formerly The Sands at Nomad)
A beachfront hotel on Diani Beach with forest-view rooms, ocean-view rooms and thatched beach cottages furnished in Swahili style.
Diani Beach · Mid-range
Mid-range Nairobi, Kenya
Ole Sereni Hotel
A Nairobi hotel bordering Nairobi National Park, with views over the park and a waterhole from the terrace, pool and many rooms.
Nairobi · Mid-range
Luxury Nairobi, Kenya
Giraffe Manor
A 1930s manor on the edge of Nairobi’s forest, where endangered Rothschild’s giraffes wander the lawns and visit guests at breakfast.
Nairobi · LuxuryGood to know
Kenya safari questions
When is the best time to see the Great Migration in Kenya?
The herds usually reach the Masai Mara around July and stay until about October. River crossings depend on rainfall, so we choose camps near the river and plan full days out.
Can I combine a Kenya safari with gorilla trekking?
Yes. Fly Nairobi–Entebbe (about an hour), then continue to Bwindi by road or a domestic flight. It is one of our most popular two-country plans.
Do I need a visa for Kenya?
Kenya uses an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) applied for online before travel. The East Africa Tourist Visa also covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda together.
Tailor-made, from dusk to dawn
Plan your Kenya safari
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