This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more

Skip to main content

Talk to an expert 1-800-242-2434 Lines now closed

User menu
Northern Kenya
Northern Kenya
Northern Kenya
Northern Kenya
Northern Kenya

Northern Kenya is arid and often goes for months without a drop of rain.

Accommodation is scattered, with very few high-quality places to stay.

Desert Rose lodge...

...is an excellent base for flying safaris...

...to Lake Turkana's remote South Island National Park.

Northern Kenya

Reviews of safaris to Northern Kenya

35 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Northern Kenya.

Showing 21-30 of 35
Duration
Arrival date
Mr & Mrs J
Hanwell

"My Feb 2022 trip"

I visited Kenya between 11 Feb 2022 and 23 Feb 2022
"Just thrilled to be back in Africa & on safari again after 2 years of Covid.

Very pleased with the advice we got about our trip (including when one of our original accommodation choices shut and we had to make a change), also got helpful & practical information about the various Covid rules & restrictions." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 11 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs Catherine H
UK

"My Jan 2022 trip"

I visited Kenya between 11 Jan 2022 and 21 Jan 2022
"A magical trip returning to a place we visited in 2018. It's a place where it's as much about the community as it is about the wildlife." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Traveller
Canada

"Great service with Expert Africa"

I visited Kenya between 17 Nov 2019 and 6 Dec 2019
"Richard was excellent in making ground arrangements. Everything ran smoothly. Excellent pre-trip communication.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

No..would recommend." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 15 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms S.
Bainbridge Isla

"Oct/Nov 2019 trip"

I visited Kenya and 2 other countries between 21 Oct 2019 and 10 Nov 2019
"We had a wonderful trip with many momentous adventures but quite a lot more tedious jeep rides than we had bargained for, especially in the Kenya portion where the distances between camps was several hours on washed out roads only to find out when we arrived that the next activity would be a jeep ride! This was disappointing as I had been quite clear that that what I was exactly what I was trying to avoid.

The biggest issue was that Olivia had not made clear to me the consequences of the rainy season. I thought it just meant that it would rain a bit during the day and we would get wet, something I don't care about. What it really meant is that the bush would be so green and thick that animals would be extremely hard to see, that water would be so readily available everywhere that animals would be widely dispersed across hundreds of thousands of acres, and therefore hard to find, that the bugs would be fierce. and that the normally rough, bumpy roads would be so deeply rutted and washed out hat driving was bone crushing. And, as I noted in my comments about Sarara, some activities such as the Singing Wells, were not possible. No one can control the weather but if I had known what the rainy season was really like I don't think I would have taken the chance of traveling in the shoulder season. Since we were the only guests at a number of places, i felt everybody else had gotten the memo except us!

Also, some of the logistics could have been worked out better. Though the three Samburu camps look equidistant on a map, in fact it made no sense to go to Saruni Rhino last instead of Sarani Samburu, which is quite close to the airstrip.By going there last, it added another 2 and a half hour jeep trip on washed out roads to get back to the airstrip we had just come from two days earlier.

Finally, we were never told that the trip from Saruni Rhino to Plantation Lodge would be over 10 hours. We were shocked to discover on arrival at Kilamijaro that our jeep ride was over 4 hours. I can't believe there was not a scheduled or even charter flight from Kili to Manyara. In any event, no one told us about the length of the trip and we had no food from 8 AM till 6:30 PM expect for the driver's small pack of Pringles. I expected better attention to logistics.

With the exception of Stone Town, all the places we stayed were great. I just wish we had done the trip a different year when we could have done it at the right time." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 7 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Good
H & R
Glasgow

"Kenya October 2019"

I visited Kenya between 13 Oct 2019 and 26 Oct 2019
"An intensely memorable experience - fell in love with Kenya all over again.

Especially enjoyed the interaction with our guides and staff at the lodges - have witnessed first hand over the years how more and more local staff are establishing themselves as guides and managers which is fantastic. At times quite an extreme and adventurous trip, with journeys to remote parts where we were the oddity. We had difficulty agreeing our top three moments so had to settle for six!" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 10 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
P&JG
Scotland

"A wonderful trip"

I visited Kenya between 2 Aug 2019 and 24 Aug 2019
"This was a slightly complicated three week trip, as we were organising the first two weeks privately, with our son who lives in Kenya, and then segueing this with a final "solo" week planned with Expert Africa. In fact, it became a bit of a hybrid arrangement and Expert Africa (Richard Trillo) was enormously helpful and flexible in assisting us to plan and book both parts of the whole trip.

We covered some 2,500 miles of travel in country (not including flights to/from UK), by road and internal flights, taking in Nairobi, the Aberdare National Park, Nanyuki, Mount Kenya National Park, El Karama Lodge in Laikipia, Sarara Camp in Namunyak Wildlife Conservation Trust, wild camping north of Archers Post, Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Shela on Lamu Island, Porini Lion Camp (Olare Motorogi Conservancy), Loldia House on Lake Naivasha, Lake Elmenteita and Lake Nakuru National Park.

Every part of the itinerary booked with Expert Africa went without a hitch and we felt thoroughly well looked after from beginning to end. We saw more wildlife than you could possibly imagine, including all of the so called "Big Five", met wonderful, friendly people and learned something of their lives and cultures. It has been a truly memorable trip and I would recommend Expert Africa to anyone who might be planning a similar experience.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

I really can't think of anything!" Read full review: 22 nights in Africa; 9 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Miss A
Okehampton

"Wonderful... Beats UK in February!"

I visited Kenya between 26 Feb 2019 and 12 Mar 2019
"Kenya was fabulous. Highspots were Sarara Camp in general (a whole list of things), the fab Villa at Saruna Mara ( terrific staff); Peponi (just being there...). And hotel One Forty Eight in Nairobi was a superb place to arrive at after a long flight...

We were especially impressed by the cheerful helpfulness of all the Kenyan people we met, in all the places we stayed- and in between.

Plus- the weather was perfect...." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 13 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
E & D
New Mexico

"Best Best Best"

I visited Kenya between 16 Jan 2019 and 5 Feb 2019
"We started with an outline of what we wanted to do on this trip and then sat back and let Richard Trillo fine tune all the details. Everything worked in the most extraordinary fashion, so seamlessly, that one could have imagined this was a trip arranged and run countless times, not just for us.

From Richard's front-end suggestion to stay at Macushla House and have a driver to explore around Nairobi, to the last days at Sarara appreciating the remarkable conservation successes achieved through a joint venture with the Samburu people, I wouldn't change one thing.

Expert Africa earns my loyalty every time, and I think it is safe to now call myself an Africa addict." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 18 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr N.
Dorking

"My Oct 2018 trip"

I visited Kenya between 10 Oct 2018 and 19 Oct 2018
"Our trip was a visit to Lake Turkana, Marsabit and then to Samburu National Reserve. We were pleased that we did the circuit in that order as it gave us a luxurious end to the journey.

I had some difficulty to find an operator that was willing to cover Northern Kenya, but Expert Africa had the knowledge to create a suitable itinerary for us and find a company experienced in touring the region." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 7 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
The C family
Surrey

"Overall well organised"

I visited Kenya between 5 Aug 2018 and 15 Aug 2018
"One of the Camps did not hit our buttons but it was still a good camp.

We use Expert Africa regularly - it is always a good service." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Showing 21-30 of 35
99%
35 reviews of Northern Kenya by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
34
1
0
0
0
Filter by month
Inspire me

Need inspiration?

Let our trip chooser narrow down the options for you

Inspire me

Where to stay in Northern Kenya

Our suggestions for safari camps in Northern Kenya


Sarara

Sarara

Sarara is an outstanding safari lodge, with access to a vast wilderness region. Walks, drives and cultural experiences are on offer, all with very good guides.


98% (24 reviews)
Sarara Treehouses

Sarara Treehouses

Sarara Treehouses is a luxurious camp with tents raised up in the forest canopy. Come here for the wildlife, walking and cultural activities, accompanied by excellent local guides.


100% (9 reviews)
Oasis Lodge

Oasis Lodge

Oasis Lodge is a basic hotel for adventurous travellers near the east shore of Lake Turkana.


90% (4 reviews)
Saruni Rhino

Saruni Rhino

Saruni Rhino is the only camp in the Sera Conservancy in northern Kenya, where guests are based when tracking black rhino on foot.


100% (3 reviews)
Ngari Hill Ecolodge

Ngari Hill Ecolodge

The 6-room Ngari Hill Ecolodge is the only full-service lodge in Maralal and makes a convenient overnight stay en route from Nairobi to Lake Turkana.


87% (3 reviews)
Desert Rose

Desert Rose

This small, unique mountain lodge – Kenya’s northernmost luxury accommodation – is set amid the towering landscapes of Mount Nyiru, and is a superb place for rest and relaxation.


90% (2 reviews)
Kitich Forest Camp

Kitich Forest Camp

Kitich Forest Camp is one of Kenya's most established, remote highland forest camps, offering exciting bush walks and close encounters with big game as well as insects and birdlife.


80% (1 review)
Wild Frontiers Camel Safaris

Wild Frontiers

Wild Frontiers Camel treks are based in the Milgis River area and run in various parts of northern Kenya between Lake Turkana and Laikipia.


No reviews yet
Palm Shade Camp

Palm Shade Camp

Palm Shade Camp is a simple camp for adventurous travellers near the east shore of Lake Turkana.


No reviews yet

Login to Expert Africa

Sign in with password

Sign in with email link


New to Expert Africa? Create an account

Forgotten your details?

It's free & quick to set up

  • Save your wish-list
  • Send us an enquiry
  • Pay online for your trip
  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Give us feedback on your trip
  • Full site benefits of the site

Need some help? Talk to our team

Newsletter background

Stay in the know with Expert Africa

Join our newsletter. Get the latest on new camps and lodges, insights from our team, uplifting conservation stories and more...

A few more details and you're subscribed

Thanks!

Almost there! We've sent you an email to confirm your subscription. Just click on the link and you'll soon be receiving our newsletter in your inbox.

In the meantime, take a look at our previous Bush Telegraph newsletters.
Africa