Kenya Safaris
Kenya invented the safari: with its spectacular wildlife, cultural diversity and breathtaking landscapes, this is an utterly dazzling destination.
“Wonderful, but very hard to describe”: that was one recent traveller’s summary of an Expert Africa safari in Kenya, his first visit to Africa. “The impact is emotional and spiritual as well as literal. Yes, there are many animals and birds and these are real wild creatures in their natural habitat, but it is so much more than that. I will never forget this trip. It was one of the great experiences of my life.”
With the Indian Ocean lapping its coral-fringed coast and Mount Kenya rising from the middle of its extraordinarily beautiful natural environment, Kenya is one of Africa’s most rewarding countries to explore. The remarkably diverse scenery, the rich variety of its wildlife and its ever-stimulating social tapestry – from traditionally dressed Maasai herders on the plains to sarong-wrapped Swahili fishermen on the coast – could keep you enthralled for months.
Think of Kenya like the Maasai do – as a land formed especially for them by God. Imagine he pulled the land up in the middle – that’s Mount Kenya, with its glacier-covered peaks, dominating the highlands – then tore the east and west apart leaving the great trough of the Rift Valley with its lakes. The Maasai Mara lies in the southwest and its fabled grasslands can reveal scenes that sometimes look like a children’s animal wall frieze, as a dozen or more species of megafauna – from elephants to lions and from buffalos to zebras – mingle on the plains in front of your camera. On the Kenya coast you could be in a different country, with mosques and palm trees, crystal-blue sea and a coral reef. Wherever your trip takes you, Kenya is hard to beat as a country to thrill and impress, whether you’ve been on safari before or it's your first visit to Africa.
Kenya's top safari and holiday destinations
Kenya's key areas for visitors are spread across the country.
In the southwest, bordering the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, lie the Maasai Mara National Reserve and the Maasai Mara Conservancies. This is the land of the Great Migration.
North of Mount Kenya lies Kenya's second best wildlife region, the plateaux and wild bush lands of Laikipia, where you can see hunting dogs and black leopards. Laikipia is also Kenya's rhino stronghold, with all three African species present.
To the east lies Meru National Park, where a tiny handful of camps and lodges in a huge wilderness make for a magical safari.
Further north is the Samburu National Reserve, with its dry-country mammals including reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and Grevy's zebra, and beyond that the deserts and semi-deserts of Northern Kenya, and the largest desert lake in the world, Lake Turkana.
In southern Kenya, head to Amboseli for those fabled views of Kilimanjaro framing "big tusker" elephants, or to Tsavo East for giant landscapes and baobabs or Tsavo West for hilly scenery and a plethora of wildlife – though you may have to look harder for it.
Finally, Kenya's coast is everything you could wish for in a tropical beach - with the bonus of a fascinating cultural tapestry.
Mara Conservancies
29 places to stay
The wildlife-rich private conservancies are the Maasai-owned lands outside the national reserve. They tend to be much less busy than the reserve, but no less rewarding.
Kenya Coast
22 places to stay
Kenya’s coast is an alluring region and – relatively – little developed. As well as beautiful beaches and a coral reef, it has fascinating historical sites and forest safari areas.
Laikipia
25 places to stay
Laikipia is an extensive region of large ranches and rolling, semi-arid savanna and bush country that is growing in importance for wildlife conservation and adventurous and luxury safaris.
Nairobi
21 places to stay
Capital of Kenya and East Africa’s biggest city, Nairobi has large shanty towns and wealthy suburbs, as well as a many green spaces, including the magnificent Nairobi National Park.
Maasai Mara
20 places to stay
The Maasai Mara is the northern extension of the Serengeti-Mara eco-system. Together with the Mara conservancies outside the public reserve, this is Kenya’s most wildlife-rich region.
Northern Kenya
9 places to stay
Northern Kenya – split by giant Lake Turkana – is one of the country's best regions for cultural contact, and the forest-cloaked mountains have local micro-climates and much wildlife.
Amboseli & Chyulu Hills
8 places to stay
This region encompasses one of Kenya's most iconic national parks and a little known district of volcanic hills topped with misty cloud forest.
Rift Valley
5 places to stay
Most visitors take in the Great Rift Valley – embellished by a string of beautiful lakes – during the course of a road safari. It's also possible to use one or two airstrips for a fly-in safari.
Tsavo West
2 places to stay
This extensive park of volcanic landscapes encompasses rolling savannah, woodland and streams, and the magnetic attraction of Mzima Springs.
Meru
2 places to stay
This rejuvenated national park on the well-watered side of Mount Kenya has excellent game-watching, Kenya's best KWS-run rhino sanctuary, and barely a handful of camps and lodges.
Samburu
4 places to stay
This richly rewarding dry-country ecosystem depends on the seasonal Ewaso Nyiro River to support its elephants and many other species.
Tsavo East
3 places to stay
The largest park in Kenya is a vast area of dry bush, inhabited by huge herds of brick-red elephants, and dramatically cut through by the Galana River.
Our top ten Kenya safaris and holidays
Every one of Expert Africa's tailor-made itineraries is as individual as the traveller undertaking it.
The itineraries we have put together here are just examples of what is possible, with costs and details included. They are not set plans, or indeed set in stone at all. You can pick any combination of camps and lodges that is logistically possible, and start your trip on any date you like, subject to availability. See all 24 Kenya safari ideas here.
Most of our trips in Kenya are based around Fly-in Safaris, on which you fly by scheduled light aircraft between the different areas on your trip, typically staying for a few days at a camp or lodge in each place, and exploring the area in an open safari vehicle, guided by a seasoned driver-guide based at the camp, accompanied on daily safaris ("game drives") by other guests staying at the camp.
On a Guided Safari, you’ll travel by private closed safari vehicle, with a pop-top roof and sliding windows, led by the same driver-guide all the way.
Our Beach Holidays showcase ideas for stays along the Kenya coast's beautiful beaches.
Call Expert Africa now to speak to a Kenya expert who can address your questions and craft a trip for you that’s perfectly tailored for you.
Black Kite Fly-in Safari
10 days • 4 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
Explore Kenya in-depth with visits to Nairobi and Meru national parks, the Mara Conservancies and Amboseli. Nestled in remoter regions, four camps provide fantastic access to rich game, a range of activities and beautifully diverse landscapes.
US$9,260 - US$11,960 per person
Elephant Safari
10 days • 3 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
This example of a mid-range Kenya safari and beach trip explores the wildlife of Tsavo West's volcanic plains and woodlands, Tsavo East's immense plains and the white-sand beaches and lush environment of Diani Beach.
US$5,100 - US$6,220 per person
De Brazza Monkey Fly-in Safari
9 days • 3 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
Enjoy a range of activities in the remote wilderness of northern Kenya before exploring the wildlife-rich plains of the Mara ecosystem. Private vehicles and guides heighten the personalisation of this highly immersive safari.
US$12,310 - US$16,320 per person
Hamerkop Fly-In Safari
8 days • 2 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
Different wildlife, contrasting camps and a whole host of activities, this is a safari for those wanting to get out and about and not just sit in a vehicle.
US$6,350 - US$10,960 per person
Rothschild Giraffe Safari
8 days • 3 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
A example of a luxury Kenyan safari, starting at the iconic Giraffe Manor before fabulous stays on the spectacular Solio Reserve and Sala’s Camp in a remote corner of the Maasai Mara.
US$11,720 - US$17,830 per person
Big Cat Fly-in Safari
8 days • 2 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
Combining two of Kenya’s best wildlife-viewing areas, this slow-paced safari to the Lewa Conservancy and Maasai Mara guarantees iconic wildlife. The long-established, well-rated camps are great value, too.
US$5,010 - US$8,850 per person
Golden Jackal Fly-in Safari
8 days • 2 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
A contrasting safari of a lodge and a tented camp, with action-packed activities in Laikipia and wildlife-filled game drives in the Maasai Mara, offers a consistently high-quality experience.
US$9,730 - US$14,130 per person
Lanner Falcon Fly-In Safari
8 days • 3 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
Three sister camps offer access to wonderfully remote regions across northern Kenya and the Maasai Mara ecosystem. Enjoy an exclusive safari experience focused on great wildlife, superb guiding and considerable comfort, with a range of activities.
US$6,620 - US$8,400 per person
African Finfoot Fly-in Safari
7 days • 3 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
After a unique start in Nairobi National Park, classic, luxurious camps combine for a high-end and exclusive safari in fantastic wildlife destinations.
US$9,900 - US$17,340 per person
Steppe Eagle Fly-in Safari
7 days • 2 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
Two comfortable tented camps overlooking the Ewaso Nyiro and Mara River put you at the heart of the action. Experience spectacular diversity in species and habitat with safari in Samburu and the Masaai Mara National Reserve.
US$5,680 - US$9,310 per person
Expert Africa's 10 most recent Kenya trip reviews
Feedback from Expert Africa's thousands of travellers is extremely important to us.
The reviews they send us are a real help to future travellers planning their trips. The feedback helps us stay up to date with changes to the camps and lodges we book, and it's also very valuable to our partners across Africa who appreciate that it is guaranteed genuine. It is often very constructive for the management of their properties and guiding operations.
All our Kenya trip reviews are published in full without any edits by Expert Africa. See all 634 Kenya safaris reviews here, or click on a card below to read one of our ten most recent reviews in full.
Our travellers' wildlife sightings across Kenya
When travelling through Kenya, many of our travellers document their wildlife encounters – be they of lions, leopards or black rhinos – and generously share their records with us.
This "citizen science" gives us a unique picture of the distribution of species, enlightening you on where you have the best chance of seeing a particular species during a Kenya safari (Learn about this survey's methodology.)
The percentages below signify the average probability of a safari-goer seeing various large mammals where they naturally occur. Note that species with limited distributions, such as the black rhino, can attain high scores in the regions where they reside. For further insights into a specific species, click on its picture below and follow the link in the pop-up window.
For a broader perspective on Kenya's wildlife sightings, explore our interactive wildlife map of Kenya showing the prime locations for encountering various species.
99% success
98% success
98% success
94% success
92% success
91% success
89% success
83% success
81% success
79% success
77% success
63% success
54% success
53% success
36% success
14% success
10% success
2% success
2% success
0% success
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings in Kenya
The reports our travellers send us of their large mammal sightings can be very useful in assessing the best camps and lodges for seeing some of Kenya's key wildlife .
Whether you're looking for cheetahs, lions, wild dogs, or eastern black rhinos – or any one of a score of other species – our data-driven maps highlight the most likely areas to see each animal.
If you'd like to see a map showing the top camps and lodges for a specific mammal, click on the species below.
Lion
Panthera leo
Lions are at the top of the food chain and also most safari wish-lists, but with their numbers falling fast, any encounter with these majestic apex predators always feels like a privilege.
81% SUCCESS
3,429 sightings from 4,238 observations
Leopard
Panthera pardus
The most numerous of Africa’s big cats, leopard occur across many habitats, from wild tracts to populated areas. Their grace and their elusive nature make them a unique safari drawcard.
47% SUCCESS
2,213 sightings from 4,712 observations
Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
The cheetah is the fastest land animal and the only cat that hunts by pure speed. Found largely in open grasslands, its slim, elegant form is today an increasingly rare sight.
33% SUCCESS
1,170 sightings from 3,572 observations
Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
One of the ‘Big Five’, buffalo earned a fearsome reputation in hunters’ tales. By contrast, big herds of these sociable bovids are placid, but mount formidable defences against predators.
83% SUCCESS
2,900 sightings from 3,487 observations
Wild dog
Lycaon pictus
African wild dogs are among the continent’s most compelling animals. Much misunderstood, these rare, tie-dyed canids are amazingly efficient hunters with a fascinating social life.
32% SUCCESS
994 sightings from 3,107 observations
Spotted Hyena
Crocuta crocuta
The spotted hyena may be thought of as ‘ugly’ and ‘cowardly’. In fact, this versatile and intelligent carnivore is one of Africa’s most fascinating and warrants attention on any safari.
55% SUCCESS
2,450 sightings from 4,487 observations
Striped Hyena
Hyaena hyaena
The striped hyena is the most widespread of the world’s hyenas, but absent from southern Africa. A rarely-seen nocturnal scavenger, it is shyer and more solitary than its spotted cousin.
14% SUCCESS
135 sightings from 991 observations
Elephant
Loxodonta africana
By far the biggest of the so-called Big Five – indeed, the largest land animal on the planet – the elephant shapes the very landscape it inhabits and is a defining presence on any safari.
91% SUCCESS
4,144 sightings from 4,554 observations
Black Rhino
Diceros bicornis
The black rhino is the smaller and rarer of Africa’s two rhino species but has the more fearsome reputation. Shy and heavily persecuted, it tends to stick to cover.
30% SUCCESS
701 sightings from 2,308 observations
White Rhino
Ceratotherium simum
The white rhino is the largest and most numerous of the world’s five rhinoceros species. They are larger, easier to see and generally more approachable than the black rhino.
43% SUCCESS
564 sightings from 1,307 observations
Eland
Taurotragus oryx
Africa’s largest antelope, eland are culturally important from prehistoric rock art to modern game farms. Though widespread, they are also shy so sightings are uncommon and often fleeting.
49% SUCCESS
1,643 sightings from 3,355 observations
Gerenuk
Litocranius walleri
With its slender frame and extraordinarily long neck, this unmistakable East African antelope resembles an attenuated impala and often stands on its back legs browse high shrubs.
76% SUCCESS
102 sightings from 134 observations
Giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis
The world’s tallest land mammal, giraffes are herbivores which have evolved many unique adaptations. Their iconic outlines tower above the bush in many of Africa’s wildlife areas.
86% SUCCESS
3,990 sightings from 4,649 observations
Oryx
Oryx sp.
Oryx are impressive antelopes, with a powerful physique and elegant markings set off by rapier-like horns. They cut a distinctive dash in some of Africa’s harshest landscapes.
70% SUCCESS
1,526 sightings from 2,186 observations
Hippo
Hippopotamus amphibius
The territorial calls of the hippo create a signature soundtrack to Africa’s rivers & wetlands. Despite an endearing smile, this aquatic herbivore has a notoriously aggressive disposition.
90% SUCCESS
3,020 sightings from 3,374 observations
Sable antelope
Hippotragus niger
Perhaps Africa’s most beautiful antelope, sable are renowned for their combative nature, even holding off lions. Shy and restricted in range, sightings of sable are always special.
23% SUCCESS
543 sightings from 2,333 observations
Wildebeest
Connochaetes sp.
Superficially bovine in appearance, wildebeests are known for their spectacular migrations sometimes in huge numbers. These resilient animals are some of Africa’s most successful herbivores.
67% SUCCESS
2,792 sightings from 4,162 observations
Zebra
Equus sp.
The zebra is a quintessential African animal: the horse in stripy pyjamas at the end of every child’s A–Z. There are three species, of which the plains zebra is much the most common.
84% SUCCESS
4,358 sightings from 5,180 observations
Aardvark
Orycteropus afer
The aardvark is one of Africa’s most bizarre and enigmatic animals. A shy, nocturnal termite-eater, signs of its presence may be scattered about the bush whilst sightings remain elusive.
2% SUCCESS
80 sightings from 3,735 observations
Pangolin
Smutsia sp.
Pangolins appear to be more pine cone than animal in their unique armoury of scales. These nocturnal, ant-eating oddities are not only highly elusive but also increasingly rare.
2% SUCCESS
64 sightings from 3,772 observations
When to go to Kenya
The earths's climate crisis is making the weather in Kenya increasingly unpredictable. Our month-by-month guide helps you weigh up the options based on the weather you're most likely to get.
Do bear in mind, however, that climate charts apply specifically to the town in question, and not to larger regions or the whole country. And they are based on the annual measurements taken, in the case of Kenya, over roughly the last century. Kenya's weather in the 1950s, was more predictable and regular than it is today.
While the country lies on the equator, temperatures are determined much more by altitude than by season, with the coast and everywhere below around 1000 metres above sea level (about 3,300ft) being hot in the day time and very warm at night all year round. At high altitudes, it may rain at almost any time of year. The northern deserts are largely dry all the time. Western Kenya, including the Maasai Mara region, has a scattered rainfall pattern influenced by Lake Victoria, while the eastern half of the country, and especially the coast, are largely controlled by the Indian Ocean’s monsoon winds – the dry northeast monsoon (kaskazi) blowing in from November to March or April and the moist southeast monsoon (kusi) blowing in from May to October. The kusi normally brings the heaviest rains to the coast in May and June. As these weather systems move inland, they bring rain to the east facing highlands, but the western slopes can experience a rain shadow effect and much drier conditions.
Broadly, the seasons that apply to most of the safari areas are: a warm, mostly dry season from January to March, getting increasingly humid before the rains break; then warm and wet from April to June (the “long rains”); slightly less warm and mostly dry from July to October (Nairobians call the relatively cool, cloudy July-August period "winter", thought it's barely wintry in a sense that people from higher latitudes would recognise; and then warm and wet for a few weeks in November and early December – a period called the "short rains”, which typically fizzle out before Christmas, but can sometimes be prolonged into early January.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Kenya in January
Clear, hot days and warm nights make this high season a popular time for safaris and it’s also good for diving and snorkelling as water clarity is excellent and gets better as the dry season progresses. Most lodges and tented camps treat January after the New Year week is over, as mid-season, making it a good compromise in terms of value for money with reasonably reliable, dry weather and some greenery left in the landscape.
Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in January, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the weather and seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.
- On average, January is the second driest month of the year
- Elephants dig waterholes in the dry riverbed in the Samburu reserve.
- Wildebeest and many antelope have their calving season, to February.
- Migrant birds are seen in huge numbers, especially in the Rift Valley.
- Sea water clarity around the coral reefs generally good.
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in January
Kenya in February
With the short dry season well established, the grass grazed down and wildlife gathering close to water points, this is still a good time for a safari. Good water clarity in the Indian Ocean's coastal waters makes for excellent diving and snorkelling conditions.
Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in February, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the weather and seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.
- On average, February is the driest month of the year.
- It’s sometimes possible to swim with whale sharks at Diani Beach.
- Migrant birds are still seen everywhere, especially near water.
- This is usually peak calving season for wildebeest and many antelopes.
- This month is often the hottest of the year, especially on the coast.
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in February
Kenya in March
Hot, increasingly humid weather – with good diving and snorkelling conditions at the start of the month – gives way to rains and lower accommodation costs. Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in March, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and predicting the seasons since the beginning of this century has been difficult.
March is the month when – traditionally – intensely hot conditions build up until a cloudburst finally happens at the end of the month or in early April, to relieve the humidity. As ever, regional variations across the country can greatly impact on visitors' experiences.
- Sea-water clarity is best for diving before the long rains start.
- Visitor numbers are low, though the Easter holidays can be busier.
- Night skies can be scintillatingly clear in early March.
- Cropped down savannah grasses can make it easier to see the wildlife.
- Temperartures climb high, especially at lower elevations.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in March
Kenya in April
April sees the full onset of the southeast monsoon wind or kusi, which heralds the long rains. Temperatures drop soon after the rains are established and you’ll often have facilities largely to yourself in this more affordable low season, sometimes known as the "green season". The bush quickly springs to life, with greenery sprouting almost before your eyes. While you're likely to get a fair number of heavy showers, the breaks in the rain can yield sparklingly clear conditions.
With the dust settled and bright sun piercing the clouds, conditions can be sublime for photography, especially first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon with another storm brewing. You may be lucky, or you may find conditions very wet and muddy.
- A wet month, the coast often gets more than 300mm (12in) of rain.
- Sunny spells can provide great light for photography.
- Buffalo and zebra calving season often happens in this month.
- Baby crocodiles hatch, for example on Central Island in Lake Turkana.
- Palearctic migrant birds gather to fly north to breeding grounds.
Our view
A time to avoid if possible
Weather in April
Kenya in May
While game viewing can be trickier as vegetation runs riot, between the cloudbursts the colours and light are great for photography at this time of year. Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in May, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and while it's reasonable to expect heavy rains in many parts during this month, especially on the coast, the rains don't always come evenly or in some areas come at all.
In an El Niño year, the so-called long rains that normally are established across much of the country by May can be meagre, to the despair of farmers. On the other hand in a La Niña year, the long rains can bring floods. On the coast, the monsoon winds make the climate much more predictable, with heavy rains common throughout this month.
- Frogs breed in the ponds in the Arabuko Sokoke Forest near Watamu.
- Wildebeest, impala and other grazers are in rut (the breeding season).
- Kilimanjaro looks its best as heavy rain falls as snow on the summit.
- There's a sharp peek of rainfall on the coast with many rainy days.
- Accommodation prices are uniformly low, while some camps close.
Our view
A time to avoid if possible
Weather in May
Kenya in June
The rains give way to cloudy, cooler weather, often making for comfortable conditions by the end of the month, especially in the highlands. Starting from mid-June or the beginning of July and running until the end of October, this is the high season, and accordingly has higher accommodation rates and – at least until early September – higher numbers of visitors.
While the early part of June can often be rainy on the coast, it can be a great time to go on safari, with fresh greenery, many young animals and good photographic conditions with clear air.
- The Taru Desert, inland from the coast, is carpeted with flowers.
- The Lake Turkana Cultural Festival is held in Loiyangalani.
- Madaraka Day (commemorating self rule) is 1 June.
- The annual Lewa marathon runs a course through the wildlife.
- The Diani Rules "sports" event rips up the rulebook at Diani Beach.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in June
Kenya in July
Kenya’s “winter" season sets in (winter is a misnomer but locals feel the change), and the highlands can be rather grey. Skies are often cloudy and the days can be surprisingly cool, with an average daytime high in many highland safari areas of 15-20°C and night-time temperatures dropping below 10°C in Nairobi and the highlands. Lower parts of the country and the coast are usually warm and dry, typically reaching highs of around 25°C with lows in the high teens.
As this is the start of the high season, coinciding with the usual arrival of the wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara, July is a busy month. Ask your Expert Africa specialist to advise on how to avoid the crowds, which is not that difficult to do.
- The wildebeest migration usually reaches the Maasai Mara in July.
- Simbi Lake (Kisumu) and Crater Lake (Naivasha) can attract flamingoes.
- Watersports start to pick up and some surfing is possible at Malindi.
- Afternoon thunderstorms are a common feature in the Maasai Mara.
- The sea can be choppy along the coast, making diving difficult.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in July
Kenya in August
The Great Migration fills the plains of the Maasai Mara, and school’s out, so the park roads are full of tourists – ask your Expert Africa specialist for advice on crowd avoidance tactics. Choose a private conservancy rather than a public national park or national reserve for quieter conditions.
Like July, August is generally mild and relatively dry in the safari areas, but it can be very chilly in the highlands, even in the middle of the day, and hail occasionally falls above altitudes of around 2,400m (8,000ft). Nairobi can be disappointingly overcast, with low cloud.
- Apart from Christmas holidays, this is the busiest month of the year.
- Late August sees peak wildebeest drama at the Mara River crossings.
- Coastal winds are good for kite- and wind-surfing.
- Few mosquitoes are around at this generally dry time of year.
- The annual Camel Derby takes place in the Samburu capital, Maralal.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in August
Kenya in September
The skies clearing of cloud signals the start of hot, dry weather with little chance of rain – and, after the first few days of the month, far fewer visitors – making the latter part of September a good time for a quieter safari. While early September is often good for dramatic migration crossings along the Mara River, you might consider deliberately postponing your trip until later in the month, when the migration can still be very impressive and visitor numbers fewer.
If tourist surges are somewhat predictable, however, the patterns of the wildebeest migration are more volatile, and like all of Expert Africa's climate and weather assessments, they are based on accumulated years of experience rather than guaranteed certainty.
- This is still high season, with prices to match.
- Many river crossings take place on the Mara river in both directions.
- Natural bush fires flush out insects and small animals for predators.
- The Rift Valley Music Festival takes place by Lake Naivasha.
- With school holidays over by early September, late-month is quieter.
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in September
Kenya in October
Still hot, mostly dry and not too busy, this is many people’s preferred month for a safari, and it’s also good for diving and snorkelling. The wildebeest and zebra herds of the great migration are often still to be seen, though in dwindling numbers. The swamps of Amboseli attract thirsty wildlife including large herds of elephants.
While we wouldn't expect much rain across most of the country this month, the climate has become so unpredictable that you can never say never, and the possibiity of the short rains – usually associated with November to mid-December, starting early, can't be discounted.
- This month sees the tail end of the great migration in the Mara.
- Palearctic migrant birds start to arrive, staying until March.
- Turtle nests hatch at Watamu, until November.
- Amboseli elephants focus on the swamps for their daily water.
- The Indian Ocean monsoon winds turn from southeast to northeast.
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in October
Kenya in November
The northeast monsoon wind or kaskazi heralds the start of the “short rains", usually some time in the second half of the month. From November to mid-December, this is the low season, and accordingly has lower accommodation rates and lower visitor numbers. Across most of the country you can expect warm, somewhat cloudy weather, with occasional heavy showers and localised flooding.
Expert Africa bases its description of the climate in November, like the other months of the year, on the records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable: some years the short rains don't come at all, or don't reach every part of the country. In an El Niño year, the November short rains can be very heavy, but in a La Niña year, they can fail completely.
- Swimming with dolphins in Lamu can be done from now until April.
- Birders gather at Ngulia in Tsavo West to ring Palearctic migrants.
- The Lamu Cultural Festival takes over the town and Lamu Creek.
- Agricultural shows often take place regional market towns.
- This is low season, so camps can be great value, with special offers.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in November
Kenya in December
In a typical December, the rains usually finish by middle of the month, leaving the landscape looking its best, under clear blue skies, and heralding the start of the second peak tourist season from around 20 December to the first week of January. Our assessment of the likely weather in December, like the other months of the year, is based on climate records, and it's fair to say that the seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.
Christmas can sometimes be wet, but most years the rains have finished a week or two earlier, with the festive season ushering in the perfect combination of clear skies and sunshine by day and starry nights.
- Christmas and New Year are busy, with the lodges and camps full.
- Rates are highest after 24 Dec, with supplements on public holidays.
- Republic Day and Independence day are celebrated on 12 December.
- Good kite- and wind-surfing restarts, with strong northeasterly winds.
- Mango season begins, providing excitement for primates and elephants.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in December
Country guide
A rough guide to Kenya
This short guide includes some useful practical and background information about the country. If you book your Kenya trip with Expert Africa, we’ll send you a free copy of The Rough Guide to Kenya, a detailed travel guide written by Expert Africa’s East Africa Manager, Richard Trillo.
Where to go on a first visit
Firstly, we’d strongly recommend including the famous Maasai Mara. At any time of year, the lands around the meandering Mara River host abundant wildlife and whether you’re watching a pride of lions hunting, a herd of elephants grazing in the marsh or hyenas squabbling with vultures over the carcass of a buffalo, you are conscious all the time of being in a realm apart, a human visitor to a landscape owned by the animals. Yes, the publicly accessible Maasai Mara National Reserve gets very busy, especially during holiday periods and when the wildebeest migration is on. There’s a new hard surfaced road from Nairobi which makes access easy for weekenders too. However, the former Maasai grazing lands around the reserve have mostly been converted to very successful wildlife conservancies, managed by the local community in association with small, high quality safari camp owners, and these Maasai Mara Conservancies are well worth considering if you want to avoid the crowds.
The other region we very often recommend as a contrast with the Mara is Laikipia, the upland former ranches and hills northwest of Mount Kenya. Laikipia now largely consists of a patchwork of highly successful wildlife conservancies, providing extensive sanctuary to rhinos, wild dogs, leopards and most of the other megafauna of the East African plains and bush.
If you want to include some beach time, Kenya's Indian Ocean coast, fringed by coral reefs, is the real deal – with the bonus of rewarding historical discoveries to be made in the old cities of Mombasa and Lamu, and the ruins of Gedi, near Watamu.
Local flight transfers
Engaging with local culture
Kenyan food and drink
Not surprisingly, perhaps, most of the dishes you’ll be served in hotels and luxury safari camps will be quite familiar. Soups, bread rolls, tasty salads and fruit bowls (often grown in an organic kitchen garden at the camp itself), roast and stewed beef, pork, lamb and chicken, familiar vegetables, occasional fish and standards of the British-European dessert list like lemon meringue pie and profiteroles are all frequently on the menu. Many camps and lodges will have a curry night or a Swahili night (with aromatic dishes from the Indian Ocean coast) and most run menu rotations of at least five days to avoid presenting the same meals more than once.
Local lager-style beer and familiar soft drinks are available everywhere, as is imported wine, often South African.
Kenya’s history
For present-day Kenya, the key early arrivals (from around 1AD) were peoples from the forests further west, speaking languages of the huge Bantu family (including the forebears of today’s Kikuyu, Kamba and Mijikenda ethnic groups), and people from the upper Nile, who would have been the ancestors of today’s Rift Valley Kalenjin-speakers. These groups brought the knowledge of iron-working (essential for large-scale tree-felling) and by around 1000AD, most of Kenya’s peoples were engaged in an iron-age economy, with a good deal of intermarriage. On the coast, seafaring traders from the Arabian peninsula had already introduced Islam, and the cultures of the Indian Ocean were being introduced to the Bantu-speaking cultures of the coast to create the hierarchical society of the Swahili.
The next big arrivals were American crops (corn, cassava, potatoes, tomatoes, tobacco) introduced by Portuguese merchant adventurers who had secured trading toe-holds on the coast, while new migrants into western Kenya included the ancestors of the Luo on the shores of Lake Victoria, and the Turkana, both groups coming from the upper Nile and hugely dependent on fishing. Finally the Maa-speakers (the Maasai and Samburu) arrived in Kenya, again from the Nile region, and their economy was dominated by livestock and a diet largely consisting of milk and blood extracted from their living cattle.
By the mid-nineteenth century, the Maasai were a dominant and militaristic force over much of Kenya. But severe droughts and civil war splintered them, so that by the end of the century, with European raiders moving rapidly across East Africa, building a railway to Lake Victoria and beginning to settle, the African peoples of Kenya were fragmented and easily subdued. Anti-colonial resistance fizzled out as Europeans flooded into Kenya between the first and second world wars.
Many Kenyans fought with the British in World War II, especially in Burma, and the start of organised anti-British resistance in the 1950s included many returning servicemen. Britain fought an ugly war with the so-called Mau Mau, declaring a State of Emergency, sealing off villages and executing thousands of fighters. British atrocities have only been fully revealed in recent years.
The inevitable withdrawal of the British and the return of Kenya’s independence, in 1963, were followed by decades of government corruption and mismanagement, though a greater degree of democracy has prevailed since the 1990s, together with freedom of the press. Kenya’s rampant free market economy and high birth rate, combined with tribal politics, has created a society that is forever and restlessly hopeful, but never at peace with itself.
These conditions allow for a great deal of freedom for money to determine outcomes, and that includes in the fields of conservation and wildlife management. Kenya’s strict no-hunting law (applied by the first president, Jomo Kenyatta, in 1978) and its permissive land ownership laws mean that vast swathes of the country are effectively under foreign control, for the fundamental benefit of the wildlife, and tourism. Balancing this economic climate with the needs of Kenya’s millions of people living in deep poverty is the challenge for the 21st century.
Maps of the principal regions for a Kenya safari
These two quite different maps help you to understand the scale and features of Kenya: our REFERENCE MAP is Expert Africa's own artwork map, clearly identifying Kenya's national parks, national reserves and private and community conservancies; then the GOOGLE MAP shows the country's diverse topography and landscapes. Kenya is a country more than twice the size of the UK and 50 per cent bigger than California, and it includes sweeping, grassy plains and highland peaks, arid deserts and an indented coastline fringed by mangroves, white sand beaches and coral reefs. On the Google map, as well as the satellite view do click the "Map" and "Terrain" views.
Holidays and Safaris in Kenya
Expert Africa knows Kenya better than any other safari operator: our specialists combine decades of experience travelling and living in the country. So when we say we'll guide you to make the best choices for your trip from our own experience we say so with honesty and enthusiasm.
Kenya's key wildlife area is the Mara ecosystem; that includes the Maasai Mara National Reserve and the neighbouring Maasai Mara Conservancies. The majority of travellers include a visit to this region that has an iconic reputation for the Mara River that runs through it and the annual wildebeest migration – that also runs through it. We'll help you decide whether to stay inside the reserve or in one of the conservancies.
Easily reckoned as the second best wildlife area in Kenya, Laikipia consists entirely of private and community conservancies. You can easily see all the "Big Five here, as well as less obvious species such as wild dog and Grevy's zebra. And the region has also become famous among keen mammal-watchers and photographers for its black leopards.
Kenya's other principal safari areas are Samburu National Reserve and neighbouring conservancies, Amboseli National Park and the nearby Chyulu Hills, and Meru National Park (not to be confused with Mount Meru in northern Tanzania). We love them all, and many travellers have favourite camps that they return to year after year.
Please browse through our selection of safari and beach holiday itinerary examples below, then call us, so that one of our Kenya experts can help you to design an individual, tailor-made trip that will suit you perfectly..
The Highlights of Africa
17 days • 7 locations
CAPE TOWN AIRPORT TO KIGALI AIRPORT
An epic adventure taking in some of Africa’s most incredible sights and wildlife experiences, from Cape Town to the Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls, the Maasai Mara and an encounter with mountain gorillas.
US$14,370 - US$19,700 per person
Gorillas and Maasai Mara Safari
9 days • 3 locations
KIGALI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
This trip combines two of Africa's most unforgettable wildlife experiences – Rwanda's mountain gorillas and Kenya's Maasai Mara.
US$10,600 - US$13,500 per person
Purple Grenadier Fly-In Safari
6 days • 2 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
Fantastic guiding from intimate, well-run mid-range tented camps, in superb conservancy locations: this safari is all about making the most of the incredible wildlife in Laikipia and the Maasai Mara.
US$5,010 - US$7,130 per person
Striped Hyena Safari
5 days • 3 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
Just one example of a possible itinerary for keen walkers, this safari enables you to experience the sounds and sights of the bush, and its wildlife, in an unusually direct way.
US$5,020 - US$6,990 per person
Martial Eagle Fly-in Safari
9 days • 3 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO KILIMANJARO AIRPORT
This stylish fly-in safari visits two of Africa’s most iconic parks, the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and Tanzania's Serengeti National Park.
US$10,740 - US$17,740 per person
African Finfoot Fly-in Safari
7 days • 3 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
After a unique start in Nairobi National Park, classic, luxurious camps combine for a high-end and exclusive safari in fantastic wildlife destinations.
US$9,900 - US$17,340 per person
Black Kite Fly-in Safari
10 days • 4 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
Explore Kenya in-depth with visits to Nairobi and Meru national parks, the Mara Conservancies and Amboseli. Nestled in remoter regions, four camps provide fantastic access to rich game, a range of activities and beautifully diverse landscapes.
US$9,260 - US$11,960 per person
Steppe Eagle Fly-in Safari
7 days • 2 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
Two comfortable tented camps overlooking the Ewaso Nyiro and Mara River put you at the heart of the action. Experience spectacular diversity in species and habitat with safari in Samburu and the Masaai Mara National Reserve.
US$5,680 - US$9,310 per person
African Hawk-Eagle Fly-in Safari
7 days • 2 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
Two luxurious camps provide relatively quiet game-viewing within Laikipia and the Mara ecosystem. Situated on private conservancies, both Lewa Wilderness and Naboisho offer the chance to sight all of the "Big 5" and to enjoy a range of safari activities.
US$8,510 - US$16,430 per person
Kinondo Kwetu Beach Holiday
7 days • 1 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
Enjoy a ‘home away from home’ on a beautiful beach, where you will be exceptionally well looked after by a superb team. This holiday can be as relaxed or as action-packed as you like.
US$3,760 - US$5,540 per person
Greater Kudu Fly-In Safari
7 days • 2 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
Experience a truly authentic bush experience on this safari at two classic tented camps, in Laikipia and the Maasai Mara. These are some of the best places to spot wild dogs and big cats.
US$7,170 - US$9,080 per person
Hamerkop Fly-In Safari
8 days • 2 locations
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
Different wildlife, contrasting camps and a whole host of activities, this is a safari for those wanting to get out and about and not just sit in a vehicle.
US$6,350 - US$10,960 per person
Let us help you customise your trip
All of our holidays on this site are just ideas; none are fixed. All of our trips are tailor-made, so we'll always adapt them to suit you. Talk to an Expert and let us help you to work out your perfect trip.
Talk to an Expert
Call us now! We’ll match you with the Specialist in our team who is best suited to help you. Then together we can start planning your trip.
Set up your itinerary
Based on our experience and your ideas, your specialist will create a detailed, costed itinerary. We’ll refine it together, until we have a trip that you’re perfectly happy with.
Prepare for your trip
The same Specialist will make the seamless arrangements for your trip, send you detailed travel documents, and be available to answer any questions before you depart.
Travel with peace of mind
After you set off, you’ll be cared for by our partners in Africa, most of whom have worked with Expert Africa for decades. And if you ever need us urgently, we’re available 24/7.
When you return
We love to learn about your trip, and so will always be grateful if you’ve the time to give feedback to your Specialist when you return.
Where to stay in Kenya
Ask us for more details of what’s where, and what’s likely to suit you best!
Four Points Nairobi Airport
The Four Points by Sheraton, set within the perimeter of Nairobi International Airport, is ideally located for a first or last night in Kenya.
The Emakoko
The Emakoko is a luxurious, owner-managed safari lodge in a beautiful gorge on the edge of Nairobi National Park.
Kicheche Bush Camp
Kicheche Bush Camp is a smart and intimate tented camp with a relaxed atmosphere and the perfect base in the Mara for keen photographers.
Kicheche Mara
Kicheche Mara Camp has just ten tents and a rustic and comfortable feel. It is set by a stream in a pretty area of the Mara ecosystem's Mara North Conservancy.
Kicheche Laikipia
Kicheche Laikipia is the most luxurious tented camp of the handful of places to stay in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in central Laikipia.
Kicheche Valley
Kicheche Valley is a boutique tented camp in a wooded district of the Mara ecosystem's Naboisho Conservancy, with plenty of wildlife in the area.
Eka Hotel
The Eka is an affordably priced business-class hotel in a relatively convenient location between Nairobi International Airport and Wilson Airport.
Crowne Plaza Nbi Apt
The Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport (formerly known as the Lazizi Premiere and now part of the InterContinental Hotels Group) is the oldest hotel at Nairobi International Airport.
Ole-Sereni
The Ole-Sereni is a modern, stylish hotel neighbouring Nairobi National Park and located 6km from Wilson domestic airport.
Macushla House
Macushla House is a very pleasant, small, owner-managed bed and breakfast hotel in a leafy part of southwest Nairobi, very convenient for visiting the Giraffe Centre and Sheldrick's Elephant Orphanage.
Naboisho Camp
Naboisho Camp is one of the most luxurious of the handful of camps in the Naboisho Conservancy. It offers day and night game drives, game walks and full creature comforts in the bush.
Offbeat Mara
Offbeat Mara is a small traditional camp that appeals to safari traditionalists, located in one of the Maasai Mara’s quiet conservancies.
Laikipia Wilderness
Laikipia Wilderness is a rustic owner-managed bush camp, in excellent wild dog territory, offering outstanding guiding.
Elephant Bedroom
Elephant Bedroom is a smart tented camp in the heart of the Samburu National Reserve, offering a good degree of comfort without divorcing you from the beautiful natural environment.
Giraffe Manor
Giraffe Manor is a unique, perennially popular lodge on the outskirts of Nairobi, offering up-close-and-personal encounters with the rare Rothschild giraffes that roam its extensive grounds.
Aero Club of East Africa
The Aero Club of East Africa is a private members' club in the grounds of Wilson Airport, Nairobi, offering offering comfortable rooms and a good restaurant, bar and swimming pool to non-members.
Tortilis Camp
Tortilis is a finely situated and well built safari camp located in the private Kitirua Consarvancy just outside Amboseli National Park and with wonderful views of Kilimanjaro.
Rekero
Rekero is an unpretentious, high-end safari camp, for travellers who take their wildlife watching seriously and are prepared to pay for an exceptional location.
Little Governors'
Little Governors’ Camp sits by a swamp (an old oxbow of the Mara River) in the Mara Triangle sector of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. It has its own balloon-launching site.
Kinondo Kwetu
Kinondo Kwetu is a small, owner-run, all-inclusive boutique lodge of exceptional quality situated on a remote stretch of beach south of the busier Diani Beach area.
Tamarind Tree Hotel
The Tamarind Tree is a stylish international hotel in a great location next to Wilson Airport.
Saruni Samburu
Saruni Samburu is a top-quality boutique lodge, with one of the most breathtaking locations in Kenya overlooking its own private conservancy.
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.
Lewa Safari Camp
Lewa Safari Camp is a comfortable and homely tented lodge, located in the Lewa Conservancy and offering a relatively exclusive safari away from mass tourism.
Elsa's Kopje
Elsa’s Kopje is the most luxurious option in Meru National Park, with unique rooms built around the natural hilltop environment, and stunning vistas in every direction
Encounter Mara
Encounter Mara is located in the private Naboisho Conservancy – a game-rich area of the Mara ecosystem – and offers a contemporary take on the traditional, low-impact luxury safari camp.
Elephant Pepper Camp
Elephant Pepper Camp is a small 10-tent bush camp, put together in the traditional "campaign" style, and including a large honeymoon/family tent.
Tangulia Mara
Tangulia Mara is a rustic and traditional safari camp on the border of the Maasai Mara National Reserve owned by Jackson Looseyia of Big Cat Diary fame.
Sosian
Sosian Lodge is a distinctive, estancia-style ranch house on a former cattle ranch, with great opportunities for riding, relaxing and seeing wild dogs and other savannah wildlife.
Pinewood Beach Resort
Pinewood Beach Resort is a relaxed resort-style hotel at the far south end of Diani Beach - an area known as Galu Beach.
Karen Gables
Karen Gables is a small, high quality hotel in Nairobi with expansive gardens and only seven rooms.
El Karama Lodge
El Karama is a comfortably rustic, very personal, riverside eco-lodge on a game-rich private ranch in Laikipia, an hour’s drive north of Nanyuki airport.
Lewa Wilderness
Lewa Wilderness is a comfortable, fenced safari lodge with nine cottages, great views and a huge range of activities.
Serian
Serian is a luxury tented camp on the east bank of the Mara River in the Mara North Conservancy. It is the sister camp of Ngare Serian, on the west bank.
Porini Amboseli Camp
Porini Amboseli is a small and homely community-staffed eco-camp located in the Selankay Conservancy.
Mara Plains Camp
Mara Plains is one of the very best camps in the Mara ecosystem. Located in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, just outside the Mara reserve, it has access to three wildlife-viewing areas.
Satao Camp
Satao Camp is a traditionally styled, unfenced tented camp of generously sized tents set under shady trees around one side of a waterhole on a wildlife-rich plain in a remote part of Tsavo East National Park.
Ol Pejeta Bush Camp
Ol Pejeta Bush Camp is a simple camp, with comfortable tents, delivering an authentic wilderness experience backed up by good food and guiding.
Loldia House
Loldia House is a comfortable, country house lodge on the shores of Lake Naivasha in the heart of Kenya's Great Rift Valley.
Governors' Camp
Governors' Camp is a large tented camp on the Mara River and one of the oldest in the Mara region, dating from 1972. Although unfenced, and regularly visited by elephants, the whole compound is always busy with human activity.
Il Ngwesi Eco-Lodge
The community-owned Il Ngwesi Eco-Lodge sits atop a small hill in the remote Il Ngwesi Group Ranch, a two-hour drive north of Lewa Conservancy in north-eastern Laikipia.
Kicheche Fly Camp
Kicheche Walking Wilderness Fly Camp is a temporaray dome tent camp set up for participants in Kicheche's two-day walking safari between Kicheche Valley and Kicheche Bush Camp.
Basecamp Eagle View
Basecamp Eagle View is a community-focused safari camp in the Naboisho Conservancy, with a strong emphasis on responsible tourism and a spectacular location.
Tawi Lodge
Tawi Lodge is modern, luxury safari lodge on a private wildlife conservancy in the Amboseli ecosystem in southern Kenya.
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.
Hemingways Ol Seki
Magnificently located tented lodge on a bluff looking south across the Naboisho Conservancy toward the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Saruni Wild
Saruni Wild is a rustic and traditional safari camp in the Lemek Conservancy, with just three tents and limited electricity.
Serian Nkorombo
Serian Nkorombo is a luxury bush camp in the Musiara sector of the Maasai Mara National Reserve on the east side of the Mara River.
Severin Safari Camp
Severin Safari Camp is a carefully managed and unfenced safari camp, in a game-rich part of Tsavo West, close to Mzima Springs and dramatic nearby lava flows.
Asha Boutique Hotel
Diani Blue is a low-key but stylishly comfortable small guesthouse, with high levels of service, in a busy, central part of Diani Beach.
Hemingways Nairobi
Hemingways Nairobi is a luxury country-house style hotel, with a spa and gym, in the wealthy suburb of Karen.
Porini Lion Camp
Porini Lion Camp is a pioneering, community focused eco-camp, with excellent guides and game viewing, in the predator-rich, Olare Motorogi Conservancy.
The Norfolk Hotel
The Norfolk Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in Nairobi and has a reputation for its colourful history dating back to 1904.
The Sands At Nomad
The Sands At Nomad is a good-value, laidback, family friendly resort with lots of Swahili character.
Water Lovers
Water Lovers is a popular, low-key beach hotel in a central location on Diani Beach on the south coast of Kenya.
Borana
Borana is a comfortable and striking lodge on the Borana Conservancy in eastern Laikipia, offering pleasant accommodation with good food and service and a very wide range of activities.
Nairobi Tented Camp
Nairobi Tented Camp is the only tented camp located inside Nairobi National Park, making it a great option for a true safari stay close to the city and airports.
Porini Mara Camp
Porini Mara Camp is a small, pioneering eco-camp in the first private conservancy in the Mara region, with comfortable accommodation and a range of activities.
Selenkay Adventure
Selenkay Adventure Camp is the dome-tent satellite camp of Porini Amboseli Camp, located in the Maasai-owned Selenkay Conservancy, one of the oldest community wildlife conservancies in Kenya.
Porini Rhino Camp
Porini Rhino Camp is a small, simple, well established tented camp, with a keen focus on sustainable and low-impact tourism.
Satao Elerai
The closest camp in Kenya to Mount Kilimanjaro, Satao Elerai is located in its own, private conservancy, the Elerai Conservation Area, just outside Amboseli National Park.
Sand River Camp
Luxury colonial-style tented camp on the banks of the Sand River close to the Tanzania border – a great spot to see the wildebeest migration.
Offbeat Ndoto
Small and intimate, Offbeat Mara is set in a valley above the (often dry) Olare Orok River within the Mara North Conservancy.
Sirikoi
Sirikoi is a small, very high-quality safari camp with excellent service and food and a wide selection of activities.
Ngare Serian
The luxurious Ngare Serian and its sister camp Serian face each other across the Mara River on the western side of the Mara North Conservancy
Solio Lodge
Solio Lodge is an exclusive and luxurious bush lodge set in the private Solio Game Ranch in southern Laikipia.
Karen Blixen Camp
Karen Blixen Camp sits on a meander of the Mara River in the Mara North Conservancy, just beyond the northern boundary of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Cottars 1920s Camp
Cottar's 1920s Camp is a classic, luxury tented camp with a 1920s safari theme, located in its own conservancy on the southeast border of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Lewa House
Lewa House is a very comfortable, boutique safari lodge located on the Lewa Conservancy, north of Mount Kenya.
Sala's Camp
Sala’s Camp is a comfortable and intimate tented camp, with seven tented rooms, located on the banks of the Sand River, in the far south of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Basecamp Leopard Hill
With six beautiful tents, Basecamp Leopard Hill is a smart safari camp in the Naboisho Conservancy in the Maasai Mara ecosystem.
Tassia Lodge
Tassia offers a unique wilderness experience in a remote location: come here for cultural interaction, stunning views and something a bit different.
Kulalu Camp
Kulalu is a small camp on the banks of the Galana River, located on the outskirts of Tsavo East National Park and the Galana Conservancy.
Governors' Il Moran
The smallest and most expensive of the three camps in the Governors’ group, Governors’ Il Moran Camp hugs a meander of the Mara River just 1km north of the main Governors’ Camp.
Loisaba Tented Camp
Loisaba Tented Camp is a luxury safari base of tented rooms, ranged along a ridge in the Loisaba Conservancy, facing Mount Kenya. The camp was completely rebuilt in 2016.
Oasis Lodge
Oasis Lodge is a basic hotel for adventurous travellers near the east shore of Lake Turkana.
Peponi
Peponi is a long-established beach hotel, renowned for its good food, located in the village of Shela on the south side of Lamu island.
Campi ya Kanzi
Campi ya Kanzi is a very well integrated, eco-friendly bush lodge and tented camp on the slopes of the Chyulu Hills in its own, 1000-square-kilometre Maasai conservancy.
Kifaru House
Kifaru House is a small, stylish safari lodge in the Lewa Conservancy, with beautiful views across the landscape.
Sasaab
Stylish and luxurious Sasaab has nine rooms with stunning views across the Ewaso Nyiro River to the plains beyond.
The Sands at Chale Island
The Sands at Chale Island is a beach resort offering plenty of activities and beautiful flora and fauna all around.
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.
Mara Expedition Camp
Mara Expedition Camp is a small luxury camp located in a slightly elevated area of bush and woodland, just outside the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Loisaba Star Beds
Loisaba Starbeds is a simple camp of 4 rooms with pull-out, open-air 'star beds', located near a dam in the Loisaba Conservancy, in northwestern Laikipia.
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.
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.
Angama Mara
Angama Mara is a top-end luxury tented camp on the Siria-Oloololo escarpment of the Maasai Mara ecoystem, just above the Mara Triangle sector of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Ngenche Safari Camp
Mara Ngenche is a non-hosted, luxury tented camp with an antique style, which is perfect if you're looking for private dining while staying somewhere small and personal.
Alfajiri Villas
Alfajiri Villas is an exclusive, owner-run, hideaway property consisting of three unique villas in a central part of the north end of Diani Beach.
Mnarani Club
The Mnarari Club is located towards the seaward end of the beautiful Killifi Creek, and is an enduring favourite on the Kenya coast.
Karen Blixen Coffee Garden and Cottages
Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens and Cottages is small luxury boutique hotel located in the peaceful suburb of Karen.
Mahali Mzuri
Mahali Mzuri is a strikingly modern tented camp in the Virgin Limited Edition group, in a remote part of the Mara ecosytem's Olare Motorogi Conservancy. It has lovely views and all the luxuries of a five-star hotel.
Ocean Sports
Ocean Sports is long-established and popular beach hotel right on one of Watamu's famous and beautiful bays.
Sankara
Sankara is a strikingly built hotel in the bustling central Nairobi suburb of Westlands, primarily used as a business stay, with very good dining and leisure facilities.
Hemingways Watamu
Long-established resort hotel with a strong British following and a good reputation for deep-sea fishing.
Tumbili Cliff Lodge
Tumbili Cliff Lodge is located on a low cliff on the western shore of Lake Baringo, in Kenya's Great Rift Valley.
Manda Bay
Manda Bay is a luxury beach hideaway in a remote corner of an island in the Lamu archipelago, on Kenya's northern coast. It has a huge range of water sports on offer.
Leleshwa
Leleshwa was a delightful, boutique safari camp on the picturesque banks of a tributary of the Talek, with an extensive, little visited game area on its doorstep.
The Cliff
The Cliff is a comfortable tented camp overlooking Lake Nakuru, in the heart of Kenya's Great Rift Valley.
Basecamp Maasai Mara
Basecamp Maasai Mara is a family-friendly, award-winning eco-camp on a U-bend on the north bank of the Talek River, on the boundary of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Ilkeliani Camp
Ilkeliani Camp is a smart elegant camp overlooking the Talek River, on the edge of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Lions Bluff Lodge
The community-owned Lion’s Bluff is spectacularly sited at the end of a dramatic ridge, with stunning sunsets and sunrises and good views of Kilimanjaro in clear weather.
Sandai
Sandai is a pretty, owner-run homestay, set between the Aberdare Range and Mount Kenya, offering a range of activities at extra cost.
Eden Nairobi
One Forty Eight is a very stylish boutique hotel in one of the leafiest corners of the southwest Nairobi suburb of Karen-Langata. The Giraffe Centre at Giraffe Manor is just a 10-minute walk away.
Karisia Walking Safaris
Karisia Walking Safaris operates camel assisted, multi-day walking safaris from its main camp, Tumaren, set in a remote part of Laikipia.
Basecamp Wilderness
Basecamp Wilderness Camp is a simple, traditional tented camp, set in a remote valley in the Naboisho Conservancy in the Mara ecoystem.
Ololo Safari Lodge
Ololo Safari Lodge and Farm is a luxury property on the southern edge of Nairobi National Park.
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.
Ol Donyo Lodge
Ol Donyo is a luxurious and innovative designer safari lodge with magnificent views and excellent walking, riding and wildlife country in its own private conservancy.
Sweetwaters Serena
Sweetwaters Serena is a large, older tented camp – the largest camp in the Laikipia region – in the eastern part of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
Tipilikwani Camp
Tipilikwani Mara Camp is a larger, mid-range tented camp offering good value from its base on the Talek River just outside the Mara National Reserve.
Mara Nyika
Mara Nyika is one of the newer additions to the Naboisho Conservancy and offers a luxurious and exclusive safari.
Saruni Mara
Saruni Mara is a luxurious permanent lodge, on the remote northern edge of the Mara North Conservancy, with stunning views, good guiding and very private and comfortable rooms.
Shimba Lodge
Shimba Lodge is a picturesque tree-hotel overlooking a forest waterhole in Shimba Hills National Park, with an aerial walkway and abundant wildlife.
Serena Beach Resort
Serena Beach Resort is a large beach hotel on Shanzu Beach, north of Mombasa town, on Kenya's Indian Ocean coast.
Mara Bushtops
Mara Bushtops is a luxury safari hotel on a private concession, outside the Maasai Mara National Reserve, with the emphasis on comfort, relaxation and good food and wine.
Kizingo
Kizingo is an owner-managed, rustic, barefoot beach lodge on the southwest tip of Lamu island.
Larsens Tented Camp
Larsen’s Tented Camp is a relaxed and welcoming camp, with 20 sturdy tented rooms, a good pool and a very engaging team of staff.
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.
Mbweha Camp
Mbweha Camp is a well-established safari lodge on private land close to the Nderit Gate of Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya's Great Rift Valley.
Mara Serena Safari Lodge
Mara Serena Safari Lodge is a large safari hotel with views of the Mara River, in the Mara Triangle sector of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Lodo Springs
Lodo Springs is a spectacularly located luxury lodge in a remote spot in the Loisaba Conservancy, sister lodge to Loisaba Tented Camp and Loisaba Star Beds.
Tamarind Village
Tamaarind Village is a well managed apartment complex close to Mombasa city, with excellent restaurants, pools and visitor services.
The Stanley
The Stanley is a large, traditional hotel – the oldest in Nairobi – offering a range of facilities.
Mara Explorer Camp
Mara Explorer is a smart tented camp is in a scenic location on a bend in the Talek River.
Governors' Private Camp
Located on a secluded bend of the Mara River, Governor’s Private Camp has just eight tents and is booked on an exclusive basis.
Tribe
Design-led, contemporary hotel in the Village Market area of Gigiri, a largely diplomatic and luxury residential suburb 10km north of Nairobi’s central business district.
Sanctuary at Ol Lentille
The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille is an unusual safari lodge in northern Laikipia, consisting of three exclusive villas, and offering a huge range of activities.
Palm Shade Camp
Palm Shade Camp is a simple camp for adventurous travellers near the east shore of Lake Turkana.
Entim Camp
Entim Camp is well located in the heart of the Mara National Reserve, offering traditionally styled tented accommodation.
Mara Toto Tree Camp
Mara Toto Tree Camp is located on a wooded bend of the Ntiakatek River, 1km south (as the pied crow flies) from its sister camp, Mara Plains. It's the offspring of the original "Mara Toto" which was swept away in floods.
Naibor Camp
Naibor has a great location in the Mara reserve, and offers accommodation to suit different budgets, with stylish high-end tents and some simpler ones too.
Cottars Private House
Cottar's Private House is one of the few truly luxurious, modern private houses in the Mara ecosystem, spoiling its guests with first-rate staff, a swimming pool and wonderful views.
Governors' Mugie House
Governors' Mugie House – a substantial, luxury safari lodge – is one of only two properties in the Mugie Conservancy in northwestern Laikipia.
Galdessa
Galdessa is Tsavo East National Park’s best safari camp, sitting in a spectacular location on the banks of the broad Galana River.
Angama Amboseli
Angama Amboseli is a luxury safari camp in the long-established Kimana Conservancy, about a 45-minute drive east of Amboseli National Park.
Thomsons Falls Lodge
Thomsons Falls Lodge is a simple hotel dating back to the colonial era, located above the falls of the same name, near the western Laikipia town of Nyahururu.
Ekorian's Mugie Camp
Ekorian's Mugie Camp is a pleasant, family-friendly safari camp in a remote location in northwestern Laikipia.
Swahili Beach
Swahili Beach is one of the biggest resort hotels on Diani Beach, with a spectacular lobby and cascading swimming pool.
Acacia Camp
Acacia Camp is a rustic and affordable safari camp in a wildlife sanctuary a 30-minute drive towards Mombasa from Nairobi’s international airport.
Msambweni Beach House
Msambweni Beach House is a secluded and luxurious boutique hotel on the southern Kenya coast, south of Diani Beach.
Rhino River Camp
Rhino River Camp is a pleasant safari camp nestled in deep forest next to Meru National Park's rhino sanctuary.
Lamu House
Lamu House is a boutique hotel on the waterfront in Lamu town, with a swimming pool, bar and terrace restaurant.
Ishara
Ishara is a highly luxurious safari camp in the Maasai Mara, located on the Talek River, which is one of the best areas in Kenya for wildlife.
The Maji
The Maji is a small, well managed beach hotel on the northern stretch of Diani Beach in southern Kenya.
Island Camp Baringo
The birding magnet of Island Camp Baringo occupies a part of Ol Kokwe Island In Lake Baringo, in the Great Rift Valley in Kenya.
Entumoto
Entumoto is a high-end tented camp, with a swimming pool, situated in a very pretty location on the east side of the Maasai Mara ecosystem.
Kenya holiday styles & special interests
From family adventures to romantic breaks, find ideas here for your perfect Kenya safari
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenya FAQs
At Expert Africa we often get asked the same questions - understandably. It can be hard to imagine how it works when you mix lions and elephants with human beings, or how you'll manage charging your phone out in the bush. Here we try to provide some answers.
Is Kenya crowded with tourists?
Is it safe? What about being in an unfenced safari camp or an open-sided vehicle with animals around?
I’m not sure about safari camping in Kenya. What are the tents like?
What electrical plugs and outlets does Kenya use? Will I be able to charge my phone and batteries?
What about bugs and snakes in Kenya?
Is staying in a safari camp less expensive than staying in a more hotel-like lodge?
What happens if you need to use the loo/have a comfort break while on safari?
Expert Africa's other destinations in Africa
Expert Africa offers tailor-made itineraries to 12 countries in East and Southern and Africa. Click below to see where else we've been - and where you might choose for your next trip.
You might well consider Tanzania, which borders Kenya to the south. It's a good deal larger than Kenya, with a wide variety of national parks, but few conservancies.
Tucked between East and Central Africa lies Rwanda, with its outstanding opportunities to do walking safaris tracking primates in the forest-clad mountain parks, including to meet a family of mountain gorillas.
Or consider Zambia, which stands out for exceptional wildlife and intimate camps. Malawi, to the east, has little visited parks and the crystal waters of Lake Malawi.
Further south, Zimbabwe offers an experience which can be more rustic, but is enhanced by the quality of its safari guides. Botswana, too, typically offers excellent guiding and and the allure of the Okavango Delta.
For an entirely different kind of safari, consider Namibia. Its vast landscapes allow for self-drive adventures. The same applies in South Africa.
If you're thinking of pairing your safari with diving, snorkelling or seaside relaxation, consider Mozambique, Zanzibar or the Seychelles, all of which are outstanding options.
The choices are vast and varied, so contact Expert Africa to craft your perfect safari, wherever that may be.
Botswana
With big game, glamorous lodges and one of the greatest unspoilt wildernesses on Earth, Botswana is perhaps Africa's most exclusive safari destination.
Read more about Botswana
Malawi
With tropical rivers, Rift Valley plateaux, the crystal-clear waters of Lake Malawi and a stunning lakeshore, Malawi invites relaxed exploration.
Read more about Malawi
Mozambique
An ocean paradise protected by world-class marine parks, Mozambique’s idyllic archipelagos offer heavenly hideaways, outstanding diving and laid-back luxury.
Read more about Mozambique
Namibia
Spectacular scenery, diverse wildlife and a rich cultural heritage await discovery by air, with a guide or on a self-drive adventure.
Read more about Namibia
Rwanda
This small, mountainous country offers Africa’s best gorilla treks, other good safari options and a profound human element in every trip.
Read more about Rwanda
Seychelles
The ultimate glamorous getaway: the lush islands of Seychelles are enchantingly beautiful and stylish sanctuaries for both wildlife and ocean-lovers.
Read more about Seychelles
South Africa
Cosmopolitan Cape Town, world-class wineries, brilliant ‘Big Five’ safaris and spectacularly diverse scenery make South African holidays fabulously exciting and enjoyable.
Read more about South Africa
Tanzania
East Africa’s biggest country has a wide range of parks to explore and some of the Indian Ocean’s best island retreats.
Read more about Tanzania
Zambia
Home to walking safaris, exceptional wildlife, superb guiding and the mighty Victoria Falls, Zambia is Africa at its most alluring.
Read more about Zambia
Zanzibar
The ultimate Spice Island: Zanzibar’s mystique, marine life and chic beach retreats make it Africa’s most alluring archipelago.
Read more about Zanzibar
Zimbabwe
Stunning national parks teeming with game, plus Africa's finest professional guides and the spectacular Victoria Falls: Zimbabwe is enthralling.
Read more about ZimbabweElephant safari
in Linyanti
