Safari Experiences in East Africa

The Maasai Mara is Kenya’s best-known reserve. It is part of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, home of the Great Migration. From July to October, more than a million wildebeest and zebra cross the Mara River. Game viewing is excellent all year, with lion, leopard and cheetah seen often. You can add hot air balloon flights, walking safaris and visits to Maasai villages. The private conservancies around the reserve offer fewer vehicles and night drives.

The Lamu Archipelago is a quiet group of islands on Kenya’s north coast. You can snorkel and dive on coral reefs, sail on a traditional dhow at sunset and swim with dolphins. Lamu Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The islands are a popular honeymoon choice and an easy add-on after a Kenya safari, with luxury hotels on Lamu and Manda Island.

Most Kenya safaris start and end in Nairobi. International flights land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Flights to the safari parks, including the Maasai Mara, leave from Wilson Airport across the city.

Nairobi has several good stops for a day before or after your safari. Visit the Giraffe Centre, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage and the Karen Blixen Museum. Nairobi National Park sits on the edge of the city and has lion, rhino, giraffe and zebra, with skyscrapers in the background.

Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast has long white beaches and warm water. Mombasa and Diani Beach are popular with families and offer resorts with plenty of activities. If you prefer privacy, ask us about the smaller boutique beach lodges along the south and north coast.

Amboseli National Park is a short drive from Nairobi. It has the best views of Mount Kilimanjaro, which stands just across the border in Tanzania. The park is famous for its large elephant herds, which gather around the swamps. Amboseli is popular, so you may share sightings with other vehicles, but the views are worth it.

The Laikipia Plateau lies north of Nairobi between Mount Kenya and the Great Rift Valley. It is made up of private ranches and conservancies such as Ol Pejeta, home to the last two northern white rhinos. Lodges here are small and family friendly. Laikipia is ideal if you want a quieter, more exclusive safari with walking, horse riding and night drives.

The Central Highlands are a good choice if you want to avoid the crowds. Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest peak at 5,199 m, rises over the region. Nearby you can visit Meru National Park, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and the forests of Aberdare National Park.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and the Ngare Ndare Forest have been added to the Mount Kenya UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area is known for its rhino conservation work.

Lake Nakuru National Park surrounds a shallow soda lake in the Rift Valley. Flamingos gather on the lake in large numbers when water levels suit them. The park is also one of the best places in Kenya to see both black and white rhino. More than 450 bird species have been recorded here.

Aberdare National Park is one of the most scenic parks in Kenya. It combines high moorland with thick mountain forest, waterfalls and bamboo. Elephant, buffalo and the rare bongo antelope live in the forest, and the birdlife is excellent. Stay at a tree lodge to watch animals visit the waterhole at night.

Amboseli National Park lies at the foot of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro. Its open plains make wildlife easy to spot. The park is best known for its elephants, with some of the largest tuskers in Africa. Join us on an Amboseli safari for close encounters with these giants.

Lake Baringo is a freshwater lake in the northern Rift Valley. It is famous for its birds, with more than 470 species recorded. Take a boat trip to see hippos, crocodiles and fish eagles, visit lakeside villages or stay on one of the lake’s islands. Lake Bogoria, with its hot springs and flamingos, is a short drive away.

Hell’s Gate National Park is near Lake Naivasha, about two hours from Nairobi. It is one of the few parks in Kenya where you can walk and cycle among zebra, giraffe and buffalo. Hike through the Ol Njorowa Gorge, climb Fischer’s Tower and see the geothermal steam vents. It makes a good day trip or stop on the way to the Maasai Mara.

Lake Bogoria is a shallow soda lake at the foot of the Laikipia Escarpment. When conditions are right, thousands of flamingos feed in its waters and turn the shoreline pink. On the western shore you can see hot springs and geysers that shoot boiling water into the air. Look out for greater kudu in the woodland around the lake in the evening.

A walking safari lets you experience the bush on foot, away from the vehicle. You hear the sounds of the plains, learn to read animal tracks and notice the smaller things you miss on a game drive. Our local guides lead each walk and keep you safe. Many walks include a visit to a Maasai village to learn about their traditional way of life. See our Kenya walking safari itineraries.

The Kerio Valley in the Great Rift Valley is one of the best paragliding spots in Africa. Pilots launch from the Elgeyo Escarpment at Iten and glide over the valley floor, often sharing the sky with eagles and hawks. The valley is about 300 km north-west of Nairobi. The best flying conditions are usually from January to early March.

The Maasai Mara National Reserve in Narok County is one of Africa’s greatest safari destinations. It is home to the Big Five and one of the highest densities of big cats in the world. Between July and October, it hosts the Great Migration and its dramatic river crossings. The Mara is a favourite with photographers and offers a chance to meet the Maasai people. See our Maasai Mara safaris.

Meru National Park is one of Kenya’s least-visited parks. It is remote and wild, with rivers, swamps and open grassland. You can see lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and many antelope species, often without other vehicles nearby. Meru is where Joy and George Adamson raised Elsa the lioness, the story told in Born Free.