Safaris in Kenya
Kenya as a safari destination is one of Africa’s nature crème de la crème. Featuring an impossible number of game parks, reserves, sanctuaries, gorgeous sceneries of both land and ocean to one’s heart’s content, is the ultimate African prize. The best time to experience all this goodness is in the warm months of January to march, July to October. This period gives full access to everything the wilds have to offer.
The famous Masai Mara wildebeest migration happens in the July to October, seeing massive herds of over 1.5million wildebeest cross the Mara river in a dramatic flourish. The herds arrive in in mid-July to August looking for pasture and water. They begin crossing the river with a high-volume peak in late august to September.
Featured Safaris
Best Kenya Safaris
8 Days Kenya Safari
Overview This perfectly tailored 8 days Kenya safari provides a journey through the country’s most...
5 Days awesome Kenya Safari (Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara)
Overview To be happier than ever you need a 4 days Rwanda chimps and gorilla...
3 Days Masai Mara Safari
Overview Go to southwestern Kenya for a 3 days Masai Mara safari and an encounter...
WHAT TO DO
Best Activities in Kenya
The safaris facilitating this fascinating view are:
Mara triangle safaris where there is a higher concentration of wildlife and much better chances of seeing the wildebeest cross.
Hot air balloon safaris provide the best view of this fest-aerial view. Safe and cocooned above the land, with binoculars in hand, camera hanging on the neck, this buffet spreads like a welcoming hug of large numbered herds and river crossings.
Mara River Crossing safaris, located in the northern Mara, gives the top-notch premium game experience in all the of Mara, mostly in the months of late July to august.
Private Conservancy safaris, adjacent to the Mara Nyika game reserve, offers exclusive viewing luxury with less crowd’s obstruction.
WHEN TO TRAVEL
More Game Spots to Visit on the Kenyan Tourism
Maasai Mara national reserve.
The reserve is famous for the annual wildebeest and a very high concentration of the big 5 game (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, buffaloes), the usual genetic make-up of top destination national parks. It borders Serengeti national park of Tanzania, that receives the wildebeest after the crocodile-infested Mara river crossing. The reserve is named in honor of the ancestral Maasai people, some of them live near the reserve which gives cultural immersive experience.
Amboseli national park.
Located in the southern Kenya near the Tanzanian border, is made up of rolling plains, swamps, wetlands with iconic, scenic backdrop of the majestic mountain Kilimanjaro. It is known for the ‘super tusker’ elephants, zebras, leopards, lions, giraffes, cheetahs with over 400 bird species. The best time to visit this stunning spot is in the dry season months of June to October for wildlife safaris, while November caters for bird watching.
Lake Nakuru national park.
This is Kenya’s supreme bird watching spot, the colorful vast numbered pink flamingoes known as ‘the greatest bird spectacle on earth’ call the alkaline lake home as well as over 450 species of birds. It is also a revered rhino sanctuary with endangered white and black rhinos. the acacia woodlands and the sprawling savannahs offer game viewing of endangered Rothschild giraffes, baboons, buffaloes, zebras, leopards and lions.
Samburu national reserve.
Found in the arid climate of northern Kenya, is a wildlife sanctuary centered around river Ewaso Ng’iro as its main water source, forming an ecosystem with the neighboring Buffalo Spring National Reserve, Shaba National Reserve. Home to over 450 bird species, ‘Samburu Special 5’ adapted to the dry landscape, are also found on the wildlife game card and these are; Somali ostrich, Beisa oryx, Gerenuk, Grevy’s zebra, Reticulated giraffe. It also serves as a lion conservation unit with a big number of lions and leopard sightings. Perfect for game drives and safaris.
Tsavo East and West National park.
It is the largest protected game area in Kenya with approximately 22,000km of land split into two halves of west and east in 1948, lying on a green canopied mountainous terrain with volcanic features like Mzima springs, Shetani lava flows, Galana river, Yatta plateau that stretches over 290km with the longest lava flow, Aruba dam and Mudanda rock.
It is famous for the red dusted elephants found near river Galana, the “big 5” of the savannah, not forgetting the historical man-eaters of Tsavo(lions), black rhinos, leopards, buffaloes. It also serves as a historical site like Lugard falls, over 500 bird species for bird watchers.
Mountain Kenya national park.
This is a UNESCO world heritage site, protecting the fauna and flora of Africa’s second highest mountain (5,199m). It features a picturesque scenery of alpine moorlands, dense bamboo forests and glaciers. The best time to visit the park is in the dry season months of January-February, august-September. The most famous activities done on this volcanic mountain goldmine are
- Climbing and trekking on the three peaks Nelion (5,188m), Batian (5,199m) and Lenana (4,985m). with seven routes, common ones being Naro Moru from the western side of the mountain, which is known for being the fastest route with directness.
Sirimon, the gentlest route from north west with the most beautiful view of the mountain’s lush vegetation spread down below. Chogoria route from the eastern side, offers the most popular routes where different groups of hikers are likely to meet several times.
- Game drives and safaris; the park offers a variety of wildlife species like elephants, buffalo, leopards (in the low bamboo forests), black-fronted duikers along with uniquely colored alpine flora like
- Bird watching with over 130 different species of birds including Jackson’s francolin and eagles.
Beach safaris.
Another safari to look out for is the Beach safaris of Mombasa. Mombasa is the main Seagate of East Africa as well as the main and is accessible by road, rail and air service. Going back to a little history, Mombasa is a coastal city that borders the Indian ocean. Dubbed “home of brilliant beaches” with white and blue architecture, it is a former major trading port in the Portuguese rule era with Fort Jesus. This makes it a rich historical site.
This safari offers a wide range of intertwining land with easy access to most of Kenya’s national parks like Tsavo, Amboseli among other and sea experiences like Mombasa town tour to see the breathtaking architecture of the past, cultural tours in the Giriama and Digo villages where coastal tribal dances, food and way of life are experienced. Shimba hills tour with the famous Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary (MES) is located, along with other game like impalas, bushbucks, cape buffaloes, warthogs, sables among others. Malindi and Gedi tour offers a 3rd century archeological ruins in the middle of a dense forest for the history lovers
Leisure activities after high energy wild life drives like Swimming, snorkeling, diving, kite surfing, exploring marine parks like Kisite Mpunguti, high-end sea and local cuisine dining on the various dhows while the gentle waves lull one into pure relaxation. Kenya is truly home to savannah and sea heaven. Nothing less than the best.