Explore Kenya

Highlights of Kenya

Kenya’s unique landscapes, varying from striking peaks like Mount Kenya to the Great Rift Valley, serve as majestic backdrops for some of the continent’s most abundant game viewing. Share your swimming pool with elephants in Amboseli, hike alongside Samburu warriors in Laikipia or witness the Great MIgration engulf the plains of the Masai Mara.

Masai Mara

The Masai Mara is perhaps the world’s most recognizable safari park name. This giant reserve, divided with Tanzania’s Serengeti only by a political border, offers exceptional year-round wildlife. The experience is even more pronounced every July to October as the Great Migration makes its way north from the Serengeti, prompting over one million wildebeest to cross through the Mara River and bringing with it massive numbers of predators waiting to be spotted.

Laikipia Plateau

With breathtaking views of Mount Kenya just to the south, the Laikipia Plateau is a successful conservation story. Laikipia, meaning “treeless plains” in local Maasai language, reinvented itself from a region primarily driven by farming to become one of Kenya’s top game parks, with impressive Big 5 viewing and a sizable share of the country’s endangered species populations. Laikipia’s focus on conservancy lends itself to smaller lodges and camps, meaning less crowds despite boasting wildlife just as vibrant as the Mara’s. Within Laikipia are some of Kenya’s most renowned conservancies including Loisaba, Lewa, Ol Peteja and Ol Dogi.

Amboseli & Tsavo West

Amboseli National Park lies on Kenya’s southern border with plains making their way to the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. Amboseli and nearby Tsavo West National Park are both widely known for their elephant populations, home to some of the largest in the world. Beyond the elephants are plenty of opportunities for additional coveted sightings, including predators like cheetah, leopard and lion.

Samburu

To the north of Laikipia lies the Samburu Game Reserve, set on the banks of the Ewaso Ngiro River. This arid region of Kenya provides a unique complement to the greener landscapes found in the south. In addition to boasting all major predators (both cats and dogs), this smaller park is also home to its own Samburu “Special 5”: reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Gerenuk antelope Somali ostrich and Beisa oryx..

Travel Guide

Kenya is perhaps the most accessible country for North Americans in search of safari. Thanks to nonstop flights from New York to Nairobi via Kenya Airways, Kenya is ideal for those with limited time to spend in the bush. One-stop flights from North America via all major European and Middle Eastern airlines also facilitate quick and easy logistics.

For those with more time, Tanzania is the natural choice for a combination itinerary. There are several land border crossings between the two countries in addition to multiple daily flights. Uganda or Rwanda can also be added to complement traditional safari with gorilla tracking and along with Kenya are members of the East Africa Visa program, allowing tourists to apply for a single visa for entry into any of the three nations.

Kenya has wonderful beaches like Diani to the south or the famed island of Lamu. Many travelers will also consider nearby Seychelles or Zanzibar to end their trip, taking advantage of multiple nonstop flight options to either island.