Kenya
The Mara, Amboseli and the Rift Valley lakes
Classic savanna safaris: big cats and herds in the Maasai Mara, elephants under Kilimanjaro in Amboseli, and rhinos and flamingos at Lake Nakuru.
Why Kenya
Kenya is the classic picture of a safari: open grassland, acacia trees and large herds. The Maasai Mara in the southwest is the best-known reserve, and our itineraries also visit Lake Nakuru in the Rift Valley and Amboseli beneath Mount Kilimanjaro.
Combining Kenya
Our 12-day itinerary drives from Kenya into northern Tanzania via the Namanga border, and our seven-day trip pairs the Mara with gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
Parks and places
- Amboseli National ParkKnown for large elephant herds with Mount Kilimanjaro rising behind them across the border. Early mornings give the clearest views of the mountain before clouds build.
- Lake Nakuru National ParkA Rift Valley lake park fenced as a rhino sanctuary, with both black and white rhinos. Flamingo numbers on the lake rise and fall with water levels from year to year.
- Maasai Mara National ReserveKenya's best-known reserve, open grassland in the southwest that continues into Tanzania's Serengeti. Big cats and large herds are seen all year, and the wildebeest migration usually passes through between about July and October.
- Mount Kenya National ParkAfrica's second-highest mountain, rising through forest and moorland to glaciers. Options range from walks on the lower slopes to multi-day climbs.
- Nairobi National ParkOpen plains on the edge of Kenya's capital, with lions, rhinos and giraffes in front of the city skyline. A good first or last game drive near the international airport.
- Samburu National ReserveA dry northern reserve along the Ewaso Ng'iro River, with species rarely seen further south, such as Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe and gerenuk.
- Tsavo East National ParkOne of Kenya's largest parks, a wide red-earth landscape between Nairobi and the coast, known for its elephants. One of Kenya's largest parks, it is known for its wide open plains, the Galana River and elephants coloured red by the local earth.
Kenya safaris
Practical information
- Entry
Most visitors must apply online for authorization before travel. Check the official Kenya eTA site for current rules for your passport.
- Time zone
East Africa Time (EAT), UTC+3.
- Getting there
Most international flights land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi.
- Health
Vaccination and malaria advice depends on your health and itinerary. Check the CDC's current guidance for Kenya and talk to a travel clinic at least six weeks before you go.
Source: CDC Travelers' Health: Kenya
- Travel advice
Read your government's current travel advice for Kenya before you book and again before you travel.
Source: U.S. State Department: Kenya
Kenya questions
When is the wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara?
The herds usually move into the Mara between about July and October, but timing changes with the rains each year. The Mara has resident wildlife all year, so a safari works outside migration season too.