Region
The Maasai Mara
Kenya's flagship reserve and the stage for the Great Migration: rolling grasslands dotted with acacias, the highest density of big cats in Africa, and the thundering river crossings of July to October.
Destinations · Africa
Kenya.
The great migration, snow-capped Kilimanjaro & the Swahili coast.
Scroll
The country
Few countries deliver the drama of the wild quite like Kenya. In the space of a single trip you can watch a lion stride past your vehicle on the plains of the Maasai Mara, breakfast within sight of snow-capped Kilimanjaro as elephants cross the marsh below, and finish with your toes in the warm Indian Ocean on a palm-fringed beach south of Mombasa.
This is the birthplace of the safari, and the rhythm of a Kenyan day is built around the light. Mornings begin before dawn with coffee by the fire and a game drive into the cool, golden hours when the predators are still on the move; the heat of midday is for long lunches and a rest back at camp; and the afternoon drive carries you to a sundowner on the savanna as the sky turns to fire. Between the wildlife, the warmth of Kenyan and Maasai hospitality is the thread that ties it all together.
We design Kenya itineraries that balance the headline reserves with the quieter conservancies and the coast: a private fly-in camp in the heart of the Mara, a morning tracking elephants beneath Kilimanjaro, a dhow at sunset off Diani. However you want to travel it, we build the route so each stop has room to breathe.
- Capital
- Nairobi
- Currency
- Kenyan shilling
- Ideal trip
- 8–12 nights
- Best for
- Safari, wildlife & the coast
When to go
The best time to visit Kenya.
Kenya runs on two dry seasons and two wet ones, and the safari peaks track the dry months — above all the Mara crossings of late summer. This is the year as we'd sketch it across the desk.
July–October
The grand prize: the dry season coincides with the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara, when vast herds of wildebeest brave the crocodile-filled Mara River. Game viewing is at its best across the country, so book the marquee camps well ahead.
January–February
A short, sunny dry spell between the rains: lush green plains, excellent big-cat sightings, newborn animals and clear views of Kilimanjaro from Amboseli, all with fewer crowds than the migration months.
June & November
The shoulder months on either side of the migration peak and the short rains. Skies are mostly clear, the landscapes are green and rates are softer, a fine value window for a first safari.
March–May
The long rains bring afternoon downpours, lush scenery and the lowest prices of the year. Some camps close and roads can be muddy, but the green-season birding and solitude reward flexible travelers.
Where to go
The regions of Kenya.
Kenya packs an astonishing range of landscapes into a single country, from the open plains of the Mara to the snows of Kilimanjaro and the coral coast. These are the regions we weave together most often, each with its own wildlife, scenery and pace, and we shape the route and the internal flights around the rhythm you have in mind.
Region
Amboseli
The classic image of safari Africa: great herds of elephants crossing the marshes beneath the snow-capped dome of Mount Kilimanjaro, with some of the finest tuskers and big-sky views on the continent.
Region
The Rift Valley Lakes
A string of soda and freshwater lakes along the Great Rift Valley: flamingo-pink shallows at Nakuru, the hippos and birdlife of Naivasha, and dramatic escarpment views over the valley floor.
Region
Samburu & Laikipia
The rugged, arid north, home to species found nowhere else in Kenya, from Grevy's zebra to the reticulated giraffe, plus the pioneering private conservancies of the Laikipia plateau.
Region
Mombasa & the Diani Coast
The Swahili coast on the warm Indian Ocean: powder-white sand and turquoise water at Diani, the old town and spice-scented history of Mombasa, and dhows drifting out over the coral reef.
A sample journey
One way to spend a week in Kenya.
-
1 Day 1Nairobi
Arrive in the capital and settle in, with time for the celebrated Sheldrick elephant orphanage and the Giraffe Centre, or a long lunch at a garden restaurant, before an early night ahead of your first flight into the bush.
-
2 Days 2–3Amboseli
Fly south to Amboseli for the classic image of safari Africa: great herds of elephants crossing the marshes beneath the snows of Kilimanjaro, with the mountain at its clearest in the cool of dawn and dusk.
-
3 Day 4The Rift Valley lakes
Travel up into the Great Rift Valley for a change of scene: flamingo-pink shallows and rhino at Lake Nakuru, or a boat among the hippos at Naivasha, with dramatic escarpment views over the valley floor.
-
4 Days 5–7The Maasai Mara
On to the headline of the trip: the rolling plains of the Mara, with its unrivaled big cats and, from July to October, the drama of the Great Migration and its river crossings. Stay in a private conservancy for walking safaris and night drives.
-
5 Days 8–10Diani Beach
Finish on the Indian Ocean: a flight to the Swahili coast and the powder-white sand of Diani, for snorkeling and diving on the reef, a sunset dhow cruise and a few unhurried days to unwind after the safari.
Every itinerary we build is bespoke: this is a starting point, not a package.
Getting around
- By light aircraft
- The network of bush airstrips is the backbone of a Kenyan safari, sparing you long days on rough roads and dropping you straight into the wildlife. A camp vehicle is waiting on the airstrip as you land.
- By open-sided 4x4
- Within each reserve you explore by 4x4 with a guide who reads the bush and positions you for the best sightings. The private conservancies also allow walking, night drives and off-road tracking the parks do not.
- By road with a driver-guide
- For travelers who prefer the ground, a private driver-guide links the highlands and the Rift Valley in a custom safari vehicle. It is the unhurried way to watch the country change.
- By train to the coast
- The scenic standard-gauge line runs down to the Swahili coast in about five hours. An easy alternative to the short flight when you want to see the country in between.
Where to stay
- The Maasai Mara
- We favor intimate tented camps inside the private conservancies that border the reserve, where you trade the crowds of the central Mara for exclusive game-viewing, walking safaris and night drives, all with the canvas-and-lantern romance of a classic safari camp.
- Amboseli
- A handful of tented camps and lodges look straight out at Kilimanjaro, the best of them on the community group ranches outside the park, with elephants on the doorstep and the mountain glowing pink at dawn.
- Samburu & Laikipia
- The northern conservancies are home to some of Kenya's most characterful lodges, from riverside tented camps in Samburu to legendary Laikipia ranches with horse riding, rhino tracking and sweeping views of Mount Kenya.
- The coast
- After the bush we love to finish on the Indian Ocean: a barefoot-luxury beach resort or a private villa along Diani, or a boutique hideaway in the historic, Swahili-flavored corners of the coast around Mombasa.
The light-aircraft flights, airstrip transfers, expert guides and any train tickets are all arranged as part of every itinerary — the logistics are handled before you arrive.
Good to know
Kenya travel questions.
How many days do you need for a Kenya safari?+
Eight to twelve nights is the sweet spot. A week or so comfortably links two or three reserves, such as Amboseli and the Maasai Mara, by light aircraft; closer to two weeks lets you add the northern conservancies of Samburu or Laikipia and finish with a few days unwinding on the Indian Ocean coast.
When is the best time to visit Kenya?+
The dry months of July to October are prime, coinciding with the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara and the best game viewing of the year. January and February are another excellent window, with lush green plains, clear views of Kilimanjaro and fewer crowds. The long rains of March to May are quieter and greener, with the lowest prices.
When can I see the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara?+
The migration reaches the Kenyan side of the ecosystem roughly from July to October, when the herds cross from the Serengeti and brave the crocodile-filled Mara River. The exact timing shifts each year with the rains, so we plan migration trips around the most reliable weeks and base you where the action is most likely.
Do we fly or drive between the parks?+
For most itineraries we fly. Light aircraft link Nairobi to the Mara, Amboseli, Samburu and the coast in under an hour each, sparing you long days on rough roads and maximizing your time with the wildlife. A private road safari is a fine option for travelers who prefer to stay on the ground and want to see the country between the reserves, and we often combine the two.
Can we combine a safari with the beach?+
Absolutely, and it is one of our favorite ways to end a Kenya trip. After the bush, a short flight carries you to the Swahili coast and the white sand of Diani or the historic corners around Mombasa, for snorkeling and diving on the reef, sunset dhow cruises and a few unhurried days to relax before the flight home.
Ways to Explore
How to travel Kenya.
Tailormade Trips
A private journey designed entirely around you, your pace, and your people.
Cruises
River, ocean and expedition voyages, from the Danube to Antarctica.
Escorted Tours
Expertly guided, end to end, with the world's finest local operators.
All-Inclusive
Effortless resort escapes; we cut through the haze to the right one.
Let's begin
Design your
Kenya escape.
Tell us your travel dates and what you love, and we'll handle every detail.
Plan Your Trip