The Ultimate Guide To A Kenya Safari: Major Attractions, Top Destinations, Things To Do, And More

Kenya is the original home of the safari. The word "safari" is a Swahili word which means "journey". It was first used in the context of wildlife to describe hunting and exploration expeditions into the interior of Kenya by early European explorers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Later on, as the focus shifted from trophy hunting to photographic tours and general wildlife viewing tours, the term "safari" became synonymous with wildlife-focused travel and is now used across Africa and even beyond in countries like India, Brazil, and Chile.

Kenya remains one of the world's most popular wildlife safari destinations due to its exceptional abundance and diversity of wildlife as well as its breath-taking landscapes and varied cultures.

Here we have provided an overview of Kenya as a safari destination in order to give you some insights that will help you plan your trip.

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Major Attractions In Kenya

Some of the biggest attractions for safari-goers in Kenya include:

  • The Big 5 - Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino (both African rhino species - black rhino and white rhino - can be seen in the country, although white rhinos are originally a Southern and Northern African species and were introduced to Kenya in the 1960s to boost conservation efforts).
  • The Great Migration of over 1.5 million wildebeest, zebra, and various antelopes between the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania.
  • Best place to see black panthers in Africa - The melanistic/black leopards, popularly known as "black panthers", of Laikipia, especially a female named Giza Mrembo, have become a major attraction in recent years.
  • The world's last two Northern White Rhinos - Two females, named Najin and Fatu, being cared for by human caretakers at Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The last surviving male, named Sudan, also lived his final days at Ol Pejeta and died in 2018. They all previously lived in a Czech Republic zoo and were brought to Kenya in 2009. This subspecies of white rhino once roamed the Sudan-Guinea Savanna biome north of the Congo Basin but is now extinct in the wild due to poaching and civil war.
  • Super tusker elephants - The Amboseli-Tsavo region of southern Kenya is home to over half of the known remaining "super tusker" elephants in Africa. These are elephants with tusks so long that they almost touch the ground.
  • Climbing Mount Kenya - Africa's second-highest mountain.
  • Stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro - Africa's highest mountain and the world's highest free-standing mountain.
  • Hot air balloon safaris - Mostly in the Masai Mara and Amboseli.
  • The Great Rift Valley - This is one of Africa's most stunning geographic features. It includes several alkaline and freshwater Rift Valley lakes. Lake Turkana in the far north, on the border with Ethiopia, is the world's largest permanent desert lake and the world's largest alkaline lake. It, along with lakes Bogoria, Nakuru, Elementaita, and Logipi, provide crucial habitat for East Africa's populations of Lesser and Greater Flamingos, which often congregate in the hundreds of thousands. Lakes Naivasha and Baringo, both freshwater lakes, have impressive birdlife and are havens for birders. 
  • Rich birdlife - Kenya has the second-highest number of bird species in Africa after the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This makes it a prime birdwatching safari destination.
  • Cultural safaris - Experiencing the traditional ways of life of local ethnic groups. The most popular cutural safari experience in Kenya is visiting traditional Maasai villages. The Maasai people of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania are one of Africa's most famous ethnic groups, renowned for their pastoralist lifestyle and brave lion-hunting tradition (which is not practiced in most areas anymore for conservation reasons, as lions are now a threatened species). Other cultural experiences in Kenya include visiting the Samburu and Pokot of northern Kenya and the Taita of the coastal region.
  • Cradle of Man - Numerous fossil discoveries of prehistoric humans (hominins) have been made in Eastern Africa (most notably in Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia), contributing greatly to our understanding of our distant past. In Kenya, the areas around Lake Turkana and Olorgesailie have made the most contributions to these discoveries. These important fossil sites have museums and are open to visitors.
  • Combining a wildlife safari with a beach holiday - Apart from abundant wildlife, Kenya has a beautiful coastline, offering visitors a great chance to relax and unwind on the beach and experience the coastal cultures and cuisine before flying back home after their safari. There are also opportunities for snorkeling, scuba diving, boat tours, and other activities that allow you to see the country's marine wildlife.

Top Safari Destinations In Kenya

Masai Mara - includes Masai Mara National Reserve, Mara Triangle, and the numerous private/community conservancies

Plays host to the world-famous Great Migration and, together with the neighboring Serengeti in Tanzania, is home to the highest concentration of large mammals in Africa. This includes an abundance of big cats (lion, leopard, cheetah), spotted hyenas, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and antelopes.

The Nile crocodiles of the Mara River are also some of the largest in Africa. Hot air balloon safaris are also a highlight in the Mara, giving you breathtaking views of the sunrise as you float over the savanna with animals roaming below.

Amboseli National Park

Best views of Mount Kilimanjaro with majestic elephants in the foreground, including some of Africa's largest tuskers. A magnificent bull elephant that frequents Amboseli, named Craig, is regarded as the world's largest elephant at the moment. Amboseli is also rich in birdlife and scenic beauty, making it a photographer's paradise.

Tsavo East & Tsavo West National Parks

Large tusker elephants, a vast wilderness, and the scene of the infamous Man-eating Lions of Tsavo saga that played out in the late 1800s during the construction of the Kenya-Uganda railway are what Tsavo is best known for. Tsavo's lions are also interesting in that a number of the males are maneless.

Lake Nakuru National Park

One of the best parks for rhino viewing in East Africa, including both black and white rhinos. Also has diverse birdlife and beautiful fever tree woodlands fringing the lake.

Naivasha (Lake Naivasha, Crescent Island, and Hell's Gate)

This are is great for those who love adventurous outdoor activities. Some of the main activities here include birding, boat riding, horseback riding among wildlife, cycling in the wild, fly fishing, camping, and rock climbing.

Nairobi National Park

World's only national park within a capital city, with four of the Big Five present (elephants are absent, although orphaned baby elephants are cared for at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Elephant Nursery within the park boundaries but fenced from the rest of the park).

This is the only place in the world where you can get photos of wild lions, rhinos, giraffes, and other wildlife with skyscrapers in the background, making for very intriguing shots showcasing the co-existence of modern humanity and the wild natural world.

Samburu, Buffalo Springs, and Shaba National Reserves

This area of semi-arid savanna in nothern Kenya is home to the "Northern Kenya Special Five": Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, beisa oryx, gerenuk, and Somali ostrich. It is a beautiful, wildlife-rich wilderness that has a very different look to the southern savanna areas such as the Masai Mara and Amboseli.

For the bird-lovers, the species found here are also quite different and you'll be able to make many new additions to your species list.

Mount Kenya National Park

One of the main attractions here is climbing Mount Kenya - Africa's second-highest mountain. Home to unique wildlife such as the mountain bongo and giant forest hog. A birder's paradise with numerous special species in the montane forest and moorland.

Aberdare National Park

A long mountain range that is great for hiking and home to similar species to those found on Mount Kenya. Melanistic serval cats and African wild dogs are occasionally seen in the moorlands. Fantastic for birding as well.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

Important rhino sanctuary and some of the best game viewing in northern Kenya. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Mount Kenya and the Ngare Ndare Forest Reserve. Lewa and Ngare Ndare serve as an important migratory corridor that allows elephants to move freely between Mount Kenya and the semi-arid savanna landscapes of northern Kenya (Laikipia, Samburu, and beyond).

Laikipia Plateau

The so-called "Masai Mara of the north", the Laikipia Plateau consists of a mosaic of private wildlife conservancies and ranches and is home to the second-highest wildlife densities in Kenya after the Mara.

Notable attractions include the last two surviving Northern White Rhinos in the world (at Ol Pejeta Conservancy) and the best place to see melanistic/black leopards, also known as "black panthers", in Africa (Laikipia Wilderness Camp).

Meru National Park

A beautiful less-visited wilderness for those looking for a more secluded, remote safari experience. This area and the neighboring Kora National Reserve were the home base of the legendary George and Joy Adamson, made famous by the Born Free film about their lion rescue and rehabilitation efforts in the 20th Century.

Chyulu Hills National Park

Situated between Amboseli and Tsavo West National Parks, this 100-km (62-mile) chain of hills offers visitors exciting safari experiences beyond game drives. These include horseback safaris, mountain biking safaris, bush walks, birding, fly camping, and hide photography.

    Things To Do On Safari In Kenya

    The following are just some of the activities available to safari-goers in Kenya. The list is not exhaustive. Availability of specific activities depends on the destination you visit and/or the tour operator you travel with.

    • Standard game drives - includes morning game drives, afternoon game drives, and full day game drives
    • Night game drives
    • Walking safaris
    • Horseback safaris
    • Remote camping safaris - including mobile camping and fly camping
    • Birding safaris
    • Fly fishing
    • Hot air balloon safaris
    • Helicopter safaris
    • Cultural tours
    • Boat rides
    • Cycling in the wild
    • Mountain climbing
    • Bush breakfasts, bush lunches, bush dinners
    • Sundowners
    • Hide photography
    • Marine wildlife tours
    • Beach holiday - including activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving

    Best Times Of Year To Visit Kenya

    Kenya is an all-year wildlife safari destination, as there is always good game viewing year-round. However, the very best months are the dry season months of July-early October and late December to early March as movement in some areas can be more challenging during the rains.

    The July-October period also coincides with the arrival of the massive herds of the Great Migration into the Masai Mara, including the dramatic river crossings. This is therefore the busiest time of the year in terms of tourism as this is when visitor numbers peak. There is also another small spike in visitors to national parks and reserves in December during the Christmas season.

    If you're keen on seeing the Great Migration, July-early October is the time to visit. But if you're looking for a more quiet safari away from the big crowds, where you have interesting animal sightings to yourself or only shared with a few vehicles, then definitely consider visiting in January-March instead (or April-June and November if you don't mind the rainy season).

    For the birders, the March-May and November-December wet seasons offer the chance to see resident birds in their full breeding plumage. Palearctic migrants from Eurasia are present from October to early May, with November-February being the peak months, so this is the best time to visit if you're keen on getting the longest bird list possible.

    What To Carry On Your Kenya Safari

    Here are some of the key things to pack for your Kenya safari.

    • Kenya lies on the equator, so it is a very sunny country. Sunscreen is useful to carry.
    • A hat and sunglasses
    • Wear comfortable clothing and anticipate mostly warm weather, but it can get cold in the evenings and early mornings so don't forget to pack some warm clothing too.
    • Comfortable walking shoes and open shoes. Carry hiking boots if you plan to do a walking safari or a challenging hike.
    • Insect repellent can also come in handy (although lodges, hotels, and tented camps have mosquito nets in the rooms)
    • Some people also like to take anti-malaria drugs (please consult your doctor)
    • Any other medication you may need depending on your specific medical situation (please consult your doctor)
    • You'll have plenty of great photographic opportunities so a camera is always great to have.
    • Binoculars can help spot distant wildlife, and if you're a birder you already know these are a must-have for you.

    Other Basic Facts About Kenya

    • Size - 580,367 sq. km (224,081 sq. mi)
    • National/Official Languages - English and Swahili
    • Official Currency - Kenyan Shilling (KSh/KES)
    • Capital City - Nairobi
    • No. of Ethnic Groups - 42
    • Rainy Seasons - late March to early June (long rains) and November to mid December (short rains)

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