Where to Go for safari in Kenya
Discover some of our top National parks and reserves. Kenya is the ideal safari vacation.
Widely regarded as the “home of the safari,” Kenya has welcomed tourists for many years to enjoy its amazing wildlife. It has a wide network of 54 national parks and game reserves to its name, all of which are gems in its bursting crown. These parks and attractions range in size and notoriety, from the well-known and well-known Masai Mara National Park with its superb Big Five wildlife watching to the less developed Meru National Park with its more untamed wilderness setting.
This implies that, whatever your preferences and financial constraints, we can choose the ideal location for you to finish your African safari adventure in the supreme traditional safari location. You may learn more about each of the national parks and what to anticipate there by reading the material provided here.
Amboseli National Park
In Southern Kenya’s lies one of our top national parks called Amboseli National Park, which is surrounded by the magnificently towering Mount Kilimanjaro, abundant game species may be found roaming the plains. This culminates in some of Africa’s most distinctive and iconic photographs, framed by the silhouette of the continent’s tallest peak. It is understandable that this is one of Kenya’s most alluring regions for safari exploration. It can get busy during the peak months between July and October due to the fantastic year-round sightings and such desirable landscapes. Amboseli is a relatively small park compared to other parks in Kenya, covering a total area of 392 square kilometres inside the Rift Valley Province. It is located an hour’s flight from Nairobi or four hours by car due southeast.
It’s true that the region is among the greatest in Africa for up-close viewing of giant bull elephants and family groups of elephants, which is why it’s sometimes referred to as “Africa’s Elephant Park.” In addition, there are 56 other species of animals that have been identified in the park, including Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, impala, eland, buffalo, hartebeest, giraffe, wild dog, and white-bearded wildebeest. Big cats like the lion, cheetah, and hyena may also be present, depending on your luck.
Kenyan Coast
The renowned Kenyan coastline is a site of unfathomable beauty where rocky wildness meets the sparkling waves of the Indian Ocean. Traders previously viewed the region as a preferred location to exchange spices because of the mild trade winds that allowed traditional dhow boats to travel between Arabia and India. The Swahili culture that resulted from this heady mash-up of imported and indigenous influences from Africa, Arabia, and Asia would go on to become Kenya’s most widely spoken language. After your safari experience is complete, this melting pot of people and cultures may still be felt and experienced along with well protected marine life, an amazing offshore coral reef system, beautiful beaches, and bird-filled mangroves.
Kenya’s second-largest city is Mombasa, which also serves as the entry point to some of the region’s best beaches and resorts. Despite Mombasa’s extensive mass tourism development, we highlight the spots that best capture the beauty and tranquilly of the region, away from the tourist hordes. A calm resort with an amazing coral reef and Swahili influences, Watamu Bay is a little coastal town two hours north of Mombasa. It also boasts a National aquatic Park, a popular day-trip choice for snorkelling and viewing the teeming aquatic life.
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi national park is one of the top national parks that is located in Kenya’s capital Nairobi. At the turn of the 20th century, Kenya’s capital city in the central highlands was an unknown and uninhabited swampy areas. Today, it is a huge metropolis that is one of Africa’s largest and best known cities. While the native Maasai called it Ewaso Nai’beri, meaning “place of cold water,” when railway workers established a camp here in 1899, it was given the name “Mile 327.” With its lofty location 1,800 metres above sea level, modern Nairobi is a city of skyscrapers and hustle and bustle. Before or after setting off on a safari to see Kenya’s animals and beaches, it might be a terrific spot to get used to living in Africa.
There are frequently concerns about Nairobi’s security, and while it is true that it is best to avoid strolling around the city at night, security patrols make it simpler during the day to explore, sightsee, and shop in the city while still exercising typical caution. The Karen neighbourhood has larger homes, spacious avenues bordered with trees and country house hotels. It is also generally extremely safe. In addition to being a well-run tribute to the author of “Out of Africa,” the Karen Blixen Museum is frequently of interest. Karen herself resided here from 1914 to 1931. The museum houses artefacts like the actual gramophone Blixen used to play Mozart and the estate grounds, which resemble a coffee plantation in the early 20th century. The Giraffe Centre, run by the African Fund for Endangered natural, provides even additional natural attraction. It was built to preserve Rothschild Giraffes and to inform the public about the need to save these well-known animals.
This is the greatest wildlife show on earth, taking place on a global stage where the raw and unrestricted reality of nature is played out. It is a location known for adventure and discovery. Predators are never far away thanks to the savannah’s abundant game, which includes wildebeest, zebra, and Thomson’s gazelle. The savannah also exudes a strong sense of raw energy. Its vast rolling grasslands are divided by riverine woodlands. Despite the fact that some locations are notoriously over-travelled, the lodges we’ve chosen can nevertheless provide thrilling safaris and amazing animal sightings. The Masai Mara is more than just a wildlife park; it is renowned as Africa’s largest wildlife reserve.
Africa at its best. Game drives are a staple of African safaris, and for good reason: because to safari jeeps’ flexibility, visitors can observe a range of animals while going between several wildlife hotspots inside your chosen reserve. The Masai Mara, with its huge landmasses and robust populations of lions, hippos, zebra, elephants, and gazelles, to name a few species, is no exception. On the other hand, touring the Masai Mara on foot offers an entirely unique safari experience.
Few people leave their cars when they visit this well-known reserve, yet strolling through the bush allows you to truly appreciate the wonders of this ecosystem. You’ll be able to travel further along game trails in this pristine wilderness, following in the footsteps of elephants while taking in the sights and sounds of the Masai Mara instead of the droning hum of a passing automobile. A great choice for tourists looking to fully immerse themselves in nature is a walking safari in the Masai Mara.
Lake Naivasha
The lake is a well-liked weekend getaway location for local city inhabitants because it is only one and a half hours by car from Nairobi. Lake Naivasha is a 13-kilometer-long lake that is surrounded by papyrus plants. Its depth is only five metres, making it relatively shallow, but it is heavily dependent on rainfall, so the lake’s size can shift in response to climatic changes. The lake is often calmer in the morning, although afternoon breezes can produce stronger waves. Fish eagles, herons, kingfishers, ospreys, and black crakes are just a few of the many fish-eating birds that the lake near Naivasha draws. Ornithologists frequently visit the area for this reason. You can see some of the creatures that emerge at dawn to graze on the lake’s shore.
The Hell’s Gate National Park is one of our top national parks and reserves that is situated just south of the lake, gets its name from the two red-hued cliffs that welcome guests into its alluring geothermal interior. There are several hiking paths in this area, which is perfect for exploring on foot through its savannah ecology. If you’re lucky, you might see a leopard, here in addition to more than 100 different bird species, Thomson’s gazelle, eland, zebra, and buffalo.
Maasai Mara National Reserve and Conservancies
This is a well-known location for adventure and discovery, and it serves as a venue for the world’s greatest wildlife show, which depicts the ruthless and unrestrained reality of nature. Predators are never far away because to the savannah’s fertile rolling grasslands and riverine forests, which also draw abundant wildlife like Thomson’s gazelle, zebra, and wildebeest. This ensures that the savannah is alive with raw energy. Even if certain locations are notoriously over-travelled, the camps we’ve chosen nevertheless offer the chance to enjoy thrilling Kenya safaris and amazing wildlife sightings tours. The Masai Mara is renowned as Africa’s largest wildlife reserve, and it is much more than just a wildlife park. Africa at its best.
Laikipia Plateau
The Laikipia Plateau is a beautiful, less-travelled region that is frequently referred to as the entryway to Northern Kenya. It is a two million-acre wilderness area that is home to the Samburu, Kikuyu, and Borana tribes. The distinctive and diverse environments here produce breathtakingly beautiful scenery, from desert plains to cold highlands and sweeping hills, making it a great choice for the discriminating safari enthusiast seeking something real, off the beaten path. Lewa is also a fantastic site to see the Big Five wildlife while avoiding the crowds because it is thought that 10% of Kenya’s black rhino population resides here. The reticulated giraffe, Jackson’s hartebeest, Grevy’s zebra, and many more northern game species can be found here.
The only place with expanding wild dog populations, as well as expanding populations of leopard, lion, rhino, elephant, and many other game species. This has been made possible in large part by the innovative efforts of the Laikipia community and the Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF), which was founded to support conservation efforts throughout the district’s private reserves. Below are the regions of Laikipia that have our choice of opulent lodges, carefully picked to round up your safari experience. These areas are divided into major conservancies.