Want to go for Kenya safaris tours/wildlife safaris in Kenya.
This East African country is where African safaris were born back in the early 20th century. And Kenya safaris tours take you to this land of sweeping savannahs populated by charismatic mega-fauna, including the Big Five and Big Cats.
Kenya’s landscape is stunning with Rift Valley lakes in the center, semi-deserts in the north, dense forests in the west, and tropical beaches in the east. Most of Kenya safari bucket-list begins with the Great Wildebeest Migration in the Masai Mara.
Kenya safaris tours, though, offers so much more, from experiencing the authentic culture of the Maasai, seeing Amboseli’s huge elephants against the backdrop of Africa’s tallest mountain to cycling with wildlife in Hell’s Gate National Park.
Plus, you can easily combine your Kenya safari vacation with gorilla-trekking adventures in Uganda or Rwanda, or even a tropical beach holiday overlooking the turquoise blue waters and fluttering palm trees of the warm Indian Ocean.
Best Kenya Safaris Tours Destinations
1. Masai Mara
The Maasai Mara National Reserve in the southeast corner of Kenya is the country’s premier tourism showpiece and one of Africa’s best-loved safari destinations. It forms part of the vast unfenced Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, including neighbouring private conservancies in Kenya and the larger Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
The reserve is named in honour of its ancestral inhabitants, the Maasai people, and their fitting description of the landscape when viewed from afar – ‘Mara’ means spotted in the Maa language, referring to how the area is dotted with acacia trees, indentations and craters
Masai Mara is home to 95 species of mammal. So, expect a year-round wealth of wildlife, from cheetahs, leopards, lions, hyenas to elephant, rhino and buffalo, giraffe, gazelles, ostriches, topi and more. The Mara is also famously home to the annual great migration of wildebeest and zebra between July and November. See them kick up dust as they move in search of grass to graze and water to drink with predators on their trail. Experience the drama of Mara river crossings that pit them against hungry crocodiles.
2. Samburu National Reserve
Named after the Samburu people, nomadic pastoralists, and a warrior people for whom this region is home, Samburu National Reserve is the most popular safari destination in northern Kenya.
It is situated in Samburu County near the snow-capped Mount Kenya and north of the Laikipia Plateau. This area is a semi-arid land that is steeped in culture and traditions, where humans, livestock, and wildlife walk side by side, sharing precious resources.
The reserve features the iconic and rarely seen ‘Samburu Special five’ – Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich. These unique and rare animals are relatively common in Samburu, making your safari here extremely rewarding. You can also expect to see elephants, cheetahs, lions, leopards, buffalos, hippos, and various antelope species. Samburu was the home of Joy and George Adamson, who famously raised and released into the wild several lions, made famous by the movie ‘Born Free’, featuring Elsa the Lioness.
3. Amboseli National Park
Situated in southern Kenya near Tanzania, Amboseli National Park is Kenya’s most famous national park after Masai Mara. The park covers just 392km2 in Kajiado County. It is one of the most beautiful places in Africa. It is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants and the best views of the majestic Mt Kilimanjaro (5895m) – Africa’s tallest mountain.
If you’re looking for that iconic safari photograph of long-tusked elephants on dry savannah plains with Africa’s highest mountain as a backdrop, Amboseli is the place to snap it.
4. Tsavo National Parks
Made up of two national parks, Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park, Tsavo in southwest Kenya has something captivating – a feeling of vast space and ancient magic of the truly wild. Red soils stain the leathery skins of its giant tusked elephants, and the sight of a herd of red elephants is one not easily forgotten.
The beauty of Tsavo landscape captured the heart of Denys Finch Hatton (‘Out of Africa’ – Karen Blixen’s lover) in a way no other wild space (or woman) ever had. It was here that he was killed when the plane he was piloting crashed. From untimely deaths to legendary man-eating lions and poaching wars, Tsavo has not had the easiest road.
But now, combined, Tsavo East and West account for the largest of Kenya’s protected spaces (over 2 million hectares) and one of the world’s largest protected wilderness areas. Named after Tsavo River, this massive Big 5 ecosystem lies between Nairobi and Mombasa, the country’s main port city.
This location is the reason behind the division of Tsavo East and West – they’re split by both railways and the Nairobi-Mombasa Road, which sees the movement of around 50% of goods traded in East Africa. Tsavo is also a great safari stop-off on a city-to-coast vacation.
5. Ol Pejeta Wildlife Conservancy
Ol Pejeta Conservancy is situated in the Laikipia Plateau on the foothills of Mount Kenya. It is a great 362 km2 not-for-profit wildlife sanctuary that is home to our planet’s last two northern white rhinos and around 140 critically endangered Black rhinos; the biggest population of Black Rhino in East Africa.
Ol Pejeta generates income through wildlife tourism and complementary enterprises, which it re-invest in conservation and community development. Besides being a sanctuary for the 2 northern white rhinos and 140 black rhinos, 39 southern white rhinos, Ol Pejeta contain all other Big 5 animals of Africa.
It has one of the highest densities of predators in Kenya; over 100 spotted Hyenas, 70 Lions, 20 Leopards, 30 cheetahs, 33 African painted wolves (wild dogs), Black-backed jackals, Serval cats, Caracal, and Bat-eared foxes. Ol Pejeta also has a sanctuary that houses abandoned, orphaned, and rescued chimpanzees. It is Kenya’s only place where you can see these highly intelligent apes that share about 98.6% of our DNA and are considered our closest genetic cousins. Ol Pejeta also boasts over 500 bird species.
6. Lake Nakuru National Park
The UNESCO listed site Lake Nakuru National Park is one of the most beautiful parks in Kenya. The the park is situated on the floor of the Great Rift Valley. It is characterized by acacia forests, waterfalls, and high ridges and the views promise to wow. Lake Nakuru is located about 3-hour drive from Nairobi city.
What is special about Lake Nakuru National Park is the good population of wildlife in a contained area where sightings are as reliable as you could hope for. Nakuru is a birder’s paradise and was once famed for its mega-flock of flamingos (sometimes more than 1.8 million of them at one time), which covered the lake in a blanket of pink plumes.
But, since the major flooding of 2014, few flamingos choose to feed or breed here anymore. Aside from flamingos, Lake Nakuru has a glorious roster of 450 bird species to enjoy, from pelicans, waterfowl, and fish eagles to Verreaux’s eagle.
As well as prolific birdlife, the park has over 50 mammal species. It is a great destination to see white and black rhinos, as well as Cape buffalo, African wild dog, Plains Zebra, Common Eland, Defassa waterbuck, and Lion. The high frequency of leopard sightings and the rare Rothschild’s giraffe has made Nakuru famous in recent years.
Baboons, Impalas, colobus monkeys, hyenas, zebras, gazelles, and pythons are also among the abundance of wildlife here. Lake Nakuru National Park. It offers amazing game drives, bird watching, hiking, and a picnic in one day.
7. Lake Naivasha National Park
Lake Naivasha is one of the prettiest and most accessible national parks in Kenya near Nairobi city (about 2-hour drive). The park features a deep blue freshwater lake. The lake is encircled by forests of acacia and distinctive yellow-green fever tree. They are teeming with bird life, and the lake is a world-class bird watching destination.
There is other Kenya wildlife, too: Buffalo, Giraffe, Monkey, Antelopes, and a large hippo population. The naturalist Joy Adamson resided on Lake Naivasha shores with her husband George. Together, they raised the lion cub known as Elsa the Lioness.
The story became an award-winning book and film, Born Free. Their former home/residence, Elsamere, is now a museum and conservation and field study center.
8. Hell’s Gate National Park
Also a unique part of Africa’s Great Rift Valley is the dramatic landscape of Hell’s Gate National Park, one of the most atmospheric national parks in Uganda. Unlike its Kenya safari counterparts, the park has no predators. And its appeal comes from the beautiful scenery that was formed millions of years ago by geothermal activity.
In fact, this is how the park came to be known as Hell’s Gate. Geothermal steam rises up from the ground in an epic landscape of soaring cliffs, bursting gorges, dusty valleys, and pristinely sculpted volcanic columns. While wildlife is not the primary attraction of Hell’s Gate National Park, the park is home to zebras, buffalos, antelopes, and baboons.
Included among its 100 bird species are vultures and Verreaux’s eagles. You will also sometimes spot raptors that have built their nests in the cliffs. Despite its intimidating name, you can enjoy some popular activities. The park is particularly popular with hikers, rock climbers, and cyclists. If you’re a fan of the move “Lion King”, the rock formation at Hell’s Gate Gorge is what inspired Pride Rock.
Other Kenya safari locations may be larger and wilder, but Hell’s Gate National Park is a natural playground where you can enjoy all the activities and save a little bit on cheaper entry fees.
9. Aberdare National Park
Aberdare National Park is a place to appreciate nature over wildlife in the cooler climes of the central highlands. It is perhaps the most distinctive of national parks in Kenya. Though you will see wildlife, Aberdare is primarily known for its outstanding natural beauty, which consists of misty forests and river valleys. The higher moorlands, sometimes called the High Park are perfect for hiking.
The national park was established in 1950 to protect the Aberdare Mountains, which descends into the Rift Valley. It is a landscape of dense forest, steep ravines, open moorland, and thundering waterfalls. Wildlife inhabitants of the park include black rhinos, elephants, baboons, colobus monkeys, buffalo, and the elusive leopard. Birdwatchers are also in for a treat, as over 250 species have been sighted and recorded.
The park is also rich in history. It was the location of the now closed Treetops Lodge, where Princess Elizabeth found out she would become Queen of the United Kingdom in 1952 after the early death of her father. In the 1950s, the dense Aberdare Forest hid Kenya’s Kikuyu Mau Mau guerrillas during their struggle against European colonization. You need a good 4WD vehicle if you’re heading to Aberdare National Park.
10. Mount Kenya National Park
If you are a climber or a hiker, Africa second highest mountain (5199m), the snow-capped Mount Kenya, deserves a spot near the top of your travel list. Mount Kenya National Park has great wild camping along some of the lesser-used trails, and rock climbing adventures on the lower peaks. The national park also has a 10 kilometer hike up to the Met Station if you only have time for a day hike.
This UNESCO World Heritage site is pure joy to explore, with its ecosystem of lakes, glaciers, mineral springs, and Afro-Alpine Vegetation. You are in for sweeping views of high ridges, deep valleys, and dense forest slowly becoming glacial terrain as you go higher into the park. Mount Kenya is home to mongoose, elephant, bushbuck, eland and colobus monkeys. But it is the walking trails and scenery that are its biggest attraction.
Mt Kenya located in the Laikipia Plateau, which is a network of conservancies mostly managed by local communities, so it is an excellent region for community-based tourism accommodations.
11. Lake Turkana National Parks
South Island, Central Island and Sibiloi National Parks – make up the UNESCO World Heritage listed Lake Turkana National Parks. These parks surround the vivid greenish-blue Lake Turkana, the largest permanent desert lake in the world. This are is ideal for the adventurous traveler on Kenya safaris.
It is vast, volcanic, hot, dry, and windy. Its surreal scenery looks out of this world. It resembles the surface of Mars. The Central Island National Park features of 3 active volcanoes and 3 crater lakes. Here you will encounter the largest concentration of Nile crocodiles in the world, plus enormous Nile perch and tilapia fish.
You will see zebras, hyenas, kudu – and if you’re lucky, lions, cheetahs, and leopards. The South Island National Park is covered in volcanic ash. The park has become a breeding ground for more than 20 bird species and a large crocodile population. Lake Turkana hosts one of biggest cultural festivals in Kenya.
The 3-day Lake Turkana Festival in Loyangalani on the southeastern coast of the lake celebrates the heritage of the communities that live here, who fish in the Lake Turkana basin, and whose languages and cultures require the same preservation as the environment.
12. Meru And Kora National Parks
Meru and Kora National Parks in the Great Rift Valley are the perfect places to visit if you are looking for rugged, remote, and pristine landscapes. These Kenya national parks have vast grasslands, thorny bush, gushing rivers, and thick jungle. And you will find Elephants, Grevy’s zebras, Cape buffalo, Hippopotamus, and Masai giraffes – plus over 420 species of birds.
The parks’ landscape, with huge swathes of savanna, dries out in the dry season. So, staying cool and hydrated is important. A good 8-hour drive from Nairobi city, Meru and Kora are some of the more off-the-beaten-track national parks in Kenya.
13. Nairobi National Park
Established in 1946, Nairobi National Park was first national park in Kenya. It is also only national park in the world within a city. Some travelers even manage to get in a few wildlife sightings on their way to or from the airport. It is where you can be on open savannah plains and still see the skyscrapers of Nairobi city in the distance. Among the park’s acacia bush is a variety of game, including buffalo, lions, leopards, and the endangered black rhino.
Nairobi National Park has a successful rhino conservation program that has restocked other national parks in Kenya through their breeding program. As in many national parks in Kenya, the birdlife is prolific, with over 400 species recorded. The park has designated spots for picnics, walking trails around the hippo pools, and campsites.
So, it is a viable choice for a day trip in Kenya or overnight if you do not have time to travel farther. Also inside Nairobi National Park is the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a rhino and elephant sanctuary. The sanctuary retains links with Tsavo National Park where David Sheldrick worked as an anti-poaching warden. Visitors to the sanctuary can see the Trust’s rescue and rehabilitation program in practice and watch the elephants and rhinos at feeding time, from a distance.
Kenya Safari Packages
3 Days Masai Mara Safari Kenya
Day 1: Drive from Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve, Afternoon Game Drive.
Day 2: Extensive Game Drive in Masai Mara Game Reserve & Evening Cultural Tour to a Traditional Masai Village.
Day 3: Morning Game Drive in Masai Mara, Drive Back to Nairobi.
3 Days Amboseli National Park Safari
Day 1: Drive from Nairobi to Amboseli National Park, Game Drive
Day 2: Extensive Morning & Afternoon Game Drives in Amboseli
Day 3: Morning Game Drive & Transfer Back To Nairobi
4 Days Masai Mara Kenya Safari
Day 1: Drive from Nairobi to Maasai Mara, afternoon game drive.
Day 3: Full-day game drive in Masai Mara – Optional hot air balloon safari
Day 4: Game drive & Masai Village Cultural Experience
Day 5: Sunrise game drive & Return to Nairobi
4 Days Kenya Safari To Masai Mara & Lake Nakuru
Day 1: Visit Lake Nakuru National Park for a game drive.
Day 2: Travel to Maasai Mara Game Reserve, afternoon game drive.
Day 3: Full-day game drive in Maasai Mara. Optional Maasai Village Cultural Tour
Day 4: Sunrise game drive and travel back to Nairobi.
5 Days Kenya Safari: Masai Mara & Nakuru
Day 1: Travel To Lake Nakuru National Park for Game Drive and Birding
Day 2: Visit Maasai Mara Game Reserve, after game drive
Day 3: Full-day game drives in Maasai Mara. Optional hot air balloon ride.
Day 4: Half-day game drive in Masai Mara & Evening Maasai Cultural Encounter
Day 5: Morning Game Drive, Drive Back Nairobi & Depart Kenya.
6 Days Kenya Safari Tour
Day 1: Visit Lake Nakuru National Park for Game Drive.
Day 2: Tour Lake Naivasha for a Boat Tour, Natural Walk, & Relaxation.
Day 3: Transfer to Maasai Mara, Afternoon Game Drive.
Day 4: Full-Day Game Drive in Maasai Mara
Day 5: Game Drive Masai Mara & Masai Village Cultural Tour
Day 6: Morning Game Drive, Return To Nairobi.
6 Days Kenya Wildlife Safari
Day 1: Drive from Nairobi to Masai Mara; afternoon game drive.
Day 2: Full-day game drive in Masai Mara
Day 3: Transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park, evening game drive.
Day 4: Travel to Amboseli & enjoy an evening game drive.
Day 5: Full day game drive in Amboseli National Park
Day 6: Enjoy a sunrise game drive & Return to Nairobi
7 Days Kenya Safari
Day 1: Drive from Nairobi to Samburu Reserve for game drive.
Day 2: Full-day game drive in Samburu
Day 3: Visit Lake Nakuru National Park, afternoon game drive
Day 4: Travel to Maasai Mara & enjoy an afternoon game drive.
Day 5: Full-day game drive in Maasai Mara
Day 6: Morning game drive & afternoon Masai Cultural Experience
Day 7: Enjoy a sunrise game drive & Return to Nairobi
8 Days Kenya Safari
Day 1: Transfer to Samburu, Afternoon Game Drive.
Day 2: Full-day game drive in Samburu National Reserve
Day 3: Transfer to Lake Nakuru for Bird Watching & Game Drive
Day 4: Transfer to Lake Naivasha & Whole Day Relaxation
Day 5: Transfer To Maasai Mara, afternoon game drive.
Day 6: Full day game drive in Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Day 7: Morning game drive & afternoon Maasai Cultural experience
Day 8: Morning game drive in Masai Mara & Transfer Back to Nairobi
9 Days Kenya Safari
Day 1: Visit Samburu; Afternoon Game Drive.
Day 2: Full-Day Game Drive in Samburu National Reserve
Day 3: Explore Ol Pejeta Conservancy & Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Day 4: Full-Day Safari in Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Day 5: Travel to Lake Nakuru NP, an Afternoon Game Drive
Day 6: Tour Masai Mara, Afternoon Game Drive
Day 7: Full-Day Game Drive in Masai Mara Reserve
Day 8: Game Drive Masai Mara & Maasai Village Visit.
Day 9: Morning Game Drive. Travel Back To Nairobi
10 Days Safari In Kenya
Day 1: Visit Samburu National Reserve,Game Drive.
Day 2: Full Day Game Drives in Samburu
Day 3: Explore Ol Pejeta & Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
Day 4: Full Day Wildlife Safari in Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Day 5: Visit Lake Nakuru Park, Afternoon Game Drive.
Day 6: Transfer to Lake Naivasha, Boat Tour & Nature walk
Day 7: Travel To Maasai Mara & Do An Afternoon Game Drive.
Day 8: Full day Masai Mara Safari
Day 9: Masai Mara safari & Maasai Cultural Experience.
Day 10: Sunrise game drive. Travel back Drive Back To Nairobi.
10 Days Kenya Safari Holiday
Day 1: Nairobi – Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 2: Masai Mara
Day 3: Masai Mara – Lake Nakuru National Park
Day 4: Nakuru – Amboseli National Park
Day 5: Amboseli National Park – Diani Beach
Day 6-9: Diani Beach Holiday
Day 10: End Of Vacation