Kenya Safaris & Tours – Wildlife, Parks, Culture & Holiday Travel Guide

Ultimate Kenya Safari Guide

Kenya is every traveler’s dream destination. The country is found in East Africa, bordered by Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, the Indian Ocean, Somalia, and Tanzania.

The capital of Kenya is Nairobi, and it’s known as one of the world’s largest capitals.

About Kenya

Kenya is a country located in East Africa with a coastline along the Indian Ocean. The country boasts 50 national parks and reserves, making it one of the world’s best safari destinations.

The great Masai Mara game reserve provides visitors with one of the world’s natural wonders: the great Wildebeest migration, which takes place annually.

Kenya is not only famous for its wildlife viewing experience but is also home to the world’s long-distance runners. It hosts the world’s largest desert lake, called Lake Turkana, found in northern Kenya, and it is also home to Africa’s second-highest mountain.

Kenyan people are very friendly and hospitable, with different ethnic groups speaking over 60 languages, although the national language is Kiswahili.

Why Visit Kenya

Best Wildlife Safari Encounters

Kenya is one of the best wildlife viewing destinations in the world, with over 50 national parks and reserves providing unique and unforgettable wildlife watching opportunities for tourists.

Each national park offers something unique to tourists, such as the wildebeest migration at Masai Mara game reserve.

An African Birder’s Paradise

Kenya is home to 1,157 species of birds, 11 of which are endemic, making it a prime destination for bird enthusiasts.

Perfect Mountaineering Destination

Kenya is home to Africa’s second-highest mountain and the highest mountain in the country.

One of the many reasons to visit the country is that Kenya has over 20 mountains where visitors can enjoy mountain climbing and hiking.

What to Do in Kenya

Mountain Climbing and Hiking Trips in Kenya

Mountain climbing and hiking are among the tourist activities you can enjoy in Kenya.

Some of the mountains you can explore include Mount Kenya, Mount Kulal, Ngong Hills, Mount Menengai, Mount Elgon, Mount Satima, Mount Kinangop, Mount Chebon, Mount Nakugen, and Mount Chepkotet.

Birding Adventures in Kenya

Kenya is a birder’s paradise with over 1,000 species of birds recorded.

Some examples include the white-browed coucal, Klaas’s cuckoo, great spotted cuckoo, Hartlaub’s turaco, white-crested turaco, broad-billed roller, lilac-breasted roller, white-winged collared bird, speckled mousebird, woolly-necked stork, striped crake, black-crowned crane, and red-eyed dove.

Wildlife Safaris in Kenya

Each of Kenya’s wildlife national parks provides visitors with a thrilling wildlife experience through game drives, hot air balloon safaris, boat cruises, and guided nature walks.

Wildlife you will see in Kenyan national parks includes rhinos, lions, leopards, zebras, cheetahs, cape buffalos, African bush elephants, elands, roan antelopes, impalas, genets, African wild dogs, striped and spotted hyenas, and many others.

Beach Holidays in Kenya

Kenya has a coastline along the Indian Ocean. The turquoise blue waters and white sand beaches provide a perfect holiday for water lovers with activities such as marine wildlife watching, snorkeling, skiing, scuba diving, swimming, boat cruises, windsurfing, and more.

Visit the People on Community Tours – Masai People & More

Tourists interested in learning about different cultures and ways of life will not be disappointed in Kenya.

There are many tribes in the country with unique traditional beliefs and lifestyles, ranging from the famous Masai people, Samburu people, Turkana people, Kikuyu people, Wakisi people, and many others.

While on a wildlife safari, you can visit neighboring communities and learn more about them.

When to Visit Kenya

Kenya is an all-year-round destination, meaning travelers can visit the country any time of the year, although some months are better than others:

June to September and December to February

These are dry seasons in Kenya, favorable for wildlife watching, mountain climbing, and hiking.

During this time, the hiking trails are not muddy or slippery, and the weather is good for photography and uninterrupted excellent views.

Wildlife in the national parks also concentrates around water holes, and the vegetation is not thick, making game drives easier.

November to April

For bird enthusiasts, the best time to visit Kenya is from November to April when migratory birds from North Africa and Europe are present in the parks.

Popular Kenya Safari Parks

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park is located in Kajiado County in Kenya. It was gazetted as a reserve in 1906 and later upgraded to a national park in 1974.

Amboseli National Park is famous for being the best place in the world for coming close to free-ranging elephants and also providing superb views of Africa’s highest mountain.

Tsavo East National Park

Tsavo East National Park, known as the land of red elephants, is located in Voi, covering an area of 13,747 square kilometers.

The park is also home to Old Stone Age, Middle Stone Age, and Early Stone Age sites. This is one of the best places for wildlife watching in Kenya.

Tsavo West National Park

Tsavo West National Park is also situated in the coastal province of Kenya, adjoining Tsavo East National Park.

It’s a perfect destination for travelers who want to experience the African wilderness and the white sand beaches of Mombasa.

Aberdare National Park

Aberdare National Park was established in 1950, covering an area of 767 square kilometers east of the Rift Valley.

The park was mainly established to protect the Aberdare mountain ranges and its wildlife. It’s home to about 250 species of birds.

Chyulu Hills National Park

The beautiful Chyulu Hills National Park is located in the Tsavo region of Kenya, renowned for its 100-kilometer volcanic field and Leviathan Cave, believed to be one of the longest caves in Africa.

Chyulu Hills is a perfect destination for hiking, birding, and photography.

Mombasa Marine National Park

Mombasa Marine National Park is one of the most visited marine national parks in Kenya.

It harbors a variety of marine species such as crabs, stonefish, starfish, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, turtles, and corals.

There are many water activities you can do at the park, including snorkeling, diving, water skiing, and windsurfing.

Meru National Park

Meru National Park is famously known for being one of the areas where conservationists George and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the lioness, which inspired the bestselling book and award-winning movie “Born Free.”

The park is also a birder’s paradise with over 400 species of birds recorded.

Lake Naivasha National Park

Lake Naivasha National Park derives its name from Lake Naivasha, which dominates the park.

The word Naivasha is derived from a local Maasai word “Naiposha,” translated to mean rough water.

Lake Naivasha National Park is a perfect weekend getaway from Nairobi with lots of activities to do, such as boat cruises, birding, wildlife watching, and climbing Mount Longonot.

Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park is renowned for millions of flamingos that call the lake home, and it’s a gem for bird enthusiasts with over 400 species of birds recorded.

Other wildlife can also be seen in Lake Nakuru National Park, including the endangered rhino and Rothschild’s giraffes.

Hell’s Gate National Park

The spectacular Hell’s Gate National Park, just like the name, derives its name from a narrow break in the cliffs.

It’s one of Kenya’s national parks established in 1984. The park can be visited on a day tour from Nairobi, offering rewarding scenic views, wildlife watching, hiking, guided nature walks, biking, birding, and more.

Mount Kenya National Park

Mount Kenya National Park is home to the country’s highest mountain and the second-highest mountain in Africa.

It was established to protect Mount Kenya, its surrounding areas, and wildlife.

The main activities carried out at the park are mountain climbing and hiking.

Ruma National Park

Ruma National Park is home to the last retreat of roan antelopes in Kenya.

Ruma was first gazetted as a reserve in 1966 and later upgraded to a national park, renamed Ruma National Park after one of Kenya’s powerful wizards who lived around the park.

Sibiloi National Park

The unique Sibiloi National Park is situated on the shores of Lake Turkana.

The park was mainly established to protect its rare wildlife species and paleontological sites found within the park.

In 1997, Sibiloi National Park was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Central Island National Park

Central Island National Park, also known as Crocodile Island, is composed of three crater lakes: Tilapia Lake, Crocodile Lake, and Flamingo Lake.

Central Island is one of the most unique yet less visited game parks in Kenya.

The park doesn’t have accommodation, but there are established campsites where visitors can sleep.

Kora National Park

Kora National Park was first gazetted as a nature reserve in 1973 but later upgraded to a national park after the murder of George Adamson by poachers.

Kora National Park teems with wildlife such as lions, leopards, serval cats, spotted and striped hyenas, cheetahs, African bush elephants, genets, hippos, and more.

Malka Mari National Park

Malka Mari is one of the least visited national parks in Kenya, located at the Kenya-Ethiopia border.

The plants at Malka Mari National Park are unique to the area, and it’s also home to some unique bird species and various wildlife species.

Watamu Marine National Park

Watamu Marine National Park was one of the country’s first marine national parks, established in 1968.

The park is renowned for its abundant fish species, with about 600 species recorded.

It’s also home to 110 stony coral species, not forgetting abundant marine life.

Malindi Marine National Park

Malindi Marine National Park is a protected area south of Malindi town on the Indian Ocean.

This is the oldest marine national park in Africa, established to protect its marine life.

There are many activities to do at the park, such as snorkeling, diving, water skiing, windsurfing, and more.

Getting a Kenya Visa

The government of Kenya requires that all international tourists visiting the country obtain a Kenyan e-visa online before entering.

Children under the age of 16 are exempted from obtaining a visa, while adults need to visit the website, fill in and submit their applications, pay using debit, Visa card, or MasterCard, and then wait for an approval email.

If the application is approved, you will be sent the e-visa on your e-citizen account for printing.

There are different types of visas: single entry visa, multiple entry visa, transit visa, diplomatic visa, referred visa, five-year visa, and East African tourist visa.

Most Popular National Parks in Kenya

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park is one of the most famous national parks in Kenya, known for being the best place in the world to get close to free-ranging elephants.

It is also the best place for viewing Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, as the saying goes: “The mountain is in Tanzania, but the views are in Kenya!”

Nairobi National Park

Nairobi National Park is located just on the outskirts of Nairobi city center, which is why the city is known as the world’s wildlife capital. Despite being close to the city, Nairobi National Park offers tourists excellent wildlife viewing, comparable to other national parks in remote areas.

Safety

Kenya is considered one of the safest tourism destinations in the world.

Nevertheless, all tourists should be cautious and follow personal safety tips just as they would in their own countries.

People & Culture

The people of Kenya can be divided into three main language groups: Bantu, Afro-Asiatic, and Nilo-Saharan, each subdivided into many other smaller tribes. The people of Kenya are hospitable and welcoming.

The many tribes in Kenya mean multiple cultures and traditions. There is no dominant or prominent culture in Kenya, but each tribe has its own unique traditional way of life and beliefs.

You can learn about these different cultures while on a safari in Kenyan national parks by visiting the local communities living around the parks.