Kenya Safari Guide

Why Visit Kenya?

Kenya is the traditional home of the African safari. With famous national parks on either side of the equator, Kenya safaris offer excellence.

Home to the Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, and Samburu, a Kenya safari is all about wildlife. As you travel from Savannahs, across the highlands, and into the rugged beauty of the north, Kenya’s safari attractions include the Big 5, the Samburu Special 5, Amboseli’s elephants, and the Great Migration.

Kenya boasts exceptional attractions, including the David Sheldrick Trust and the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, for those wanting close wildlife encounters and family fun.

With so many Kenya safaris departing from Nairobi, it is worth spending time in the capital to sample contemporary African culture and history. Starting in Nairobi, you can enjoy the city's fine dining and modern museums.

Kenya's cultural landscape includes the Swahili Coast, the Maasai, and the Samburu people, and the Swahili Coast blends Asian, African, and European influences.

From family safaris, romantic honeymoon retreats, and luxury escapes, the home of the African safari is wild and beautiful, offering a fantastic safari experience.

The Great Migration Kenya Safari Experience

The Great Migration of Africa occurs in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve and Tanzania's Serengeti Park. This epic wildlife migration sees nearly 2 million wildebeest, zebras, and antelope cross the rivers and plains of Africa in one of the world's greatest wildlife spectacles. 

As the herds follow the rains for fresh grazing, the drama unfolds with predator encounters, perilous river crossings, and an explosion of new life.

Mobile camping safaris in Masai Mara follow the herds and offer front-row seats to see the Great Migration at its best.

Booking in advance is essential for everything from calving season in the Ndutu Plains to predator action on the vast Seronera savannahs or gripping Grumeti and Mara River crossings.

Read more about the Wildebeest Great Migration in Africa to start planning your Kenya safari in Masai Mara.

Bucket List Kenya Safari Destinations

Kenya is big game country, full of bucket list safari destinations.

Masai Mara is the top Kenya safari destination. It hosts the Great Migration from July to August, and the Mara River crossing is a popular spot.

Masai Mara safaris combine well with Amboseli’s elephant-rich landscape that offers impressive views of Kilimanjaro. Other attractions in the south include Tsavo, Chyulu Hills, and Nairobi National Park.

To the north of Nairobi are a handful of excellent African safari destinations. The Aberdares provide a highland experience, while Hell’s Gate, Lake Nakuru, and the Laikipia Plateau – home of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy - are excellent stopovers on the way to the rugged northern parks.

Buffalo Springs and Samburu National Park are rugged and arid, home to a unique group of birds and animals, including the Samburu special 5.

Here is a list of 5 Kenyan national parks you must visit.

Mount Kilimanjaro Views

Amboseli National Park offers the most breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro in neighboring Tanzania.

Africa’s highest peak, and the highest free-standing mountain in the world, is best viewed from Kenya.

While elephants and other wildlife graze, early mornings offer the clearest views of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The Gateway to East Africa

A Kenya safari is easy to combine with other East African destinations.

By air or overland, Nairobi is the major East African travel hub, making access to a Tanzania safari, Zanzibar, Rwanda, and Uganda affordable and accessible.

While a Tanzania safari includes the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire, Uganda and Rwanda safaris offer the opportunity to go gorilla trekking. Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda are the most accessible gorilla trekking destinations in Africa.

Kenyan beaches are among the best in Africa for bush and beach breaks. Read The Ultimate Beach Bucket List to see what East African safari and beach getaways can offer.

Need Help Planning Your Kenya Safari?

Kenya is one of Africa’s finest safari destinations.

From short safaris to iconic destinations like the Masai Mara and Amboseli to longer itineraries that visit East Africa’s safari highlights and hidden gems, African Budget Safaris offers a wide range of Kenya safari packages for every traveler.

To speak to an experienced East African safari expert, contact African Budget Safaris. Let us help you plan your tailor-made Kenya safari on a budget.

When is the Best Time to Visit Kenya?

The best time to visit Kenya for wildlife safaris is from June to October. This is peak tourist season when Africa's Great Migration in Masai Mara is in full swing. The weather is dry and mild now, making it ideal for a Kenya safari.

However, with its diverse geography, Kenya is a year-round safari destination.

January to March

This is one of the best times for Kenya safaris.

Peak summer means warm, dry weather, good game viewing, and excellent beach getaways along the Swahili Coast.

February is the best time to climb Mount Kenya as conditions are dry while animals congregate around water sources in the Masai Mara. You will have to wait till June for the Great Migration to arrive.

March is a transition month with fewer tourists and increasingly wet weather.

April and May in Kenya

The long rainy season runs from April to May.

Travelling can be difficult due to the heavy rains. However, lush, vibrant landscapes and dramatic skies are a photographer's dream.

The weather is not ideal for the beach, but April and May are perfect for budget Kenya safaris.

June to August: Peak Kenya Safari Season

As the dry season returns, Kenya’s peak safari season begins.

June to August marks the arrival of the Great Migration in the Masai Mara. Visitors can see the Mara River crossing in late July, one of Africa’s most dramatic wildlife spectacles. In Amboseli, Tsavo, and Samburu, game viewing is at its best as animals seek permanent water and the bush thins. By August, the Great Migration in Kenya is at its peak.

The mild temperatures and clear skies make July to August the best time for a Kenya safari.

September and October

September and October offer excellent wildlife viewing but with fewer tourists than the peak Kenya safari months.

The dry season continues, and while the herds continue to thrive in September, by October, the wildebeest migration begins to disperse.

There is enough resident wildlife in the Kenya national parks to make these rewarding safari months without the peak season crowds.

November and December in Kenya

In November, occasional showers mark the start of the short rains in Kenya.

In December, heat and humidity increase, punctuated by daily rain. Wildlife viewing is still good, and this is a great time for birdwatching as the seasonal migrants arrive.

Lower prices and intimate safaris are popular with budget safari travelers at this time of year.