Kenya is the home of the classic safari, a diverse destination that blends world-class wildlife experiences with beautiful beaches. From the iconic Maasai Mara to the breathtaking Laikipia Plateau, it remains one of Africa’s premier safari locations.
Best month to go
When to Visit Kenya
Kenya’s varied landscapes make it a fantastic year-round destination for both safaris and beach escapes.
Prime months for wildlife viewing are from July to September, during the dry season.
The migration peaks from July to October, with Mara River crossings at their peak from August to October.
Consider visiting in December and January for a perfect mix of adventure and relaxation, without peak-season rates.
Kenya is not only going to deliver some of the best game-viewing on the continent but also offers some great activities for those who want to experience safari outside of the vehicle – think walking, horse riding, fly camping, bike riding, camel rides, swimming in seasonal rivers, all on top of some excellent cultural experiences too. The list is pretty endless!
Lauren LeesClient Experience Manager
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who’s been there
Real expertise doesn’t come from a few trips to Africa. All our specialists have either been guides, run the camps, or grown up and lived in Africa. That’s over 600 years of genuine safari experience.
From July to October, the Maasai Mara hosts one of the most dramatic chapters of the Great Migration. The herds make their perilous river crossings during one of the most challenging periods of the annual cycle, when Nile crocodiles swarm the waters and predator-prey interactions play out on land.
For many travellers, witnessing the migration is the experience of a lifetime. It puts you at the heart of the action, right in front of some of the most intense wildlife scenes on Earth. The spectacle is not just the sheer volume of wildebeest, but the predators-in-wait, including lion, leopard, and cheetah, followed by the vultures that swoop in to scavenge. It really is survival of the fittest. There are many ways to experience this world-famous spectacle, from mobile camps that follow the herds to heli-safaris, hot air balloon rides, and camps located mere moments from the river crossing sites.
Kenya has an impressive selection of national parks and private conservancies, ensuring you’re never far from the wildlife action. The Maasai Mara alone is famed for the dramatic scenes when hundreds of thousands of wildebeest stampede across the Mara River during the Great Migration. Besides this, Big Five game viewing is exceptional year-round, particularly for predators.
You’ll see huge elephant herds in Amboseli and the Chyulu Hills, perhaps even a rare “super tusker” if you’re lucky. Samburu National Reserve has its own unique “Special Five,” while Laikipia’s private conservancies offer a variety of experiences, including horse riding, camel treks, fly camping, and night drives. It’s also an excellent region for exploring local conservation projects. Finally, the Great Rift Valley lakes feature superb birding, alongside sightings of hippo pods and wading crocs!
Kenya captures the timeless romance of safari with its luxurious camps and ever-changing landscapes. It’s an extremely popular honeymoon destination with just the right mix of adventure and exclusivity. Whether you’re seeking a bushcamp adventure miles from nowhere or a laidback beach retreat, Kenya is the perfect choice for a romantic honeymoon safari.
Couples love Kenya for its effortless romance and sense of adventure. Begin your day floating above the Maasai Mara in a sunrise hot air balloon flight, and end it with champagne on your private veranda or a night beneath the stars. Privately guided safaris offer the ultimate way to track the Big Five or follow the Great Migration, perhaps accompanied by a gourmet bush picnic and sundowners at a scenic lookout point. To finish, head to the coast for quality time on the tropical beaches of Diani or Lamu, where lantern-lit dinners and white-sand walks create the perfect end to your honeymoon.
A Big Five destination with a wide choice of accommodations and seemingly endless activities, Kenya is fantastic for families. From game drives, horse riding, and quad biking to guided walks and coastal adventures, Kenya is guaranteed to keep the whole family entertained.
School summer holidays tend to coincide with the most dramatic river crossings of the Great Migration, making Kenya a great choice for a memorable family adventure. Expert guides tune in to the group dynamics and interests, ensuring the focus is always on fun, educational experiences for all ages. Whether you’re tracking big cats, visiting wildlife conservation projects, or learning about its different cultures, there really is something for everyone. Last but not least, a beach add-on in Diani or Lamu brings warm weather, snorkelling, and beach barbecues to the mix. The perfect way to end the family safari of a lifetime.
Join an experienced guide to experience Kenya’s diverse ecosystems from a unique perspective. Kenya’s Laikipia Plateau is our experts’ top pick for an unforgettable Kenya horseback safari, and there are plenty of options for every level of rider.
Whether the Laikipia plains or the rolling Chyulu Hills, exploring the Kenyan wilderness on horseback offers a peaceful, natural way to experience the landscape. You’ll find yourself riding alongside zebra, antelope, and giraffe with Mount Kenya towering in the background, or admiring panoramic views that stretch as far as Mount Kilimanjaro. Roam the plains on a relaxed morning ride at Lewa or choose a week-long expedition with fly camping beneath the stars; either way, a horse riding safari is a truly immersive adventure and a way to connect with the bush and its wildlife from a different perspective.
Kenya allows you to spend time with the Maasai and Samburu tribes, learning about their traditions, ceremonies, and deep connection to the land. Our specialists can recommend genuinely authentic excursions that allow travellers to connect with local communities.
Kenya’s ancient cultural landscape is every bit as fascinating as its wildlife. Many communities live within the conservancies or on national park borders, so your guides are often locals who share profound insight into life in the bush. In and around the Mara and Samburu, there are plenty of opportunities to discover traditions that have thrived for centuries. From visiting a village school or learning key Swahili phrases to the Samburu Singing Wells and seeing a traditional manyatta homestead, the list is endless. Certain camps excel at these experiences, directly supporting local communities through meaningful interaction.
Witness the Maasai Mara’s iconic landscapes and wildlife from a truly awe-inspiring perspective on a hot air balloon trip. Soak in the scenery as you drift across the plains in the soft light of the early morning. This experience is usually topped off with a champagne bush breakfast.
Few experiences compare to wildlife viewing from the air, but a hot air balloon ride is a once-in-a-lifetime. Wake to a hot cup of coffee before driving to the launch site just as the sun begins to rise. Slowly gliding above the plains, you’ll experience the sheer vastness of the Mara, with plains game roaming the golden savanna beneath. You might spot a large herd of elephants by the river and hear them trumpeting below, or see a troop of monkeys clambering through the trees to start their day. It all depends on which way the wind takes you!
Yellow Zebra are genuine specialists; they know the African bush like the back of their hand.
Brian JackmanSafari expert for The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, Condé Nast, and the BBC
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This is major news, given the property’s longstanding status as one of the finest camps in the Maasai Mara with a truly splendid location. Indeed, Wilderness Mara is the only camp that allows guests to access both sides of the Mara River, guaranteeing an…
Kicheche Mara is a small, traditional bushcamp in Kenya’s wildlife-rich Mara North Conservancy, bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Game drives, bush walks, fly camping, and community visits ensure guests receive the perfect balance of wildlife…
Owned and fully hosted by the Dyer family, this eco-lodge offers very comfortable accommodation and has a pleasantly informal atmosphere. In addition to its eight cottages, Borana boasts a private house just 8km from the main site. This is a fantastic option…
A departure from the elaborate ranches and private estates for which Laikipia is known, Laikipia Wilderness Camp offers a great product for those seeking something authentic and unpretentious. Run by excellent veteran safari guide Steve Carey, this is the…
Offbeat Mara Camp is a friendly, unpretentious camp with plenty of character and a fine location in the Mara North Conservancy. Bordering Kenya’s infamous Maasai Mara National Reserve, the area boasts wildlife densities that are truly epic. Night drives are…
Angama Mara is a world-class safari lodge with an enviable location high above Kenya’s iconic Mara Triangle, recognisable from some of the scenes filmed in Out of Africa. The Swahili word ‘Angama’ means ‘to be suspended in mid-air’, aptly so, given the…
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Home of the Craig family, who established Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Lewa Wilderness Lodge is a comfortable, family-friendly lodge surrounded by lawned gardens and the beautiful scenery of the Eastern Marania Valley. A main draw is the scope of activities for…
One of eight camps in the Serian series, Ngare brings all the characteristics of the collection to the riverside. Nestling between the Mara River and the escarpment, the camp’s defining feature is its air of seclusion. If you are after peace and quiet, you…
Service standards at Governors’ are generally exceptional, as the camp prides itself on a personal, attentive and friendly approach. With over forty years’ experience, the camp is rightly confident in its ability to provide memorable experiences! We recommend…
Elsa’s Kopje is highly recommended for travellers to Meru National Park – we reckon it’s the park’s top camp! The range of activities is brilliant and the accommodation is super-stylish. Undoubtedly a big thumbs-up from Yellow Zebra! It is named after the…
Ol Donyo Lodge is one of Kenya’s finest safari products, located on 110,000 hectares of private Maasai-owned land on the edge of Chyulu Hills National Park. Between Tsavo and Amboseli national parks, this area has exquisite biodiversity, with dramatic views…
Ol Seki Mara is listed in the Hemingways portfolio, which is made up of four high-quality properties spanning the Maasai Mara, Nairobi, and Watamu. The name Ol Seki means ‘sandpaper tree’, a tree that symbolises peace and harmony for the Maasai people. And…
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Hemingways River Camp Mara continues the legacy of the iconic Maasai Mara property, formerly Richard's River Camp, built by Richard Roberts. This was originally Richard’s ‘home away from home’, and his wife Liz lovingly selected many of the beautiful…
Kicheche Valley is a permanent tented property, and like its sister camps, Kicheche Laikipia , Kicheche Mara and Kicheche Bush Camp, its small size guarantees superb service – a big thumbs-up from Yellow Zebra! It has won a few safari awards, including a…
The camp is owned and operated by Asilia, a company renowned for its enduring interest in wildlife conservation and habitat restoration as well as, of course, its high-quality accommodation. Overall, Naboisho is a stylish and luxury camp in an awesome area –…
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Roca River Camp is a beautifully located bush camp on the Mara river within Kenya’s infamous Maasai Mara National Reserve. With ten classic canvas tents shaded by a riverine forest overlooking the Mara river, an epic, back-to-nature wildlife experience awaits…
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