Kenya is acclaimed as one of Africa’s premier safari destinations. With a population of approximately 47.6 million people (reported figures as of 2017) and over 40 tribes, Kenya spans the equator in East Africa and is bordered by Tanzania (south), Uganda (west), Sudan (northwest), Ethiopia (north) and Somalia (north-east).
Its 550 kilometre (341 mile) coastline to the east is lapped by the warm Indian Ocean, with its highest point being Mount Kenya (5 199 metres/17 057 feet).
With a country size of approximately 586 600 square kilometres (224 445 square miles – almost the size of Texas and slightly larger than France.
One of Kenya’s most spectacular geological features is the Great Rift Valley which passes through the country – an approximate 6 000 kilometre (3 700 mile) fracture in the crust of the earth, running in a series of valleys from Syria to Mozambique.
Kenya’s biodiversity is fascinating. Endless savannah plains and scorched deserts are interrupted by snow-capped mountains, cool highlands and equatorial forests.
The scenic coastline possesses the atmosphere of a paradise island and is sprinkled with colourful coral reefs. Annually, the country plays host to the remarkable phenomenon of the wildebeest migration, the largest single movement of herd animals on the planet. The open savannah grasslands also teem with plains game and roaming predators year round.
These diverse habitats offer endless opportunities for adventures, new discoveries and relaxation. In addition, it is home to Lake Victoria, the second largest freshwater lake in the world – renowned for its safaris and wildlife reserves. The annual migration of millions of wildebeest and other herbivores, plus the predators that follow, between the Masai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti is world famous, attracting many visitors.
Wait a minute. Can I travel to Kenya?
For most nationalities the overwhelming answer is YES! We suggest using this site as your guide to getting the right travel documentation and understanding up-to-date travel requirements based on your country of departure. An independent resource, this site is not sponsored by, affiliated with or funded by any government agency. Our team of experienced travel planners will be on hand to assist you with anything you may need throughout your safari leaving you to simply enjoy all that this beautiful country has to offer.
You Must see
Where does one even begin to answer that question in a country which holds so many wonderful experiences and iconic destinations? Here's our list of places you must see and experiences you should add to your bucket-list itinerary.
The Great Migration
Kenya’s part in the world famous Great Migration, where thousands upon thousands of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle make their legendary 1,800 mile round trek, starts around July/August time when the animals arrive from the Serengeti in Tanzania.
The Great Migration sees the arrival roughly 1.6 million wildebeest, 500 000 odd Zebra and countless Thompsons Gazelle in one of earth’s greatest wildlife spectacles. Witnessing the famed river crossings, where thousands of animals cross the Mara River in search of nutrient-rich grasslands truly is a spectacle to behold.
Come mid October, the wildebeest and zebra have normally left the Mara plains, and are on their way back down to the southern plains of the Serengeti again in order to calve.
We believe that our very own Wild Eye Mara Camp, situated on the banks of the Mara River in the Mara Triangle Conservancy, provides one of the best bases from which to experience this spectacle.
Amboseli National Park
Located about a four-hour drive (240 km or 150 miles) southeast of Nairobi, Amboseli National Park is well known for its herds of big tusked elephants. A scenic park in its own right, Amboseli is synonymous with two particular things – majestic herds of elephant and glorious views of Mount Kilimanjaro in neighbouring Tanzania.
The 5,891 m summit of Kilimanjaro - the world’s tallest freestanding mountain, and Africa’s highest peak - actually stands within Tanzania, but the finest views of it are to be had from Amboseli. For much of the day, the volcanically-formed mountain is rendered invisible by a shroud of clouds, but this usually lifts at dusk and dawn to reveal the iconic snow-capped peak rising a full 5 km above the dusty plains in all its breathtaking glory.
Kenya’s second most popular national park after the Masai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli was declared a UNESCO-Mab Biosphere Reserve in 1991. During heavy rains, the basin at the centre of the park floods, attracting hordes of wildlife.
Giraffe Manor
Within the city limits of Nairobi you'll find one of the most incredible small hotels you've ever come across. Built in 1932, it's steeped in fascinating history and was around during the times of African icons such as Karen Blixen & Peter Beard. Their long-legged inhabitants have been around since the 1970's and it's for these exact reasons and more that we are in love with this special property.
The hotel can accommodate 29 visitors in 12 rooms. It's small, intimate, and all about experience and privacy. It will cater to all your needs and more and is the perfect, peaceful hub from which to explore Nairobi and the surroundings. That is of course if you can find space at the hotel. It's incredibly popular and almost always fully booked, well in advance. It was bought by Tanya and Mikey Carr-Hartly in 2009 and ever since has been transformed into one of the most popular and recognized hotels in the world.
Giraffe Manor is aptly named. It has a resident herd of Rothchild's Giraffe, the main attraction and reason for its popularity. If you're lucky, the giraffes will interact with you during the morning and evenings and the resulting images and experience are the exact reason why Giraffe Manor has become so popular over the past decade.
The White Sands of Diani Beach
Stretching along Kenya's Indian Ocean coast like a ribbon of brilliant white, Diani Beach is a gorgeous setting for a beach vacation. Against the backdrop of forests echoing with the cries of wildlife, visitors can relax in a truly idyllic destination.
Kenya's eastern coastline on the Indian Ocean is prized for its clear blue waters, sandy beaches, and many outdoor sporting activities. Diani Beach is a renowned beach resort 30km south of Mombasa which sees thousands of sun-drenched tourists each year. Here you can swim in the shallow waters, snorkel among colorful reefs, dive in deep sea canyons, or try your hand at kitesurfing. There are also many restaurants and bars which cater to international tastes at Diani Beach.
The Kenya Wildlife Service oversees the protection of the waters to ensure a healthy reef environment and help visitors to better enjoy its natural beauty. The park is brimming with marine life, including 250 species of fish, dolphins, sea turtles, and whales. This is the perfect way to end any safari experience in Kenya!
Climate and Seasons in Kenya
Climate Kenya’s diverse geography means that temperature, rainfall and humidity vary widely, however, there are effectively four distinct zones:
- The plateau of western Kenya has rainfall throughout the year, the highest volumes being in April and lowest in January. Temperatures range from a minimum of 14°C to a maximum of 36°C throughout the year.
- The temperate Rift Valley and Central Highlands has rainfall in essentially two seasons – March to the beginning of June (the ‘long rains’) and October to the end of November (the ‘short rains’). Temperatures vary from 10°C to 28°C.
- The semi-arid bushlands of northern and eastern Kenya have rainfall in the form of violent storms, with July being the driest month, and November the wettest. Temperatures vary from up to 40°C during the day to less than 20°C at night.
- The consistently humid coast region has rainfall that is dependent on the monsoon which blows from the north-east from October to April and from the south-west for the rest of the year. Temperatures vary little during the year, ranging from 22°C to 30°C.
Suggested Itineraries
Our team of experienced tour planners will work with you to build a custom travel plan tailored to the destinations you would like to visit, the amount of time you’d like to travel for, your group size and of course, your budget. These are some of the suggested itineraries which visit Kenya.
Kenya & Tanzanian Beach and Bush Safari
Experience some of East Africa’s highlights, combining safari and beach from the Masai Mara to The Serengeti and Ruaha and then, finally, Zanzibar.
13 Days
In The Footsteps of East African Tribes
Discover the different and unique cultures of East Africa from the proud and colourful Samburu warriors to Africa's ancient hunter-gatherers, the Hadzabe over a period of 10 Nights.
11 Days
Icons of Kenya
A truly memorable itinerary visiting the best regions in Kenya, from Giraffe Manor in Nairobi to exceptional game viewing in the Masai Mara and iconic views of elephants to the backdrop of Kilimanjaro in Amboseli.
12 Days
Scheduled Photographic Safaris
With set dates and based on a group of between 3 and 12 guests, each of our scheduled departures are hosted by a qualified professional photographer who is on hand to help you get the most out of your time on safari. These are some of the scheduled safaris on offer in Kenya.
The Mara Experience
The Masai Mara offers incredible photographic opportunity outside of the typical migration period. In fact, many an award winning image have been captured during the shoulder season either sides of the migratory movements. The Mara remains a quintessential safari experience in off-peak season and is still one of the bucket list items that any wildlife and nature enthusiast should tick off.
7 Days
Big Cats & Tuskers Safari
The mere mention of Kenya’s name conjures up emotions strongly tied to safari, adventure and classic Hollywood movies. There’s great reason for this –Kenya offers some of the continent’s very best safari experiences and is synonymous with the quintessential safari experience. This exciting adventure will take you through 3 of the country’s best known regions in search of fantastic encounters with wildlife.
10 Days
Ambosel Wildlife Photography Workshop
The Amboseli photography workshop that will leave you not only inspired but filled with new knowledge, ideas and the desire to better your craft. And all of this in Amboseli National Park, known for it's incredible Elephant viewing and breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro.
8 Days
The Great Migration
During the peak migration season over 2 million animals gather on the plains of the Masai Mara setting the scene for one of nature’s most incredible spectacles and undoubtedly one of the best wildlife and photographic experiences.
7 Days
Masai Mara Wildlife Photography Workshop
The Wild Eye workshop signals a return to a focused and inspirational wildlife photography experience with one goal in mind – to make you a better wildlife photographer.
7 Days
Amboseli & Masai Mara Safari
The Amboseli and Masai Mara Safari combines two of Kenya's most iconic parks in the form of Amboseli and the Masai Mara, a feast for the senses & a visual experience of epic proportions.
13 Days
Amboseli & Lake Nakuru Safari
The photographic possibilities on the Amboseli Lake Nakuru Safari are endless, most sought after of all would be a lion or leopard within the woodland itself. It's a great safari experience and one not to miss if you want to get to know these two Kenyan parks a little more
11 Days
Did You Know That We Have Our Very Own Camp in The Masai Mara?
The Wild Eye Mara Camp is a seasonal camp open from the end of June through to the end of November offering 6 night and 7 day long scheduled departures.
The camp only accommodates 12 guests, each Land Cruiser has a maximum of 3 guests at any given time, (during these uncertain times this will give you comfort of greatly reduced cross contamination risks). Each well-appointed tent has mahogany beds with comfortable mattresses and cotton sheets and duvets, an en-suite flushing toilet, clothing racks, baggage benches and a shaded veranda.
Wow, that’s a dream experience
Wow, that’s a dream experience