Best places to go for a safari in Kenya

Kenya is by far known as the best and most famous safari destination in Africa with diverse nature and beauty. The country has a wide range of safari destinations that tourists can visit throughout the year and in this article, we share what we believe are the best safari destinations/places to go for a safari in Kenya and if you are not on a budget, make sure that you visit at least each of them to get the best safari experience.

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With various national parks and national reserves in Kenya, travellers get to experience thrilling safaris from the wildebeest migration, bird watching safaris, watching the large herds of elephants in Amboseli National Park, cultural trips in Samburu, watching the pink flamingos along Lake Nakuru among others. Do not forget that you also get a chance to spot the big five which include elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffaloes. Let us look at the best safari destinations in Kenya.

Masai Mara Nature Reserve

Masai Mara Nature Reserve is a top safari destination in Kenya located in the southwestern part of Kenya along the border of Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. The Masai Mara Nature Reserve is popular for the annual wildebeest migration that is part of the unending cycle of wildebeests, gazelles and zebras crossing from Serengeti National Park to Masai Mara and then back because of weather changes and search for pasture.

Masai Mara has a large concentration of wildlife species that are best seen during the dry season of June to September and December to February. The Great wildebeest migration is the main highlight of the Masai Mara but other activities that are carried out in Masai Mara include a visit to the Masai villages where you get to experience the unique culture of the Masai people including food, hunting skills, the Boma homesteads, songs, their traditional dances and brightly coloured traditional wear. Enjoy guided nature walks, bird watching, game drives and hot air balloon rides among others.

The wildlife that you should look out for when visiting Masai Mara includes lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras, elephants, black rhinos, buffaloes, cheetahs, hippos, Aardvarks, hyenas, Aardwolf, antelopes, African hares, Banded Mongoose, Bushbaby, Bat Eared Fox, Hartebeests, Bushbucks, elands, crested porcupine, Honey Badger, Grant’s gazelles, Impalas, Dik-dik, oribi, baboons, pangolins and side stripped jackals among others.

The best to visit Masai Mara Nature Reserve is from June to September and December to February.

Samburu National Reserve

Located along an unbeaten path in northern Kenya, Samburu National Park is one of Kenya’s top and best safari destinations. The Reserve is found in the arid region of Kenya and comprises rugged vegetation and is fairly small compared to other reserves in the country. Samburu National Reserve comprises a variety of conservancies and ranches that border the main reserve and these include the Namunyak Conservancy, Kalama Conservancy and West Gate Community Conservancy. The reserve is not only considered to be the best in Kenya but it is also the best wildlife reserve in Africa.

This is the traditional home to the Samburu people and the rare animal species which include the Somali ostrich, Grevy Zebra, Beisa Oryx, Gerenuk and Reticulated giraffe also known as the Samburu five. Unlike other national parks and reserves, Samburu National Reserve attracts few visitors and is a gem for tourists who prefer less crowds.

The different wildlife found in Samburu National Reserve include elephants, hippos, giraffes, lions, leopards, buffalos, zebras, hyenas, Aardvarks, Impalas, Dik-dik and Hares among others.

Samburu National Reserve is an all year round destination but the best time is during the dry season from June to September.

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park is one of the most popular national parks in Kenya crowned by the famous Mount Kilimanjaro. Amboseli is Masia for Salty dust and is the best places to view large crowds of elephants up close. The park is covered with a variety of vegetation that is made up of rocky thorny bushes, Lake Amboseli, Acacia woodlands, marshlands and swamps.

Located in the southern part of Kenya, Amboseli National Park has a wide range of tourist attractions that keep tourists on their feet and these can be seen throughout the year. The park was established in the year 1974 and was declared a UNESCO heritage site.

Several activities are carried out in Amboseli National Park including a visit to the observation Hill where you will be able to see the different wildlife in the National Park, a trip to the Sinet Delta which is located a few meters from the observation Hill and the best birding spot in the national reserve, boat rides along Lake Amboseli, game drives, hiking, guided nature walks among others.

Amboseli is the second top tourist park in Kenya however it remains one of the least visited and untouched safari destinations in the country. Some of the wildlife that you should expect to see in Amboseli National Park include elephants, lions, zebras, leopards, African wild dogs, cheetahs, Hyrax, Dik-dik, nocturnal porcupines, giraffes, crocodiles, lesser kudus and Mongoose among others.

The best time to visit Amboseli National Park is in the peak/dry season of June to October.

Meru National Park

This is one of the lesser known and forgotten national parks in Kenya located east of Mount Meru and 350km from Nairobi. Along the border of Meru National Park is the Bisanadi National Reserve which is also known as Kinna providing true wilderness for the tourists visiting the National Park. Meru National Park was made famous by Joy Adamson, a famous conservationist and the film was based on her book ‘Born Free’.  Several activities can be carried out in Mount Meru National Park and these include game drives, bird watching, fishing, cultural visits, exploring the Meru rhino sanctuary and guided nature walks.

Some of the wildlife you can see while in Meru National Park include Buhor reedbucks, Hartebeests, Grevy’s zebras, antelopes, buffaloes, lions, cheetahs, bushbucks, dik-diks, hyenas and many more others. It is important to note that the big cats are harder to see because of the dense and tall vegetation. The bird species that can be spotted in Meru Park include the white-billed go-away bird, sunbirds, Masai Ostrich, brown-backed woodpecker, palm nut vultures, Somali ostrich and wattled sterling among others.

The best time to visit Meru National Park is June to October and December to February.

Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park is Kenya’s famous birding spot located a few hours away from the capital city of Kenya Nairobi. Lake Nakuru National Park has 3 main gates which can be used to access the Park and once you get inside the park, you will notice the different wild species that can be found in the national park. The National Park is a UNESCO Heritage site protecting a wide range of wildlife.

The different animal species that are found in Lake Nakuru National Park include black and white rhinos, hyenas, zebras, colobus monkeys, Rothschild giraffe lions, hippos, pythons, leopards, buffaloes, baboons, waterbucks, impalas among others. It is home to about 150 black and white rhinos and it is protected with an electric fence to protect the rhinos from poachers. The electric fence is the main reason why there are no elephants in the park since they move from one place to the next.

The bird species located found in Lake Nakuru National Park include the lesser and greater pink flamingos, ostriches, ducks, Guinea fowls, pigeons, White-headed vultures, white-backed vultures, crowned Eagle, Pallid Harrier, Imperial eagle, Abyssinian Thrush, Grey-crowned crane and Great snipe among others.

The different gates that can be used to gain entrance to Lake Nakuru National Park include the lanet gate, Nderit gate although this is less used and the main gate. The different activities that are carried out in Lake Nakuru National Park include hiking, game drives, bird watching, guided nature walks and cultural trips among others.

Lake Nakuru National Park is an all year round safari destination for all types of tourists.

The beaches in Kenya

Kenya is a famous destination for coastal safari activities especially in Mombasa which borders the Indian Ocean. The Kenya coastline offers several breathtaking beaches where you can carry out several safari activities including scuba diving, kite surfing, swimming, sport fishing and snorkelling among others. Often visited during the dry season by all types of tourists including holiday makers, couples and families, the adventures at the coast are the best and with a range of lodges, Airbnb’s and hotels to choose from. The most visited beaches in Kenya include the following:

Diani Beach: this is referred to as the best beach in Kenya with white pristine powdery sand and crystalline waters surrounded by coconut palms.  The beach is ideal for snorkelling, skydiving, deep-sea fishing, swimming and flotation. You also get to enjoy some nightlife beaches along the beach, food and beverages. You can join the safari to the Diani beach with a trip to the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary and Shimba Hills National Reserve which are about an hour away from the beach.

Kikambala Beach: This is located between the stretch of Mombasa and Malindi and was best known for its sisal plantations. Recently, there have been several mega resorts that have made a transformation along the beach and now it looks like the Caribbean. Although there are still fresh developments along the Kikambala beach, there is still empty refreshing white sand where you can relax especially along the southern part of the beach, up north and around Kilifi Creek.

Lamu Beaches: Lamu Beach is one of the most peaceful and remote beautiful beaches in Kenya and the highlight of any tourist’s time who wishes to spend hours away from the hustle of the city. The white sand beaches along the southern shores of the island offer some of the best resting hours.

Other beaches that are worth visiting include the Manda Bay and Manda Toto beaches, Watamu Beaches, Nyali Beach, Malindi Beach, Galu Kinondo Beach, Che Shale Beach,  Shanzu Beach, Gazi Beach, and Chale Beach among others.

Aberdare National Park

Aberdare National Park is located east of the Rift Valley in Central Kenya and is one of the best destinations in Kenya. The National Park covers over 767 square kilometers stretching to the Aberdare mountain ranges and when you get to the east, it is covered by the Aberdare salient. A Kenyan safari to Aberdare National Park is an exciting one with many attractions and activities carried out. Some of the features that are main attractions in the national park include the rugged terrain, Ol Donyo Lesatima Peak, Gura Falls, Chania Falls, Karuru Falls, Magura Falls and a variety of animal species which include reedbucks, black rhinos, buffaloes, leopards, forest hogs, wild dogs, genet cats, baboons, Bongo antelopes, hyenas, and Sykes monkeys among others.

The national park is also home to over 250 recorded bird species including endemic and migratory birds and these include the white-faced whistling duck, African green pigeon Abyssinian, speckled pigeon, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Dusky turtle Dove, African hawk,  Jackson’s francolin, cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Egyptian goose, lemon Dove, Yellow-romped Tinkerbird, African Black-headed Oriole and lesser Krestel among others.

Activities carried out in Aberdare National Park include game drives, bird watching, and climbing the Aberdare ranges which comprise the Amount Santima the highest peak, Mount Kinangop, Chebuswa, Table Mountain, Martini Hill and Elephant ranges at 3590 meters above sea level, explore the waterfalls in the national park, a cultural trip to the Kikuyu villages to learn more about their culture, visit the Fig tree, the hideout of Mau leader Dedan Kimathi and guided nature walks.

The Aberdare National Park is an all year round safari destination but the best time is during the dry season June to September.

Tsavo East and West National Park

Tsavo National Park is made up of two separate parks including Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park located between Nairobi and Mombasa in the coastal province. Tsavo is the largest national park in the country and one of the largest in the world. It is home to a wide range of wildlife species which include lions, leopards, crocodiles, giraffes, hippos, Generuk, lesser kudus, Oryx and elephants among others.

Tsavo West National Park is mountainous and wetter as compared to Tsavo East and it is characterized by swamps, Mzima Springs and Lake Jipe among others. It is best known for its bird life and large mammals including elephants, black rhinos, cape buffalos, Masai lions and hippos among others. Tsavo West can be accessed through the Mtito Gate, the gate near Maktau, Chyulu Gate and Man Eaters Gate.

Tsavo East National Park generally has a flat and dry landscape, the Lugard Falls, Yatta plateau and the Galena River. This is the oldest park in Kenya and can be accessed through the Sala Gate, Voi Gate, Manyani Gate and Buchuma Gate.

The best time to visit the National Parks is from June to September.

Nairobi National park

Right in the heart of Kenya in the capital city of Nairobi is the Nairobi National Park, the only National park in the world that is found in a major city. The National Park is easily accessible and has two main wildlife viewing points one is a game drive through the national park and the other one is along the bridge on a guided nature walk. Expect to see a wide range of wildlife including zebras, leopards, giraffes, gazelles, buffaloes and warthogs among others. You can also combine a Nairobi National Park with a trip around the city.

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