What are the different types of safari in Kenya?

What are the different types of safari in Kenya? Kenya safaris are all about exploring and venturing into the different parts of the country using 4x4 safari vehicles as this is the best way to get around the African wildlife. African safaris are a good way to enjoy the wildlife in Kenya with many activities offered using a tailored safari.

Most Popular Safaris

8 Day Tanzania Safari

3 Day Kenya Safari

19 Day Best of Uganda Safari

6 Days Nyungwe & Lake Kivu

18 Day Ultimate Uganda Safari

5 Day Gorilla Habituation & Chimps

5 Days Gorillas & Nile River Source

14 Day Uganda Safari via Kigali

3 Day Serengeti National Park Safari

5 Day Rwanda Gorillas & Culture

4 Day Kenya Game Safari

The different types of safaris in Kenya are coined from the safari activities offered at the different safari destinations and with the help of an experienced safari guide, you will be able to enjoy the different types of safaris in Kenya, these include wildlife safaris, horseback riding safaris, bird watching safaris, guided nature walk safaris, coastal safaris and boat ride safaris among others.

Kenya offers a variety of safari experiences and some of these include the following:

Wildlife safaris

Wildlife safari is the most participated in Kenyan safari which gives ample time to tourists to experience the different wildlife species in the various national parks and reserves some of which include Masai Mara Nature Reserve, Aberdare National Park, Amboseli National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Tsavo West National Park, Hell’s Gate National Park, Nairobi National Park and Tsavo West National Park.

Some of the wildlife to see on your wildlife safari include buffaloes, lions, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, leopards, cheetahs, antelopes, wildebeests, crocodiles, hippos, zebras, gazelles, Topis, hyenas, Black-backed jackals, bat-eared foxes, Dik-diks, Desert warthogs, hyenas, African Jacanas, Gerenuks, Kenya coast Galagos, and wild dogs among others.

Many of the national parks that are found in Kenya offer two driving sessions per day which include the morning and afternoon drive. The morning drive starts as early as 6:00 am in most of the national parks with the drive taking about 2 to 3 hours. This is considered to be the best drive because many of the animals can easily be spotted during this period. The second drive is in the afternoon after lunch taking 2 hours and a half. You can still however have a full day of game drives with a packed lunch and breakfast. There is also an option of having a night drive which starts at around 6:30 pm but this comes at an extra cost.

The wildlife safaris are managed by highly professional guides who will escort you throughout your safari drives in comfortable 4WD vehicles. For a better wildlife safari, we recommend 3 3-day safaris or more if you have the right budget but not less to have the best experience.

Bird-watching safaris

Kenya is one of the African countries considered to be a good birding safari destination with more than 1100 bird species including migratory and endemic bird species. Kenya has been gifted with nature and the bird species can easily be spotted in the different safari national parks in the country. Kenya holds the second highest number of recorded bird species in Africa. The migratory bird species can usually be seen during the wet season of October to November and March to May and during the winter season.

The best bird watching destinations in Kenya include

The Arabuko-Sokoke National Park is the largest surviving coastal forest in East Africa located north of Mombasa. The park is home to over 230 recorded bird species different bird species here including the Tambourine dove, Red-eyed dove, fiery-necked nightjar, yellowbill, Water Thick-knee, white-faced whistling Duck, and many more others.

Kakamega Forest is one of the best birding spots destinations in Kenya and 16 endemic bird species cannot be found outside Kakamega. Some bird species to expect include the yellow-billed wattle, blue-headed bee-eater, turner’s eremomela and Chapin’s flycatcher among others.

Tsavo East and Taita Hills are also good bird watching destinations in Kenya. Tsavo has over 500 recorded bird species and Taita Hills has about 350 bird species some of which include the Taita Apalis, Taita white eye and Taita Apalis. Others include singing bush larks, straw-tailed whydah and sombre nightjar among others.

Other bird watching safari destinations in Kenya include Lake Naivasha, Lake Elementaita, lake Nakuru, Lake Baringo, Masai Mara Nature Reserve, Samburu, Nairobi National Park, and Nairobi National Park.

The Coastal Kenya safaris

Beaches are not normally associated with safaris in Kenya but they offer some of the best relaxing and recreation facilities after a long day. Kenya has several white pristine beaches where tourists can go and have fun and some of these include Dani Beach, Nyali Beach, Watamu Beach and Malindi Beach among others. Mombasa in Kenya borders the Indian Ocean hence the many beaches. The different activities that can be carried out along these beaches include scuba diving, water slides, kayaking, and water rafting and enjoying the sun among others.

The Lamu beach is a UNESCO Heritage site that is the perfect getaway for many tourists. Stretching from Lamu to Malindi to the Dani and Ukunda beaches in the north, the beaches are complemented by historical riches from the European, Arabic and Asian culture and trade.

A walk along the white sand beaches is the perfect way to end your Kenya safari.

Horseback riding safaris

Kenya is currently a top horse riding safari destination in Africa giving tourists the best horseback riding especially when spotting the great wildebeest migration. This is one of the best ways in which tourists can get around during their safaris. Enjoy horseback riding through the Masai Mara Nature Reserve, through the Laikipia plains and other safari destinations. Unlike game drives that are part of the payment made for the safari, activities like horse riding are paid for independently.

Kenya Cultural Safaris

Kenya is filled with unique culture that it still carries to promote the richness and uniqueness of the diverse cultures. There are several tribes in Kenya and each of these has a unique culture that you should experience.

When we talk about cultural safaris, you get to interact with the local communities to get a better feel and view of the traditions and customs of the people that make up the Kenyan culture. The cultural experience will include meeting the local chiefs, food tasting, enjoying the traditional songs and dance, the art, cultural wear and activities that are a mash-up of African and Arabic.

You need to experience the Kenyan culture one on one to truly appreciate its uniqueness The Masai are the most visited local communities in Kenya with their traditional Boma houses, jumping dance and colourful wear.

The cultural safaris can easily be arranged and carried out all year round.

Camping safaris

The best way to experience Kenya outdoors is to book a Kenya camping safari. Camping safaris let you live amid wildlife and are best carried out during the dry season. The different national parks offer camping safaris, but in most cases, tourists are expected to carry their camping gear by hiring them from nearby vendors at a small cost. Camping safaris are not carried out in every national park and destination but your safari operator will advise you on the best places to carry out the camping safaris.

Enjoy a safari out in the wild and wake up with animals prowling outside your tent. Camping comes with a lot of rules that need to be followed to the dot and these are: you are supposed to turn out the fire before you sleep, do not move out alone at night because of the wild animals, keep low tones and keep your lights off at night.

Fly-in/Helicopter safaris

A fly-in safari/helicopter safari is one of the luxurious safaris that are offered to all types of tourists. A helicopter safari will give you a different perspective of touring the different safari destinations in the country. The helicopter safaris became popular after the construction of the different airstrips in and around the major national parks and this has made Kenyan safaris more popular.

The process of booking a helicopter ride is simple but needs to be carried out in advance to ensure that the helicopter is available on the days that you are planning for your safari. You can book the tickets through a trusted tour operator like Encounter Safaris. The helicopter ride is paid for separately and the pilot can be your guide or you can come with your guide. You will be picked up from the lodge or camp and taken to the airstrip to start the helicopter ride.

Hot air balloon ride safaris

What is a safari without a hot air balloon in Kenya? Masai Mara is the best place to go for a hot air balloon ride due to its vast nature. The hot air balloon ride usually costs $500 per person and is paid for independently of the rest of the safari activities. The hot air balloon rides start as early as 5:30 or 6:00 am because it is mainly affected by a change in the weather conditions. You will be picked from your lodge or camp to the hot air balloon and you will be briefed about what to expect when it comes to riding the air balloon.

The hot air balloon rides have to be booked in advance for proper planning and because it takes a maximum of 6 to 8 people per ride. The ride gives you a chance to spot the wildlife from a different perspective. After the ride, you will be served with a bush breakfast and champagne to celebrate.

Tourists are advised to carry warm clothes for the ride, a camera and binoculars. The ride is an hour long and in this hour, all tourists get to spot the different wildlife species from above.

How to get to the different safari destinations in Kenya

Fly-ins: For all the tourists who have limited time on their safaris and are not on a budget, fly-ins are the best because they take less time and you get to see the different wildlife species in a limited period. Light aircraft are popular, comfortable and usually carry a maximum of 4 people only. These are fast and the best to use when you are not on a budget because you get to your destination on time and the only downside about fly-ins is that you miss out on the beautiful scenery of the country. Safari guides can help in organizing the fly-ins and these have to be done in advance. You should also note that the bush planes have a limit to the luggage so when you are packing, ensure that the luggage is not more than 10-15kgs.

By road: Inbound transport in Kenya is best used by road by use of 4x4 well-maintained safari vehicles. This is the most commonly used mode of transport and the cheapest way to get around Kenya including the remote areas where most of the national parks are located. Tourists get to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way as they drive to the different safari destinations in the country.

When to visit Kenya on a safari

Kenya is a safari destination that can be visited throughout the year however there are two seasons that you can visit the country in for your safari and these are the dry and wet seasons. The activities you plan for your safari will also determine the best time to go for your safari.

The dry season from June to October and January to February is the best time to go to Kenya for a safari because many of the safari activities including game drives, guided nature walks, boat rides and relaxing along the beaches are best carried out during this period. However since it is a peak season, there will be large crowds and the cost of the safari is a bit more expensive.

The rainy season in Kenya is from November to December and March to May and the best time to go on a Kenya safari is if you are travelling on a low budget, travelling for a photography safari and bird watching safari. There are few crowds during this period and many of the accommodation facilities offer discounts making it a cheaper time to travel.

Contact us for more information about different types of safaris you can do in Kenya.