The home of the safari — the Masai Mara and the great plains, the lakes and volcanoes of the Rift Valley, and a coastline to rival any tropical island.
Kenya’s classic safari country — the reserves of the south and the wild, little-visited north.
The reserve synonymous with both wildlife and the Maasai people. A stage for the Great Migration, the Mara sees some two million wildebeest and zebra spill in from June to October — if they survive the Mara River crossing. The surrounding Maasai conservancies offer bushwalks, village visits and even warrior-training lessons.
Kenya’s classic postcard scene: snow-capped Kilimanjaro looming over huge herds of elephant on the plains below. You’ll find the Big Five here, plus hippo and abundant birdlife in the swamps fed by the mountain’s meltwater. Walking safaris and night drives are permitted in the bordering conservancies.
Tsavo East and West together form Kenya’s most expansive protected area, sheltering around a third of the country’s elephants. Tsavo West is the better bet for wildlife — drawn by springs, rivers and swamplands — with hippo, crocodile, buffalo, black rhino, lion and leopard, set against the jagged lava landscapes of the Chyulu Hills.
Far from the big-name attractions of the south, Samburu feels like true African wilderness and receives few visitors. The Ewaso Ng’iro River nourishes its scrubby vegetation and abundant wildlife — Elsa the lioness of Born Free was raised here. Lion, cheetah and leopard roam the reserve, best seen on sunrise and sunset game drives.
Central and northern Kenya remain delightfully untouched. Laikipia is a patchwork of communal conservancies where local communities manage the land — protecting wildlife (notably around 100 black rhino and rare wild dogs) while the lodges employ and train local people and reinvest fees back into the communities and conservation.
Flamingo-pink soda lakes, geothermal valleys and glacier-capped peaks — the dramatic spine of the country.
The 9,600 km-long Rift Valley has torn across Africa, leaving a trail of lakes, islands and oases. Eight lakes formed in Kenya: Naivasha has over 400 bird species among the hippos, Elementaita is a deep-blue soda lake that draws white pelicans, and Baringo even has a floating restaurant. Hot springs and steam vents still bubble from the deep.
One of the Rift Valley’s eight lakes, Nakuru draws a huge variety of wildlife to its shimmering waters — predators, giraffe, buffalo, and both black and white rhino. But it is the birdlife that makes Nakuru famous: the lake periodically turns soft pink as up to two million flamingos descend on its algae-rich water, one of 450 bird species found here.
A narrow gap in the dramatic Rift Valley cliffs gave this park its name — helped along by the geothermal activity beneath it. Hot springs, geysers, extinct volcanoes and volcanic plugs create a surreal landscape. Birds of prey including the rare lammergeier are found here, and a Maasai cultural centre reveals the life of the surrounding communities.
Soaring to 4,000 m, the ancient Aberdare Range is strangely little-known. Its forested slopes hold ravines and dramatic waterfalls and a great variety of wildlife — monkeys, elusive golden cats and over 250 bird species — while the moorlands are a high-altitude wonderland of hardy Afro-alpine vegetation. The altitude brings respite from the heat and the bugs.
Africa’s second-highest mountain rises to 5,199 m, capped with glaciers. This UNESCO Biosphere Reserve sees few visitors despite its gorgeous flora and wildlife — a contrast to Kilimanjaro’s barren, busy slopes. Surrounding villages offer a glimpse of life in the mountain’s shadow, and the nearby Mau Mau Cave, a national monument, sheltered the freedom fighters in the 1950s.
White sand, coral reefs and centuries of Swahili history along the warm Indian Ocean.
Kenya’s coastline can rival any tropical island — from luxurious resorts to secluded keys in the warm Indian Ocean. Diani’s 10 km of white sand is a classic palm-fringed retreat, with reefs and colobus monkeys. Lamu adds archaeological sites to its beaches, and Malindi — the Italian favourite — has a cluster of affordable hotels, restaurants and bars.
Mombasa’s history is as colourful as its markets. This island city dates back almost 1,000 years, with 16th-century forts, Swahili architecture and mosques — but above all it is the gateway to Kenya’s coast, including Nyali Beach and Mombasa Marine National Park. Glass-bottom boat tours, diving with whale sharks, snorkelling and fishing are all close by.
