Kenya Safaris and Tours

The Masai Mara National Reserve is Kenya's premier wildlife destination, forming part of the giant Serengeti ecozystem with neighboring Tanzania. It's home to all of the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo) and countless other native species.

All of our Kenya safari tours explore the reserve. If you book an overland camping safari, you will spend two nights in the Mara, with lots of included game drives in the reserve. Whilst our lodge tours stay here for three nights - plenty of time to spot lots of wildlife!

We know that the majority of travelers come to Kenya for the wildlife, which is why we take in many of the country's best national parks and game reserves on safari across our trips.

As well as the Masai Mara National Reserve, travelers on our overland camping tours in Kenya will visit Lake Nakuru National Park and Lake Naivasha. And with our private tours, you can also visit Samburu National Reserve and Amboseli National Park, which is in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Remember, that with our overland camping tours, you can visit multiple countries across eastern and southern Africa. So from Kenya, you could visit the wildlife reserves like Chobe in Botswana, or Kruger in South Africa, the choice is yours!

If there is somewhere in particular that you would like to visit on safari then don't hesitate to reach out to our Reservations team, who can help you to find the perfect trip!

The Big Five are the five African species most sought after by travelers on a Kenya safari. They are African lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo.

We give our travelers the best chance possible to spot the Big Five on their Kenya tour, with numerous included game drives in the country's main national parks and reserves. All of the Big Five reside in the Masai Mara National Reserve. Amboseli National Park is an elephant hotspot and Lake Nakuru National Park is a sanctuary for white and black rhinos, as well as copious birdlife including pink flamingos. Other rare species such as African wild dogs, can also be seen in many of these locations.

Of course, no wildlife encounters can be guaranteed when you visit Kenya, as wild animals are unpredictable. Leopards in particular are hard to spot, because they are well camouflaged and mostly nocturnal. But you are sure to see some incredible wildlife, and you never know, you may be able to tick off all five on your Kenya tour!

The dry seasons from January - March and July - October are when vegetation is sparser and wildlife easier to spot as it gathers around the fewer available watering holes.

The Great Migration is generally present in the Masai Mara National Reserve from July until early November, making this the best time of year to visit for wildlife. But there is no truly bad time of year for a Kenya holiday. High wildlife densities in the Masai Mara National Reserve mean you're sure to see great wildlife all year round.

For more information check out our guide to the best time to visit the country.

If travelling on one of our camping tours, we recommend you read our guide to overland camping safaris. You can also see a detailed packing list in the Trip Notes for each tour.

Some of the important items to remember are: sleeping bag, travel pillow, towel, Mosquito spray (with active DEET ingredient), your own personal first aid kit, torch, antibacterial wipes, a photocopy of your passport data, and your Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate.

The local payment is a cost per person that needs to be paid in US Dollars cash only. It is this payment that in part covers the park fees and other inclusions such as meals as detailed on each tour page. The local payment also covers your arrival transfer and first night’s accommodation.

Please note that due to exchange rate fluctuations in the US dollar, the local payment amount may be subject to changes. This payment will be collected by your tour leader at the Welcome Meeting on day 1 of your escorted tour. Our Reservations team can give you more information about the local payment, the cost of which can be found on each tour page.

On our overland Kenya safari tours, the maximum group size is 30, and these tours depart with a minimum of 4 passengers.

On our Handpicked small group lodge tours, the group sizes are much smaller, with a maximum group size of 6. These tours depart with a minimum of two passengers.

If you join one of our Kenya camping safari tours, you will be escorted by a qualified tour leader who will act as your guide, as well as a driver and cook.

If you choose to visit Kenya on one of our lodge accommodated tours, you will be fully escorted by an experienced local guide, who will also act as your driver.

According to the 2022 LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Index, Kenya scores an F rating for LGBTQ+ traveler safety, ranking 169th out of 203 countries.

Same sex marriage is not legal, and there are no legal protections for workers based on their sexual orientation. 26 – 50% of consulted citizens consider Kenya a good place to live for gay and lesbian people. In Kenya, homosexual intercourse between males is punishable with 14 years in prison, and homosexual acts between males earn 5 years in prison.

This does not mean members of the LGBTQ+ community shouldn’t visit Kenya, but precautions should be taken when travelling. As long as you use common sense, travelling in Kenya shouldn’t be a problem.

The LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Index is designed to provide a good overall picture of attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community in each country and may not reflect the experience of foreign travelers to the country.

The tap water in Nairobi and other big cities is supposedly safe to drink in Kenya. However, we wouldn't want any of our travelers to risk getting sick, which is why we recommend sticking to filtered and bottled water for drinking. In more rural areas, the tap water is certainly not safe for consumption.

You heard correct. Single use plastic bags were banned in Kenya in 2017, to help reduce pollution and conserve Kenya's incredible environment. Travelers arriving at any airport in Kenya can face heavy fines for bringing plastic bags into the country. This includes plastic bags in both your checked luggage and carry-on luggage, as well as duty free plastic bags.

We strongly recommend avoiding packing any plastic bags in your luggage before flying to Kenya. You should also remove any items purchased at departure airports from their bags before boarding. Double check your luggage before disembarking in Kenya and leave any plastic bags on the plane.

On our overland camping tours, solo travelers will be matched up with another solo traveler of the same sex, with whom they will share a tent. If there is no other solo traveler of the same sex on the tour, you will have a tent to yourself at no extra cost.

On our Handpicked lodge tours, a single supplement applies for solo travelers. The cost of this can be seen on the tour page for each trip.

As a UK-based company, we follow the latest up to date advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCDO). You can see the latest travel advice and local laws here.