Kenya Safari Holidays

A soda lake located within a 62 sq km park, Lake Nakuru is one of the most well-known of the Rift Valley Lakes. Nakuru is best known for its exceptionally diverse birdlife. When the shallow waters of the lake turn pink, thousands of migratory flocks become the main attraction at Lake Nukuru. Other plains animals can be found here in the form of the rare Rothschild’s giraffe, black and white rhino and the occasional leopard – among others.

The 1,600 sq km Masai Mara, is one of east Africa’s most famous reserves. Key attractions at Masai Mara National Reserve include early morning balloon safaris, community walking close to the nearby park and activities focused on children’s wildlife education.

Consisting of rolling hills and vast sweeping grasslands that sustain some of Africa’s most diverse wildlife, it is a must see on any trip to Kenya. Both the Mara and Talek rivers cross the Masai Mara landscape which is home to lions, zebras, cheetahs and hippos as well as elephants.

Masai Mara National Reserve is host to over 570 species of bird as well as more than 95 types of mammals. From July through to the end of October, visitors are likely to witness herd migrations as they cross the Mara River from the western Serengeti, a site that is truly unmissable. Not all animals survive the migration period as the travel across various terrains can leave some injured or exhausted. Additionally, at this time of year game concentrations are at their highest with the landscape inundated with various wildlife such as zebras, gazelles, and elands. In contrast to this, when the majority of grass is fairly high in most areas, game-viewing is restricted. Nevertheless, the ecosystem is exceptionally scenic during this time with lush vegetation.

Lake Naivasha is located to the north west of Nairobi next to the town Naivasha and is a breathtaking freshwater lake. Close in proximity to the dramatic Hell’s Gate which is ideal for hiking, Lake Naivasha is popular with Nairobi residents, particularly at the weekends.
Popular excursions take place on Lake Naivasha including fishing and sailing, making it an ideal day out when enjoying the sights Kenya has to offer.

Forming part of a huge ecosystem, Amboseli National Park is 392 sq km and is situated at the foot of Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro.
With some of the best views of Kilimanjaro, Amboseli National Park is one of the most popular parks in Kenya, stretching across the border between Kenya and Tanzania. Amboseli National Park is another fantastic opportunity to get close to Elephants and other wildlife such as Giraffes and Cheetahs.

Underneath the Amboseli National Park, it possesses its own endless water supply which is filtered through a high volume of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic rock ice cap.

Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks cover approximately 2,000 sq km of landmass and are split into two, due to the Nairobi to Mombasa highway. Lugard Falls, Yatta Plateau (the world’s longest lava flow), and Mzima Springs are some of the park’s most popular attractions. There is an underwater observation deck here where you can see crocodiles, hippopotamuses, and a variety of fish.

Only two permanent rivers run through the park, making the land quite arid. However, its flat landscape is adorned with hills and baobab trees, presenting it to be highly attractive to the eye. The majority of wildlife animals congregate among the acacia and raphia palms that line the riverbanks. Elephants, buffalo, ostriches, gazelles, giraffes, zebras, and their predatory cats are all common sights in the park. Gerenuk, fringe-eared oryx, and Hunters hartebeest aren’t sighted as frequently.

Tsavo is also renowned for its legends of man-eating lions and its “blood” elephants, named as such because they spray themselves with red murrum earth.

The Kikuyu people regard Mount Kenya as sacred because they believe it is home to a god. Straddling the equator and covering more than 715 sq km, Mount Kenya National Park was built around Africa’s second highest mountain.

The giant forest hog, tree hyrax, white-tailed mongoose, elephant, buffalo, suni, duiker, leopard, black rhino, bushbuck, bongo, and a type of ‘golden cat’ are among the most common species found. Mountain buzzards, tinker birds, and a variety of louries are also interesting to see when visiting Mount Kenya National Park.

Altitudes span from 1,600m to 5,200m – providing a wide range of vegetation containing a diverse sub-alpine flora, low-lying forests, bamboo zones, moorlands, and tundra. On clear days the mountain’s snowy peaks are visible to the naked eye, although they are mostly obscured by low cloud cover.

With an ecosystem similar to that of the Mount Kenya National Park, but somewhat larger in scale – Aberdere National Park’s mountain ranges climb to over 4,200m.

Rain and bamboo forests, moorlands, waterfalls, rivers, and lakes with trout can all be found in the lower-lying areas. The giant forest hog, black rhino, elephant, lion, leopard, serval cat, and a number of monkeys, as well as remarkable birds, are among the most common animals.

The vegetation of Aberdere National Park is predominantly tropical high- alpine and is approximately 766 sq km in size.

Coconut trees line the beaches whilst the shores of the Kenyan coast meet the warm Indian Ocean, providing a tranquil setting when visiting. There is plenty to explore at the Kenyan coast.

A large majority of Kenya’s 536km coastline remains untouched. However, areas such as Lamu Island in the north and Wasini Island near the Tanzanian border in the south are significantly more developed.

Airstrips near Lamu, Malindi, and the Ukunda airport in Diani, Mombasa’s south coast, are suitable for anyone flying from the Kenyan coast. Moi International Airport is located in Mombasa, and tourists can take a short drive to the Mombasa North Coast resorts.

Believed to be one of Kenya’s best safari regions, Laikipia County is located on the equator in the Great Rift Valley. Laikipia means “treeless plain” in the Maasai language is teeming with a wide variety of wildlife including the big five, which roam freely on the plains of Laikipia. Among one of the smallest counties in Kenya, Laikipia has an area of 9,462 square kilometers.

Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a not for profit wildlife reserve, spanning across 140 sq mi terrain and home to the Big Five.

Situated between the Aberdare Range and Mount Kenya on the equator, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy works to protect biodiversity and provide a safe haven for great apes. They raise revenue through wildlife tourism and complementary businesses, much of which is re-invested in conservation and community growth. Further to this, Ol Pejeta Conservancy has an active community development initiative that funds wellness, education, water, and infrastructure initiatives in the local communities.

Solio is critical to the conservation and reproduction of black rhinos in Kenya. Positioned between the foothills of Aberdare and Mount Kenya, Solio is the first privately owned wildlife conservancy in Kenya. Solio is host to over 40 lions as well as zebras, buffalos and elephants – among others.