Kenya safaris, from the Masai Mara to the coast

1Nairobi City & Attractions

Nairobi is Kenya’s capital and largest city, known as the “Green City in the Sun” and the “Safari Capital of Africa”. Its name comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyrobi, meaning “cool water”.

The city sits on a high plateau in south-central Kenya at about 1,795 metres (5,889 feet), so it enjoys a mild highland climate rather than equatorial heat. It is a regional hub for international bodies, including the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat, and is home to the United Nations headquarters in Africa.

Wildlife, history, culture & architecture

Nairobi National Park. The only national park in the world right next to a capital city skyline, less than 30 minutes from the city centre. Big cats, rhinos and many grazers roam and hunt freely against a backdrop of skyscrapers. There are no elephants in the park, but you can see orphaned ones at the nearby Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

Giraffe Centre. A sanctuary in the suburb of Lang’ata that protects the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. You can hand-feed the giraffes from a raised wooden platform.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage. Inside Nairobi National Park, the trust rescues and rehabilitates orphaned baby elephants and rhinos before returning them to the wild.

Karura Forest. A large urban forest about 6 km from the city centre, with walking and cycling trails, caves and waterfalls.

Nairobi Arboretum. A quiet, tree-filled park close to the city centre, ideal for gentle nature walks and birdwatching.

Nairobi National Museum. On Museum Hill (Kipande Road), with exhibits on Kenyan history, palaeontology, cultural artefacts and local art, plus an attached Snake Park.

Karen Blixen Museum. The colonial-era home of Out of Africa author Karen Blixen, at the foot of the Ngong Hills.

Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC). A city-centre landmark whose rooftop tower and helipad give 360-degree views across Nairobi.

Bomas of Kenya. A cultural village with traditional homesteads from many Kenyan communities, plus live traditional music and acrobatic dance performances.

Kenya National Archives. On Moi Avenue in the city centre, showing historical documents, regional photography and African art collections.

Shopping & local markets

Maasai Market. An open-air craft market that moves around the city on different days of the week, at spots such as Village Market, Capital Centre and the Supreme Court. Artisans sell handmade beadwork, wood carvings, clothes and paintings.

City Market. A historic indoor market from 1932, packed with local crafts, souvenirs, fresh produce, poultry and meat stalls.

Kazuri Beads Women’s Cooperative. A social enterprise in Karen where local women handcraft ceramic beads and pottery.

2Lake Nakuru National Park

The lake is famous for its huge flocks of pink flamingos. Lions, leopards, warthogs, waterbucks, pythons, and white rhinos are just some of the animals you might see, and the landscapes range from sweeping grasslands bordering the lake to rocky cliffs and woodland.

3Masai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara is one of Africa's most magnificent game reserves.The park is famous for the Great Migration, when thousands of wildebeest, zebra, and Thomson's gazelle travel to and from the Serengeti.Masai Mara is known for providing excellent predator sightings, thanks to its relatively large populations of lion, cheetah, and leopard.A visit to Masai Mara is a must inclusion to all Kenya Safari Holidays

4Amboseli National Park

Crowned by Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, the park is one of Kenya's most popular with tourist. One of the best places in Africa to view large herds of elephants up close among other wildlife.

5Tsavo National Park

Kenya's largest park, Tsavo, is a combination of two: Tsavo West and Tsavo East. Together these parks comprise four percent of the country's total area and encompass rivers, waterfalls, savannah, volcanic hills, a massive lava-rock plateau, and an impressive diversity of wildlife.

6Taita Hills Conservency

Situated on the main Voi to Taita road, south of the Taita Hills, the Taita Hills Conservancy creates a game corridor to Tsavo West National Park. Formerly a sisal plantation, it has been transformed into a 113 sq km reserve with some interesting grasslands and woodlands. The area now attracts a good quantity of zebra, buffalo, elephant, waterbuck, reedbuck, impala, eland, gazelle and much more. The bird-life is also excellent. The park is home to two lodges - Taita Hills Safari Lodge and the popular Salt Lick Lodge that is elevated on stilts to give a panoramic view of the conservancy and wildlife.

7Mount Kenya National Park

The park was created around Africa’s second-highest mountain. It straddles the equator and covers more than 715 sq km. Mount Kenya is seen as sacred by the Kikuyu people, as there is said to be a god who lives here.

The mountain’s snow-capped peaks can be seen on clear days, but are often enclosed in low cloud cover. With altitudes ranging from 1,600m to 5,200m, there is a wide range of vegetation. It includes rich sub-alpine flora, low-lying forests and bamboo zones, as well as moorlands and tundra. Common species found are giant forest hog, tree hyrax, white-tailed mongoose, elephant, buffalo, suni, duiker, leopard, black rhino, bushbuck, bongo and a type of ‘golden cat’. Mountain buzzards, tinker birds and various louries are also fascinating spots.

8Aberdere National Park

Slightly larger than Mount Kenya National Park, Aberdare National Park offers an eco-system that is fairly similar. Its mountain ranges climb to over 4,200m and consist mainly of tropical high-alpine vegetation, the park is about 766 sq km in size. In the lower-lying regions, you will find rain and bamboo forests, moorlands, waterfalls, rivers and dams filled with trout. The most common species include giant forest hog, black rhino, elephant, lion, leopard, serval cat and a variety of monkeys as well as spectacular birds.

9Meru National Park

Of all the parks, Meru (1,813km sq) has the widest variety of landscape and habitats -forest, swamp savannah divided by many streams and rivers all rising in the foothills of Mt. Kenya and the Nyambene Hills, ending in the mighty Tana River forming a natural boundary to the South.

This was the wilderness into which George and Joy Adamson released Elsa the lioness, creating the much loved film ‘Born Free’. With herds of elephant, both species of Rhino and Northern species such as Grevy’s Zebra, Oryx & Reticulated Giraffe, one can observe these rare mammals without being disturbed by another soul. The riverside forests are a birders’ paradise providing refuge for many rare localized species.

10Olpejeta Wildlife Conservancy

Located near Mount Kenya National Park, Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a prime place for close-up wildlife encounters.Home to the Big Fiveas well as a host of other animals, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of snowcapped Mount Kenya.

11Laikipia

Located on the equator, Laikipia County is found in the Great Rift Valley and is among the smallest in Kenya with an area of 9,462 square kilometers. Laikipia which means treeless plain in the Maasai language is a vast plain where different kinds of wildlife, including the big five roam freely on the range lands of Laikipia.

12Loisaba

Loisaba is a 57,000-acre wildlife conservancy located in Laikipia, Northern Kenya. With abundant wildlife, exquisite accommodation and adventurous activities.

13Solio

A privately owned wildlife conservancy geared towards Rhino conservation. The reserve plays a major part in the protection and breeding black rhinos in Kenya. The animals live in harmony with other wildlife, including buffalo, zebra, giraffe and other plains game.

14Samburu, Shaba & Buffalo Springs National Reserves

A world apart from the lush green parks of the south, this fascinating semi-desert Northern frontier district of Kenya has its own unique species not found in the less arid areas of the south.

The tranquil Ewaso Nyiro River flowing through these parks provides an ideal habitant for crocodiles, large herds of elephants, elusive leopards and endemic species including Grevy’s Zebra, Gerenuk, Reticulated Giraffe, Beisa Oryx and Somali Ostrich. This Northern rugged area is a set against a background of jagged purple mountains providing some of the best game viewing in the country.

15The Kenyan Coast

Kenya offers 536 kilometers of coastline along the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Much of the coastline remains undeveloped, however there is a range of developed areas starting from Lamu Island in the north and ending at Wasini Island in the south near the Tanzanian border. The coast is served by airstrips near Lamu, at Malindi and the Ukunda airport in Diani, the south coast of Mombasa. Moi International Airport is based in Mombasa where visitors can access the Mombasa North Coast resorts following a short drive. Passengers arriving to Moi International can also transfer to the South Coast Diani resorts by road with a crossing on the Likoni Ferry, a brief trip bridging the half a kilometer gap between north and south coasts.

16Mombasa

Kenya's second largest city and biggest port. A perfect beach stay extension to relax and enjoy the sun and sand at the end of your Kenya Safari Holidaysexperience. Coral reefs fringe the coast, providing fantastic snorkeling and diving opportunities, especially at Mombasa Marine National Park and around Wasini Island. Dolphin watching and deep-sea fishing are also popular things to do in Mombasa.

17Lamu Island

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the original settlements in Kenya, dating back to 1370. It is a site steeped in culture and history. It is known for offering comfortable accommodation.

18Malindi

South of Lamu, is Malindi. The area is also steeped in Swahili culture and offers a number of popular resorts. The town is 120 kilometers north of Mombasa and transfers can be provided by road from Mombasa or travelers may fly into the Malindi Airport. There are a number of popular resorts in the area.

19Watamu

Here the exceptional beaches are protected by offshore coral providing an opportunity for swimming, snorkeling, SCUBA diving and deep-sea fishing. There are a range of resorts in Watamu including the five-star Hemingways Watamu Resort.

20Kilifi

Not widely known, Kilifi is 53 kilometers north of Mombasa and offers pristine beaches and a small selection of resorts.

21Marine Parks & Coast

Kenya has five marine parks and reserves established to protect the wealth of the undersea life along 480km of Kenya’s coastline. Diving, snorkeling and exploring this world of coral reefs teeming with life and colour is a safari itself. Dolphins, turtles, giant moray eels, rays and barracuda can be found close to shore whilst the deep blue ocean offers unlimited deep sea sport fishing in season (August to March). Experienced crews and well-equipped boats fish for marlin, sailfish, broadbill, tuna and wahoo with great success. Humpback Whales and Whale sharks visit these coastal waters from July to September to raise their young. At the Northern and Southern ends of the Kenyan coastline, idyllic, exclusive ‘Robinson Crusoe’ style hideaways can be discovered. These remote and exclusive lodges, hotels and homesteads provide seclusion, peace and tranquility with uncompromised luxury to be expected with first-class cuisine and ultimate relaxation.