Home of endless plains dotted with animals, wildlife documentaries, the Great Migration, rolling hills and lush mountains, and a stunning coastline, Kenya was made for safari. But what happens behind these Lion King-esque scenes? What do you do if you’re travelling on a budget, and where are the best places to explore? Read on for our top Kenya travel tips when planning your safari.
Driving in Kenya is not for the faint-hearted. Roads can be bumpy and more than a little bit dusty, but it’s an excellent way to see the country – and it’s great fun. If you’re a group of three or four or more, it will probably save you some money too. Try a combination of Naivasha, the Masai Mara, a quick stop in Nairobi, and then Amboseli. If you’re short on time, flying will probably be the most convenient mode of transport.
As with most African countries, internal flights on tiny bush-hoppers are by far the most convenient way to travel, but they can be expensive. A good Kenya travel tip is to stick to the more common itineraries – Conservation & Culture in Kenya and Kenya’s Road Less Travelled are good examples. Flights are planned to coincide with each other, so the more you mix things up, the more expensive it gets. Fly540 and JamboJet are two budget airlines that might come in useful when planning a cross-country Kenyan adventure.
Kenya’s blue chip reserve, the Masai Mara, gets lots of attention in the travel media, and it’s not always good. But don’t believe everything you read; a safari done properly in the Mara is almost unbeatable. Avoid the really low-budget ‘tours’ that you might see offered, as you’ll be squashed in a minibus and spend hours driving. Try travelling in the ‘shoulder seasons’ of June, February, and March and investigate the surrounding private conservancies – they have the same astonishing concentration of game as the Mara, but none of the accompanying tourists and many camps offer walking safaris which are always thrilling!
Chances are you’ll have to overnight in Nairobi at some point on your Kenya safari, so why not make the most of it? A few swishy hotels have appeared in the city centre recently, but if you’re not a city slicker, choose one of the camps in Nairobi National Park – Emakoko or Ololo Lodge are both fantastic. A mere 20 kilometres from the city, staying in the park is an easy way to maximise your wildlife experiences for minimal cost. And it’s a pretty good experience too with leopard, lion, and rhino roaming the plains against an unusual backdrop of towering skyscrapers.
From roughly July to September, the animals of the Great Migration can be found roaming the plains of the Masai Mara as they cross the Mara River from the Serengeti. The river crossings are, quite literally, jaw-dropping and rightly top many a bucket list, but organising a migration safari to Kenya at this time requires planning. One of our top Kenya travel tips is to plan a year or so in advance if you want the best seats in the house. If you’ve got your heart set on seeing the wildebeest but can’t travel at this time, think about a safari in Tanzania’s Serengeti instead – the migration happens all year, it’s just a matter of where and when you want to visit.
If you want to go on safari, you’re probably looking to get away from it all. Wildlife-watching is high on the list, as is some time in nature – not artificial nature, but real, raw, beautiful nature and preferably with no one else around. So why stick to camps and lodges? Good, old-fashioned camping is making a comeback, and it's the ideal way to experience the bush as it was meant to be with pop-up tents, home-cooked food around the campfire, and fabulous game drives (oh and hot showers!). Check out Gamewatchers Ol Kinyei Adventure Camp and Ol Malo Nomad for some of the best experiences out there.
July to October is the dry season in Kenya and roughly when the Great Migration spills onto the plains of the Mara. The lure of the migration, superb game-viewing in other parks, and lots of sunshine make this a very popular time to travel, but lots of people tend to have the same idea. If you’re looking for a bit of winter sun at the beach, January to March is an excellent time of year to visit. Expect balmy temperatures and excellent water visibility if you love to dive and snorkel.
For those who want to save money or are travelling last minute, February, March, and June are superb times to visit. Baby animals spring around the plains, you’ll avoid the big thunderstorms (less chance of getting stuck in the mud), and there are some excellent deals to be had.