Kenya is a top destination in Africa! With its vast savannas, breathtaking scenery, abundant and diverse wildlife, its authentic, humble, and welcoming people, Kenya should be a top priority on your bucket list. Not to mention that it is home to one of the best world’s natural wonder wonders: the great migration.  

Best time to visit Kenya

The best time to visit Kenya is during the Dry season:  from the second half of June to October. Kenya's climate varies from tropical (along the coast), to temperate (inland)to arid (in the north and northeast parts of the country). The in inlands, especially at higher elevations, it is usually cool at night and early in the morning. The “rain season” occurs from March/April to May/beginning of June.  The temperature remains high throughout these months of tropical rain. The hottest period are February and March, the months leading into the rain season. The coldest is in July, until mid-August, with temperatures a low as 25*C

Kenya’s Wildlife and National Parks

Most Kenyan tours will include a Safari (as that is simply a must, when vising Kenya). Kenyan Safaris are second to none. With over 50 national parks and game reserves, if you’re in for a Safari adventure, here are some of the best Kenyan Safari Parks:

Maasai Mara National Reserve

Maasai Mara National Reserve is the most popular national park, and it is connected to the Serengeti in Tanzania. Masai the most popular park in the whole country. This is where one of the world’s best natural wonders happens: the Great migration.  As dry season hits Tanzania’s Serengeti and the grass is short and dry, millions of wildebeests and zebras start their annual journey back to the Maasai Mara where the grass is long and green following the long April rains.
Masai Mara is also home to the big five:  lion, elephant, rhino, cape buffalo, and leopard, along with hundreds of thousands of other animals, including giraffe, warthog, hyena, and wildebeest. 

Nairobi National Park

Nairobi National Park is the most accessible national park, due to its proximity to the airport. This is the best option for a day trip in Nairobi. Here you can spot lions, black rhinos, antelopes, hyenas, and ostriches. Aberdare National Park :Due to its high altitude, it provides some of the best panoramic views, hiking and wildlife experiences. Some of the animals that can be spotted here are, leopards, hyenas, buffaloes, black rhino and even the rare black leopard are some of the wildlife you will encounter.

Samburu National Reserve:

Samburu National Reserve: This Park lies on the Equator; as such, the weather is hot and dry. Some of the animals that can be found here are zebras, gerenuks, reticulated giraffes, blue-legged Somali ostriches.

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park is elephant territory. Hundreds of majestic elephants wonder around. As that was not enough, you are treated to a jaw-dropping view of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Shimba Hills National Reserve

Shimba Hills National Reserve.  Although smaller than the other parks, this park does not disappoint.  It is located in the southern coastal area and is mainly visited by tourists staying in Diani Beach, due to its proximity to Diani. With a charming waterfall and rich vegetation, it is home to a variety of animals like elephants, buffaloes, sable antelopes, Masai giraffes, warthogs, baboons and over 300 species of butterfly.

Meru National Park

Meru National Park: not quit as popular as the others, but definitely worth a visit as it has a lot to offer. Breath-taking landscape, dry grassland, green hills, riverine forests, baobab trees, and last but not least: the wildlife, which includes lions, cheetahs, elephants, rhinos and Grevy’s zebra, among others.

Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park: This a perfect safari day trip, as it is located just a couple of hours drive from Nairobi. Lake Nakuru is famous for its flamingo population, the Rift Valley, the lake, the surrounding vegetation, the seasonal waterfalls depending on the time of year. The river around the lake is home to hippos, waterbucks, both black and white rhino, elands, impalas, and an abundance of birds. Look up the trees in the forested area, you may be lacky enough to spot a lion!

Nairobi National Park

Nairobi National Park: Nairobi National Park is the only national in the world that is located in a city centre. Here you can spot lions, hyenas, buffaloes, giraffes, warthogs, gazelles, zebras, and ostriches. There are also 400 bird species further down in the forested area near the river. The Park offers two game viewing options: a drive around the park or a safari walk. 

Tsavo West National Park

If you are a fan of the wilderness, you are in for a treat. Tsavo’s landscape is incredibly unique: rocky hills, natural springs, swamps, dormant volcanic cones, and a lava bed combine to form a dramatic view. An abundance of hippos and crocodiles in the water; gazelles, impalas, lesser kudus, rhinos, zebras, oryx, giraffes and elephants wonder around, while predators (Lions, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas) are hiding, waiting for the  right time to attack.

Best things to do in Kenya in order of popularity

• Safari in Masai Mara National Park
• David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
• Giraffe centre
• Nairobi National Park
• Karen Blixen Museum
• Diani Beach
• Safari in Tsavo East National Park
• Lake Nakuru
• Nairobi National Museum
• Haller Park
• Karua Forest
• Fort Jesus Museum
• Hell’s gate national park

Kenya’s hidden gems

• Lake Naivasha
• Lamu beach and Lamu old town
• Wasini Island
• Lake Nakuru
• Samburu national reserve

Kenya Travel Tips

Airports and Internal Flights: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, is Kenya's largest airport and serves the most destinations. Some international flights go to Moi International Airport in Mombasa . Kisumu Airport was recently upgraded from Domestic to International airport, however, it is still a secondary airport, as most flight fly to Nairobi or Mombasa There are a number of budget airlines that are safe, cheap, and efficient.
A common journey is to fly from Nairobi to Mombasa (on the coast) and Fly540 operate this route from as little as $40 USD.
Other budget and efficient airlines are Kenya Airways and JamboJet.

Coaches:  If you are on a budget, there’s a number of long distances buses that you can take to travel internally, here are some of the one that have the best reputation: Easy Coach LTD, Modern cost coaches, Coast Bust ltd.