Kenya Safari Tours
Experience stunning natural beauty on our private and small group Kenya safari tours
Safari tours in Kenya
Join us on one of our exclusive Kenya safari tours to experience East Africa’s natural treasures – travel in style and stay at some of East Africa’s most spectacular lodges.
By day, our experienced guides will take you on morning and afternoon game drives in our custom-built Toyota Land Cruisers. You can expect world-class wildlife sightings and diverse landscapes in Kenya’s best national parks, such as the Masai Mara National Reserve.
As the shadows grow longer, you return to your lodge or tented camp where no creature comforts are spared, and a warm welcome awaits.
As the setting sun turns everything to gold, you can relax in the privacy of your room or mingle with other travellers at the bar. Watch monkeys retreat to the nightly treetop sanctuary, listen to chirping crickets, and, with luck, watch elephants quench their thirst at the water hole.
Prepare to enjoy some of the most romantic dinners of your life. Dine under the starry sky, savour gourmet cuisine and listen to the nocturnal calls, adding to an already dramatic atmosphere. Feeling full, return to your room to enjoy a refreshing hot shower after a day of adventures.
Private Kenya safari tours offer complete flexibility, allowing you to set the pace by choosing your dates and destinations. You will have your own vehicle and guide to enhance the private experience.
Alternatively, we offer small group lodge safaris with no more than seven guests on a series of carefully crafted itineraries. A window seat in your safari vehicle is always guaranteed. Dates are scheduled throughout the year, providing a competitive price if you are a solo traveller or a young couple.
When is the best time for a Kenya safari tour?
The dry season from June to October offers the best wildlife viewing and weather conditions for safaris in Kenya. However, it is the high season, so higher prices apply, and it’s advisable to make reservations well in advance.
We recommend early June for the best time to travel to Kenya during the high season.
Alternatively, you can opt for the green season from November to May for fewer visitors and lower prices. That said, there are some weather patterns to be aware of during this season.
The short rains occur from November to mid-December, replenishing the parched dry season landscapes and kickstarting the annual cycle of life. It is the shoulder season with slightly lower prices and visitors. Moreover, rainfall occurs in brief afternoon storms, rarely affecting morning game drives. Dust-free skies and dramatic cloud formations over green landscapes make it one of the best times to visit Kenya.
January to February is a dry period with increased temperatures and humidity, particularly on the coast. It is also shoulder season with lower visitor numbers, making it a great time to visit.
From mid-March to May, the long rains transpire, marking the low season. If you don’t mind the rain, you can see Kenya’s most popular parks with a few other visitors.
Best Kenya Guided Lodge Safaris & Tours
Kenya – Savannah and Sea
Places Masai Mara National Reserve, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli National Park, Tsavo West National Park, ends in Diani Beach
from 2,790 USD per person sharing
Kenya & Tanzania – East Africa’s Great National Parks
Places Solio Game Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve, Lake Victoria, Serengeti National Park, Karatu & Ngorongoro Crater
from 5,150 USD per person sharing
Magical Masai Mara
Places Masai Mara National Reserve
from 1,550 USD (based on 6 persons)
Northern Kenya – Experience Remoteness
Places Solio Game Reserve, Samburu National Reserve, Ol Pejeta Conservancy
from 1,505 USD (based on 7 persons)
Discover The Great Rift Valley
Places Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Lake Nakuru National Park, Crescent Island & Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara National Reserve
from 1,995 USD (based on 7 persons)
Kenya Classic
Places Tsavo West National Park, Amboseli National Park, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara National Reserve
from 2,395 USD (based on 7 persons)
Kenya – The Home of the Safari
Places Samburu National Reserve, Aberdare National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve
from 2,775 USD (based on 7 persons)
Accommodations
BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED LODGES AND PERMANENT TENTED CAMPS OFFER SUBLIME LUXURY
Kenya is renowned as the birthplace of the classic safari and has a well-established safari industry.
On Kenya safari tours, expect warm Kenyan hospitality, exceptional food, ensuite rooms with views of the wilderness, and all the comfort of home. Communal spaces comprise horizon pools and large verandas with viewing decks looking towards water holes and rivers.
You can stay in either a lodge or a permanent tented camp. Lodges are permanent structures, beautifully constructed with natural materials.
Tented camps are not to be confused with “camping”. They provide the same luxury and features expected in a lodge. However, with canvas walls separating you from the outside world, you can experience a deeper connection with nature than at a lodge built of stone.
Both types of accommodation offer unforgettable experiences.
What to expect on a lodge safari in Kenya?
When you book with us at Kenya-Experience, one of our service-oriented travel experts will help you plan every detail of your Kenya safari. Their involvement doesn’t end there; they will be there to support you throughout your experience if a need arises.
Our safari tours are designed to enhance your trip by offering exceptionally well-planned and guided experiences on both private and small group safaris. That is why group safaris are limited to seven guests plus one guide, ensuring a window seat for all.
On day one, your guide will collect you in a customised 4×4 safari vehicle featuring charging points, large windows, and a roof hatch for unobstructed views. Your Kenya safari will start by driving to the first park on your itinerary. As you will quickly learn, our guides are experts in the field and will unveil a whole new world for you to discover.
Kenya is 1.6 times larger than Germany, and safaris occur in the south or north. This means that driving distances can feel long.
However, thanks to a well-established aviation industry, you can add domestic or chartered flights to your itinerary to reduce time in the vehicle and spend more time at the destination. Flights are typically scheduled from mid-morning, allowing for a morning game drive, a flight, and an afternoon activity at your next destination.
Where to stay on Kenya safari tours
Whether you choose a small group tour or private safari, you will stay overnight in lodges or tented camps within national parks or just outside the parks’ borders. Staying outside the park helps you avoid overnight national park fees.
Nevertheless, staying in the parks allows you to experience all the sounds, smells and colours, adding to the experience. Consequently, it’s worth spending a few nights in the national parks.
Regardless of the location, lodges are designed to blend seamlessly into nature. Unlike South Africa, many lodges in Kenya do not have fences, offering an authentic and long-standing experience practised safely for decades. These unique experiences will create lifelong memories.
What does a day on a Kenya safari tour look like?
A day on safari means getting in sync with nature. Predators, such as big cats, hunt at dawn and dusk, so early morning or late afternoon game drives are ideal times to see the action on the savannahs.
Additionally, the low sunlight illuminates the colour of wildlife hides, making spotting different species easier and creating perfect conditions for wildlife photography.
The day starts by rising early and leaving the lodge just before dawn. Dress in multiple warm layers because early mornings can be chilly, especially on game drives, when the windows and roof hatches are open for improved viewing.
Don’t forget to pack a day bag with binoculars, a guidebook, a camera, and sun cream.
Your guide will drive you to specific locations known for excellent wildlife spotting. You cross rivers, search for leopards in trees, and traverse the plains where grazing antelopes are the target of lions, cheetahs, and other predators.
It’s an exciting time to be in nature.
By midmorning, temperatures rise, prompting the wildlife on the grassland plains to seek shade. It’s a good idea to do the same. Depending on your itinerary, you can either return to your lodge to relax or continue your journey to the next destination.
During the hot afternoon, enjoy lunch and the lodge facilities. It’s an excellent opportunity to recharge after an early start.
In the late afternoon, you will meet up with your guide to explore the wilderness for the second time on a game drive.
As the sun sets, you’ll return to your accommodation, where you can enjoy a hot shower, a delicious dinner, and likely an early night in preparation for the next exciting day.
Safari destinations in Kenya
Regional and altitudinal variances define Kenya’s magnificent landscapes, and the Rift Valley plays a significant role in shaping these features.
The semi-arid landscapes are found in the north and east. The Rift Valley’s Lake System encompasses many beautiful destinations. The central highlands are characterised by dense mountain forests, whereas the south features wide-open savannahs. Lastly, Kenya’s north and south coasts are known for stunning tropical beaches.
Semi-arid landscapes are found in some of Kenya’s best parks, reserves and conservancies.
- Tsavo East and West National Parks are vast ecosystems with beautiful geographic features. They are home to Kenya’s largest elephant population.
- Samburu and Shaba National Reserves in northern Kenya are some of Kenya’s most picturesque reserves and are home to the Northern Five.
Rift Valley lakes are sanctuaries for numerous animals and superb birdlife. Highlights include:
- Lake Naivasha and neighbouring Hell’s Gate National Park offer numerous outdoor activities in picturesque scenery.
- Lake Nakuru National Park is small yet mighty. It is a sanctuary for birds, especially Lesser flamingos, and multiple rare species such as rhinos, as well as lions and leopards.
Mountain forests are fascinating destinations in Kenya. Like islands in the sky, unique species have evolved to their high-altitude habitats.
- Aberdare National Park is one of the best trekking destinations, with dense forests, open moorlands, and the option to summit Kenya’s third-highest mountain, Mount Satima (4001m). Unique and extremely rare species include the Eastern Bongo, melanistic leopards, and Serval cats.
- Mount Kenya National Park is a UNESCO heritage site and one of Kenya’s most underrated parks. It has few visitors and is a haven for trekking. Trek to one of Mount Kenya’s three peaks and marvel at unique plants like the giant ostrich-plumed lobelia and the giant groundsel.
The savannahs in the south are home to high concentrations of wildlife.
- Masai Mara National Reserve is a famous destination, home to the wildebeest migration from July to October.
- Amboseli National Park is Kenya’s most iconic, with nearly a thousand resident elephants and views of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Thanks to our sister company Tanzania-Experience, we are in a unique position to offer crossing-border safaris which take you from Kenya to Tanzania – so you see the highlights of East Africa on one safari. We ensure smooth logistics and a carefree experience.
What will you see and do a Kenya safari
Kenya safari tours offer more than you could have imagined. Classic safaris are the foundation of the experience, but incredible activities, treks, beach retreats and intimate experiences at a private conservancy can take it to the next level.
Classic activities on Kenya safari tours include magical balloon safaris, walking safaris, migration safaris, and bush breakfasts, which you can add to the itinerary.
For those wanting to leave the vehicle behind, Kenya is a renowned hiking destination, with treks lasting from hours to days.
Moreover, multiple mountains, including Mount Kenya, can be climbed for those with summit ambitions. The Aberdare National Park is an incredible trekking destination with moorlands, dense forest, 300-meter cascading waterfalls, and trout-filled streams to discover.
Kenya’s stunning tropical coast offers the opportunity to conclude your safari with a beach holiday to recharge before your return home. The south and north coasts are ideal destinations for visiting turtle rescue centres, scuba diving in coral gardens, kite surfing, traditional dhow trips, enjoying incredible seafood and relaxing in style.
Private Conservancies
Finally, Kenya is becoming increasingly known for its inspirational private conservancies that are changing the face of conservation and tourism in Kenya. Not only do they offer a bright future for Kenya’s wildlife and people, but they also offer unique things to do.
Private conservancies restrict visitor numbers to safeguard the ecosystem, and they reinvest profits into conservation and community projects.
Activities like lion tracking, running or horse riding in the wilderness, and visiting endangered rhinos are available. Consequently, limited visitors allow you to enjoy intimate safaris while unique activities forge lifelong memories.
Conservancies can be found on the Masai Mara National Reserve border and the Laikipia District of northern Kenya. Outstanding examples include Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
Contact one of our travel experts to make your dream safari a reality.
‘The lodges were very nice and comfortable, the food was excellent, and the staff was very friendly. We can recommend Kenya-Experience in any case. We had a wonderful holiday!’Birgit Miess | Germany
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