Highlights
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Kenya's most famous reserve has big cats, elephants and, roughly from July to October, the wildebeest migration and river crossings. Conservancies bordering the reserve offer quieter game drives, walking safaris and night drives.
Amboseli National Park
Known for large elephant herds and views of Mount Kilimanjaro, just across the border in Tanzania, which is often clearest early in the morning.
Nairobi
The capital has Nairobi National Park on its edge, where rhinos and giraffes graze with the skyline behind them, plus the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage, the Giraffe Centre and the Karen Blixen Museum.
Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha
In the Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru National Park protects black and white rhinos and is home to flamingos at times. At Naivasha, boat trips pass hippos, and nearby Hell's Gate National Park can be explored by bicycle.
Samburu National Reserve
A dry northern reserve along the Ewaso Ng'iro River, home to species rarely seen further south, including Grévy's zebra, reticulated giraffe and the gerenuk antelope.
Lamu
A UNESCO-listed Swahili town on an island off the north coast, with narrow alleys, carved wooden doors, donkeys instead of cars and dhows sailing in the channel.
Diani Beach and the south coast
A long stretch of white sand south of Mombasa, with coral reefs for snorkelling and diving, colobus monkeys in the coastal forest and dhow trips to Wasini Island.
Mount Kenya
Africa's second-highest mountain, a UNESCO site, with trekking routes to Point Lenana and forests and moorland on its lower slopes.
Interesting facts about Kenya
- The equator runs through Kenya, and signs mark it on several roads, including near Nanyuki.
- M-Pesa, the mobile money service launched in Kenya in 2007, made the country a pioneer of paying by phone.
- Nairobi National Park is one of very few national parks in the world that lie within or beside a capital city.
- Kenya introduced one of the world's strictest bans on single-use plastic bags in 2017, so avoid packing them.
- Kenyan runners, many from the highlands of the Rift Valley, have dominated international long-distance running for decades.
Best time to visit
The long dry season from roughly late June to October is the classic safari time, when animals gather near water and the migration usually reaches the Maasai Mara. January and February are also dry and good for wildlife and the coast. The long rains, around April to May, make some roads difficult and some lodges close, though the landscapes are green and prices lower. Short rains fall around November. The coast is hot and humid all year.
Practical information
| Capital | Nairobi |
|---|---|
| Currency | Kenyan shilling (KES) |
| Languages | English, Swahili |
| Plugs | Type G |
| Voltage | 240 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 999 or 112 |
| Driving | On the left |
| Tipping | Around 10 percent in restaurants if service is not included. Tips for safari guides, drivers and camp staff are customary and an important part of their income. |
Getting around
Most safari visitors travel with a guide and vehicle, often a pop-up-roof 4x4 or minivan, or fly between parks on small planes from Nairobi's Wilson Airport, which saves long, bumpy drives. The Madaraka Express train links Nairobi and Mombasa comfortably. In Nairobi and other cities, ride-hailing apps are widely used and avoid negotiating fares. Matatus, the shared minibuses, are cheap but crowded. Traffic in Nairobi can be very heavy, so allow plenty of time for airport transfers.
Staying connected in Kenya
4G coverage is good in Nairobi, Mombasa and other towns and along main roads, and some parts of the larger parks and conservancies have signal. In remote parks, the far north and some coastal and island areas, coverage is patchy or absent. Most safari lodges and camps offer Wi-Fi, though it may be limited to the main area. Mobile money is everywhere in Kenya, but needs a local registered number. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
See Kenya eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Kenya
- Uber: Ride-hailing in Nairobi, Mombasa and other cities.
- Bolt: Another widely used ride-hailing app in Kenyan cities, with fares shown upfront.
- Google Maps: Navigation in cities; download offline maps for safari areas and the coast.
- XE Currency: Converting shilling prices quickly when tipping or shopping.