Kenya — Land of Endless Wonders

A land where wild safaris, coastal charm, and ancient cultures meet — Kenya welcomes you with nature, adventure, and authentic African hospitality.

Safety & Security

‘Can I travel to Kenya?’ is a question asked by many travellers, especially first-timers wanting travel advice for this wildlife-rich East African country that is home to the Great Wildebeest Migration over the plains of the Masai Mara. Although Kenya has been a victim of tragic terrorist attacks, it is important to remember that these are very far from the main tourism hubs. Security has been stepped up at all airports – especially Jomo Kenyatta and Wilson – and at hotels across Nairobi. We will never send a client to any place that we would not visit ourselves; We as travel experts, we created a seamless itinerary that ensured private drivers, trusted suppliers and experienced lodge staff all the way. In addition to knowing where each and every one of our clients is every step of their way, all our travelers also have exclusive access to a 24/7 hotline manned by senior staff in the event of any emergency, no matter how small.

Currency & Spending

Kenya’s national currency is the Kenyan Shilling and although foreign currencies such as US Dollars are widely accepted (and indeed the currency required for activities like hot-air balloon safaris) we’d recommend using local currency to pay for bar bills, souvenirs and meals not included in your itinerary.

Please note that due to the number of fake notes in circulation, no US Dollar bills printed before 2003 are accepted in Kenya and, in fact, your safest bet is to carry notes printed after 2006.

Banking facilities and ATMs are found throughout Kenya’s major travel destinations and all major credit cards are widely accepted, in particular MasterCard, Visa and American Express.

Banking hours are from 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 11am on the first and last Saturday of the month for most banks.

Tips & Gratuites

Tipping for good service is customary in Kenya although it is of course at your discretion – bear in mind that some of the larger hotels will add a service charge onto your bill. A 10% tip is customary in city restaurants and bars when a service charge is not included.

For in-depth tipping guidelines, enquire with one of our Africa Safari Experts – they’d be happy to share their knowledge with you.

Climate

Average summer temperatures: 20°C / 68°F to 34°C / 93°F

Average winter temperatures: 18°C / 64°F to 29°C / 84°F

Rainy season: mid-March to June (‘long rains’) and October to December (‘short rains’)

What to Pack

For your Kenya safari, pack light casual wear in neutral colours (try to avoid white, black and blue) and a warm jacket for evening game drives.

In Kenya’s major cities the dress code is conservative but not overly formal – jeans and modest tops for women are fine. Swimsuits are acceptable on the beach but you’ll need to cover up in public places.

Etiquette

Kenya is a fairly conservative society, especially where Islam holds sway, and much emphasis is placed on courtesy and manners. Care needs to be taken when photographing local people – always ask permission and prepare to be asked for reward in Kenya’s most popular destinations – but by and large the people of Kenya are easy-going, amiable, humorous and helpful, making travelling and interacting with them a real pleasure.

Flights and Getting Around

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

East Africa’s major flight hub is located 13km / 8mi outside Nairobi and is the gateway to the Masai Mara, Amboseli, Mombasa and Kenya’s beaches as well as Zanzibar and Tanzania. There are also good connections from here to Uganda, Rwanda and the Seychelles.

Wilson Airport

A regional airport about 90 minutes by road from Jomo Kenyatta, Wilson is the hub for almost all of Kenya’s internal flights and serves its fly-in safari locations. Ensure you have time between your international flight and domestic flight to make the transfer between the two airports.

Moi Mombasa International Airport

Located about 10km / 6.2mi northwest of the town itself, Mombasa’s airport is the gateway to the Kenyan coast.

Chartered flights are a great way to get around Kenya and avoid the country’s often dirt roads; transfers from airstrips to lodges are conducted in 4X4 vehicles.

Road transfers from airports and between major destinations tend to use mini buses as do scheduled safaris to popular destinations such as the Masai Mara. Sliding windows and a pop-up roof provide passengers on mini buses with ample viewing opportunities on game drives whereas safaris to more remote destinations and private conservancies use open-sided 4X4s.

Visa and Passport Requirements

Visas are required by most visitors to Kenya including British, American, Canadian, European, Australian and New Zealand passport holders. Citizens from some smaller Commonwealth countries are exempt.

Visas are valid for three months from the date of entry and can be purchased upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Visitors can pay for their visas in local currency and they must possess a passport that is valid until six months after the initial date of travel.

If you plan on travelling onwards from Kenya, visas for other East African countries such as Tanzania and Uganda can generally be obtained in Nairobi for around US$50 each.

History & Economy

Independence from Britain in 1963 may have been the beginning of a new chapter for Kenya but this East African country has a human history that stretches back to prehistoric times. Lying at the heart of a region from which modern humans emerged some 150 000 years ago, Kenya’s history has been shaped not only by indigenous and migrating African ethnic groups but by European and Arabian traders, missionaries and colonizers as well. Jomo Kenyatta was the first leader of independent, post-colonial Kenya and his conciliatory rallying cry harambee – all pull together – became the national motto.

Today, Kenya boasts the largest and most advanced economy in East Africa. Agriculture accounts for 75% of the work force but it is the service industry, dominated by tourism, which contributes nearly two thirds of Kenya’s GDP.

People & Culture

Kenya’s predominantly young population (nearly 75% of Kenyans are under 30) is made up of many ethnic groups that include the famous Maasai. English and Swahili are the official languages (any attempts to speak Swahili will be warmly received by locals!) and the vast majority of Kenyans consider themselves Christian. About 10% of the population are Muslim, the majority living on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast.

Landscape & Wildlife

Straddling the equator, Kenya is dominated by the Rift Valley, a raised region of lakes, hills and mountains that is the result of a 6 000km crack in the earth’s crust. Dividing the flat coastal plains from the fertile shores of Lake Victoria, the rolling temperate grasslands of the central Rift Valley are home to huge numbers of animals and consequently Kenya’s most famous parks and reserves.

Northern Kenya’s hot and arid scrublands are home to wilder, more remote parks and a different set of animals while the Indian Ocean coast is a place of long sandy beaches, coral reefs and tropical islands.

Most famous for the wildebeest migration that moves through the Masai Mara and Serengeti ecosystem, Kenya’s ban on hunting plus private and local community conservation initiatives have helped to safeguard one of Africa’s most important populations of large animals. There are healthy numbers of the Big 5, abundant predators and plains game, and a long list of bird species. No wonder then that several Kenyan parks deliver the easiest game viewing in Africa!

Wildlife Safari

There’s nothing more famous about Kenya than going on a safari to one of the many national parks or reserves located throughout the country. The most famous wildlife viewing sanctuaries include Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, and Tsavo East.

For many, the goal is to catch a glimpse of the African Big 5, which includes lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhino.

The smaller ones are better visible using magnifying devices. A monocular like the Scout TK will do for a good 200 yards visibility.

Safaris can be on the expensive side, but going on a safari and observing African animals in their natural habitat is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Witness the Wildebeest Migration

The Maasai Mara game reserve in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania share the annual Wildebeest migration. The captivating event is one of the few natural land migrations that remains intact in the world today. Every year, 1.5 million wildebeests and zebra migrate overland in search of food and water. The event takes place between July and August, depending on the rainy season.

Relax on the East African Coast

The East African Indian Ocean coast is one of the best places in the world to take it easy and enjoy a beach holiday.Along with pristine stretches of white sand and swaying palms, the laid-back attitude and friendly Kenyans along the coast add to the serenity. To check out the Kenyan coast, you might visit areas around Mombasa, Diani, Malindi, or Kilifi.

Cultural Travel on the Island of Lamu

Just off the coast of Kenya is a small cultural island called Lamu. Throughout hundreds of previous years, the island has been shaped by local Bantu African tribes, Arab traders, and Portuguese explorers. The mix of cultures has created a fascinating history and a unique Swahili people and culture. Lamu includes one of the oldest inhabited cities in Kenya.

Climb Mount Kenya

Not nearly as popular as the neighboring giant Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya remains Africa’s second tallest peak and is often considered a more challenging climb. The breathtaking scenery is marked by incredible views of Kenya and even great glimpses of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Most trekkers summit Mount Kenya at Lenana Peak point.

Hike Through Hell’s Gate

The coolest thing about the park is that cycling and foot walking are permitted without needing a guide (and lions in the park!). The canyon gorge, jagged rock formations, and opportunities for camping make Hell’s Gate a great place to visit in Kenya.

River Raft the Tana River

Whitewater rafting and kayaking on the Tana River in Kenya are becoming popular activities in the country. Not only are there adventurous river rapids, but also an opportunity to view Kenya’s nature from the river. The ecosystem and bird viewing while rafting through the valley are spectacular.

Explore Nairobi

There’s no denying that Nairobi doesn’t always get the best reputation. Sure, there is crime within the city, but visiting Nairobi will be a rewarding experience if you take the necessary precautions. Nairobi is the largest city in Kenya and offers a mixed bag of historical museums, African tribal exhibitions, Kenyan street food, local markets, modern shopping malls, international and domestic restaurants, and even the Nairobi wildlife park on the outskirts of town.

Eat Nyama Choma

Everyone that can afford meat in Kenya enjoys a good dose of nyama choma now and then. Nyama choma is Kenya’s version of roasted meat on the grill – most authentically prepared at roadside butcheries. The standard procedure is to walk into the butchery, have the butcher slice a hunk of meat right off the carcass, and let it roast as you wait, sipping on a Kenyan Tusker. The most popular meat is the goat, but beef and chicken are usually also available.

Masai Mara National Reserve

Kenya’s flagship conservation area is not the country’s largest but as part of the Masai Mara-Serengeti ecosystem and home to the famous wildebeest migration, it offers the most dramatic game viewing and widest range of safari experiences. It’s where to go in Kenya for hot air balloon flights, action-packed game drives, cultural interactions and guided nature walks in private conservancies – no wonder it’s one of the world’s greatest travel destinations.

Lamu Archipelago

Scuba diving and snorkeling on pristine reefs, sunset dhow cruises and swimming with dolphins – the unspooled Lamu Archipelago combines all the elements of a fantastic beach holiday and is a perfect add-on to a Kenya safari or as a sensational honeymoon destination. Superb luxury accommodation is available both on Lamu Island and nearby Manda Island.

Nairobi

East Africa’s logistics hub. With the majority of our Kenya safaris starting or ending in Nairobi, a stopover in this city is almost inevitable. International visitors will fly into Jomo Kenyatta Airport but it’s Wilson Airport, some 90 minutes away, that provides regional and charter flights Kenya’s safari destinations such as the Masai Mara.

Mombasa & Kenya Beaches

With all the attention on Kenya’s safari destinations, it’s easy to forget that the country has a dazzling tropical coastline. Mainland Mombasa is a popular family choice for got-it-all beach resorts but ask us about Kenya’s more exclusive mainland beach lodges where the accent is on exclusivity, luxury and indulgence.

Amboseli National Park

A short distance from Nairobi, Amboseli is where to go in Kenya to get classic views of Mount Kilimanjaro, ironically situated across the border in Tanzania. There’s great big game viewing as well – especially around the Amboseli’s wetland areas – although it’s a popular and busy park at the best of times so expect to share your sightings with other visitors.

Laikipia Plateau

Private reserves & outstanding accommodation: Kenya’s newest safari destination lies north of Nairobi on the rim of the Great Rift Valley. An area of thriving private reserves, luxurious family-friendly accommodation and huge honeymoon views, Laikipia is a must-do for those who want an air of exclusivity and a diverse Kenya safari experience away from the crowds.

Mount Kenya

Lake Nakuru

Flamingos & game viewing: Home to a shallow soda lake, Nakuru is the place to go for the best chance to see Kenya’s famous flocks of flamingos but there’s game viewing too around the lake shores. Rhino and hippo are among the heavyweights though bird watchers will be more interested in the 400 species of birds recorded here.

Kenya Packages

$2700

11 Days - 10 Nights

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$2950

14 Days - 13 Nights

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$3700

15 Days - 14 Nights

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11 Days - 10 Nights

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5 Days - 4 Nights

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$700

6 Days - 5 Nights

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5 Days - 4 Nights

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26 Days - 25 Nights

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