Best Kenya safari destinations and parks in Africa
Kenya safari destinations have something for everyone. The tropical palm-fringed, white and sandy beaches are some of the key attractions for many who come to visit for African safaris. Total relaxation is offered for those who want it, and for those who want more action; excitement and adventure are easy to find in a whole variety of forms: deep sea fishing, water skiing, snorkeling, scuba diving at the Indian Ocean, white water rafting, mountaineering in Mount Kenya, off-road driving, luxury safaris, and skydiving!
For many years, Kenya’s classic safaris are considered the top tourist attraction in East Africa, making it one of the most visitied countries in Africa. A journey through Kenya takes one across endless beautiful safari destinations that create lifetime memories.
You name it; East African safari destinations in Kenya offers fantastic opportunities for adventure and excitement especially in Masai Mara and Samburu Game Reserves. Kenya safari destinations and safari parks in both countries that tourists can enjoy and consider whilst planning for their Africa safari tours. These including the great migration in Masai Mara during Kenyan safaris or Mount Kenya climb.
A game drive in Kenya’s plains is an adventure that involves viewing wildlife in the comfort of a 4×4 open land cruiser. Therefore, explore a wide-range of Kenya’s best wildlife parks by 4×4 WD vehicle game viewing in Amboseli, Tsavo, Samburu, Aberdare, Lake Nakuru National Park, and Masai Mara National Reserve.
Kenya has a world-class safari and travel industry with exceptional safari operators catering to all budget travelers and a diverse selection of classic safari lodges and tented camps. This means that organizing a safari in Kenya is a lot easier than most might think.
Ready to go to East Africa? Here’s an essential guide to Kenya’s best safari parks, game reserves and private conservancies.
See a list of Kenya safari destinations you should consider visiting for East African safari tours:
Masai Mara National Reserve Kenya Safari Destinations
Kenya’s safari tour destinations and Kenyan safari parks is topped by the populous Masai Mara, the top African safaris destination. Equipped with camping groungs, tented camps, luxury safari lodges and all types of accommodatiuon it is the best location for East African safari tours.
Masai Mara National Reserve is the most popular Kenyan safaris tourism destination, East Africa. The reserve is located in the Great Rift Valley in primarily open grassland.
Wildlife tends to be most concentrated on the reserve’s western escarpment.
The Masai Mara is regarded as the jewel of Kenya’s wildlife / game viewing areas. The annual wildebeest’s great migration alone involves over 1.5 million animals arriving in July and departing in November.
There have been some 95 species of mammals, amphibians and reptiles and over 400 birds species recorded on the reserve.
Nowhere in Africa is wildlife more abundant, and it is for this reason a visitor hardly misses to see the big five (buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion, and rhino).
Wildlife – The Mara is known as one of the finest Kenyan safaris wildlife destinations in the World for the great migration. There is an excellent chance of seeing the Big 5 including white rhinos, cheetah, serval, hyena, bat-eared foxes, black-backed and side-striped jackals, hippo, crocodile, baboons, warthog, topi, eland, Thompson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, impala, waterbuck, oribi, reed-buck, zebra.
During the great migration (July to November) huge numbers of wildebeest move in.
Nairobi National Park: Tour Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park is unique by being the only protected area in the world with a variety of animals and birds close to a capital city for African safaris.
The park is a principal attraction for visitors to Nairobi, where they can take part in a Kenya safari within the precincts.
Nairobi National Park is one of the most successful of Kenya’s rhino sanctuaries that is already generating a stock for reintroduction in the species former range and other upcoming sanctuaries.
Due to this success, it is one of the few Kenyan parks where a visitor can be certain of seeing a black rhino in its natural habitat.
Nairobi Tented Camp (tented camps) is the first accommodation of any sort to be allowed in this unique Kenyan safari destination. There is nowhere else in the world like it. Each of the 9 tents houses 2 people, and have their own flushing toilets and safari showers so you can enjoy en-suite living safari style. This is a wilderness escape where you can savor the thrill of camping (tented camps) in the heart of thick bush land right on the door step of the capital city.
Samburu National Reserve: African safaris
Samburu National Reserve is one of the lesser-known national parks, but is nevertheless teeming with life.
Situated alongside the Ewaso Nyiro River, there is plenty to attract wildlife from the surrounding savannah plains.
The Samburu Game Reserve is rich in wildlife with an abundance of rare northern specialist species such as the Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and the beisa oryx (also referred to as Samburu Special Five).
The Samburu National Reserve is also home to elephants and large predators such as the lion, leopard and cheetah. Kamunyak the miracle lioness that adopted the baby oryx was as a resident in the reserve.
Wild dog sightings are also a common attraction to this unique protected area. Bird-life is abundant with over 450 species recorded.
Kenya Safari Destinations at Hell’s Gate National Park
Hell’s Gate National Park covers an area of 68.25 square km and is situated in the environs of Lake Naivasha about 90 km from Nairobi. The park is 14 km after the turnoff from the old Nairobi-Naivasha highway.
It is characterized by diverse topography and geological scenery. It is an important home of the lammergeyer (The Bearded Vulture).
Hell’s Gate has two gates that are used by visitors – the main Elsa Gate and the Olkaria Gate. The latter also serves the Olkaria Geothermal Station that is located inside the National Park. This Kenyan safari destination is a unique hiker’s paradise especially those attempting Mount Kenya hiking and Mount Kilimanjaro climbing. Nearby, there is Mount Longonot National Park that offers a day hiking experience or boat ride in Lake Naivasha.
Amboseli National Park:
The park is located immediately north-west of Mount Kilimanjaro, on the border with Tanzania. Amboseli National Park covers 392 square km, and forms part of the much larger 3,000 square km Amboseli ecosystem.
Large concentrations of wildlife occur here in the dry season, making Amboseli a popular Kenyan safaris tourist destination. It is surrounded by six communally owned group ranches.
Amboseli National Park embodies five main wildlife habitats (open plains, acacia woodland, rocky thorn bush country, swamps and marshland) and covers part of a Pleistocene lake basin, now dry.
Amboseli National Park is famous for its big game and its great scenic beauty – and the landscape is dominated by the towering Mount Kilimanjaro.
Major Attractions: Mount Kilimanjaro; Observation Hill which allows an overall view of the whole park especially the swamps and elephants; Swamp below observation hill hosts many elephants, buffaloes, hippos and a variety of water fowl like pelican; Egyptian goose; contemporary Maasai culture and indigenous lifestyle; herds of elephants.
Wildlife: For the basis of East African safaris to this park. Amboseli park has over 80 different mammals to be found ranging from the tiny (and rarely seen) spectacles elephant shrew to the huge bulk of the African elephant. Few visitors will go home without superb elephant pictures with Kilimanjaro as a backdrop. There are over 400 bird species.
Buffalo Springs and Shaba National Reserve:
The Isiolo District lies at the northern foot of Mt Kenya rising above the expansive range lands of northern Kenya.
The arid and semi-arid zones district sits as a divide between the populous agricultural highlands of the Mt. Kenya region and acts as a gateway into the vast lowlands of North Kenya inhabited by various nomadic pastoralist communities where wildlife and livestock freely co-exist.
Together with the adjacent Samburu, and divided by the river Ewaso Nyiro, the three reserves form a very popular tourist destination because of the diverse wildlife populations they support.
Unlike other wildlife areas in Kenya’s northern tourist circuit, the reserves, which are popularly known as the Samburu Ecosystem, sustain free ranging wildlife species both within the three reserves as well as far into community lands.
Wildlife – Besides normal species found elsewhere in Kenya, the area is a natural home to the five rare species known as the five northern species which are endemic to this area. They are Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa Oryx, Somali ostrich and the gerenuk. Shaba is also the home for the highly endangered Williamson’s lark. All these rare species can only be found inside this big game reserve which is a unique Kenyan safaris destination in Kenya for East African Safaris.
Lake Nakuru National Park, unique holiday destination
Lake Nakuru was first gazetted as a bird sanctuary in 1960 and upgraded to National Park status in 1968. It is a white rhinos sanctuary
The Park has Kenya’s largest population of black and white rhinos. The surface of the Lake Nakuru occupies about a third of the park. It supports a dense bloom of the blue-green Cyanophyte Spirulina platensis from which it derives its color and is a food source for flamingos.
During peak season over millions of flamingos and Pelicans congregate on the lake, making this park Kenya safari destinations for the avid birders
Lake Naivasha
Lake Naivasha is a beautiful freshwater lake, fringed by thick papyrus. The lake is almost 13kms across, but its waters are shallow with an average depth of five meters.
Lakev Naivasha area varies greatly according to rainfall, with an average range between 114 and 991 sq kms. At the beginning of the 20th Century, Naivasha completely dried up and effectively disappeared. The resulting open land was farmed, until heavy rains a few years later caused the lake to return to existence, swallowing up the newly established estates.
Afternoon wind and storms can cause Lake Nairobi to become suddenly rough and produce high waves. For this reason, the local Maasai christened the lake Nai’posha meaning ‘rough water’.
Lake Naivasha and its surroundings are rich in natural bounty, and the fertile soils and water supply have made this one of Kenya’s prime agricultural regions. Much of the lake is surrounded by forests of the yellow barked Acacia Xanthophlea, known as the yellow fever tree.
These forests abound with bird life, and Naivasha is known as a world class birding destination. The waters of the lake draw a great range of big game to these shores. Giraffes wander among the acacia, Buffalo wallow in the swamps and Colobus monkeys call from the treetops while the Lakes large hippo population sleeps the day out in the shallows.
The region surrounding Lake Naivasha is well worth exploring. There are two smaller lakes nearby, Oloidien, and Sonachi, a bright green crater lake. Kenya safari destinations from Naivasha, allows one to make a day trip to hike Mt Longonot as part of an African safari tour.
Mount Kenya National Park, also a Forest
Mt Kenya, Africa’s second highest peak is regarded as the realm of Ngai, god of the local Kikuyu people. The mountain itself is an awe-inspiring sight with its ragged peaks, and equatorial snow. Mount Kenya is surrounded by a belt of verdant forest that is an equally fascinating destination.
Traditionally, all Kikuyu homes were built to face this sacred peak. They call it Kirinyaga, or place of light. While the 5199 meter summit is a difficult technical climb, the lesser peak of Point Lenana (4985m) can be easily reached by any fit trekker.
This trek takes between 3 and 5 days, through a fascinating world of forests, wildlife, and unique montane vegetation including podocarpus and groundsel, and finally one of the world’s rarest sights, equatorial snow.
For those who don’t want to climb the Mountain the cool highlands that surround its base are well worth a visit. The forests are ideal for big game viewing, and there are crystal clear mountain streams that are the perfect place to land a Trout.
Mile upon mile of palm-fringed shores snake around a coastline that extends out into thriving, colorful coral reefs and the calm of the Indian Ocean. The quality of Zanzibar’s best beaches can rival anywhere in the world making it an ideal setting for an unforgettable African honeymoon. The gin-clear waters are traditionally fished, either by hand or by the traditional wooden dhows, pervading all with the colorful life of the birthplace of African Swahili. For ease of discussion, we can divide the main island into 4 distinct beach areas, the north, north east, south east and south west.
Meru National Park Kenya safari destinations
Meru National Park is gradually being included on Kenyan safari itineraries. It was founded in 1966 and for many years was a popular Kenyan destination for safaris. This unique wilderness is still one of the Kenya’s least visited parks, thus the unspoiled 870km² stretch of acacia woodland, dense bush, and tall grasslands spiked with doum palms is worth every discovery.
It has excellent game viewing which easily exceeds or even matches safari experience one have in other popular parks such as Tsavo East or Tsavo West. Meru National Park has has frequent sightings of all the ‘Big Five’, cheetah and a number of other savanna species.
Meru National Park has a handful of tented camps and safari lodges including the beautiful Elsa’s Kopje and other safari camps including Ikweta Camp, an eco-tented camp.
Tsavo West National Park – African Safaris
Tsavo West is Kenya’s epitome of wilderness. The dramatic vista of this park evokes the historic natural springs, rocky hills, dormant volcanic cones, swamps, and a lava bed. Crocodiles and hippos dominate the Mzima springs while lesser kudus, impalas, rhinos, oryx, gazelles, zebras, elephants, and giraffes go for the numerous waterholes in the park. Where prey is potted, predators are definitely not far behind and leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and lions lie in wait. Tsavo West is considered one of Kenya’s premier Kenya safari destinations for luxury safari game viewing, popular for the Man-Eaters of Tsavo.
Kenya Safari Destinations – Tsavo East National Park
Tsavo East Park in Kenya is one of Kenya’s oldest & largest parks, this game reserve on 5,308 square miles. It is the famous home to lions & birds. Some of the places of interest and attractions in Tsavo East National Park include Lugard Falls, Mudanda Rock, Aruba Dam, Yatta Plateau which is the largest lava flow in the world and a variety of fauna, flora, and birds. Tsavo East National Park game viewing exposes majority of the larger mammals, crocodile, dust-red elephant, lions, leopards, rhinoceros, pods of hippo, waterbucks, buffaloes, lesser Kudu, gerenuk, and prolific birdlife with over 500 species recorded.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy and Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Refuge
The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a 360 sq kilometer non-profit making wildlife conservancy at the base of Mount Kenya in Laikipia Plateau. Situated right on the equator and west of Nanyuki Town in between the foothills of Mount Kenya and the Aberdares. Ol Pejeta Conservancy works to protect wildlife and providing a sanctuary for great apes. It also makes income from wildlife tourism and corresponding enterprises for re-investment in conservation and local community development. The Conservancy claims the largest black rhino sanctuary in Eastern Africa and had a population of 100 black rhinos in 2013.
It is also home to the two remaining northern white rhinos in the world. Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary is sited here. It affords a haven for abandoned, orphaned, and rescued chimpanzees. It is the only location in the whole of Kenya where these apes can be found. The Conservancy hosts the “Big five” amid a large selection of other African animals, which makes it a popular Kenyan safari destination. It also controls a successful livestock program, which works to benefit wildlife and the local pastoralists.
Kenya Safari Destinations – Indian Ocean Coast Mombasa – Kenya safaris tour
Mombasa is a place steeped in history, yet at the same time fascinating commercial and cosmopolitan port town along the Indian Ocean. It is considered one of the most unique Kenya safari destinations especially for the sea, sun and sand.
Mombasa is an island connected to the mainland by bridges and ferries. The town overlooks a wide harbor, where commercial shipping mingles with traditional sailing dhows.
The true heart of Mombasa is found in the exotic old town, among the narrow winding streets and Arab architecture. The air here is always heavy with the scent of spices.
At the water’s edge is Fort Jesus, an imposing fort that stands watch over the harbor.
The high gun turrets, battlements and underground passages of this 16th Century Fort were the center of a historic struggle for control of the Kenya coast between the Portuguese army and the Shirazi Arabs. This war was waged around Mombasa over hundreds of years and countless battles, and the Fort stands as a testament to this tumultuous past.
Modern Mombasa on the Indian Ocean coast is a city of great diversity and life. This is a town were all are welcomed and quickly absorbed into this great coastal melting pot after exciting game viewing faris in Kenyan parks.
Mombasa safari destination is a place where both history and progress are greatly valued, where a busy harbor existence is lived at its own unique, tropical pace.
Hopefully, this information about Kenyan safari destinations and Kenya safari destinations parks is of help in planning your memorable Kenyan safari tour. You can read more why a luxury safari in Kenya in East Africa should be on your travel bucket list!