Kenya vacations 2024 & 2025

Spotting the Big Five, witnessing the Great Migration, and relaxing along the Indian Ocean coast are all highlights of a trip to Kenya. With abundant wildlife and a choice of vast national parks, Maasai-owned conservancies, and lesser-known reserves, the wildlife-spotting opportunities in Kenya are the reason for most trips.

You can track leopard on open grassland, see vast salt lakes dotted with flamingos, or learn about Maasai culture in a local village. From guided drives to walking safaris, and hot air balloon rides, there are numerous ways to observe Kenya’s prolific wildlife before relaxing on palm-fringed beaches where turquoise waters lap white sands.

From luxurious lodges to tented camps and stylish beachside retreats, Kenya offers some of the most varied places to stay in Africa. You can immerse yourself in nature at a luxury tented camp in the Masai Mara, sleep in a historic manor where curious giraffe join you at breakfast, or opt for a thatched lava-stone cottage in the Great Rift Valley.

Our collection of places to stay in Kenya includes everything from simple lodges that get you close to migrating wildlife to indulgent retreats where style and comfort are just as important as the incredible wildlife outside.

In Kenya, most visitors make their way to Masai Mara National Reserve and the private, Maasai-owned conservancies that border it, but you might also want to consider visiting Meru or Amboseli national parks, Samburu National Reserve, or the Laikipia Plateau. Each area has its own character, and visiting more than one park or reserve allows you to see different habitats and track different species, or spot more elusive wildlife such as leopard or wild dog.

Masai Mara National Reserve and the conservancies that border it live up to their reputation with millions of migratory wildebeest, zebra, and antelope, as well as plenty of lion, leopard, and hyena.

By contrast, the parched landscape of the remote Samburu National Reserve in the north sees elephant, buffalo, and reticulated giraffe gather around the Ewaso Ng’iro River, while the Laikipia Plateau is the place to see endangered species including Grévy’s zebra and wild dog.

You have a good chance of seeing lion, elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, crocodiles, and hyena on a safari in Kenya. You might also see cheetah, leopard, wild dog, and possibly rhino. The Masai Mara is known for its lion and cheetah sightings, as well as the Great Migration between July and November. Although you’ll see elephant in all Kenya’s parks, the herds in Amboseli National Park are a highlight, while Meru National Park has huge herds of buffalo.

It takes between 17 and 20 hours to fly from the East Coast of the US to Kenya. From the West Coast, it takes between 21 and 26 hours.

The time zone in Kenya is UTC+3 hours. Daylight Savings Time isn’t observed in Kenya.

The best way of getting around in Kenya is to combine private car journeys with short trips on light aircrafts. In Nairobi, we can arrange for a private driver to take you between the sights, while the most efficient way to get to reserves and conservancies such as Lewa, Ol Pejeta, or the Masai Mara is to fly. It’s also possible to get between some places in Kenya by train, an efficient option that offers views of remote areas unseen by road.

US citizens do need a visa for travel to Kenya. You can apply online using Kenya’s electronic visa application system or speak to your specialist who can recommend an external visa service. Tourist visas are valid for 90 days from the date of issue.

Your doctor is best placed to provide you with vaccine advice for Kenya. You can also check the suggested vaccinations on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. It’s also a good idea to ensure you’re up to date with the recommended vaccinations for your home country.

You may need to provide proof of yellow fever vaccination when entering Kenya from certain destinations. You can check a list of destinations deemed to be at risk of yellow fever in the CDC Yellow Book.

There’s a high risk of malaria in Kenya at altitudes below 2,500 m (8,202 ft). In the city of Nairobi and in the highlands above these altitudes, there’s a low risk of malaria. Visit your doctor to discuss antimalarial medication.

The best way to reduce your risk of catching malaria is to avoid mosquito bites. Wear long, loose clothing that covers your arms and legs, apply a repellent with 50% DEET to exposed skin, and use a mosquito net if sleeping in an unscreened room.

Passports must have two consecutive blank pages and be valid for six months beyond the date of return from your trip.