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Kenya exemplifies all that is Africa with its rich wildlife in a land of incredible geographical and cultural diversity. The beautiful East African country of Kenya derives its name from Mount Kenya, the second-highest mountain in Africa.
The country straddles the equator stretching from fertile coastal plains along the Indian Ocean to the central highlands area, which is divided by the Great Rift Valley. Kenya’s coastal region is tropical whereas the interior is drier with the highlands being considered one of Africa’s most successful agricultural regions. The coast of Kenya is ideal for beach holidays, boasting islands, sandy beaches, and coral reefs while the interior holds desert areas in the north, incredible lakes, top wildlife reserves, and towering mountains, including snow-capped Mount Kenya.
Kenya is recognized as the “Cradle of Humanity”, being famous for the significant Hominid fossils discovered by Dr. Richard Leakey in the Great Rift Valley near Lake Turkana. It is said that these fossils are from our earliest ancestors and therefore earliest humans originated from this part of Kenya. The jewel of East Africa, Kenya covers some 580 367 sq km incorporating some of the world’s best game reserves teeming with wildlife and the Great Lakes, Lake Victoria, and Lake Turkana. Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa, and Lake Naivasha, the highest Great Rift Valley Lake, are two of Kenya’s most popular tourist attractions.
Kenya’s reserves are famous for the large herds of wildebeest, zebra, and buffalo, as well as the lion, elephant, and giraffe inhabiting them. Kenya’s major wildlife attraction is the vast annual wildebeest migration in the southwest of the country. Here thousands of thundering hooves stampede across the open plains, migrating between the Masai Mara in Kenya and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park to the south.
Kenya is a fascinating African destination in terms of its ethnic diversity, consisting of around 40 different tribes, the Maasai people being the most famous tribe. Despite the cultural diversity Kenyans have a strong sense of national identity taking pride in their struggle for independence from British rule, gained back in 1963.
One of Africa’s premier game reserves, the Masai Mara is best known for the massive annual migration of hundreds of thousands of zebra, eland, and gazelle, and millions of wildebeest. The Masai Mara is also famous for its exceptional Big Cat population and stunning open savannah scenery. This vast game reserve in the southwest of Kenya forms a continuation of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park with the wildlife spectacle of the Great Migration moving between the two wilderness areas. Witnessing this awesome migration, which takes place around July to September and October, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and must-see in Kenya. An excellent way to view the open grasslands and wildlife, especially during the migration, is by hot air balloon. Booking in advance is strongly recommended, as Masai Mara safaris and balloon trips are very popular.
The Masai Mara Game Reserve is teeming with wildlife, covering some 1510 sq km of plains and riverine woodland along the meandering Mara and Talek rivers. The vast Mara reserve is home to numerous giraffes, warthogs, bat-eared foxes, and grey jackals, as well as spotted hyenas and baboons. Various antelopes are also found in abundance in the park, such as topis, impala, hartebeests, Thomson's gazelles, and Grant's gazelles. Wildebeest are the most abundant animals in Mara with their number estimated to be in the millions during migration season. The Masai Mara is also home to large herds of elephants, zebras, and buffaloes as well as plenty of hippos.
The park is named after the Maasai people who traditionally inhabited the area and also derives from the Maasai description of the wilderness area when viewed from above - "Mara" meaning spotted which aptly describes the patchy appearance of the vegetation and the shadows cast by clouds over the plains. One of the highlights of visiting the Masai Mara is the cultural experience of interacting with Kenya's native Maasai people.
Located in the Central Highlands, Mount Kenya is one of the most popular destinations in Kenya, drawing hikers from across the world. Different types of forest vegetation grow on its lower slopes and many of the plant species found on Mount Kenya are endemic to the mountain. The views from the summit of this peak, Africa’s second highest, are breathtaking and Mount Kilimanjaro can be seen from the top on clear days. Snow-capped Mount Kenya, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies only 16 km south of the Equator. The Mount Kenya Hike with African Budget Safaris is a 5-day hiking tour to the summit of Point Lenana, one of the highest peaks of Mount Kenya.
Amboseli covers only 392 sq km in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya, yet this small park is a surprisingly rewarding game-viewing destination being home to an abundance of wildlife. Amboseli Park is Kenya’s second most popular national park after the Masai Mara. Amboseli’s main attractions are the stunning views of Mt. Kilimanjaro lying on its southern boundary, encounters with the Masaai people, and the chance to get up close to free-roaming elephants. The park offers excellent photographic opportunities, especially for capturing elephants up close with the spectacular backdrop of Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain in the world.
The park is home to elephants, lions, cheetahs, wildebeest, buffaloes, and zebras. Jackals, hyenas, warthogs, and Maasai giraffes are also found in Amboseli. Amboseli consists mainly of grassland savannah and lush swamps created by water from melted snow on Kilimanjaro that drains down beneath lava flows to the surface amidst the dusty plains below.
Kenya’s largest national park, Tsavo covers 22 000 sq km of dramatic landscapes offering a more secluded and wild safari experience. This vast wilderness area, recognized as one of the world's biodiversity hotspots, is divided into Tsavo East and the more scenic Tsavo West National Parks. Tsavo’s main attraction is the large number of diverse wildlife species that can be sighted on scenic game viewing drives.
Tsavo West is home to Africa’s Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino) as well as hippo, zebra, crocodile, and various antelope species. The changing landscapes range from extinct volcanic cones and rocky peaks to swamps and open plains providing habitats for a variety of wildlife. Chyulu Hills, a group of ancient volcanic cinder cones, has populations of elands, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeest and offers excellent views of Kilimanjaro. Hippos and crocodiles gather at Chyulu Hills and the Mzima Springs, where the wildlife can be viewed from an underwater observation chamber. Tsavo West is known for its large elephant herds and is also a birding haven. White-bellied go-away birds, red-beaked hornbills, and bateleur Eagles are commonly sighted.
Tsavo East is flatter and drier than the western part of the park, consisting mainly of semi-arid grassland and savannah. One of Kenya’s largest rivers, the Galana River, flows across its dry plains attracting much of the park’s wildlife, including numerous hippos and crocodiles. Kudus, waterbucks, and dik-diks are also commonly found along the banks of the river and Tsavo East is also home to endangered hirola antelopes and black rhinos.
Lake Nakuru National Park covers 180 sq km of central Kenya, northwest of Nairobi. The transitional savannah vegetation around the lake supports a white rhino population in the southern area and black rhinos can also be sighted. Lake Nakuru is a birding paradise, inhabited by nearly 450 bird species including lesser and greater flamingoes and several interesting water birds. Warthogs, buffaloes, reedbucks, waterbuck, and sometimes leopards can also be found in Nakuru Park.
The highest of the Great Rift Valley lakes, Lake Naivasha is home to a wide variety of birds and numerous hippos. This freshwater lake lies close to Elsamere, the former home of Joy and George Adamson of Born Free fame. Activities include boat rides to Crescent Island Game Sanctuary and bike rides in Hell’s Gate National Park, as well as relaxing on the cool lake shores and visiting Elsamere.
Kenya has some spectacular scenery with the Great Rift Valley and the Kenyan coastline being two such highlights. No visit to Kenya is complete without a visit to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean that lap the shores of Kenya's East Coast. Kenya's hotel infrastructure along the coast makes it an ideal beach destination.
African Budget Safaris has over 90 excellent-value Kenya Safaris, from 3-day Masai Mara Safaris to epic 56-day Overland Tours traveling throughout South and Eastern Africa. Our affordable Kenya Safaris visit the wildlife and cultural highlights of this game-rich East African country.
Kenya has an ideal climate. The coastline is hot and humid with a temperate inland and very dry north and northeast. The rainy season falls between March and May and moderate rain falls in October and November. The temperature however remains high throughout the year.
The country features top beach and wildlife destinations, making Kenya a fantastic "African Bush and Beach" destination.
Find out more with our Kenya safari travel guide page.