If you’ve never been on safari before, Kenya is definitely one of the top options to consider. For those of you who think of Kenya through the lens of negative media (overcrowding, mass market) we’d love to show you a different side, the Kenya we’ve known and loved for over 40 years. For those of you who think of Kenya as the home of wildlife documentaries and epic big cat sightings – you’re absolutely right, and this is just one of the reasons that Kenya is such a superb introduction to safari travel.
Kenya wildlife is simply superb – whatever you’re hoping to see, and species that you don’t yet know you want to see, will be there in abundance and blow you away. But if that’s not enough, the diversity of landscape, warm hospitality, inspiring conservation efforts, colourful culture, and wide range of activities available, makes Kenya a winning safari choice with something to suit everyone.
why does Kenya make the perfect first safari destination?
SUPERB WILDLIFE
For anyone looking to go on safari for the first time, wildlife is almost certainly going to be a priority and Kenya will not disappoint. The Masai Mara is famous for being one of the richest areas in all of Africa for wildlife viewing, in particular the big cats – lion, leopard and cheetah. But you’ll also find majestic herds of elephant, towers of giraffe, vast numbers of buffalo and a multitude of antelope species. For bird lovers there are starlings, kingfishers, eagles, vultures, and species spanning every colour of the rainbow. The Mara will undoubtedly wow you with its sheer range and volume of wildlife.
Whilst rhino are scarce in the Masai Mara, only to be found in pockets of the National Reserve, the Laikipa region of central Kenya has been instrumental in the conservation of rhino and this endangered species can be found in healthy numbers there. So by combining different areas, it’s possible to have a very diverse wildlife experience and Kenya is one of the few countries where it’s possible to see all of the “Big Five” (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo)… or whatever your own “Top Five” are.
STUNNING SCENERY AND CONTRASTING LANDSCAPES
From the quintessential, vast, acacia-dotted plains of the Masai Mara, to majestic mountains, rocky escarpments and montane forest, Kenya’s landscape is diverse and breathtaking. Each landscape offers a range of different wildlife species and a range of different activities that deliver a fantastically rich introduction to a safari and options to suit everyone from honeymooners to families.
COLOURFUL CULTURE
A first-time safari is likely to also be a first time to Africa and so the desire to understand and meet the people, as well as the wildlife, may be an important factor. Kenya has some incredibly colourful cultures, from the Maasai to the Samburu, and the opportunity to include authentic cultural interaction in your safari is often very easy with community-owned wildlife conservancies and community-led conservation initiatives. From visiting a nearby village, to joining a beading circle, to learning about health and education projects and being guided and hosted by locals, the chance to exchange cultural ideas and learn how communities in remote wilderness areas go about their daily lives are all part of a safari in Kenya and add to the depth of the experience.
RANGE OF ACTIVITIES
As well as traditional game drives, there are plenty of camps in Kenya that offer a variety of different activities such as walking safaris, night drives, sleep outs, cultural interaction, visits to local community projects, horse riding safaris, camel safaris, yoga, cycling and many more! Combining two or more regions is the perfect way to incorporate a diverse range of activities and have the chance to explore the wilderness from different perspectives.
GET INVOLVED WITH THE CONSERVATION STORY
Kenya is home to many of Africa’s pioneering conservation success stories, particularly in creating a blue-print for community-led conservation – something which is widely regarded today as being essential for sustainable conservation. If you’re conscious about your safari making a positive impact on conservation and the local communities in the area you visit and would like this to be an integrated part of your holiday, then Kenya is a fantastic option. From behind-the-scenes tours of vegetable gardens and solar power plants, to meeting anti-poaching teams and visiting local communities who are benefiting from safari tourism, there are so many opportunities which are either included as standard, or very easy to facilitate, in a Kenya safari, making your first visit to Africa an incredibly meaningful experience.
STRAIGHT FORWARD LOGISTICS
The internal flight network within Kenya is excellent and really maximizes your time on safari, minimises your time travelling from A to B, and makes the travel side of your holiday straight forward and undaunting. Scheduled light aircraft flights between regions operate daily and in some cases, such as to the Masai Mara, twice or three times a day. If you are a nervous flyer and would rather avoid the light aircraft transfers, then road transfers are generally a possible alternative (even though some may be long and arduous).
Great Value Safaris
A safari holiday is a significant expense, and if it’s your first time planning a safari, the costs may come as a shock. Kenya remains one of the best value safari destinations and with shoulder season being a very viable time to travel (when wildlife viewing can still be excellent), exceptional value for money for those on tighter budgets is possible. If it’s a special celebration, you might want to book the most exclusive safari available, in which case money still tends to go further in Kenya.
Our Kenya Itineraries Pricing page gives more detail on costs as well as some examples of different safaris in different price brackets. These are very much ideas to inspire and we would always plan a completely bespoke safari to suit your individual requirements.
Kenya is often documented as being busy with other tourists, can you really get away from the ‘crowds’ and have a more exclusive safari experience?
Absolutely yes! And this is where working with an experienced tour operator is so valuable. There are parts of Kenya that can be extremely busy with tourists, but there are also many wonderful private conservancies and remote wildlife and conservation areas in the country that offer a completely different and far more exclusive safari experience. Staying in camps and lodges who have ethical practices is crucial for the overall quality of your safari experience.
Best time to go on safari in Kenya: Seasons, Wildlife & Weather Insights
Kenya traditionally has two rainy seasons – the shorts rains in November and the longs rains in April and May. The dry season is between June and October, but wildlife viewing is generally excellent year round, particularly in the Masai Mara.
More details about when to travel in Kenya can be found here.
The Great Migration
The Great Migration arrives into the Masai Mara National Reserve and the Mara Triangle at the most northerly point of its annual journey between approximately July and September. The Great Migration is one of the most sought-after wildlife experiences worldwide, but there are pros and cons to travelling at this time which we would always discuss at the time of planning. Planned correctly, this wildlife spectacle could offer the most incredible first-time safari; but with poor advice and using unethical camps and guides, the experience could put you off ever going on safari again.
booking your first safari
To us, Africa is the greatest place on earth. There is no continent quite like it, and Kenya to many is the heartbeat. Kenya offers a wonderfully rich introduction to Africa, its people and its wildlife and is a perfect destination for a first-time safari. If you’re keen to start planning your first safari we’d be delighted to share our knowledge and passion for Kenya and craft the perfect itinerary for you – Contact our expert travel team on +44 (0) 1787 888590 or reach out via our Contact Us page.
