Going on a Kenya Safari – The 5 Best Destinations

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Going on a Kenyan safari typically entails taking a game drive to see the wildlife. The country offers an extensive network of protected areas, including 65 national parks and reserves and several private and community conservancies.

Together, these comprise a significant amount of Kenya’s diverse landscapes and habitats.

They are home to both large animals like the African elephant and small ones like elephant shrews.

Top among these are the Amboseli and Masai Mara, two parks that are justly renowned worldwide.

Besides these are other equally fascinating areas, such as the Samburu National Park, the Lake Nakuru National Park, and the dazzling marine parks spread across the Kenyan coast.

Kenya’s tourism industry has perfected safaris into an art form.

Here are some of the fantastic best Kenya safari tours you can look forward to as you embark on the vacation of a lifetime at the world’s safari capital.

1. Maasai Mara

Maasai Mara is the most popular game reserve in Africa and the birthplace of the African wildlife safari.

The Mara’s teeming wildlife population has been an inspiration for numerous films, and people from all walks of life can’t get enough of it.

The massive wildlife reserve is located in the southeast of Kenya and boasts some of Africa’s most impressive big beasts, a collective known as the Big Five.

These include African elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards, and Cape buffalos.

On a Kenya safari tour to the Mara, you will not only enjoy game drives that bring you up close and personal with these creatures, but you may also opt for a walking safari. The latter option comes with a knowledgeable safari guide to guide you around.

On a walking safari, you have the advantage of also seeing some smaller creatures that you might otherwise miss while taking a drive.

The best Kenya safari tours consist of other equally thrilling activities in the Mara. These may include hot air balloon rides, which allow you to view the wildlife while aboard a hot air balloon hovering just a few feet off the ground.

You may also opt for a visit to a Maasai village and meet the enchanting indigenous Maasai people.

2. The Kenyan coast

Kenya is also renowned for its beautiful beaches and marine safaris.

The nation’s coastal region offers a wide range of safari possibilities, and a safari in Kenya is never quite complete without a tour of the coast.

You find beach safaris, fishing outings, world heritage sites, and romantic dhow rides here.

The award-winning Diani beach’s immaculate white beaches and blue waters are always ready to take your breath away.

You can expect fun-filled days and leisurely evenings thanks to the several 5-star hotels that provide top-notch lodging.

Deep-sea fishing, where you may catch big game like sailfish, blue marlin, sharks, and swordfish, is one of the fantastic activities you get to enjoy while on safari in Diani.

The rich history of Kenyan coastal cities like Lamu, dating back to the 14th century, will also appeal to history buffs.

There are several historical relics in Lamu, Fort Jesus in Mombasa, and the Gede Ruins in Watamu.

The beautiful woodwork of the coastal people, as seen in how they craft their ornaments, furniture, and Swahili doors, will also be a pleasure for architecture and art enthusiasts.

3. Amboseli

Another location where you can see large numbers of the Big Five up close is the Amboseli National Park.

A Kenya safari tour to the Amboseli exposes you to a massive Elephant population which currently totals a staggering 1600. In fact, of all the parks in Kenya, Amboseli has the highest concentration of elephants.

The park’s most remarkable feature may be its breathtaking vistas of the ice-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain.

You might also see Hyenas, Zebras, Wildebeest, and Giraffes in Amboseli, along with the other Big Five members.

Due to the park’s more than 600 bird species, birdwatchers will also have their adventures cut out.

4. Lake Nakuru

Lake Nakuru National park is one of the picture-perfect of Kenya’s safari destinations. The Lake features generous bloats of Hippos and flocks of stunning flamingos.

The landed part of the park is home to a variety of other animals, such as rhinos, zebra, giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck, eland, zebra, wild dogs, and wildebeest.

When visiting the Lake Nakuru National Park, you can look forward to hiking, wildlife drives, riding bikes next to rhinos, and picnics.

The park and its inhabitants make for interesting subjects for tourists hoping to snap beautiful pictures.

The turquoise waters, vivid pink flamingos, striped zebra, and a variety of other land mammals are all set against a background of rich vegetation, creating a wonderful color collage.

There is never a dull moment when admiring or visiting the Lake’s waters.

5. Samburu

Samburu National Park’s crowning glory is its enormous population of the “Samburu special five.” These include the reticulated giraffe, gerenuk antelope, beisa oryx, grevy’s zebra, and Somali ostrich.

These species are all found in abundance within the reserve.

Besides these animals, the park also has significant populations of other wildlife, including lions, leopards, and elephants.

The Samburu tribe, one of Kenya’s indigenous communities, is accessible at the Samburu Reserve. They live in a rural area and have a traditionalist way of living and costume that includes elaborate beading.

Samburu Morans (warriors) have long, braided hair. The Morans occasionally use red ochre to color their bodies and hair.

The deeply entrenched Samburu culture is evidenced not only by their bold manner of dress but also in their day-to-day practices that continue to defy western ideology.

A visit to this park is thus an opportunity for you to immerse yourself in new environments and witness an entirely new way of life.

Also Read: Top 6 Destinations You Should Include on Your Bucket List