Kenya Safari: Exploring the Rich Wildlife of the Masai Mara

Discover the vast experience of a Kenya luxury safari. See the wildebeest, lion, & elephant in the Masai Mara reserve. Bushwalks, 4x4 drives

Kenya Safari

The Kenya luxury safari is a vast experience that takes place in the Masai Mara, a reserve with the country’s highest concentration of big game, including iconic creatures such as the lion, wildebeest and elephant.

It is also an opportunity to discover local conservation efforts and the rich culture of the Mara. The safari package bush walks, evening drives aboard comfortable 4×4 vehicles and nights spent under stars. There are also remote Laikipia Plateau and the sun-baked Samburu National Reserve, where endangered species such as Grévy’s zebra and wild dog roam.

With Nndeeafrika Luxury Safari, A holiday to Kenya also presents the opportunity to learn about local Maasai culture and spend time relaxing on the palm-fringed, white-country’s long stretch of coastline.

Things to do in Kenya Safari

Nairobi City Tour

Nairobi is East Africa’s largest and most cosmopolitan city with a frenetic heart, surrounded by its own national park and rhino population. It is often used for flying in and out of Kenya, but it offers more than just a peaceful suburb.

Visitors can visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the Karen Blixen Museum, get a sense of the city’s entrepreneurial outlook with visits to community-run projects, or hike among the nearby Ngong Hills, taking in sweeping views over the skyline.

Places to visit whilst in Nairobi include

Nairobi National Park is a small, narrow park with a population of 50 black rhino, lion, giraffe, hyena, zebra, ostriches, and buffalo.

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage is one of the largest and most successful elephant orphanages in the world, with almost 300 elephants raised there.

The nearby Giraffe Centre, run by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, offers visitors the opportunity to visit the park and learn about the work being done to conserve the species.

The Karen Blixen Museum, located in the former farmhouse of the renowned author of Out of Africa, ‘At the foot of the Ngong Hills’, provides an insight into the life of South Africa’s iconic cobalt-tolerant species.

Nairobi is a popular destination for exploring the seven Ngong Hills, which are named for their knuckle-like appearance.

With a guide, you can take a three-hour hike among their green slopes while looking out for vervet monkeys, buffalo, sun birds, and buzzards. Each time you reach the top of a hill you’re rewarded with far-reaching views over Nairobi and the surrounding countryside. Mo Kartarchand’s workshop is also nearby, where he has been commissioned to revamp and convert matatus for a variety of uses.

Best time to Visit Nairobi

Nairobi is a popular tourist destination, but it is best to pair a city stay with time on safari. The dry season runs from July to September, but safaris are rewarding outside of these months. Rainy March to May is best avoided.

Masai Mara Safari

The Masai Mara National Reserve in Africa is home to a variety of animals, including lion, elephant, cheetah, Masai giraffe and buffalo, as well as varied birdlife, hippo and crocodiles along the rivers. It is bordered by the Mara River and its tributaries, which are surrounded by lush riverine forest and the site of spectacular river crossings during the Great Migration.

The reserve’s southern boundary is contiguous with Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, which shares the great Migration herds. The Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya is home to the largest lion population in the country and is a popular destination for game drives and horse riding safaris.

During the Great Migration, game drives along the Mara River and river crossings can give you a chance of seeing predators picking off the weakest of the herds.

You can also stumble across cheetah, or male coalitions peering over termite mounds. The Mara lies within the territory of the Maasai, who help administer the park and protect it from poachers.

Best time for Masai Mara Safari

The Masai Mara National Reserve is known for its Great Migration months of July to October, and is abundant in all manner of wildlife year-round, with rain between March and May but not impacting the safari experience.

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya is home to the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro and is renowned for its big game, elephant, lion and cheetah.

It is also home to five main wildlife habitats, including a generally dry lake-bed, and is a popular spot for game drives, particularly in the dry bush country and arid area.

Other animals include black-faced vervet monkey and yellow baboon, black backed jackals, spotted hyena and bat eared foxes, as well as pelicans, kingfishers, crakes, lily-trotters, egrets, hammerkops and the rare Madagascar squacco heron. 47 raptors have been identified, including the rare taita falcon and southern banded harrier eagle.

Amboseli is a dramatic backdrop for one of Kenya’s most spectacular displays of wildlife, with some of the largest breeding elephant bulls in Africa.

Travel to Laikipia

The Laikipia Plateau in Kenya is a renowned wildlife area, with private game reserves, luxury safari camps, and game populations that thrive within its protected boundaries. It is home to a variety of species, including Grévy’s zebra, Jackson’s hartebeest, wild dog, Reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, beisa oryx, and gerenuk.

The land on the plateau is divided into huge wildlife conservancies, sometimes known as ranches, and there are seven large conservancies: Borana Ranch, Il Ngwesi Group Ranch, the Lekurruki Group Resort, Sabuk Wilderness, Lewa Wilderness Conservancy, Loisaba Wilderness and Sosian Ranch.

These conservancies are far from the beaten track and the place to relax in total wilderness. Maasai communities, such as Lewa, have been instrumental in research and education and are working closely with Samburu communities.

Explore Samburu National Reserve

The Samburu Game Reserve in arid northern Kenya is home to several wildlife, including lion, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe and gerenuk.

It stretches northwest of the equator and is surrounded by a permanent ribbon of green, with tamarinds, doom palms and acacia providing respite from the sweltering sun.

Wildlife abound, with elephants, buffalo and waterbuck frequent the woodland, impala herds grazing under the trees, and lions, leopard and cheetah never far away. Martial eagles, bateleurs and pygmy falcons patrol the skies.

Diani Beach kenya

Diani Beach is a popular tourist destination south of Mombasa, with many hotels, shops and services. It is a long stretch of white sand fringed by palms and other indigenous bush, and there are many private homes along the beachfront.

The hotels have a laid-back, relaxed atmosphere, and in certain places there may be throngs of people.

Kenya Travel Guide

Kenya is a Big Five safari location, with lots of chances to view lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, and the critically endangered black rhino. The Masai Mara in Kenya is also the site of the Great Migration, in which millions of zebra and wildebeest migrate annually through Tanzania’s Serengeti and the Masai Mara. We provide Africa travel tips to know before travel to Tanzania

What is the best time to visit Kenya?

Kenya is best visited during the dry season (July-September) or during the rainy season (October-May). December is a great time to travel, as the rains are short and the chance to see newborn animals and migratory bird species. April and May are also very wet, with only the peak of the ‘long rains’ in March.

Is a Visa Required to Visit Kenya?

eVisa is required for U.S. and Canadian passport holders to apply online by visiting visit evisa

Best time to see the great migrations?

The Great Migration is the largest animal migration in the world, with more than two million animals migrating annually across the ecosystems of the Serengeti and Masai Mara in Kenya. August and September are the best times to witness this cycle, while early October is the rainy season in Tanzania.

Places to visit in Kenya?

Kenya offers a variety of wildlife viewing, including the Masai Mara National Reserve, Samburu Game Reserve, Amboseli National Park, Chyulu Hills National Park and Oj Pejeta and Lewa Wildlife.

What should I wear on Kenya Safari

Kenya safari is a popular destination for exploring the country. The most practical items to pack for you include clothes in khaki, green, beige and neutral colours, long-sleeved shirts, Jeans or safari trousers, Jackets and sweaters, a lightweight waterproof jacket, comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, insect repellent, moisturiser and lip salve, and camera equipment. The luggage allowance on small flights is usually limited to a maximum of 15 kg (33 lbs), which includes hand luggage.

Luxury African Safari Packages

Embark on the journey of a lifetime with our curated selection of luxury African safari packages. Experience the thrill of the wild in style, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and unparalleled comfort. Book now and let the adventure begin