Find your winter sun in East Africa: it’s a fantastic time of year to explore all that Kenya has to offer. The country is known, understandably, for its safaris, and the lakes and ridges of the Great Rift Valley provide a remarkable natural backdrop to your travels. The climate is also perfect for exploring your surroundings on foot, perhaps heading out with Samburu warriors as they lead their livestock, learning as you go about their traditional way of life and insight into their environment. Cap your stay with a few days on the beach: the water is so inviting!
The high plains of Laikipia rival the Masai Mara for safari experiences, but are far less well known, and hence much quieter. The picturesque ranges are criss-crossed with rivers, the largest of which still have water in this last month before the long rains arrive. In Laikipia and the Masai Mara herds of zebra and antelope can be seen drinking along the river banks. In Lewa, half of all Kenya’s black rhino graze the undulating plains. Kenya's landscape lends itself to active exploration: mountain and quad biking appeal to the energetic. Those who prefer to traverse the reserves at a more leisurely pace can walk or horse ride.
Watching a storm come in with a wall of rain and lightning advancing across the plains will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end with excitement. And it’s not only people who love this time of year in Kenya: the animals are much more energetic too, as with the rains comes water and fresh vegetation to eat. The birds in particular are thriving, so we recommend April for birders. Prices in the camps tend to be lower too, making it a win-win time of year.
Following the rains, Kenya’s dustier landscapes are refreshed, turning into a vibrant green. Animals which were lean a few weeks prior are now in their prime, thriving and well fed. It’s a magical time of year to explore the Samburu region, with its vast elephant herds drinking and playing in the river. Amboseli too is rejuvenated, and the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro set against a bright blue sky forms the perfect back drop to game viewing in the region. If your safari ambition is to see African wild dog in their natural habitat, we recommend spending part of June in Laikipia. Watching the pups frolicking in the grass is an experience without parallel.
Prepare to witness the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth: The Great Migration in Kenya’s epic Masai Mara. This month the first herds of wildebeest start to amass and migrate to pastures new. The big cats and other predators follow in their wake, sleeping in the shade by day and becoming active in the early evening. Wherever you go in Kenya at this time of year you’re guaranteed superb wildlife viewing. We have our favourite spots, of course, but by spending July in Kenya you really can’t go wrong.
Bring your school-age children to Kenya in August: it’s one of the best times of year for a family safari, cooler at night and warm during the day - the perfect game viewing conditions. The herds are on the move in the Masai Mara, and the sheer number of animals will make a bold impression on even the most blasé of teens. You’ll also have the important opportunity to meet the local tribal communities who own private reserves. They have vast amounts of knowledge to impart, and sharing their activities, learning from them firsthand, is a truly enriching educational experience.
By September Kenya’s plains are once again fairly dry, but this is when we recommend a classic safari with game drives, nature walks, and sleeping under canvas beneath the clear canopy of stars. Magnificent herds of elephant congregate around the rivers in Samburu and in Amboseli, Mt. Kilimanjaro — the highest peak in Africa — is a dramatic backdrop to your safari on a cloudless day. The wildebeest migration is ongoing in the Masai Mara and the shorter grasses allow for superb big cat viewing. Take time to enjoy the majesty of nature in a quiet private reserve.
A short flash of rains dampens down the dust in November and brightens the landscape as trees and plants leaf and flower. It is a very good month to travel to northern Kenya to track rhino through the bush, as not only are the rhino more easily visible whilst the undergrowth is low, but it’s low season and relatively quiet. You won’t be competing for sightings with other game vehicles and might well have a small camp to yourself. Prices are correspondingly lower, which further increases the appeal.
If one half of your family wants to spend Christmas on the beach, and the other is lobbying for a more active escape, give both sides what they want and arrange to celebrate in Kenya. The country boasts some incredible family-friendly accommodation with plenty of room to party, and the standard of food and drink will far exceed anything you could make at home. The beaches along the Indian Ocean coastline are sublime, and after a few days you can swap the sand for a safari in a stunning national park.
Kenya is the perfect place for a top quality family safari. You are sure to encounter immense numbers of animals including all the Big Five in spectacular African settings. Kenya’s excellent private reserves enable you to enjoy walking, riding and other activities with top guides well away from the busy minibus areas.
You can enjoy your safaris in more ways in Kenya than any other country. Whether you want to float in a hot-air balloon above the wildlife in the Mara, canter amongst giraffe in the Great Rift Valley, sleep under a billion stars or track wildlife on foot with the Maasai tribesmen. We know the best properties to stay at to get the most out of your Kenya safari.
The migration of 1.8 million wildebeest, 400,000 zebra and thousands of gazelles is one of the world’s greatest wildlife spectacles. You can get up close to this amazing migration on your Kenya safari.
Wake up, draw back the curtains, and prepare to be filled with awe. Kenya’s natural landscapes are guaranteed to make you wide-eyed with wonder, especially in the early morning light. The Great Rift Valley carves its way through the country, and expansive plains lead the eye towards Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance. Lodges and camps - often perched atop rocky escarpments - are positioned to capitalise on these dramatic vistas.
Kenya’s rapidly growing population means that people compete with wildlife for land. However, Kenya is pioneering wildlife conservation in ways which benefit the animals and local rural communities pointing the way to the future for wildlife throughout Africa.
A Kenya safari combines easily with a visit to the coastline of the Indian Ocean and just as there is on safari, there is something for everyone at the coast. Whether you want to while away the days in a private villa or get onto the water for some adventurous activities, we can plan the perfect compliment to your safari to unwind before heading home.
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