Kenya

About Kenya

Kenya is the home of the safari holiday, as it was one of the first to embrace this extraordinary and exciting experience, showing the wonders of the wild.

It was also the first to introduce the concept of the Big Five – elephant, lion, rhinoceros, buffalo and leopard – and it is possible to see them all here. Kenya holidays allow you to explore a vast land, which stretches from the Indian Ocean across the low plains to Lake Victoria on the border with Uganda, and to the central highlands. These highlands are bisected by the Great Rift Valley, right through to Mount Kenya, the country’s highest point.

It is a land of explorers, farmers, adventurers and more than 70 indigenous tribal groups, while offering the most magnificent national parks and nature reserves on the continent. There is the Amboseli National Park at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro or the Masai Mara at the northern end of the Serengeti, which is part of the whole migration experience where hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebra and antelope follow the rains. Then there is the desert-like Samburu Reserve and the Rift Valley Lakes – both freshwater and salt and famed for their profusion of birdlife, hippos and crocodiles – and not to mention the beaches of the seductive Indian Ocean resorts.

Interesting things to do in Kenya

Kenya holidays give you the chance to experience a vast range of unique activities. Take a balloon ride over the Masai Mara and take in an unreal panoramic view of the African plains as you spy some of Africa's varied wildlife in its natural habitat from overhead.

The vast expanse of the Sera Conservancy in Samburu-Land is home to black rhino and guests at Saruni Rhino can embark on the exhilarating experience of tracking these endangered creatures on foot.  Also, in the area you can visit the “singing wells”, a series of 50 springs where Samburu pastoralists bring their livestock, singing traditional songs as they draw the water from the deep wells. 

If you are feeling adventurous and would love to get away from it all, you can join a walking safari in the Laikipia region in central Kenya with your tents and equipment carried by camels as you explore the stunning landscapes, wildlife, birdlife and local culture.

If you would prefer to take part in something more intense during your visit, Kenya holidays also allow you to dive off the Mombasa coast. If you have a passion for the deep, you can explore the exotic sea life that the Indian Ocean has to offer; the crystal blue waters of this ocean make it an idyllic spot for divers to investigate.

For more information, why not speak to one of our experts on +44 (0) 20 7843 3500 or email info@africatravel.co.uk

Seasons

• Dry Season – December to February & June to October
• Green Season – March to May & November

In The Know

• Capital – Nairobi
• Currency – Kenyan Shilling
• Point of Entry – Nairobi, Mombasa
• Airlines – British Airways, Kenya Airways
• Flying Time – 8 hours 20 minutes
• Time Zone – GMT +3
• UK and Irish travellers must apply for their visas in advance of arrival in Kenya via the e-visa portal: www.ecitizen.go.ke
• Medical Requirements – Malaria prophylaxis & Yellow Fever vaccination recommended

Insider Tips

• The wildebeest migration occurs in the Masai Mara between mid-August and October
• Avoid going on safari in April & May as this is the main rainy season
• Some coastal properties close from April to June each year