Maasai Mara
Kenya's best-known reserve and part of the Great Migration ecosystem.
Destinations · East Africa
Kenya
Savannah, Rift Valley lakes and Africa's second-highest mountain.
Kenya is where Absolute Holiday Safaris is based. From the Maasai Mara's plains to Amboseli's elephants, the Rift Valley lakes and the peaks of Mount Kenya, the country packs a lot of variety into distances that are easy to cover by road.
- Capital
- Nairobi
- Main airport
- Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)
- Languages
- English and Swahili
- Currency
- Kenyan shilling (US dollars widely used for safaris)
The country
Kenya, at a glance.
Most Kenya safaris start in Nairobi. Classic routes combine the Maasai Mara with Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha in the Rift Valley, and with Amboseli in the south beneath Kilimanjaro.
Kenya suits first-time safari travellers: roads link the main parks, group-joining departures keep budget safaris affordable, and the country combines easily with Tanzania across the Namanga or Isebania borders.
Amboseli
Elephant families with Kilimanjaro as the backdrop.
Rift Valley lakes
Rhinos at Lake Nakuru; boat rides and cycling at Naivasha.
Mount Kenya
Trek to Point Lenana on Africa's second-highest mountain.
Destinations in Kenya
Where to go.
South-western Kenya
Maasai Mara
Where the plains seem to have no edge.
Southern Kenya, near the Tanzanian border
Amboseli
Elephants beneath Africa's highest mountain.
Central Rift Valley, Kenya
Lake Nakuru
Rhinos, a Rift Valley lake and its birdlife.
Southern Rift Valley, Kenya
Lake Naivasha
A freshwater lake, a gorge and wildlife on foot.
South-eastern Kenya, between Nairobi and Mombasa
Tsavo
Red earth, vast space and springs in the bush.
Central Kenya
Mount Kenya
Africa's second-highest mountain, on foot.
Kenya's capital
Nairobi
A capital city with wildlife on its doorstep.
24 safaris
Kenya safaris.
- Group joining
3 days · Kenya · Group joining
3 Days Maasai Mara Lodge Safari
The Mara, with lodge comforts
Wildlife safari · Mid-range
Three days in the Maasai Mara with two nights at Jambo Mara Safari Lodge, a full day in the reserve and a sunrise drive before returning.
Price on request
4 days · Kenya · Private or group
4 Days Maasai Mara & Lake Nakuru Midrange Safari
Kenya's favourite short combination, in comfort
Wildlife safari · Mid-range
Two nights at a lodge in the Maasai Mara and a night at Buraha Zenoni in Nakuru, with a morning in Lake Nakuru National Park before returning to Nairobi.
Price on request
6 days · Kenya · Private or group
6 Days Amboseli, Lake Naivasha & Maasai Mara Luxury Safari
Kilimanjaro, a Rift Valley lake and the Mara
Wildlife safari · Luxury
A six-day luxury safari: two nights in Amboseli, a night by Lake Naivasha and two nights in the Maasai Mara, with lodge accommodation throughout.
Price on request
Group joining7 days · Kenya · Group joining
7 Days Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha & Amboseli Budget Safari
Kenya's essential circuit in a week
Wildlife safari · Budget
A week covering four of Kenya's best-known destinations: the Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha with Crescent Island, and Amboseli beneath Kilimanjaro.
From USD 840 pp
Group joining2 days · Kenya · Group joining
2 Days Kenya Budget Safari – Amboseli National Park
Elephants beneath Kilimanjaro
Wildlife safari · Budget
A short group-joining trip from Nairobi to Amboseli, with an afternoon and a morning game drive and a night at Nyati Safari Camp.
Price on request
Group joining2 days · Kenya · Group joining
2 Days Maasai Mara Budget Safari
A first taste of the Mara
Wildlife safari · Budget
The shortest way to see the Maasai Mara from Nairobi: a long first-day game drive, a night at Miti Mingi Eco Camp and a morning drive before heading back.
Standard USD 430 ppLow budget USD 350 pp
Group joining3 days · Kenya · Group joining
3 Days Meru National Park Safari – Complete Wilderness Adventure
Rivers, doum palms and quiet tracks
Wildlife safari · Budget
Three days in Meru National Park, a less-visited wilderness east of Mount Kenya known for its rivers, scenery and links to the Adamson story.
Price on request
3 days · Kenya · Private or group
3 Days Kenya Tented Camp Safari – Maasai Mara
Two nights under canvas
Wildlife safari · Budget
Two nights in a tent at Miti Mingi Eco Camp with a full day in the Maasai Mara, including a picnic lunch near the Mara River.
Price on request
Group joining3 days · Kenya · Group joining
3 Days Kenya Wildlife Safari – Maasai Mara
Daily group-joining departures
Wildlife safari · Budget
The classic three-day Maasai Mara group-joining safari: an afternoon drive, a full day in the reserve and an optional Maasai village visit.
From USD 340 pp
Group joining3 days · Kenya · Group joining
3 Days Amboseli National Park Safari
Two nights in elephant country
Wildlife safari · Budget
A full day in Amboseli between two nights at Nyati Safari Camp, with time at the swamps, the viewpoint and a picnic lunch facing Kilimanjaro.
From USD 330 pp
Group joining4 days · Kenya · Group joining
4 Days Maasai Mara & Lake Naivasha Budget Safari
Plains, a freshwater lake and a gorge on foot
Wildlife safari · Budget
Two nights in the Maasai Mara, then Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate National Park, where you can cycle or walk among wildlife.
Low season USD 590 ppHigh season USD 690 pp
Group joining4 days · Kenya · Group joining
4 Days Maasai Mara & Lake Nakuru Budget Safari
Savannah and a Rift Valley lake
Wildlife safari · Budget
Two nights in the Maasai Mara, then a night in Nakuru and a morning game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, known for its rhino sanctuary and lakeshore birdlife.
From USD 420 pp
4 days · Kenya · Private or group
4 Days Maasai Mara Wildlife Safari
Three nights, more time in the reserve
Wildlife safari · Budget
Three nights at Miti Mingi Eco Camp and two full days in the Maasai Mara: the extra time gives you more chances to follow what is happening on the plains.
From USD 430 pp
Group joining4 days · Kenya · Group joining
4 Days Kenya Safari Holiday – Maasai Mara & Lake Nakuru
Mara plains and Nakuru's rhinos, with lodge stays
Wildlife safari · Mid-range
A mid-range version of the Mara–Nakuru route: two lodge nights in the Maasai Mara, a night at Buraha Zenoni in Nakuru and a final game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park.
Price on request
Group joining4 days · Kenya · Group joining
4 Days Kenya Safari Tour – Tsavo & Salt Lick
Red elephants and springs, from the coast
Wildlife safari · Mid-range
A safari that starts and ends in Mombasa: Tsavo East's red elephants, Tsavo West's Mzima Springs and lava flows, and the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary around Salt Lick.
Price on request
Mountain trek4 days · Kenya · Guided climb
4 Days Mount Kenya – Naro Moru Route
The direct route to Point Lenana
Mountain trek · Huts & camps
A four-day Mount Kenya trek via the Naro Moru route, through forest and the Teleki Valley to Point Lenana (4,985 m) at sunrise.
USD 600 pp
Mountain trek4 days · Kenya · Guided climb
4 Days Mount Kenya – Sirimon Route Down Chogoria
Up the north side, down the east
Mountain trek · Huts & camps
The shortest traverse of Mount Kenya: up the Sirimon route to Shipton's Camp, Point Lenana at sunrise and down the Chogoria side.
From USD 560 pp
Group joining5 days · Kenya · Group joining
5 Days Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Lake Naivasha Budget Safari
Kenya's classic Rift Valley loop
Wildlife safari · Budget
Two nights in the Maasai Mara, a game drive at Lake Nakuru, a night by Lake Naivasha and a final morning in Hell's Gate National Park.
USD 840 pp
5 days · Kenya · Private or group
5 Days Perfect Wildlife Kenya Safari Holiday
Mara, Nakuru and Amboseli in one journey
Wildlife safari · Mid-range
Three of Kenya's best-known parks in five days, with lodge stays: the Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli beneath Kilimanjaro.
Price on request
Group joining5 days · Kenya · Group joining
5 Days Magical Kenya Lodge Safari
Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru and the Mara
Wildlife safari · Mid-range
A lodge safari that starts on the Laikipia plateau at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, continues past Thomson's Falls to Lake Nakuru and ends with two nights in the Maasai Mara.
Price on request
Mountain trek5 days · Kenya · Guided climb
5 Days Mount Kenya – Sirimon to Chogoria
A traverse with time to acclimatise
Mountain trek · Huts & camps
A five-day Mount Kenya traverse with an acclimatisation day around the peaks before a sunrise ascent of Point Lenana and the descent down the Chogoria side.
USD 750 pp
Group joining6 days · Kenya · Group joining
6 Days Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Amboseli Budget Safari
Three classic parks on a budget
Wildlife safari · Budget
Six days covering the Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli, with a full day in both the Mara and Amboseli, on a group-joining budget basis.
From USD 720 pp
6 days · Kenya · Private or group
6 Days Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Lake Naivasha Budget Safari
The Rift Valley loop at an easier pace
Wildlife safari · Budget
Two nights in the Maasai Mara, a night in Nakuru and two nights by Lake Naivasha, with Hell's Gate and time on the lake.
Low season USD 830 ppHigh season USD 1,030 pp
Group joining9 days · Kenya · Group joining
9 Days Maasai Mara, Nairobi, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli & Tsavo Safari
From the Mara to the coast road
Wildlife safari · Budget
Nine days across southern Kenya: the Maasai Mara, Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate, Amboseli, then Tsavo West and Tsavo East, ending in Nairobi or Mombasa.
Price on request
12 journeys
Kenya combined with Tanzania.
10 days · Kenya & Tanzania · Private or group
10 Days Kenya to Tanzania Midrange Safari
From Nairobi to Arusha the scenic way
Wildlife safari · Mid-range
A ten-day mid-range journey from Nairobi to Arusha: the Maasai Mara, Lake Naivasha and Amboseli in Kenya, then Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.
Price on request
6 days · Kenya & Tanzania · Private or group
6 Days Kenya & Tanzania Safari – Mara, Nakuru, Manyara & Ngorongoro
Two countries in under a week
Wildlife safari · Budget
Two nights in the Maasai Mara and a night in Nakuru, then the shuttle to Arusha for Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater.
From USD 1,520 pp
6 days · Kenya & Tanzania · Private or group
6 Days Safari Kenya & Tanzania – Mara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
Across the ecosystem the herds share
Wildlife safari · Mid-range
Two nights in the Maasai Mara, a cross-border drive into the Serengeti for two nights, then the Ngorongoro Crater: the Serengeti–Mara ecosystem from end to end.
Price on request
7 days · Kenya & Tanzania · Private or group
7 Days Adventure Kenya & Tanzania Safari
Nakuru, the Mara, the Serengeti and the crater
Wildlife safari · Mid-range
Seven days from Lake Nakuru to the Maasai Mara, across the border into the Serengeti and on to the Ngorongoro Crater.
Price on request
8 days · Kenya & Tanzania · Private or group
8 Days Kenya & Tanzania Budget Safari
The Mara, the Serengeti and back to Amboseli
Wildlife safari · Budget
A budget loop that crosses from the Maasai Mara into the Serengeti, visits the Ngorongoro Crater and returns to Kenya for two nights in Amboseli.
Price on request
9 days · Kenya & Tanzania · Private or group
9 Days Kenya & Tanzania Parks Safari
Lake Nakuru to Lake Manyara
Wildlife safari · Mid-range
Nine days with lodge stays: Lake Nakuru, two nights in the Maasai Mara, two in the Serengeti, then the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara before returning to Nairobi.
Price on request
Travel through the year
When to visit Kenya.
Dry seasons
Roughly June to October and January to February; good for game viewing.
Long rains
Roughly April to May; greener, quieter and often better value.
Short rains
Usually November to December, often in brief afternoon showers.
Before you go
Practical notes.
Entry requirements
Kenya uses an electronic travel authorisation system for most visitors. Check the current rules on official government websites before you travel.
Health
Ask a travel-health professional about vaccinations and malaria precautions for your route.
Getting around
Most safaris travel by road in 4×4 safari Land Cruisers; light-aircraft flights are available to many parks.
Common questions
Kenya, explained.
Is Kenya good for a first safari?
Yes. The main parks are well connected by road from Nairobi, and short safaris of two to four days make it easy to start.
Kenya or Tanzania?
Both are excellent. Kenya is easier for shorter trips from Nairobi; Tanzania's northern circuit is larger in scale. Many travellers combine both. Read our Kenya vs Tanzania guide for more.
How many days do I need for a Kenya safari?
Three days covers the Maasai Mara; five to seven days lets you add Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha and Amboseli without rushing.
When is the best time to visit Kenya for a safari?
Kenya is a year-round destination. The dry seasons, roughly June to October and January to February, are the most popular; the green seasons are quieter and often better value.
What accommodation do Kenya budget safaris use?
Miti Mingi Eco Camp in the Maasai Mara, Buraha Zenoni in Nakuru, Leisure Apex in Naivasha and Nyati Safari Camp in Amboseli. See our accommodation guide for details.
Your Kenya journey
Ready to see Kenya for yourself?
Tell us your dates and how you like to travel, and we will suggest a route.