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Kenya Safari HolidaysTailor-made · Est. 2009
Kenya safari holidays: the Maasai Mara at dawn with acacia trees on the plains

Kenya Safari Holidays: Tailor-Made Trips from the UK

Kenya is one of Africa's best safari destinations and a brilliant choice for a first safari. In a single trip you can watch lions on the plains of the Masai Mara, see elephant herds beneath Kilimanjaro in Amboseli and finish with a beach holiday on the Indian Ocean.

Our free guide below covers where to go, when to travel, what a Kenya safari costs and how to plan it from the UK. When you're ready, tell us what you have in mind and we'll put you in touch with a Kenya safari specialist for a tailor-made quote.

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At a glance

Kenya Safari Holidays at a Glance

Best for
Big Five game viewing, the Great Migration, Maasai culture and combining safari and beach.
Best time to go
late June to October for dry-season game viewing and the wildebeest migration in the Mara; January to February is also excellent.
Flight time from the UK
around 8.5 to 9 hours direct from London Heathrow to Nairobi.
Ideal length
5 to 7 nights on safari, plus 4 to 7 nights on the coast if you add a beach stay.
Entry
British passport holders need an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before they fly.
Time difference
Kenya is 2 hours ahead of the UK in summer and 3 hours ahead in winter.

How it works

How Our Free Quote Service Works

Kenya Safari Holidays is an independent guide for UK travellers. We don't sell holidays ourselves. Instead, we connect you with a trusted Kenya safari specialist who builds and quotes your trip.

  1. 01

    Tell us your plans.

    Share your dates, budget, group size and the experiences you care about most.

  2. 02

    Get a tailor-made quote.

    A Kenya safari specialist designs an itinerary around you, with accommodation, game drives and transfers.

  3. 03

    Compare and decide.

    There's no cost and no obligation. You book directly with the specialist only if the trip is right for you.

Before you book with any company, ask whether your holiday is financially protected (for example under ATOL for flight-inclusive packages) and check reviews.

Why Kenya

Why Choose a Safari in Kenya?

The word safari comes from Swahili, and Kenya has welcomed safari travellers for more than a century. It still offers some of the most reliable wildlife viewing on the continent. Here's why so many UK travellers choose it.

Wildebeest and zebra streaming across the plains of the Masai Mara during the Great Migration

The Big Five and much more

Kenya is home to all of the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. You'll also see cheetah, giraffe, zebra, hippopotamus, wildebeest, gazelle and hartebeest, plus more than 1,000 bird species. In the north, look out for rarer species such as Grévy's zebra, the reticulated giraffe and the Somali ostrich.

The Great Migration

Each year, vast herds of wildebeest and zebra move between Tanzania's Serengeti and the Masai Mara. The herds usually arrive in the Mara from around July and stay until October. The dramatic Mara River crossings, where crocodiles and big cats wait, typically peak in August and September.

Easy to reach and easy to combine

Direct flights from London make Kenya one of the most accessible safari destinations for UK travellers. Nairobi is a natural hub, with light aircraft reaching most parks in under an hour, and Mombasa's Moi International Airport serves the coast. That makes a safari and beach holiday simple to arrange.

Culture and conservation

Meeting the Maasai people, visiting a community project or staying in a private conservancy adds depth to your trip. Conservancy fees help protect wildlife and support the local communities who share the land with it.

Where to go

Best Places to Go on a Kenya Safari

Kenya's national parks and reserves each offer something different. Most itineraries combine two or three of them.

A pride of lions resting on golden savanna grassland in the Masai Mara, Kenya

Masai Mara National Reserve

The Maasai Mara National Reserve is Kenya's most famous safari destination. Its open savanna has some of Africa's highest densities of lion, cheetah and leopard, and it hosts the Great Migration from about July to October. You can stay inside the main reserve or in a private conservancy such as Mara North, Naboisho or Olare Motorogi, where camps can offer walking safaris, night drives and fewer vehicles. For a special treat, book a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the plains of the Masai Mara.

Elephant herd crossing golden plains beneath Mount Kilimanjaro in Amboseli, Kenya

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park is known for its large elephant herds and classic views of Mount Kilimanjaro across the border in Tanzania. It's a compact park with open plains and swamps, so game viewing is straightforward, and it pairs well with the Mara or Tsavo.

Arid riverbed with doum palms and rocky hills in Samburu National Reserve, Kenya

Samburu National Reserve

In the arid north, Samburu National Reserve offers a completely different Kenya safari experience. Along the Ewaso Nyiro River you can spot the "Samburu Special Five": Grévy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and beisa oryx. Leopard sightings are also good here.

White rhino grazing on high grassland with Mount Kenya in the distance

Laikipia Plateau and Ol Pejeta

The Laikipia Plateau, between Mount Kenya and the Great Rift Valley, is a patchwork of private ranches and conservancies. It's one of the best places in Kenya to see black and white rhino, and exclusive lodges offer horse riding, walking safaris and camel treks.

Flamingos wading in the shallows of Lake Nakuru in the Great Rift Valley

Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha

In the Great Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru National Park is a reliable place to see rhino, and flamingos gather on the lake at certain times of year. Nearby Lake Naivasha offers boat trips among hippos, walking safaris on Crescent Island and a relaxed stop between Nairobi and the Mara.

Red-dusted elephants on arid red earth among volcanic outcrops in Tsavo, Kenya

Tsavo East and Tsavo West

Together, Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Park form one of Kenya's largest protected areas. Expect red-dusted elephants, dramatic volcanic scenery and far fewer vehicles. Tsavo is easy to reach from Mombasa, which makes it a popular short safari from the coast.

Giraffe and zebra on grassland with the Nairobi city skyline behind them

Nairobi National Park

Just outside the capital, Nairobi National Park has lion, rhino, giraffe and buffalo against the city skyline. It's ideal for a half-day game drive on arrival or before your flight home, and you can combine it with the elephant orphanage and the Giraffe Centre.

How you travel

Choose Your Style of Kenya Safari

There's a Kenya safari package to suit most budgets and travel styles.

Light aircraft on a bush airstrip with a safari vehicle waiting in the Kenyan savanna
Road safari:
travel between parks in a 4x4 Land Cruiser or pop-top safari vehicle with a driver-guide. Great value and a good way to see the countryside.
Fly-in safari:
hop between parks by light aircraft to save time and spend more of your holiday game viewing.
Private safari:
your own vehicle and guide, so you set the pace. Ideal for photographers, families and couples.
Group safari:
share a vehicle with other travellers on a fixed itinerary. The most affordable way to visit Kenya.
Family safari:
child-friendly lodges, shorter drives and malaria-aware routing. Many camps have minimum ages for game drives, so check before you book.
Honeymoon safari:
intimate tented camps, private dinners in the bush and a balloon flight, followed by time on the beach.
Safari and beach holiday:
finish your trip on the coast at Diani Beach, Watamu or Malindi, or fly on to Zanzibar.

Sample trips

Popular Kenya Safari Itineraries

Use these sample trips as a starting point. A specialist can adjust every itinerary to your dates and budget.

Safari vehicle on a dirt track in the Masai Mara at sunrise

3 to 4 day Masai Mara safari

Fly or drive from Nairobi to the Mara for morning and afternoon game drives. Ideal if you're short on time or adding a safari to a beach holiday.

View itinerary
Safari vehicle on open plains with elephants and Mount Kilimanjaro behind

7 day classic Kenya safari

Amboseli for elephants and Kilimanjaro views, Lake Naivasha or Lake Nakuru in the Rift Valley, then three nights in the Masai Mara.

View itinerary
White sand and turquoise water at Diani Beach on the Kenyan coast

10 to 14 day Kenya safari and beach

A week on safari in the Mara and Laikipia, then fly to the coast for 4 to 7 nights at Diani Beach.

View itinerary

When to go

When Is the Best Time for a Kenya Safari?

You can go on safari in Kenya all year round, but the seasons affect wildlife viewing, prices and crowds.

Lush green savanna with acacia trees and grazing herds after the rains in Kenya
Late June to October (dry season, peak)
the best overall wildlife viewing. Animals gather near water, grass is short and the Great Migration is in the Masai Mara. This is also the busiest and most expensive time.
November to mid-December (short rains)
brief afternoon showers turn the landscape green. Fewer visitors and good value, with great birdlife.
Mid-December to March (short dry season)
warm, dry weather and excellent game viewing. A popular time for combining safari with the beach, and a good choice for festive and February half-term trips.
April to May (long rains, green season)
the wettest months. Some camps close and some roads become difficult, but prices are at their lowest and the scenery is lush.

Costs

How Much Does a Kenya Safari Cost?

The cost of a Kenya safari depends on your travel style, the time of year, how many parks you visit and whether you travel by road or light aircraft. As a guide, prices per person per day (sharing, excluding international flights) usually fall into three bands:

Budget

group safaris in shared vehicles, with simple tented camps or budget lodges.

Mid-range

comfortable safari lodges and tented camps, full board, with private or small-group game drives.

Luxury

exclusive camps in private conservancies, fly-in transfers, private guides and all-inclusive rates.

Park fees are a significant part of the cost and are usually included in a safari package. For non-resident adults in 2026:

Masai Mara National Reserve
US$100 per day from January to June and US$200 per day from July to December.
Amboseli and Lake Nakuru National Parks
US$90 per 24 hours.
Tsavo East, Tsavo West and Nairobi National Park
US$80 per 24 hours.

Private conservancies charge their own fees, which are usually built into the camp rate. Return flights from London to Nairobi vary widely by season, so book early for July, August and Christmas.

Inclusions

What's Included in a Kenya Safari Package?

Most Kenya safari packages include:

  • Accommodation in lodges or tented camps, usually full board on safari
  • Game drives in a safari vehicle with a professional guide
  • Park and conservancy fees
  • Airport and road transfers, or light aircraft flights on a fly-in safari
  • Drinking water on game drives

Usually not included: international flights, your eTA, travel insurance, tips, optional activities such as balloon flights, and drinks at some lodges. Always check the inclusions on your quote.

Before you go

Planning Your Kenya Safari from the UK

Aerial view of a safari tented camp beside a river in the Kenyan bush at sunrise

Entry requirements and eTA

British citizens need an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before travelling to Kenya. Apply online through the official portal at etakenya.go.ke, ideally at least 2 weeks before departure. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after arrival and have 2 blank pages. Rules can change, so always check the latest GOV.UK travel advice for Kenya before you travel.

Health and vaccinations

Malaria is present in many safari areas and on the coast, so speak to your GP or a travel clinic about antimalarials at least 6 to 8 weeks before you go. A yellow fever certificate is only required if you arrive from a country with a risk of transmission, but your travel clinic may still recommend the vaccine. TravelHealthPro has up-to-date advice for Kenya.

Money, language and tipping

Kenya's currency is the Kenyan shilling (KES), but US dollars are widely accepted at lodges. English and Swahili are the official languages, so communication is easy. Tipping is customary on safari; your guide, camp staff and drivers will appreciate it, and your specialist can suggest amounts.

What to pack for a Kenya safari

Pack light, breathable clothing in neutral colours such as khaki, green and beige, plus a warm fleece for early morning game drives. Bring a hat, sunglasses, sun cream, insect repellent and binoculars. A telephoto lens of 200 to 400mm is ideal for wildlife photography. On fly-in safaris, luggage is usually limited to around 15kg in a soft bag.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Start Planning Your Kenya Safari Holiday

Whether you dream of the Great Migration, a family safari or a honeymoon under canvas, the best Kenya safari is the one built around you. Tell us your dates, budget and must-sees, and we'll connect you with a Kenya safari specialist for a free, no-obligation quote.

Get a free safari quote