Kenya travel guide: when to go, where to go and how to plan it together

November 8, 2026 · 9 min read

Kenya is where most people have their first safari, and it is easy to see why. Within a day or two of landing you can be watching lions on open grassland, elephants walking in front of a snow-capped Kilimanjaro, or a river crossing in the Maasai Mara that you have seen in documentaries for years. The guides are some of the best in Africa, the camps range from simple tents to proper luxury, and the distances between parks are short enough to combine several in a week.

It is also more than safari. Nairobi is a busy, modern capital with a national park at its edge, the highlands are cool and green, and the coast has white beaches, coral reefs and the old Swahili towns. Safari is the biggest cost by far, so most of the planning is about getting that part right. This guide covers when to go, where, a ten-day route, and what changes when you plan it with friends.

Capital: Nairobi
Currency: Kenyan shilling (KSh)
Languages: Swahili and English
Plugs: Type G, 240 V
Driving: On the left
Time zone: UTC+3, no daylight saving
Best time to go: July to October and January to February
Daily budget: About US$200–400 a person a day, mid-range, 2026

When to go

Kenya sits on the equator, so the seasons are about rain rather than temperature. Altitude matters more for how it feels: Nairobi and the highlands are mild and can be cold at night, while the coast is hot and humid all year.

The long dry season (June to October) is the classic time for safari. The grass is short, animals gather around the rivers and waterholes, and roads are good. From roughly July to October the great wildebeest migration is in the Maasai Mara, and river crossings are most likely in August and September. It is also the busiest and most expensive season, so book camps many months ahead.

The short dry season (January and February) is hot, dry and quieter, with excellent game viewing and fewer vehicles at sightings. It is the other good time to go, and a good one for a beach week on the coast as well.

The long rains (March to May) are the wettest months. Some camps close, roads can turn to mud and the coast is very humid. They are also the cheapest and emptiest time, and the landscape is green. If you travel then, pick lodges on good roads and be flexible.

The short rains (November and December) are lighter and often come as afternoon showers. Prices stay lower until the Christmas holidays, when the coast and the main parks fill up.

Kenya's public holidays, and school holidays in April, August and December, bring a surge of domestic travel to the coast and the lakes. Ramadan changes the rhythm on the coast and in Lamu, with restaurants quieter in the daytime.

Where to go

Nairobi

The capital is a good place to start and end. Nairobi National Park has giraffes, rhinos and lions with the city skyline behind them. The giraffe centre and the elephant orphanage let you see animals up close, and the Karen district has cafés, craft shops and the house where Karen Blixen lived. Give it two days, and try the city's food scene, which is lively and varied. Traffic is heavy, so plan transfers with room to spare.

Maasai Mara

The most famous reserve in Kenya, a wide plain of acacia and grass that is home to lions, leopards, cheetahs and huge herds. From July to October the migration brings wildebeest and zebra from Tanzania. Go for at least three nights, because the best sightings need early starts and long game drives. Some of the surrounding conservancies limit the number of vehicles and allow walking and night drives.

Amboseli

Known for large elephant herds and, on a clear morning, Kilimanjaro rising behind them. The land is flat, dusty and open, so animals are easy to see. Two nights is enough. Mornings are best for the mountain, which often clouds over by midday.

Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha

Two lakes in the Rift Valley, both within a few hours of Nairobi. Nakuru is a park with rhinos, leopards and thousands of birds. Naivasha is fresh water, with hippos, boat trips and walks or bike rides in Hell's Gate. Either works as a night on the way to or from the Mara.

Samburu and Laikipia

North of Mount Kenya, a drier, rockier landscape with species you do not see further south, such as Grevy's zebra and the reticulated giraffe. Laikipia has private conservancies that offer walking safaris, horse riding and some of the best rhino conservation work in Africa. It is a good choice for a second safari or if you want somewhere quieter.

Tsavo

Kenya's largest park area, split into east and west. Famous for red-dusted elephants, it is wilder and less visited than the Mara, and it combines well with a trip to the coast by road or train.

Diani and the south coast

Long white beaches, warm water and a coral reef offshore, a short drive from Mombasa. It is the easiest place for a few days of rest at the end of a safari. Go from December to March for the calmest sea, though it is warm year-round.

Lamu

An island on the northern coast with a centuries-old Swahili town, narrow lanes with no cars, donkeys, dhows and carved wooden doors. It is slow, quiet and a world apart from the parks. You reach it by a short flight or by road and boat. Two or three days is plenty.

A 10-day itinerary

Days 1–2: Nairobi. Arrive, rest, and visit the national park, the giraffe centre and the elephant orphanage. Nairobi sits at about 1,700 metres, so mornings and evenings are cool.

Days 3–4: Amboseli. About four hours by road from Nairobi, or a short flight. Two game drives a day, with the early one for the best light on Kilimanjaro.

Days 5–7: Maasai Mara. Fly from Nairobi in around an hour, or drive in a long day. Three nights give you six or seven game drives, and the best chance at a river crossing if you are there between July and October.

Days 8–10: Diani. Fly back to Nairobi, then on to the coast. Spend the last days swimming, snorkelling and doing very little, and fly home from Mombasa or via Nairobi.

With more time, add Lake Nakuru or Samburu before the Mara, or swap Diani for two nights on Lamu. If you only have a week, choose the Mara and Amboseli and skip the coast.

Getting around

Domestic flights are the best way to cover long distances, especially to the Mara and the coast. Small planes use soft bags, and there is a tight weight limit for luggage, so pack in a duffel and check the allowance with your operator before you book.

Road transfers are long. The roads to the Mara and Amboseli have good and bad stretches, and what looks short on the map takes much of a day. Most safaris use a 4x4 with a driver-guide, usually with a roof that lifts for game viewing.

The Standard Gauge Railway links Nairobi and Mombasa in about five hours. It is comfortable and scenic, particularly through the edge of Tsavo, and a good alternative to a flight.

In Nairobi, ride-hailing apps are common and cheaper and easier than negotiating with taxis. Minibuses called matatus are cheap and colourful, but not for luggage or first-timers. Self-drive is possible for experienced drivers in the quieter areas, but read about renting a car abroad and driving abroad before you decide, because driving is on the left and roads are unpredictable.

Money and costs

Kenya uses the Kenyan shilling. Mobile money, especially M-Pesa, is how most Kenyans pay, but visitors mostly use cards in hotels, lodges and larger restaurants, and cash in markets and small shops. ATMs are common in towns, less so near parks, so withdraw before you leave a city.

Tipping is customary on safari. Your driver-guide, camp staff and any trackers usually get a tip at the end of the stay, and many camps keep a shared tip box. Ask your operator what is normal for your group. For the wider picture, see tipping around the world.

Safari is where the money goes: park access, a vehicle and guide, and a camp that often includes meals. A cheaper trip means camping, sharing vehicles in a small group, and travelling in the green season. Outside the parks, Kenya is good value, particularly for food, local transport and coast stays.

Rough daily costs a person, in 2026, on days that include a safari:

Budget: about US$90–160, with camping, shared vehicles, basic lodges and buses.
Mid-range: about US$200–400, with comfortable tented camps or lodges, meals included and some flights.
Comfortable: US$500 and up, with luxury camps, private vehicles and conservancy stays.

Planning Kenya as a group

Kenya suits groups well, because safari is already designed for sharing a vehicle and a camp. A few choices are worth making early.

The safari itself. A private vehicle and guide for your group costs more in total but is cheaper per person than a shared one, and it means you choose when to leave and how long to stay at a sighting. Six to seven seats is a normal vehicle size, and everyone gets a window.

Stays. Camps and lodges often have a limited number of rooms for three or four, and the best ones fill many months ahead for the migration. Decide your dates first and book the Mara before anything else.

Pace. A group has different energy levels. Early mornings suit some people and not others, so agree which drives are for everyone and which are optional.

Costs. Safari is often paid in advance as one deposit by one person, with tips and extras in cash during the trip. Log each cost as it happens and keep a note of the currency, so nothing is forgotten between the safari and the beach.

Before you go

Entry rules: check the official government site of Kenya and your own government's travel advice before you book, as requirements depend on your passport and are updated often.
Travel insurance that covers medical costs and evacuation, as help in remote parks can be far away. See travel insurance explained.
Connectivity: a local SIM or eSIM works in towns and most lodges, but signal drops inside many parks. Download maps and documents first.
A plug adapter for Type G, the three-pin plug used in the UK. Kenya uses 240 V, so most chargers work.
Health: ask a travel clinic about vaccines and malaria prevention well before you leave, as risk depends on where you go and when. Some countries ask for proof of yellow fever vaccination on arrival from certain places.
Customs: on safari, stay in the vehicle, keep your voice low and never feed animals. Single-use plastic bags are banned in Kenya, so do not pack them. Ask before photographing people.

What to pack

Pack in a soft duffel, not a hard case, because small planes and safari vehicles have little room. Aim for neutral colours: khaki, green and beige. Avoid bright white, which shows dust, and dark blue and black, which can attract tsetse flies in some areas.

Bring layers, since early drives are cold and midday is hot: a fleece, a windproof jacket, a hat and sunglasses. Add sunscreen, insect repellent, a headtorch, binoculars and a reusable water bottle. For the coast, a swimsuit, reef-safe sunscreen and a light cover-up. Walking shoes and a light rain jacket are enough for most trips.