Masai Mara savannas, snow-capped peaks, Indian Ocean beaches: Kenya in detail.

Complete Kenya Guide

From our Nairobi office, we explore Kenya year-round to refine our itineraries. The country stretches along a diagonal descending from the Aberdare highlands, over 3,000 meters high, down to the coral reefs of Watamu and Diani. Between them, the Rift Valley carves a furrow dotted with alkaline lakes (Nakuru, Bogoria, Naivasha) where lesser flamingos, rhinoceros, and hippopotamuses concentrate.

The Masai Mara remains the epicenter of the Great Migration between July and October, but we often direct our travelers toward less-visited reserves: Samburu and its northern arid species (reticulated giraffe, beisa oryx, Grevy's zebra), Laikipia for private conservancies, Amboseli for elephant herds at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. The Swahili coast, around Lamu and Mombasa, adds a cultural dimension often overlooked: coral stone architecture, wooden dhows, Omani and Bantu influences.

For a first trip, allow twelve to fifteen days to combine two or three ecosystems without undertaking long rough drives. Our team then adjusts according to your pace, budget, and chosen season.

Suggestions:

The regions of Kenya

Each region has its own personality: climate, landscapes, pace of life and ways of traveling. Our local team helps you choose the combination that suits you.

Landscape of the Masai Mara region in Kenya
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Masai Mara

The Masai Mara National Reserve spans 1,510 km² at 1,500 meters altitude, extending the Tanzanian Serengeti. Between July and October, nearly 1.5 million wildebeest cross the Mara River, followed by zebras and predators. Outside migration season, the density of big cats remains among the highest in East Africa. We lodge our travelers in tented camps around Talek or in private conservancies (Olare Motorogi, Naboisho) that limit the number of vehicles and allow walking safaris with a Masai guide. Mornings are cool, so bring a fleece for dawn departures.

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Landscape of the Amboseli and Tsavo region in Kenya
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Amboseli and Tsavo

In the south, Amboseli spreads its marshlands fed by the melting waters of Mount Kilimanjaro, whose 5,895-meter summit reveals itself early in the morning. Elephants cross the dusty plains in large family herds, studied for fifty years by Cynthia Moss's team. Further east, Tsavo West and Tsavo East form the country's largest protected complex, with its elephants reddened by laterite and the Mzima Springs sources. We often combine these two parks over four to five days, en route to the coast. Recommended dry season: June to October and January–February.

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Landscape of the Rift Valley and Lakes region in Kenya
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Rift Valley and Lakes

The Rift Valley stretches across Kenya from north to south for over 800 kilometres. The lakes of Nakuru, Naivasha, Bogoria and Elementaita concentrate dense bird populations: flamingos, pelicans, jacanas, fish eagles. Nakuru is also home to a protected population of black and white rhinoceros, observable on classic safari. At Naivasha, boat excursions among hippos and the trip to Crescent Island, where you walk among giraffes and zebras, offer a contrast to the Mara trails. Temperate climate at 1,800 metres, ideal for a transition stopover of two or three nights.

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Landscape of the Samburu and the arid north region in Kenya
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Samburu and the arid north

North of Mount Kenya, Samburu Reserve and its neighbouring parks Buffalo Springs and Shaba mark the entrance to arid lands. The Ewaso Ng'iro river attracts wildlife adapted to drought conditions: reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, beisa oryx, gerenuk, and Somali ostrich. The Samburu, cousins of the Maasai, live by pastoralism in surrounding villages and willingly accompany our travellers on cultural visits. The region remains accessible year-round, with daytime temperatures reaching 35°C. Plan for a minimum of two nights to account for distances from Nairobi (six to seven hours by road or a one-hour flight).

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Landscape of the Swahili Coast region in Kenya
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Swahili Coast

The Indian Ocean coastline stretches 536 kilometers, from Lamu in the north to Shimoni in the south. Diani Beach, south of Mombasa, features 17 kilometers of white sand lined with coconut trees and a lagoon protected by a coral reef. Further north, Watamu and Malindi are ideal for families, with a marine park renowned for snorkeling. The Lamu Archipelago, UNESCO-listed, preserves Swahili architecture in coral stone and a rhythm marked by dhows and the call to prayer. We often extend safaris here with four to six nights of rest. Avoid April-May, humid monsoon season.

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Landscape of the Mount Kenya and Laikipia region in Kenya
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Mount Kenya and Laikipia

Mount Kenya rises to 5,199 metres at Batian Peak. Its forested slopes shelter forest elephants, buffalo and black-and-white colobus monkeys, crossed by several trekking routes including the Sirimon trail, accessible over three to four days to Point Lenana (4,985 m). To the west stretches the Laikipia plateau, a mosaic of private conservancies (Ol Pejeta, Lewa, Borana) that protect the last northern white rhinos and welcome low-impact lodges. The climate remains cool (10 to 20°C), evenings by the fireside are part of the experience. Ideal between January and March or July to October.

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