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AfricaSafariWildlifeCulture

Kenya

The world's best safari infrastructure and the Great Migration — East Africa's most accessible country.

East Africa
🦁 Big Five Safari🦒 Masai Mara☕ Kenyan Coffee🏔️ Mount Kenya

Backpacking Kenya

Kenya is the gold standard of African safari. The Masai Mara has the highest density of large mammals in Africa, and the annual Great Migration (1.5 million wildebeest) crosses the Mara River between July and October. Nairobi is one of Africa's most dynamic capitals. Mount Kenya is Africa's second-highest peak and one of its most accessible high-altitude hikes.

£40–£80/day avg daily budget
Key Info
Kenyan Shilling (KES)Swahili, EnglishType GDrive Left
10–15% at restaurants — tip guides and drivers generously
Weather
Best: Jun–Oct & Jan–Feb
Migration (Jul–Oct) — Mara River crossings are the world's greatest wildlife spectacle
June–October is the dry season and peak for safari. January–February is the short dry season with calving.
Health
⚠️Bottled water only — do not drink tap water in Kenya
Yellow Feverrequired/recommended
Malaria prophylaxisessential
Transport
Safari 4WDMatatuUber Nairobi
✈️ NBO Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (Uber, 45 min to city)
Uber works well in Nairobi. Matatus (minibuses) for budget city travel. All-inclusive safari lodges for game drives.
Emergency
👮 Police999 or 112
🚑 Ambulance999
🔥 Fire999
The Highlights

8 Things to Do in Kenya

01
Masai Mara game drive during the Great Migration — July–October river crossings
02
Nairobi National Park morning game drive — lions and rhinos with the city skyline behind
03
Visit the Karen Blixen Museum and the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi
04
Mount Kenya hike via the Sirimon route — Africa's second highest peak
05
Samburu National Reserve — rare northern species (reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra)
06
Lamu Island — the UNESCO Swahili coastal town with no cars, only donkeys and dhows
07
Diani Beach on the south coast — the best Indian Ocean beach in Kenya
08
Amboseli National Park — elephants with Kilimanjaro as a backdrop
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Insider Knowledge

What Most Guides Don't Tell You About Kenya