National parks · Kenya
The Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, Lake Nakuru and Samburu: a short guide to Kenya’s parks, with links to our trips and articles.
National parks
Kenya’s parks run from the big-cat country of the Masai Mara to Amboseli beneath Mount Kilimanjaro, Tsavo, Kenya’s oldest and largest park, and the flamingos of Lake Nakuru.
A must-visit Kenya safari. With a large population of animals in a small area, the game drives here are some of the most exciting.
Green pastures and many ponds, overlooked by Mount Kilimanjaro. Our itinerary describes Amboseli as the best place to see the mountain, although it stands across the border in Tanzania.
Kenya’s oldest and largest park. Visitors look for lion prides and herds of elephants and buffalo, and also see zebras, giraffes, ostriches and camels.
Home to flocks of pink flamingos, and combined with the Masai Mara in one of our itineraries.
Samburu Game Reserve and Ol Pejeta Conservancy are visited together on our four-day Northern Kenya itinerary. Our blog gives four reasons to explore Ol Pejeta.
Trips
Journeys through Kenya’s parks. Every trip is quoted for your dates and your party.
Read next
Three articles from our travel blog to read before you choose your parks.
Planning a trip to Kenya for the Masai Mara, Amboseli or Tsavo? Four reasons to look at Ol Pejeta Conservancy too.
Read the articleParks that are less famous than the Masai Mara and the Serengeti, and why they are worth considering.
Read the articleAfrica’s national parks are delicate ecosystems, protected by rules that ensure their survival and your safety.
Read the articlePlan my trip
Three fields and a few words about where and when. We read your note and reply by email.
There is no obligation. Every journey is quoted for your dates and your party.
Frequently asked questions
July to October suits most guests: the wildebeest herds are in the Masai Mara, river crossings are possible and the days are dry. January and February are also dry and warm, with good resident game. The long rains in April and May bring the lowest odds of a dry safari, though the Mara is green and quiet, and showers return in November.
Our Kenya trips run from three days to fourteen. Three or four days covers the Masai Mara, often with the flamingos of Lake Nakuru. Six days adds Amboseli beneath Kilimanjaro, and our 11-day Bush and Beach and 14-day grand tour go further. Kenya pairs with the Serengeti in Tanzania or with gorillas in Rwanda.
Kenya is best for big cats and the Big Five in the Masai Mara, where a large population of animals lives in a small area. Amboseli is the place to see Mount Kilimanjaro. Tsavo is Kenya's oldest and largest park, Lake Nakuru is known for its flamingos, and Samburu and Ol Pejeta open up the north.
Entry and health rules depend on your nationality and change, so check the official source rather than a summary. For entry, see the Kenya eTA portal at etakenya.go.ke. For health, see the Kenya page on TravelHealthPro (travelhealthpro.org.uk) or speak to your travel clinic, and ask about malaria prevention early.
Drives leave at first light, often before breakfast, when animals are most active and mornings are cool in an open vehicle. You return for breakfast and a rest, then take an afternoon drive. Road transfers between Nairobi and the parks, and any air transfers on longer routes, are planned into your itinerary.
We tailor every trip. Send your dates, party size and interests through the enquiry form on this page, and we will reply by email with what is possible and a quote for your party. Lodges in the Mara are busy during the migration months, so early dates help. Payment is by invoice.
Next step
Tell us when you would like to go and how many of you are travelling. We will reply with what is possible and a quote for your party.
