Do you dream of watching wild animals in their natural environment? Discover the 11 best places to safari in Kenya!
If Kenya is so famous for its safaris, it is that the country houses all the great species of African wildlife. Among them, those who integrate the Big Five : lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo... All these animals that inspired Hemingway, Joseph Kessel or Karen Blixen. A safari in Kenya is to go through these vast savannah lands in 4×4 on foot or in mountain biking in search of wild animals. In short, an unforgettable experience...
With 26 national parks, 35 natural reserves and a multitude of private reserves, there is something to do! The best time for a safari in Kenya? From December to March and from June to October, when the dry season pushes animals to drink at water points.
Want to experience this unforgettable experience? Follow the guide, discovering the best safaris in the country!
Also:
The 20 most beautiful places to visit in Kenya
The 7 best safaris to do in Zambia
1. Amboseli Park
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Susan Schmitz
Most of the park : The possibility of exceptional pictures of the eternal snow of the Kilimandjaro. Prived early in the morning, before the clouds cover the famous summit.
He is one of the oldest parks in East Africa and is one of the most famous safaris in Kenya. Ideally located in front of the Kilimandjaro summit, Amboseli Park is famous for its mythical setting. It is indeed here that Ernest Hemingway would have found inspiration to write The Snows of Kilimandjaro !
The wild plains and acacia forests are natural habitats of choice for local wildlife. Over 380 km2, the park is home to Kenya’s largest elephants concentration! There are also giraffes, gazelles, impalas, gnous, cheetahs...
2. Lake Nakuru
Photo credit: Shutterstock – jdross75
Most of the park : It houses the largest white rhinocero population in Kenya.
Located 160 km north of Nairobi, Lake Nakuru is one of the must-see parks in Kenya. In this UNESCO-listed park, the largest concentration of wild animals in the country is found. Nearly 400 species of birds are located on an area of just 200 km2. A multitude of other animals like giraffes, buffalo and climbing lions live here. With a little luck, you'll see a leopard!
Lake Nakuru offers an idyllic setting for your safari. On the backdrop, its turquoise lake, volcanoes, meadows and forests...
3. Area of Samburu
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Maggy Meyer
Most of the park : It is one of the most frequent natural parks in the country!
All north of the country, Samburu’s natural reserve is associated with Shaba and Buffalo Springs to form a vast territory of more than 800 km2. The park offers the advantage of being less crowded and clearer, making animals easier to spot. In this vast ecosystem, the Ewaso Nyiro River is the cradle of the elephants who come to bathe in it, while the crocodiles sit in the sun on its shores. Rare species populate Samburu Park, such as Grévy zebra, or beisa oryx, in the wake of unicorn.
Among the various safaris in Kenya, it is certainly here that you will have the most chance to see a leopard.
4. Lewa Downs Private Reserve
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Traci Beattie
Most of the park : Her efforts to integrate local communities into space management.
Located in the Laikipia region, Lewa Downs is a private reserve of 18,000 hectares, in addition to the 6,600 hectares from the adjacent reserve of Il Ngwesi. Faced with Mount Kenya, it is covered by a cedar forest to the west and from plains to the east, to the river Ndare. The owner family made a reservation to exemplary management. It involves the Masai and Samburu communities in the conservation of the park. Among the many species that you can observe are:
- White and black rhinos
- Zebra
- Girafes
- Gazelles-girafes
- Somali ostrich
- Leopards
- Lions
- Chacals
- Elephants
- Oryx
5. Meru Park
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Rich Carey
Most of the park : Its very low frequency, which is a rare commodity for safaris in Kenya!
With a surface area of 870 km 2 , it is one of the least frequented parks for a safari in Kenya. Victim of poaching in the 1990s, animal reintroduction campaigns were implemented. Since then, the effort has been paid and there are many species in this park today.
In this region 350 km from Nairobi, the rains can be abundant. It is therefore essential to leave in dry season (austral winter). The high humidity of the area contributes to an unusual landscape, with many marshes and high grasses. Rivers provide a year-round wildlife drink. The varied biotope allows to observe a wide range of wild animals, such as beisa oryx, gerenuks and small koudous.
6. Mara Masai Reserve
Photo credit: Shutterstock – benoit_f
Most of the park : The possibility to observe one of the largest migration of herbivores, from mid-July to late September.
At the border Tanzania The large spaces of the Masai Mara form a magnificent national reserve, perched between 1,500 and 2,100 metres above sea level. Its vast plains, often without trees, are conducive to the observation of wild animals, especially wild animals Big Fives .
The reserve of Masai Mara is also the place of predilection of the great migration of millions of herbivores. Gnous, zebra and gazelles walk together more than 3,000 km in search of a better herbage.
7. Tsavo Park
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Marius Dobilas
Most of the park : We come here as much for the breathtaking beauty of landscapes as for animals.
The Tsavo National Park covers 4% of Kenya’s area, making it the country’s largest national reserve. It is also one of the oldest. The park is divided into two large parts. In the east, the large red plains sprinkled with baobabs house elephants, giraffes, zebras, leopards. To the west, live crocodiles and hippopotamus.
The size of the reservation can unfortunately make it difficult to observe and you will have to be patiently armed. Fortunately, the landscapes are breathtaking!
8. Park Nairobi
Photo credit: Shutterstock – space_krill
Most of the park : Unquestionably its ease of access!
If you want to safari in Kenya with children, aim for ease by choosing the Nairobi Park! Of course, it is much smaller than the others (114 km2) and there is no elephants. The advantage? It is located only a few minutes from downtown.
The park is home to rhinoceros, giraffes, zebras, impetus, ostriches, hippopotamus, lions and leopards. All in a vast space that doesn't look like a zoo!
9. Parc des Aberdares
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Cezary Wojtkowski
Most of the park : The possibility of living a different experience by observing the animals on foot or from its lodge (you can even wake up at night to go out on the terrace see an animal).
This park outside the beaten paths will seduce amateurs and amateurs of tropical vegetation. As a result of 4,000 metres of altitude, it consists of dense forests and landes, all punctuated with cascades.
While it is sometimes difficult to observe animals in this tufty landscape, the Aberdares Park is home to many species: elephants, rhinoceros, guibs, buffalos, lions, leopards. It is also one of the few reserves where you can see monkeys.
10. Shimba Hills National Reserve
Photo credit: Shutterstock – WA van den Noort
Most of the park : You can combine luxury safari and useful action to local fauna and flora.
Would you like to combine safari in Kenya and good action? By taking part in a trip to Shimba Hills, you will contribute to the preservation of an ecosystem weakened by the proximity of human populations. The reserve is managed by the Kenya Wildlife Reserve and inputs are used to fund safeguard and protection actions.
It is rather a mini-safari, about 2:30 a.m., during which you will see many wild animals: elephants, buffalos, alopecia sand (a endemic species). Observational stations are conducive to on-the-job exploration.
11. Lake naivasha
Photo credit: Shutterstock – FOTOGRIN
Most of the park : It is possible to rent a boat to walk along the shores of the lake and observe the animals.
Naivasha is a freshwater lake in the Rift Valley, making it a true ornithological paradise. Located at the foot of the Longonot volcano, there are also many mammals such as zebras, giraffes, buffalos and monkeys. Since there are not or few large predators, the safari can be on foot.
You now know the best safaris to do in Kenya. So, for which will you try adventure?
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