By Anthony Ham
Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Kenya.
Kenya is a top wildlife destination, recommended especially for those booking a first-time safari. The Masai Mara offers excellent big cat encounters and is the setting for the yearly wildebeest migration. Palm-lined beaches offer a perfect place to relax after an action packed safari.
Pros & Cons
- Excellent wildlife viewing, including the annual wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara
- A wide variety of habitats and scenery
- Beautiful beaches with plenty of resorts to choose from
- Traditional indigenous cultures
- Excellent service and well-run tourism industry
- The main tourist attractions are often crowded with tourists
Wildlife
Except for lions, big cats generally aren’t as common as other sizeable wildlife in Kenya, such as the giraffe, hippo and elephant. The one place where you can see plenty of them, along with an abundance of other wildlife, is Masai Mara. The rhino is another less-common animal, as is the African wild dog, though you never know your luck on safari. Of course, it’s the wildebeest and zebra who really put on a show here, with the incredible annual migration.
Weather & Climate
Kenya’s equatorial location rules out a distinctive summer and winter, but it does have clear-cut Wet and Dry seasons. The wetter months (November to May) are characterized by very warm temperatures of around 30°C/86°F, with the addition of sticky humidity down along the coast. The drier months (June to October) have cold nights and mornings, and fairly pleasant afternoons. The other big climatic influence is altitude, with temperatures dropping about 6°C/3.5°F for every 1,000m/1,000ft the higher you go.
Best Time to Visit
The Dry season (June to October) is your best bet for wildlife watching. This is when the bush thins out, making animals more visible as they head for the nearest waterhole. This is also when the wildebeest and zebra pass through. The Wet season (November to May) has its attractions as well. These include fantastically green scenery, lots of newborn animals, and cheaper low-season rates.
Premier Parks & Reserves
- Masai Mara - Classic safari
- Amboseli - Classic safari
- Lake Nakuru - Classic safari
- Samburu - Classic safari
- Tsavo West - Classic safari
- Tsavo East - Classic safari
- Buffalo Springs - Classic safari
- All 26 Kenya Parks & Reserves
