7 of the Best Kenya Safari Tours: Our Top Picks
With its acacia-dotted savannahs, staggering wildlife diversity, and unique tribal encounters, Kenya is one of Africa’s top safari destinations. It’s not only home to world-renowned reserves where big-game species roam free but also little-known conservancies that offer a more exclusive wildlife viewing experience.
In this article, discover 7 of the best safari tours in Kenya, whether you want to tick famous wildlife reserves off your list or get well off the beaten tourist track. Our list includes options for honeymooning couples and adventure-loving families, as well as solo travelers wanting to experience one of Africa’s most enchanting destinations.
Discover two of Kenya’s top wildlife reserves - Samburu and Maasai Mara - on this 8-day safari from Nairobi, which combines exceptional wildlife viewing with cultural encounters. Begin your journey wildlife spotting on the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro River in the Samburu National Reserve, which is home to black and white rhinos and the “Samburu Special Five” (reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, beisa oryx, Somali ostrich and gerenuk). Then continue to the iconic Maasai Mara where you’ll embark on early morning and late afternoon game drives when the wildlife are at their most active. End your journey interacting with the long-necked residents of Nairobi’s Giraffe Manor, one of Africa’s most Instagrammable properties.
Highlights
• Spot the unique “Samburu Special Five”
• Immersive cultural experiences with the Samburu and Maasai tribes
• Tick off two of Kenya’s top wildlife reserves
• Enjoy up-close encounters with inquisitive giraffes at Nairobi’s Giraffe Manor
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Explore three of Kenya’s top wildlife viewing destinations - Samburu, Lewa and Mara North - while getting off the beaten safari track on this 10-day adventure from Nairobi. Spend three nights at the only lodge in the Samburu Kalama Conservancy where you’ll enjoy exclusive safari experiences during game drives. Spot the “Samburu Special Five” and enjoy an indulgent massage before continuing to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. In addition to ticking off the “Big Five”, you’ll visit the Ngare Ndare Forest Canopy Walkway and the Blue Glacial Pools, which form part of the Mount Kenya ecosystem. End your trip wildlife viewing in the iconic Maasai Mara while staying in one of its crowd-free conservancies - Mara North.
Highlights
• Stay at sustainably-designed eco-lodges in remote settings
• Explore the high-altitude cedar forests of Mount Kenya
• Enjoy thrilling game drives and guided walks in the Maasai Mara
• Get off the beaten tourist track in exclusive Kenyan conservancies
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Spend five days wildlife spotting in the Samburu National Reserve during this unforgettable tracking adventure to observe critically endangered black rhinos. With just 540 left in the wild, seeing these unique creatures in their natural habitat is a special experience, to say the least. Staying at Saruni Samburu, you’ll spend your days exploring the stunning Kalama Conservancy, which is home to the “Samburu Special Five”. With the help of highly trained guides, you’ll track rare black rhinos by day before indulging in Italian-inspired cuisine at night. This inspiring adventure includes a complimentary massage at the Samburu Wellbeing Space and the opportunity to hear Samburu pastoralists singing at their natural wells.
Highlights
• Experience a unique cultural encounter with Samburu pastoralists
• Spot the “Samburu Special Five”
• Track endangered black rhinos on foot
• Visit the Reteti Elephant Orphanage
• Explore the breathtakingly beautiful Kalama Conservancy
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Treat your family to the ultimate adventure during this 10-day itinerary, which takes in some of Kenya’s most spectacular wildlife conservancies. Spend three nights spotting the “Samburu Special Five” in the breathtakingly remote Kalama Conservancy, with plenty of time for parents to relax and kids to splash around in the pool. Then continue to the Borana Conservancy, which provides a habitat for both black and white rhinos alongside the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Explore the Ngare Ndare Forest Canopy Walkway and bathe in the Blue Glacial Pools before ending your journey in the Maasai Mara. Based in the crowd-free Mara North Conservancy, you’ll embark on thrilling game drives in the early morning and late afternoon, followed by bush dinners under the stars.
Highlights
• Meet the Maasai people during a cultural performance
• Enjoy a combination of thrilling game drives and guided walks
• Stay in family-friendly accommodation at some of Kenya’s top lodges and camps
• Spot not only the “Big Five” but also the “Samburu Special Five”
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Discover the remote beauty of southern Kenya and one of Tanzania’s top wildlife-viewing destinations on this 10-day safari. Begin with three nights in the Kalama Conservancy alongside the Samburu National Reserve, with the unique opportunity to spot the “Samburu Special Five”. After a guided walk to discover the area’s native plant life and ancient rock paintings, you can unwind with a complimentary massage. Then embark on a charter flight to the Chyulu Hills, a breathtaking wilderness area that is best explored on guided forest walks and horseback rides. Enjoy a cultural encounter with the local Maasai tribe before heading across the border to visit the UNESCO-listed Ngorongoro Crater and discover why it has been dubbed “Africa’s Garden of Eden”.
Highlights
• Spot the “Samburu Special Five” in the remote Kalama Conservancy
• Take an optional scenic flight over Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli and Tsavo National Park
• Enjoy spectacular views across the Ngorongoro Crater on a guided walk
• Learn about human evolution at the Olduvai Gorge
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Experience two of Kenya’s top wildlife viewing destinations while making memories with your loved one on this couple-focused Kenya itinerary. Begin the week wildlife spotting in the Samburu National Reserve while staying at the only lodge in the breathtakingly beautiful Kalama Conservancy. Indulge in a complimentary massage and enjoy sundowners with a view before feasting on Italian-inspired cuisine in a star-lit setting. After meeting Samburu warriors around the campfire, depart on a flight to the Maasai Mara where you’ll be staying in an exclusive lodge within the Mara North Conservancy. Over the next three days, you’ll enjoy guided nature walks, exhilarating game drives and pampering couple experiences.
Highlights
• Enjoy a bush dinner under the stars in the middle of the Samburu wilderness
• Spot the “Samburu Special Five” in the remote Kalama Conservancy
• Embark on a guided walk led by Maasai tribespeople
• Indulge in romantic dinners and spa experiences
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Ideal for those who are short on time, this 5-day itinerary focuses on Kenya’s top wildlife-viewing area, the Maasai Mara. It’s renowned for its wildlife abundance and diversity, as well as hosting the immense herds of the Great Migration each year. Staying in the exclusive Mara North Conservancy, you’ll enjoy uncrowded game drives and guided walks, as well as an optional hot air balloon safari to view the herds from above. Beginning and ending in Nairobi, this action-packed itinerary offers the perfect introduction to the grandeur and beauty of Kenya.
Highlights
• Witness the vast herds of wildebeests and zebras during the Great Migration
• Enjoy an optional hot air balloon safari to see the Maasai Mara from above
• Spot predatory cats such as lions, leopards and cheetahs
• A short but action-packed itinerary for those with limited time
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