Kenya is home to some of the world’s most famous national parks and reserves and a spectacular coastline with palm-fringed soft white sand with the backdrop of the Indian Ocean. It is one of Africa’s greatest safari destinations and I am so grateful to have been born and brought up in a country that offers a vast range of amazing experiences for an unforgettable trip.
It is ideal for a safari and beach holiday and here’s my ultimate Kenya Holidays guide for planning a trip.
Location
Located in East Africa, Kenya is a fairly small country and the capital and central transport hub is Nairobi, which is more or less in the centre. The main airports are the international airport, Jomo Kenyatta, which you will most likely fly into, and the domestic airport next door, Wilson airport, which is usually used for connecting flights to safari and beach destinations.
From the UK you can fly direct on Kenya Airways and British Airways and the flight time is around 8 hours. There are also in-direct flights available on other carriers such as Emirates, Qatar, Turkish Airlines, KLM to name a few.
When is the best time to go?
Dry Season
Though Kenya is wonderful all year round, I would recommend planning your visit around the dry season, which runs from July to October as this is when wildlife sightings are optimal as animals tend to congregate near water holes or rivers. This is also the time of the annual Great Migration which is when over a million wildebeest and other animals make their way across the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Masai Mara in Kenya. It is known as the ‘greatest show on earth!’
This is a pricier time to go though so keep an eye out for deals or flash sales and book at least a year in advance if you can.
Green Season
If you don’t mind rain showers, planning a trip during the ‘green season,’ which runs from November to around May, is a lot cheaper and perfect if you are into birding. It also means that your safari experience will be a lot more peaceful with fewer vehicles around and the lodges, camps and resorts will be quieter.
Find out more about the best time to visit Kenya.
Languages
Kenya is made up of about 40 ethnic groups, making the country extremely multilingual. However, English and Swahili are the two main official languages.
Currency
The official currency of Kenya is the Kenyan shilling (KES) but some accommodation and tour operators will also accept payment in the US dollar. Please note that you cannot obtain or exchange Kenyan shillings outside of Kenya so make sure you have converted it back into dollars, pounds or euros before you leave Kenya.
Credit Cards & ATMs
Credit cards are widely accepted across Kenya but it is a good idea to keep some cash on you to pay for smaller purchases and for tipping. ATMs are available at most petrol stations, shopping malls and the airports.
Plugs
In Kenya, the power plugs and sockets are type G. The standard voltage is 240 V, and the frequency is 50 Hz. UK appliances and electronics work fine without the need for adapter plugs.
Visa requirements for Kenya
Almost all foreign nationals require a visa to travel to Kenya and this must be applied for online in advance of travelling.
For more details and an online visa application, visit the official Visa Application System of the Immigration Department of the Republic of Kenya.
Safari & Beach destinations in Kenya
With over 40 national parks and reserves, Kenya offers some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the world. These are some of the most popular:
Masai Mara
Southwest Kenya is home to the world famous Masai Mara National Reserve which is renowned for the annual wildebeest Great Migration as well as the fantastic Big Five sightings. The Big Five are the lion, leopard, black rhinoceros, African bush elephant, and the African buffalo.
Easily accessible by car or flight, there are a vast range of lodges and camps to suit every budget here.
Amboseli
To the southeast lies Amboseli, Kenya’s second most popular safari destination, which is located near the Tanzanian border and offers picturesque views of Mount Kilimanjaro. This area is excellent for elephant viewing and it is famous for its huge herds of elephants!
It is also currently home to the world’s oldest African lion in the wild called Loonkito!
You can drive here or fly to the nearest airstrip. There are some fantastic tents here, including eco-lodges.
Chyulu Hills, Tsavo East and Tsavo West
Neighbouring Amboseli is a hidden gem – the Chyulu Hills, which offers exceptional luxury safari holidays.
Between the Chyulu Hills and the Kenyan Coast, is the land of Kenya’s ‘big tuskers’. If you love enormous elephants, you will love Tsavo East and Tsavo West!
Tsavo is closer to Mombasa and so a lovely drive to the coast from here or alternatively you can take the SGR train and experience a train journey!
Laikipia
Laikipia is located in Central Kenya and is growing in popularity. It is home to a number of successful conservation areas such as Lewa Downs and has a high percentage of East Africa’s rhino population!
Samburu
To the north lies Samburu, which is home to the Samburu people and the perfect place to experience Samburu culture. Due to its dry and arid landscape you’ll find wildlife such as the long-necked gerenuk, Somali ostrich, Grevy’s zebra and reticulated giraffe here.
Nairobi
Nairobi is the only city in the world to have a national park within it! It is also a popular starting point for many safari adventures and there is so much to do and see within the capital, unique wildlife experiences and an amazing food scene to get your taste buds tingling! I would recommend including at least 2 nights here as part of your wider itinerary.
Popular excursions and absolute must do’s in my opinion are visiting the Giraffe Centre to feed the Rotshchild Giraffes, and the Sheldrick Trust between 11am to 12pm, which is their public daily feeding time.
Bookings in advance (3 months) are recommended for the Sheldrick Trust as it is extremely popular but for Giraffe Centre you can get tickets online on the day.
World Class Beaches
Mombasa
Mombasa is a short flight from Nairobi or around a 6 hour drive. I would recommend flying so that you get more time at the beach!
For more information on itineraries why not check out these amazing offerings by Original Travel: Kenya Safari Holidays
———————————————————————————————————————————-
This is a sponsored post but all views and photos are my own.
Leave a Reply