The birthplace of the safari — iconic savanna landscapes, the Great Migration's river crossings, snow-capped Mount Kenya, coastal culture, and pioneering conservancies.
The Great Migration reaches Kenya's Masai Mara from July to October, with the most dramatic river crossings from August to September. This is peak season with high demand and prices. January to February is warm and dry — excellent for game viewing across most parks with fewer crowds. June is a shoulder month offering good conditions at lower prices. The long rains (March-May) and short rains (November) bring green landscapes, lower prices, and newborn animals. Some roads become challenging but parks remain open. The coast is best from December to March and June to October.
Kenya offers a wide range of safari budgets. Budget camping safaris from $150-300/day. Mid-range lodge safaris $300-600/day. Luxury and conservancy camps $600-2,500/day. Masai Mara conservancy fees range from $70-120/person/day (on top of accommodation). Amboseli park fees $60/adult/day. A classic 7-day Kenya safari costs $2,500-5,000 mid-range or $5,000-15,000 luxury. The coast offers excellent value — Diani beach hotels from $80-400/night. Lamu budget guesthouses from $30/night. Internal flights (Nairobi to Mara) cost $150-350 one-way.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi is East Africa's main hub, with direct flights from London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Doha, Istanbul, and most African capitals. Wilson Airport (WIL) in Nairobi handles domestic and bush flights. Most nationalities can obtain an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) online before arrival ($30). Nairobi is the safari departure point for most itineraries, with excellent bush flight connections to all major parks. Mombasa's Moi International Airport serves the coast. Malindi and Lamu have smaller airports for coastal destinations. Nairobi to Mara is 1 hour by bush flight or 5-6 hours by road.