Last Updated on February 1, 2023
JC and I just returned from our dream honeymoon in Kenya a couple of weeks ago. To say it was amazing would be an understatement. In total, we spent 14 days in Kenya, 12 of which on safari. We saw all of the ‘big five’ multiple times and more. In the Masai Mara, we saw more lions than we could believe. In Amboseli National Park, families of elephants crossed right in front of our vehicle. We were also fortunate enough to see hundreds of wildebeest migrate from the Serengeti to the Mara during the ‘Great Migration‘. We visited a total of five National Parks in Kenya; including Masai Mara National Park. Read below for our tips and tricks on how to plan a safari in Kenya and everything you need to know before going.
How to Plan a Safari in Kenya: When to Go?
July – October is the best time to see the Great Migration
We went to Kenya the first two weeks of August. Why did we choose August? Well, one of our biggest dreams was to witness the ‘Great Migration.’ Millions of wildebeest move from the Serengeti in Tanzania to Masai Mara in Kenya for better feeding grounds. The best time to see the ‘Great Migration’ is the end of July through October. Of course, the migration is not the only reason to visit Kenya. But if going, why miss one of the most spectacular natural events in the world?
Plan your visit during the dry season for the best animal viewing
If the migration is not your primary focus, you can time your trip anytime during the dry season. The dry season is June – October and December – March. Why go during the dry season? It is the best time to view wildlife, as they congregate near water, making them easier to spot. Keep in mind that December – March is summer in Kenya, so temperatures can be in the 30s Celsius (80s Fahrenheit). When we went in August, it was very cold in the mornings ( ~13 Celsius or 55 Fahrenheit) and evenings, but could get quite warm during the day (~24 Celsius or 75 Fahrenheit). Whichever time of year you decide to go, best to speak to a professional guide about which parks are best to visit at that time of year and which lodges are best situated to view the most wildlife.
How to Plan a Safari in Kenya: Should You Hire a Professional Guide?
The short answer is YES! Hire a professional guide for the best safari experience
We do not typically work with a tour agency when planning our trips. Our usually philosophy is that we can do it better and cheaper (or at least at a better value) than anyone else. However, when I began looking into Kenya, I became uncertain that we could do it alone. Do we rent a safari vehicle from Nairobi? Will we be able to drive the roads of the parks safely? Will we be able to spot the animals? While JC had done a self driven safari in South Africa before, everything I read said that self driven safaris were not advisable in Kenya. With that in mind, I decided to start contacting Kenyan safari companies.
Plan your dream customized and private Kenyan safari with Features Africa Journeys
After contacting a number of safari providers, we had a short list of around 5 companies. However, one stood out amongst the rest: Features Africa Journeys. Our communication with Karanja, one of the co-owners, was phenomenal. He delivered us a fantastic itinerary, and was not shy to share with us his thoughts and recommendations in regards to everything for our trip. We loved that he planned for us to end with the Masai Mara, rather than start there (as it is the highlight). Karanja was also very patient with our endless flow of questioning and always quick to respond. In the end, I think we really had the dream itinerary and we felt so safe and secure in the hands of Karanja and his team, including our wonderful guide, Anthony.
Our customized itinerary with Features Africa:
How to Plan a Safari in Kenya: What Will it Cost?
Be prepared for one of the most expensive vacations you have ever taken
Our trip to Kenya was our honeymoon, so we were prepared to spend more than we normally would for a trip. The above itinerary cost us $5K USD per person. This did not include our airfare from Berlin to Nairobi (~600 EUR each) nor our visas necessary to enter Kenya (~$50 USD). That being said, it was an ‘affordable’ luxury vacation. We had a private safari vehicle (Land Rover) and personal guide for the entire 12 days of safari. We stayed in 3 or 4 star lodges, all of which were located inside the parks (meaning maximum animal viewing time). The price for accommodation did include all meals (buffet style). However, drinks and alcohol were not included at the lodges (though our safari vehicle had a stocked fridge with beer and wine). You can definitely do cheaper; however, we think the experience was worth every penny.
How to Plan a Safari in Kenya: Which Parks Should You Visit?
If you want to see all the ‘Big Five’ in one park, visit the Masai Mara
The Masai Mara National Reserve is the most popular park in Kenya for good reason. The density of wildlife there is incredible. In one day, we saw all the ‘big five’, plus many other amazing sightings, such as a cheetah and cubs. If you want to see cats, Masai Mara is the goldmine. While we had seen cats in the other parks, we saw so many and very active lions in Masai Mara. The most difficult animal to see in the Masai Mara is the rhino. There are no white rhinos in the Mara – only the black rhino. However, the black rhino is notoriously shy, making it very difficult to spot. For this reason, visitors to the Mara usually also add on Lake Nakuru National Park which is relatively nearby (around 3-4 hours drive). Lake Nakuru has both white rhinos and black rhinos. We were very lucky to have a black rhino sighting in the Mara on our last day in the park. If you are limited on time and need to choose, hands down Masai Mara is the best park in Kenya.
Kenya has more to offer than just the Masai Mara
While the Mara is incredible, there is more to Kenya than just the Masai Mara. While we saw all the ‘big five’ in the Masai Mara, we had the most incredible elephant encounters in Amboseli National Park. The elephants in Amboseli have no fear of humans because they have never been poached. Our favorite lodge was by far Kilaguni Serena Safari lodge in Tsavo West National Park. We had the most spectacular wildlife viewing right from our balcony there. Furthermore, we had the most amazing white rhino viewing in Lake Nakuru National Park. Each park is incredibly unique and offers its own special wildlife opportunities. We really think the best trip to Kenya is one that can incorporate at least a couple of these gems.
How to Plan a Safari in Kenya: How long should you go?
Can you do a safari in less than two weeks?
The short answer is, yes. Of course, with two weeks we were able to spend two nights in almost every park. And even four nights in the Masai Mara. We also had the time to visit five national parks. However, we think someone could almost follow our itinerary even with 10 days. We would recommend skipping Loita Hills Base Camp and Lake Naivasha. We saw plenty of hippos both in the Mara and at Amboseli, so the boat ride was not necessary on the lake. Hell’s Gate is also not necessary if short on time. Also, we did not really need to spend two nights in Nairobi nor visit the Giraffe Center. After seeing so many giraffes out on drives, it really was not necessary to feed them at the center. We would recommend sticking to their more natural habitats for better viewing.
How to Plan a Safari in Kenya: What Should I Pack?
Dress in layers and neutral colors
Especially in August, the temperature changes drastically throughout the day. Think cold early morning game drives to the hot afternoon sun and the chilly evenings. It is best to dress in layers. In the mornings I wore my olive green utility jacket I purchased at ARKET and lots of layers. I also wore hiking boots, though you really could spend most of your time without shoes while in the safari vehicle. It is best though to have closed toe shoes in case you get out to do a short hike. In some designated places it is permitted to leave the vehicle. The neutral colors (olive green, khaki, brown, beige) are so as to not scare the animals. I would also recommend a hat. It is not just for looks, but for the sun – especially when you keep popping your head out of the vehicle to spot animals!
Be sure to bring a good camera to capture all those important animal sightings
A safari is often a once in a lifetime experience. You want to be able to show your friends and family back home all the incredible animal sightings you were so lucky to witness! And while they may be fresh in your memory now, years from now, you’ll want to be able to look back on them. I had planned on buying a good camera (apart from my iphone) before the trip. Unfortunately, I did not have the time to buy one far enough ahead of the trip. I also did not want to be learning how to use a new camera whilst on the trip. This is why I opted instead to buy a 60mm telephoto zoom lens for my iphone from Sandmarc. It definitely made a huge difference! If you don’t want to make a huge investment in camera gear, definitely buy a lens attachment for your phone!
If you are looking for a honeymoon that is more than sitting on a beach, we would highly recommend Kenya! If you want the best of both worlds, you could definitely end your trip at the beach in Mombasa after some amazing days of safari. And even if it isn’t your honeymoon, Kenya is an amazing experience and has some of the best wildlife viewing in Africa. We hope this post helps you to plan your safari in Kenya. Any questions or comments, please reach out or post a comment below.
