Luxury Kenya Vacations & Safaris 2024/2025

According to our experts, generally speaking, the best time to visit is between July through September. This is when the Great Migration is in full swing in the Mara and the weather is favourable and dry.

However, if the migration isn’t a priority for your trip, some gorgeous shoulder months for ideal safaris are October, February and March. During this time there are fewer visitors, the rates are lower and the game-viewing is still fantastic.

For a classic African safari vacation, Maasai Mara is where you should go. Open grasslands, herds of animals, big prides of lions – it’s truly the safari we all imagine in our heads. If it’s your first time visiting or you’re really wanting a Kenya vacation full of game drives, we recommend coming here.

That said, Kenya’s Laikipia region also offers incredible game viewing, in addition to a much wider range of activities. There’s horse riding, quad bike excursions, and fishing trips to Mount Kenya or Lake Turkana. It’s a great place for those who have visited Kenya before or are with a group of travelers with multiple tastes to satisfy.

Our Kenya safari tours range from 8 to 12 days, however, our vacations are personalized so we can create an itinerary that suits your timings.

We recommend at least 4 days for a safari, but after that, you can country-hop or head over to the beach for a bit of R&R in Diani or even the Seychelles. When you speak with our travel experts, they’ll work with you and your schedule to create the ideal trip.

When on a Kenya safari, you can expect to see the “Big Five”. This includes lions, leopards, elephants, African buffalo, and rhinos. However, you’ll also come across, hippos, zebras, giraffes, and cheetahs.

If you’re hoping to witness the Great Migration, then fully expect to see wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles barrelling through the wild on their constant migration through the Serengeti-Mara ecozystem.

When it comes to clothing, we always recommend our guests focus on layers when it comes to our luxury Kenya safaris.

Kenya is a high-altitude country, so when the sun goes down, so does the temperature. For morning game drives, we recommend a fleece paired with a windbreaker or light puffer coat for maximum comfort, but by midday be prepared to strip back to your t-shirt and shorts.

For colors, keep it neutral. Think creamy whites, light greys, olive greens, tans, and browns. No need to go full camouflage, but best to leave any brightly colored clothes at home or kept for festive dinners at the lodge.

For the beach, the weather is warm and humid, so lightweight clothing is ideal. Linen, cotton, and breathable material will have you live in your best beach paradise.

Finding the best Kenya safari lodges depends on what the traveler is looking for.

If you’re looking for ultimate luxury, the Angama Lodges, now in both Maasai Mara and Amboseli National Park, or camps from Great Plains Conservation are excellent choices. Picture glass-fronted suites, exclusive views over the plains, and stargazing from your own private balcony.

For a more low-key boutique option, and for those who prioritize guiding, the Serian Camp and Cottars 1920s safari camp are perfect. Get an authentic “Out of Africa” feel with these luxury-fitted tents, private game drives, and some of the best guides available. The benefit of the private drives is you’re not bound to the early morning if you prefer to sleep in a little longer, and there’s also the option of night drives.

Families will love Lewa House or Kicheche Mara Camp. The cottages at Lewa House are perfect for families and kids will love visiting the local villages. Kicheche has a more intimate feel, really immersing you in nature with their safari tents. Kids adore the feeling of adventure this camp brings to your family vacation in Kenya.

If you’re traveling with grandparents as well, Lengishu and Cottars safari villa are ideal for accommodating a multi-generational safari. It has a distinct home-away-from-home feeling that will have everyone vacationing in comfort.

Yes! In fact, not only can you book a Kenya safari for your honeymoon, but we also highly recommend it. According to our Africa expert Bjorn Behlert:

“The charm and intimacy that our authentic tented camps in Kenya provide will have honeymooners swooning. Your time in Kenya will be designed to thrill you with intimate wildlife encounters, adventurous activities from hiking to horseback riding, and the nights to spoil you with the romance of Africa.”

Kenya is one of the most family-friendly destinations in Africa. Almost all camps accept kids from a young age, which isn’t always the case with safari lodges. Amongst our favorites is Lewa House paired with properties such as Kicheche Mara, Angama Mara or House in the Wild. These camps are fabulous at keeping young kids engaged and included in the wildlife activities.

If you’re looking to add a bit of beach to your family vacation in Kenya, Kinondo Kwetu is an excellent boutique hotel on Diani Beach. Relax on the beach or partake in activities like water sports, tennis, cultural visits to the local villages and even game drives.

While Kenya’s welcoming and warm culture is found all over the country, the best destinations for families are all about the activities.

Safaris are great for families, however, they do require patience and silence, so while we recommend experiencing one or two game drives on your vacation, you definitely want more activities available to keep your little ones engaged and entertained.

Location-wise, the Maasai Mara can be a little dull for younger children as it’s a game-drive-heavy area. However, in the Laikipia region, there is more to do such as horse riding, fishing, tubing in rivers, and other family-friendly activities.

There are direct flights to Nairobi from JFK Airport, or there are connecting routes through Europe or the Middle East.

In Europe, there are connections through London, Paris, or Amsterdam. In the Middle East, your flights will connect through Dubai or Doha.

Our Kenya safari tours start at about $10,000 and go up from there. However, as our trips are personalized, these are estimates based on the sample itineraries we’ve put together. The final cost will be unique to your trip and dependent on the experiences, accommodation, and flights you book.

You’re updated on costs throughout the entire planning process though, so you’ll know the exact cost before booking.

To book your Kenya safari, get in contact by calling the number listed below or filling out our online inquiry form.

From there, our travel experts will be in touch to start the introduction and get to know you a bit more before crafting your incredible customized itinerary.