Must visit Kenya safari destinations

Must visit Kenya safari destinations : Kenya provides hundreds of National Parks, reserves and private conservancies. In this travel blog, we emphasise the National Parks featured on most Kenya travel itineraries – and for good reason. We discuss why you should visit these parks, how to get there, and tips on what to see and do.

1. Amboseli National Park | Spotting Elephants.

Amboseli offers a mild introduction to self-driving in Kenya; the routes are enjoyable to drive, clearly marked, and easy to navigate.

Why Amboseli is one of the best National Parks in Kenya

Two things in particular have made Amboseli National Park famous: magnificent herds of big-tusked elephants and breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro in neighboring Tanzania.

Unexpectedly, there are no public campsites available within the boundaries of Amboseli National Park. The KWS Amboseli public camp is the closest option; it’s only 200 meters from the National Park headquarters. As an alternative, you can choose to remain in the lodging provided by KWS Banda.

When is the best time to visit Amboseli National Park?
For your self-drive safari, Amboseli is a year-round destination with no particular animal migration patterns to take into account. April is the wettest month, and November and December are usually when the brief rains fall.

2. Samburu | An off-the-beaten-track cultural experience.

As you travel from the beautiful and fertile grounds of Mount Meru, the transition into Samburu presents with an entirely different surroundings and atmosphere. Amid dry and semi-desert ecosystems, palm groves and coastal forests paint the stunning canvas of Samburu National Reserve. This area is the ancestral homeland of the Samburu people, a traditional community resiliently flourishing in challenging conditions. Preserving their customs and knowledge, the Samburu people warmly share their culture with visitors. The Ewaso Nyiro River courses through this region, serving as its lifeblood. Beyond exciting game drives, exploring Samburu also offers diverse landscapes and rich cultural experiences.

While most people just call it ‘Samburu’, the area in the lesser-known north of Laikipia actually consists of three National Reserves: Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba.

Why Samburu is one of the best National Parks in Kenya.

While Shaba is not home to much wildlife, its appeal lies in its establishing landscape, walking trails to lava & hot springs, and a true wilderness vibe.

With its multiple off-road dirt tracks, game driving is most rewarding in Samburu. While not all five of the Big Five can be found in Samburu, this National Park is home to the rare “Samburu Five”: the Beisa oryx, gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, grevy zebra, and Somali ostrich. In addition to those, Samburu is well known for its resident leopard population.

A great alternative if you prefer leisurely travel or don’t feel like going on another game drive is to summit Mount Ololokwe (1754 meters in one day). We also heartily suggest immersing yourself in Samburu culture and touring a community-run elephant orphanage.

We were deeply moved and impressed by our visit to Umoja Women’s Village, which is located outside of Archers Post town, during our trip. Originally established in 1990 by fifteen brave women who had been raped by local British soldiers, Umoja has since grown to provide refuge to women fleeing rape, female genital mutilation, child marriage, and domestic abuse all of which are still accepted cultural practices among the Samburu. The women survive on the small entrance fee paid by visitors.

When is the best time to visit Samburu?

Samburu is open all year round, but from June to October and December to March the drier months you can see the most wildlife. Typically, April, May, and November are the rainy months.

Ol Pejeta National Park | A role model for conservation.

Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a 90,000-acre privately managed wildlife area located between the Aberdares and Mount Kenya. Besides being home to a variety of animals including the Big Five, Ol Pejeta is a sanctuary for rescued chimpanzees and the largest sanctuary in East Africa for the endangered Black Rhino. Furthermore, Ol Pejeta boasts one of Kenya’s highest densities of predators.

Why Ol Pejeta is one of the best National Parks in Kenya.

Ol Pejeta is a kind self-drive safari destination; it’s easy to follow, the tracks are marked and in good condition, and the park is accessible year-round. Visitors can participate in various fascinating conservation experiences, such as lion tracking, night game drives, horse riding amongst the rhinos, or jogging in the wild – making this a fun and also very family-friendly safari destination. The fantastic conservancy website for the park allows you to make reservations for any activity online.

Must visit Kenya safari destinations
Ol-Pejeta-Conservancy

Hell’s Gate & Lake Naivasha | Mountain biking among zebra’s.

Lake Naivasha and Hells Gate are two small national parks in Kenya bordering each other. If you feel like interacting with the locals and are looking for a budget, not-so-typical safari destination, you might like it here. Naivasha and Hells Gate are popular holiday destinations for people from Nairobi.

Why Hell’s Gate and Lake Naivasha are among the best National Parks in Kenya.

First and foremost, Lake Naivasha is a great place to take it easy and unwind. After a few days of game driving, it’s nice to enjoy different surroundings. Much of the lake is surrounded by beautiful forests and yellow-barked acacia trees. These forests are filled with bird life, and Naivasha is therefore known as a world-class birding destination.

If you can’t get enough of safari, Lake Naivasha still offers walking safaris and boat safaris, but from our personal experience, they are rather dull.

The nearby Hells Gate National Park offers gorgeous scenery and plenty of fun activities. While it’s not a big safari destination, you can go mountain biking here in the midst giraffes, zebras and gazelles, how cool is that! While hiking through Hell’s Gate Gorge, you’ll identify strange rock formations, beautiful waterfalls, and dozens of red soil shades. Experienced rock climbers can enjoy Fischer’s Tower, a stand-alone rock in Hell’s Gate.

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