KENYA
“Africa is mystic, it is wild, it is a sweltering inferno, it is a photographer's paradise, a
hunter's Valhalla, an escapist's Utopia.” Beryl Markham, West with the Night.
An ancient land born of ice and fire, Kenya’s extreme climate ranges from tropical heat to glacial ice, forming a diversity of habitats found nowhere else on Earth.
A vast mosaic of lion-gold savannah, rolling grasslands, ancient rainforests and volcanic plains, Kenya rises from the idyllic shores of the Indian Ocean to the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya which, at 5,199 metres above sea level, is an extinct volcano some 3½ million years old.
The real draw to Kenya is going on safari (meaning "journey" in KiSwahili), in the numerous national parks and game reserves. Kenya is home to the Big Five -- elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and rhino -- which were once the favorite trophies for game hunters, but are now emjpyed on a game drive. One-tenth of Kenya is occupied by parks and reserves, and in the ocean aquatic life is protected in a number of marine parks.
Apart from being ‘Natures Paradise’, Kenya is known as the ‘cradle of mankind’. With more than 50 ethnic groups, Kenya’s peoples are warm and hospitable - best expressed with the national motto ‘Harambee’ meaning ‘let’s all pull together’.
A sample of our Kenya Experiences:
7 Day Best of Kenya Lodge Safari
7 Day Kenya Fly-In Safari
14 Day Kenya, Tanzania & Zanzibar Safari
13 Day Migration Safari by Road – Kenya & Tanzania
15 Day Mountains, Lakes & Game Parks -
Kenya & Tanzania Road Safari
17 Day Best of Kenya & Egypt
Enquire about more tour options here
TravelBoecker Tailor-Made -
combing your personal preference with our expertise.
We create unique & authentic experiences
designed to suit your budget and desired style of travel.
About travelling with Children
About the annual Wildebeest Migration
The Republic of Kenya
• Area: 583,000 km²
• Capital: Nairobi
• Currency: Kenya Shilling (slang: ‘bob’)
• Climate: The coast is hot with an average daytime temperature of 27-31°C, whilst the average daytime temperature in Nairobi is 21-26°C. Nairobi can become cold enough for coats and fleeces; July and August mark the Kenyan winter. Temperatures elsewhere depend on altitude. Typically, January-February is dry, March-May is wet, June-September is dry, October-December is wet.
• Population: 33.9 million (2005 est.), 42.5% of whom are under 14 years old, with a growth rate of 2.56%, one of the highest in the world.
• Official language: English (official), Swahili (national), multiple ethnic languages
• Time: GMT +3
National Parks and Reserves
Kenya’s total wildlife conservation area is 44,359 sq km or 7.6 % of the total area. The main parks are: Aberdare National Park, Amboseli National Park, Hell’s Gate National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Meru National Park, Mount Elgon National Park, Mount Kenya National Park, Nairobi National Park, Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Park. One of the most popular tourist destinations, the Maasai Mara, is designated a National Reserve. There are two major marine parks: Mombasa Marine National Park and Malindi/Watamu National Park.
World Heritage Sites
Fort Jesus, the Gedi Ruins, Koobi Fora, Mount Kenya, Hell’s Gate National Park and the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
National Museums & Historical Sites
Kenya has over 400 historical sites ranging from paleolithic remains, 14th century slave trading settlements, Islamic ruins and the 16th century Portuguese Fort Jesus.
Landscape
The landscape of Kenya is distinctly divided into two halves - the eastern half which slopes gently to the coral-backed seashore, and the western portion, which rises abruptly through a series of hills and plateaus to the Eastern Rift Valley.
West of the Rift is a westward-sloping plateau, and the lowest part is covered by Lake Victoria.
The highest point in the country is the snow-capped peak of Mount Kenya (5,199 m), the second highest mountain in Africa.
The coastline extends some 536 km from the Tanzanian border in the southeast, to the Somali border in the northeast.
The main rivers are the Athi/Galana and the Tana. The major lakes are: Lake Victoria, Turkana, Baringo, Naivasha, Magadi, Jipe, Bogoria, Nakuru and Elementeita.
Flora
Kenya’s flora is diverse. Coastal forests contain palm, mangrove, teak, copal and sandalwood trees.
Forests of baobab, euphorbia and acacia trees cover the lowlands to an elevation of approximately 915 m.
Extensive areas of savannah are interspersed with groves of acacia and papyrus, which characterize the terrain from 915 to 2,745 m above sea level.
Bamboo and camphor are common in the dense rainforest of the eastern and southeastern mountain slopes.
The alpine zone (above 3,550 m) contains many Senecio and Lobelia plants.
Fauna
There are 80 major animal species ranging from the ‘Big Five’ (elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros, lion and leopard) to tiny antelopes such as the dik-dik, which is slightly larger than a rabbit. At least 32 endemic species are endangered.
Avifauna
Kenya boasts around 1,137 species of birds. Spotting over 100 bird species in a day is not uncommon.
When to go
There are a number of factors to take into account when considering what time of year to visit Kenya. The main tourist season is January and February, when the weather is generally considered to be the best; many areas of the country are hot and dry during these months. It’s also when you’ll find the largest concentrations of birdlife in the Rift Valley Lakes. At this time the animals in the wildlife parks tend to congregate more around the watercourses as other sources dry up, making them easier to spot. However the parks can get crowed and rates for accommodation also rise. June to October could be called the ‘shoulder season’ as the weather is still dry. During this period the annual wildebeest migration take place with thousands of animals streaming into eh the Masai Mara from the Serengeti in July and October During the long rains (March to end of May) things are much quieter and rates lower. This is also the case during the short rains from October to December.
Where to stay
One of Africa’s prime tourist destinations, and the longest established, Kenya’s tourist infrastructure is well tried and tested; and the range of accommodation is comprehensive indeed. The spirit of Kenya is also exemplified by its tradition of hospitality. Few people in the world are as welcoming as the Kenyans.
Kenya’s luxury hotels offer extremely high standards of service and are comparable to the best hotels anywhere in the world.
Lodges are located in the national parks and reserves and are, of necessity, limited; they are also usually expensive. The food and facilities, however, are generally of the highest standards.
Tented Camps - comprising a small selection of permanently-sited canvas tents, which are roofed, pitched on a concrete base or raised wooden platform, and often have a bathroom to the rear, tented camps have little to do with ‘camping’. Most offer a surprising degree of luxury with flush toilets, hot and cold running water and electricity.
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7 Day Best of Kenya Lodge Safari by Road from US$1779
This road safari starts and ends in Nairobi (1 night) and includes the elephants of Amboseli with Mount Kilimajaro in the background (2 nights), beautiful Lake Naivasha against the backdrop of Mount Longonot (1 night), unrivalled wildlife in the world-renowned Masai Mara Reserve (2 nights) and the flamingos and rhinos of Lake Nakuru (1 night). Featuring traditional safari lodges, this value-for-money safari offers optimum game-viewing, stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro, and the opportunity to view ‘The Big Five'.
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7 Day Kenya Fly-In Safari from US$4460
Short on travel time - long on safari experiences, this flying safari showcases some of Kenyas most famous and divers wilderness areas, while optimizing every moment of your stay in Kenya.
Against the backdrop of Mount Kilimajaro, Amboseli guarantees large herds of elephants. Discover the rugged and arid beauty of Shaba and Samburu in the northern district, and enjoy the vast beauty of the Masai Mara, famous for its annual Wildebeest migration.
Spending 2 nights in each eco-system, this safari allows you to savour some of Kenya's most charming luxury tented camps.
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14 Day Kenya, Tanzania & Zanzibar Safari
by Road in Lodges & Tented Camps from US$3315
Offering ultimate value-for-money, this tour starts in Nairobi (1 night) and showcases two of Kenya's most famous parks, Lake Nakuru (1 night) and the Masai Mara (2 nights). Crossing into Tanzania, it allows for a night on the shores of Lake Victoria before visiting the Serengeti National Park (2 nights), the Ngorongoro Crater (1 night) and Tarangire National Park (1 night). Finally as the perfect contrast it features 4 nights of relaxation on the magical island of Zanzibar (breakfast & dinner included, flight excluded).
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15 Day Mountains, Lakes & Game Parks
- Kenya & Tanzania Road Safari from US$4140
Our most popular safari offers the very best of Kenya and Tanzania. This road safari starts and ends in Nairobi (1 night) and features the most famous game parks, while offering the unique opportunity to travel the Great Rift Valley (2 nights in Samburu National Park), see Mount Kenya (1 night), enjoy the pink flamingos at Lake Nakuru National Park (1 night), 
take a boat ride on Lake Victoria (2 nights), enjoy game drives in both the Masai Mara (2 nights) and the Serengeti (2 nights), tour the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater (1 night) and admire Mount Kilimanjaro from Amboseli National Park (2 nights), whilst staying in both luxury tented safari camps and traditional lodges.
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13 Day Migration Safari by Road – Kenya & Tanzania from US$5999
Dubbed the ‘Greatest Wildlife Show on Earth', the migration features a cast of millions, covers an 800-kilometer circuit, and weaves birth, life and death into a spectacular tapestry, illustrating the concept of ‘the survival of the fittest' in all of its awesome and tragic splendour.
This road tour starts and ends in Nairobi (2 nights), showcases Amboseli National Park (1 night) with Mount Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Crater (1 night) before visiting the Serengeti National Park (3 nights) and the Masai Mara (4 nights) and enjoying 1 night with the pink flamingoes at Lake Nakuru.
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About the Migration
Between the end of July and November, over one and a half million wildebeest, accompanied by half again as many zebras and gazelles, migrate from the short-grass plains of the Serengeti to fresh pasture in the grasslands of the Mara; thus creating one of nature's grandest spectacles. Moving in groups of up to 20,000 at a time they thunder across the plateau, hesitating only briefly to cross the Mara River, where many fall prey to the waiting crocodiles. Towards the end of October they begin crossing back into Tanzania. The actual timing of the migration, however, is dictated by the weather and does not always run to schedule. Offering an abundance of herbivores, the Mara makes the ideal hunting ground for Kenya's famous ‘big cats' and hosts her largest population of lions. It also offers the best chance of spotting a leopard in the wild. Other predators include cheetah and spotted hyena.
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Since being established in 1961, Lake Nakuru National Park has increased considerably in size and now covers an area of 200sq km. It surrounds a shallow soda lake, famous for “the world’s greatest ornithological spectacle” - over 2million flamingos along with tens of thousands of other bird species inhabit this lake. It is a magnificent sight. The flamingos migrate from time to time if food gets scarce.
The lake is very shallow and the level fluctuates by up to four meters annually. When the water is low the soda crystallizes along the shoreline as a blinding white band of powder. It’s surrounded by of grassland, bush, forest and rocky cliffs – home to many other animals such as white rhino, the rare Rothschild’s giraffe, waterbuck, warthogs, large herds of buffalo, Thomson’s gazelle, leopard, hyrax, hippos and many more.
Maasai Mara is justifiably one of the most famous reserves in Africa and is the traditional land of the Maasai – a nomadic people. While on game drives, you will often notice young tribesmen herding their cattle amongst the plains game. The Mara is 1,510sq km of open grassland dotted with the distinctive flat-topped acacia trees. It is watered by the tree-lined Mara River and its tributary, the Talek River. The western border of the park is the spectacular Oloololo Escarpment. The Mara is the Kenyan section of the Serengeti Plains and wildlife abounds. There is plenty of game in the Mara.
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TravelBoecker Tailor-Made -
combing your personal preference with our expertise.
We create unique & authentic experiences
designed to suit your budget and desired style of travel.
