Holidays in Kenya

Destination information

Situated on the equator, this East African country has been described as ‘the cradle of humanity’. With its scenic beauty and abundant wildlife, Kenya is one of Africa’s major safari destinations made famous by world renowned Masai Mara Game Reserve. It is a land of contrasts, comprising arid deserts, rich savannas, snow-capped Mount Kenya, the Great Rift Valley, lakes and palm-fringed sandy beaches. The country boasts the widest array of game species in Africa, including the ‘Big Five’.
We have a great range of Safaris to choose from Click here for more details.

Situated on the equator, this East African country has been described as ‘the cradle of humanity’. With its scenic beauty and abundant wildlife, Kenya is one of Africa’s major safari destinations made famous by world renowned Masai Mara Game Reserve. It is a land of contrasts, comprising arid deserts, rich savannas, snow-capped Mount Kenya, the Great Rift Valley, lakes and palm-fringed sandy beaches. The country boasts the widest array of game species in Africa, including the ‘Big Five’.

Combine 7 different safaris in one country – wildlife, cultural, beach, sport, adventure, scenery and specialist safaris. The boundless wilderness and big game is legendary and has long attracted enthusiasts from the world over while the culture, evolved from countless sources can be observed as you ‘safari’ throughout the country. The coastline boasts soft white sandy beaches and palm fringed tourist class hotels where the locals will make you feel ‘Karibu’. Kenya is famous for its breathtaking landscapes, unique geographical features and species thus providing for a scenic safari. Whatever you are seeking, you will find it here. The rich diversity of this single country provides something for everyone. So whether you are looking for a safari of a life time or want to record rare species of bird, ride a historic train, visit farms or consult a medicine man, you have come to the right place.

flight details
Direct Virgin Atlantic flights depart daily from London Heathrow to Nairobi. Onward flights to Mombasa are operated by Kenya Airways. For even more flexibility, call us for options to fly with Kenya Airways direct to Nairobi or KLM via Amsterdam.

flight upgrades
Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy upgrades available from £220 supplement per person each way.
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class upgrades available from £985 per person each way.
Kenya Airways Business Class upgrades available from £679 supplement per person each way.

flight times
Approx 8 hours 30 min to Nairobi. Approx 45 min to Mombasa.

visa requirements
A visa is required for Kenya and can be obtained prior to travel (currently approx US$50) or upon arrival. Please visit www.kenyahighcommission.net for more information.

time difference
GMT +2 hours (summer), +3 hours (winter).

language
English and Swahili are the official languages.

currency
Kenyan Shilling (Ksh). US Dollars and Sterling Pounds are widely accepted.

best time to visit
Kenya is a year-round destination for both exceptional game viewing and spectacular scenery. Jan-Mar are the most comfortable months for travelling as they are warm and dry, and wildlife is generally found around the seasonal waterholes during these months, so game viewing is fantastic. In the green season (Apr-Jun and late Nov-Dec) there are low numbers of tourists, thus more exclusive, and the rains do not hinder game viewing. The greatest attraction, however, is the annual wildebeest migration (Jul-Sep) when up to 1.4 million wildebeest trek between the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya in search of fresh grazing. From Dec-Mar the herds give birth to their young, and in Apr-Jun they move west and north in the Serengeti as the grass dwindles. By the end of Jun and early Jul the pastures are depleted and the herds head to the Masai Mara where they remain until Oct. In Nov the short rains call the migration south again to the Serengeti and so the cycle begins once more.

tipping
It is customary to tip. In restaurants 10-15% is the norm. On game drives, a guideline is Ksh500 per drive.

What to pack for your safari holiday

luggage allowance for domestic flights
We highly recommend you leave your heavy cases at home and invest in lightweight holdalls. If you are flying onwards from the international airport, you will transfer to the domestic Wilson airport for your safari flight onwards. Please note that the luggage allowance is 15kg per person and that is your hand luggage and your hold luggage combined. Extra charges will apply for excess.
 
land safaris
We only use the new 4x4 vehicles for a comfortable ride and excellent viewing - no old fashioned mini buses for us! Everyone gets a window seat and when on the game drives, the open top space is great to watch and photograph from.
 
If you are joining a driven safari, you will again want a light weight holdall for your safari luggage as the 4x4 safari vehicles don’t have huge luggage space to ensure you get maximum seated comfort inside the vehicle.
 
Should you have booked a twin centre onto Mombassa or Zanzibar, you can pack a second case for your beachwear and accessories and leave that safely with our staff in Nairobi to collect on your return from the safari. That way you are just travelling with the essentials - it makes for easy packing up too!
 
laundry
If you are staying for more than one night at your chosen lodge, you will be able to get your laundry done either included in your package price or for a nominal cost, so don’t worry about taking lots of clothes with you. The safari scene is quite casual and you won’t need to take a wide range of outfits!
 
clothes
We recommend neutral, light weight trousers, skirts or shorts with comfortable enclosed footwear for your game drives and casual clothing in the evening for dinner. As it gets cold in the early morning/evening you will probably want a light sweater or fleece, particularly in June and July, Kenya’s winter months. During the day it gets nice and warm, so light tops and sandals will be more comfy as you relax at your lodge or camp. Natural colour clothing is recommended rather than bright colours. Ladies, a small rucksack is generally better than a handbag and keeps all your things together. Please note: Camouflage clothes are not permitted as it is the local soldiers uniform.
 
currency
You will need US$ on arrival to pay for your visa (unless you have pre-arranged it in the UK) - $50 per person in the correct bills please. Once you are on the road, Kenyan Schillings are better and you can change money at the airport or your Nairobi hotels or use the local cash points to get cash out. Change some bills into small denominations to facilitate easy tipping where you feel necessary.
 
electricity
All the camps have electricity but please note that some do conserve it during the day when guests are out and sometimes during the night whilst you are asleep - this protects their generator power. All rooms are provided with a torch in case you need to be able to see when the power is off. Not all the tented camps have full generator power and you may not be able to charge your phone/camera battery in your room but they can usually arrange something elsewhere. Hairdryers can be used in most lodges and in some tented camps. Others have ladies vanity areas to facilitate hair drying/straightening, but it is generally warm, so your hair will dry quickly and naturally in the fresh air if this isn’t available. You will get good mobile phone coverage throughout your trip if you do want to keep in touch with people back home - just ask at reception for the best spots!

... and don't forget
Apart from the obvious sun cream and mosquito repellent, don’t forget your binoculars for viewing the game and the wide selection of colourful birds. If you are an avid photographer, we suggest an extra memory card for your camera and perhaps a second battery - you will definitely take more photos than you think!

The best game is seen early in the morning, so morning drives leave between 06.30am-07.30am - bring an alarm clock to wake up on time.

All the lodges/camps will provide you with bottled water in your room to clean your teeth and mosquito nets if they feel they are necessary. You can buy more water and soft drinks from the lodges/camps too.

Most will also have a safe for your valuables such as passports and money, but leave your bling at home - the animals don’t expect it!

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