Situated along the Nairobi River in beautiful Kenya, the capital of Nairobi is East Africa's most cosmopolitan city. It serves as an excellent starting point for African safari trips around Kenya. Nairobi is Africa’s 4th largest city and is a vibrant and exciting place to be. There are some fascinating attractions: its cafe culture, unbridled nightlife, the National Museum, the Karen Blixen Museum and most notably, just 20 minutes from the city centre, wild lions and buffalo roam in the world’s only urban game reserve. Make sure you pay a visit to the elephant orphanage operated by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for a once in a lifetime experience.
Set on the banks of the Ewaso Ng'iro River and neighbouring the Buffalo Springs National Park, Samburu National Reserve is characterised by a spectacular landscape of rugged hills, undulating plains and riverine forests. The park is home to abundant wildlife including a variety of rare species such as the reticulated giraffe, the long-necked gerenuk, Somali ostrich, Grevy's Zebra, and Beisa Oryx. Visitors can also enjoy spotting over 900 elephants, a variety of predators, and over 450 bird species. The ancient culture of the Samburu people is still alive here, and it is possible to see two unique customs firsthand. In the first, watch as herds of cattle respond to each man’s individual voice as they call. In the second, see the tribesmen perform incredible dances that go back hundreds of years.
Sandwiched between Mount Kenya and the northern deserts, Laikipia is where Kenya’s wild and semi-arid northern frontier country begins. The region is made up of privately owned and community ranches centred around the Laikipia National Reserve. Known as one of Kenya’s best safari areas, and renowned for its protection of rare animals, the high plains of Laikipia feature vast open stretches of African savanna scattered with abundant game including Grevy’s zebras, lions, leopards, black rhinos, wild dogs, buffalos, giraffes, lesser kudu, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, Jackson’s hartebeest, Somali ostrich, and thousands of elephants. Take a boat trip along the beautiful Ewaso Nyiro River, enjoy a guided walk, bird discovery tour, horse ride, and more. Laikipia is often seen as a strong competitor with Masai Mara Park. The breathtaking Great Lakes of Kenya are nearby.
Resting at the foothills of Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Mountain Range, in central Kenya's Laikipia County, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy is the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa. It is also home to some of the last remaining northern white rhino in the world. Originally a working cattle ranch in colonial Kenya and now a pioneering wildlife conservancy, Ol Pejeta works to protect wildlife and provide a sanctuary for rescued chimpanzees. The Conservancy is a popular safari destination and is home to the renowned ‘Big Five’ as well as a wide selection of other African animals including zebra, giraffe, hippo, cheetah, jackal, serval, hyena, vervet monkey, and many more. Visitors can look forward to an assortment of outdoor activities such as horse rides, game walks, and nocturnal game drives.
Located in the beautiful Kenya Rift Valley basin, Naivasha is a compact market town northwest of Nairobi, best known as a stopping point for spellbinding Lake Naivasha. Aspiring wildlife photographers and nature lovers will marvel at Lake Naivasha and its abundance of wondrous wildlife. Here visitors can spot wallowing hippo pods, clouds of vibrant birdlife, zebra and various other game. The nearby Lake Oloiden and Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary are great spots for those passionate about wild wonders. Shopping in the bustling town ensures unique souvenirs for mementoes as well as restaurants offering delicious local dishes with every taste in mind. Accommodations ranging from lodges to bed and breakfasts provide great conveniences for travellers looking to explore the area.
The Loita Hills area in Kenya’s Southern Rift Valley is one of the nation’s last frontiers of pristine, untouched wilderness. Rising to over 2000 metres, the hills cover an area of some 200 square kilometres and form an important part of the Maasai Mara Ecosystem. Patches of remote forest are flanked by wide open plains, and the hillsides are dotted with an abundant variety of wildlife. Visitors can hike with local Maasai guides and explore the magnificent forest, filled with cedar, Opodo, strangler figs, and see an impressive variety of birdlife. Buffalo, elephant, baboon, bushbuck, hyena, leopard, and over 2000 colobus monkeys have made their home here too. Gorgeous waterfalls add to the experience. The area is inaccessible to vehicles, making the landscapes here relatively untouched.
