The Map of Kenya

Eight ecosystems. One unforgettable country.

From the elephant-rich Amboseli plains to the flamingo-pink shores of Lake Nakuru, each destination tells a different chapter of East Africa.

Southwest Kenya

Maasai Mara

The Great Migration. Lions. Endless Savannah.

Kenya's most celebrated reserve , 1,510 km² of golden grassland that hosts the Great Migration's river crossings from July to October. Year-round the Mara holds Africa's densest predator population: prides over twenty strong, cheetah families on every termite mound, leopards in the riverine forests of the Talek and Mara rivers.

Best time

July–October

Drive time

5–6 hours from Nairobi

Altitude

1,500–2,170 m

Region

Southwest Kenya

Key wildlife

LionLeopardCheetahWildebeestElephantHippo

Tours visiting Maasai

3-Day Maasai Mara Camping SafariFrom $715 3-Day Land Cruiser Maasai MaraFrom $815 4-Day Taste of Kenya Group SafariFrom $835

Southern Kenya

Amboseli National Park

Elephants at the foot of Kilimanjaro.

A place defined by one view: enormous tuskers walking across pale dust pans with Kilimanjaro filling the sky. Amboseli's springs draw wildlife year-round, and its low scrub gives the cleanest sightlines in Kenya.

Best time

June–October, January–February

Drive time

4 hours from Nairobi

Altitude

1,140 m

Region

Southern Kenya

Key wildlife

ElephantLionCheetahHippoWildebeest

Tours visiting Amboseli

2-Day Amboseli National ParkFrom $475 4-Day Bush to Beach SafariFrom $920 6-Day Best Large Parks SafariFrom $1498

Great Rift Valley

Lake Nakuru National Park

A million flamingos paint the lake pink.

An alkaline jewel in the Rift Valley with one of Africa's healthiest rhino sanctuaries. Endangered Rothschild's giraffe roam the acacia woodland, and Baboon Cliff offers the postcard view of pink shoreline.

Best time

Year-round

Drive time

3 hours from Nairobi

Altitude

1,754 m

Region

Great Rift Valley

Key wildlife

FlamingoWhite rhinoBlack rhinoRothschild's giraffeLeopard

Tours visiting Lake

4-Day Taste of Kenya Group SafariFrom $835 4-Day Luxury Lake Nakuru & Maasai MaraFrom $1505 5-Day Mara, Nakuru & NaivashaFrom $1070

Northern Kenya

Samburu National Reserve

Kenya's wild north. Rare endemic species.

Arid, red, and unmistakable , Samburu hosts the Special Five: species you simply don't see in southern Kenya. The Ewaso Ng'iro river is the lifeblood, drawing elephant herds and leopards.

Best time

June–October

Drive time

6 hours from Nairobi

Altitude

800–1,230 m

Region

Northern Kenya

Key wildlife

Reticulated giraffeGrevy's zebraGerenukBeisa oryxSomali ostrich

Tours visiting Samburu

4-Day Samburu & Ol Pejeta ConservancyFrom $978 7-Day Off The Beaten Path LuxuryFrom $1725 10-Day Photography SafariFrom $2535

Laikipia

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Africa's last Northern White Rhinos.

East Africa's largest black rhino sanctuary, home to the world's last two northern white rhinos and the Sweetwaters chimpanzee sanctuary.

Best time

June–October

Drive time

4 hours from Nairobi

Altitude

1,800 m

Region

Laikipia

Key wildlife

Black rhinoNorthern white rhinoChimpanzeeLion

Tours visiting Ol

4-Day Samburu & Ol Pejeta ConservancyFrom $978 10-Day Photography SafariFrom $2535 10-Day Kenyan Classics SafariFrom $2555

Great Rift Valley

Lake Naivasha

Boat safaris, hippos & Hell's Gate.

A freshwater lake fringed by yellow-fever acacias. Boat safaris among hippos, walking and cycling at adjacent Hell's Gate , Kenya's only park you can explore on foot.

Best time

Year-round

Drive time

1.5 hours from Nairobi

Altitude

1,884 m

Region

Great Rift Valley

Key wildlife

HippoFish eagleGiraffeBuffalo

Tours visiting Lake

4-Day Taste of Kenya Group SafariFrom $835 4-Day Luxury Lake Nakuru & Maasai MaraFrom $1505 5-Day Mara, Nakuru & NaivashaFrom $1070

Southeast Kenya

Tsavo East & West

Red elephants, lava flows & wild coast route.

Kenya's largest park complex , Tsavo's red volcanic dust turns its elephants the colour of rust. Lava flows, Mzima Springs and a wild, less-trafficked landscape.

Best time

June–October

Drive time

5 hours from Nairobi

Altitude

200–1,800 m

Region

Southeast Kenya

Key wildlife

Red elephantLionBuffaloManeless lion

Tours visiting Tsavo

4-Day Bush to Beach SafariFrom $920 9-Day Luxury Spectacle SafariFrom $3070

Mombasa Coast

Diani Beach

White sand, Indian Ocean & marine life.

Twenty-five kilometres of powder-white sand and warm turquoise water , the perfect bookend after safari. Dhow cruises, kite surfing, marine reserves.

Best time

December–March, July–October

Drive time

1 hour flight from Nairobi

Altitude

Sea level

Region

Mombasa Coast

Key wildlife

DolphinWhale shark (seasonal)Colobus monkey

Tours visiting Diani

8-Day Memorable Bush & Beach LuxuryFrom $2005 9-Day Luxury Bush & Beach SafariFrom $1803 10-Day Iconic Wildlife & BeachFrom $1860