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Voykit

Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

country

KenyaKenya

First trip: 1–2 nights in Nairobi, 3–4 lodge nights in the Masai Mara (fly from Wilson rather than drive), then 3–5 nights on the coast; add a second park instead of the coast only if you have 12 days or more.

Not field-verified

Kenya's distances and road conditions are what break safari trips: a park that looks close on the map can be a full day on rough roads. Build the trip around lodge or camp nights (two nights minimum per park), fly light aircraft where time is short, and plan the season first: the long rains (roughly March–May) and short rains (roughly November–December) change road access and prices. Park entry fees are charged per person per day, so check the current rates with Kenya Wildlife Service or the county authority before you budget.

All regions, cities and parks in Kenya (Atlas) →

Regions

Nairobiplanned

Arrival base, Wilson Airport for safari flights, Nairobi National Park

1–2 nights

Masai Mara and the Rift Valleyplanned

Masai Mara reserve and conservancies; Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru

3–5 nights

Amboseli and Tsavoplanned

Elephants with Kilimanjaro views; Tsavo East and West on the way to the coast

2–4 nights

Kenyan coastplanned

Diani, Watamu and Mombasa for beach nights after a safari

3–5 nights

Arrive

NBO

Jomo Kenyatta International (Nairobi)

Main long-haul gateway; safari flights leave from Wilson Airport across the city

MBA

Moi International (Mombasa)

Coast gateway; some charter and regional flights

Time math

5 days
Nairobi 1 + Masai Mara 3 (fly from Wilson) + 1 buffer night in Nairobi
8 days
Nairobi 1 + Masai Mara 3 + Amboseli or Lake Nakuru 2 + Nairobi 1 buffer
12 days
Nairobi 1 + Masai Mara 3 + Amboseli 2 + coast 5 + 1 buffer

Country rules

Inherited by every page below
  • Check entry requirements and any electronic travel authorisation for your passport on the official Kenyan government portal before booking; rules have changed in recent years.
  • Book a travel-clinic visit several weeks ahead; ask about malaria prevention and check whether a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for your route, including transits.
  • Plastic carrier bags are banned; leave shop and duty-free plastic bags behind before you fly in.
  • Light aircraft to the parks have strict baggage limits, usually soft-sided bags only and a low total weight (often around 15 kg); confirm the limit with your operator and leave a hard case in Nairobi.

Etiquette

  • Ask before photographing people, including Maasai communities; a village visit usually involves a fee agreed in advance.
  • Greet before asking a question; a handshake and a few words of Swahili (jambo, asante) are appreciated.
  • Dress modestly away from beach resorts, especially in Mombasa's Old Town and Lamu, which are largely Muslim.
Long rains (roughly Mar–May)
Some camps close, park roads turn to mud, and light-aircraft schedules thin out.
Migration peak (roughly Jul–Oct)
Masai Mara lodges book out months ahead; river crossings draw vehicle crowds.
Christmas and New Year
Coast hotels and safari lodges fill with local and international holidaymakers.

Money & passes

Cash necessity: 3/5

  • Currency is the Kenyan shilling (KES). Cards work in hotels, lodges and malls; markets, small shops and tips are cash.
  • M-Pesa (mobile money) is used everywhere in Kenya; visitors can use it with a local SIM, and many small businesses prefer it to cards.
  • Park and conservancy fees are charged per person per day and are often paid electronically at the gate or through your operator; confirm what is included in a safari quote.
  • Carry small US dollar notes or shillings for tips to guides and camp staff; ask your operator for local tipping norms.

Before you fly: eSIM before you fly · Visas and entry

Safety

  • Use ride-hailing or hotel-booked taxis in Nairobi after dark; do not walk with a phone out in the city centre at night.
  • Road travel between parks is slow and accidents are a leading risk: avoid driving after dark and use an experienced driver-guide.
  • Some governments advise against travel to areas near the Somali border and parts of the north-east and north coast: check your own government's advice before you go.
  • Wildlife is wild: stay in the vehicle during game drives unless your guide says otherwise, and do not walk around unfenced camps at night without an escort.
  • Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Kenya; be discreet in public.

Kenya pairs with Tanzania (Serengeti, Zanzibar) and Uganda or Rwanda (gorillas) by short regional flights; check entry rules for each border separately.

Open Africa

Sources