Kenya is the heartland of the African safari experience, the country where the word itself was born into travel culture, and the place where the grasslands of the Great Rift Valley teem with wildlife in concentrations that remain breathtaking. But Kenya is far more than its game reserves — it is a country of extraordinary geographic diversity and vibrant coastal culture.
The Maasai Mara National Reserve is one of the planet's great wildlife spectacles. During the Great Migration from July to October, over a million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle cross the Mara River in crocodile-contested crossings. Year-round, the Mara supports lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, hippo, and an astonishing diversity of birds.
Amboseli National Park offers the iconic image of Africa: elephant herds moving beneath the snow-capped dome of Kilimanjaro. Mount Kenya, the country's highest peak at 5,199 meters, draws trekkers through bamboo forest, giant heather, and afroalpine desert.
The coast along the Indian Ocean is a world apart. Lamu Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a medieval Swahili town where motor vehicles are banned. Malindi and Watamu offer marine national parks with coral reefs, sea turtles, and whale shark encounters.
Kenyan food is straightforward and satisfying: nyama choma, ugali, sukuma wiki, and the Swahili biryani and pilau of the coast.
June to October and January to February are the driest and best months. Kenya delivers Africa at its most magnificent.
