Masai Mara · Amboseli · Samburu · Laikipia
Private safaris in the Mara, its conservancies and the wild north, planned from the Gold Coast and priced in US dollars.
Five stars. 5.0 on Google and Tripadvisor37 five-star reviews, every one of them
Four celebrated reserves · Two million migrating wildebeest · Private conservancies
Kenya is where the safari was born, and the country has never stopped leading. The Masai Mara sits at the northern end of the Serengeti ecosystem and receives the Great Migration from July through October. Amboseli gives you elephants framed against Kilimanjaro, Samburu reveals species found nowhere else, and the private conservancies of the Mara and Laikipia add walking safaris and night drives without the crowds. Good bush flights link it all, so a focused few days or a two-week circuit both work.
Mara River crossingsBig catsElephants under KilimanjaroPrivate conservanciesSamburu special fiveWho you're dealing with
We're an Australian company on the Gold Coast. We plan the whole trip, book it, and look after you from the first call to the flight home, on one contract and one invoice from Kingse Safaris Pty Ltd (ABN 37 698 821 886). Every Kenya trip is private and built around you, with a private vehicle and your guide on every drive.
How booking works →
In a guest's words
Deciding to go to Africa at relatively short notice was a challenge for us, but no problem for Jackson.
Kenya, Park by Park
Scroll, and the map follows you from park to park.
The gateway · First night
International flights land at Jomo Kenyatta and the bush flights leave from Wilson Airport across the city, so most trips open with a night here. Nairobi National Park has wildlife on the city's doorstep, and Giraffe Manor is the famous start or finish.
Best monthsAll yearFrom the USNonstop from New York, about 14 hours
How you get here
Elephants under Kilimanjaro · Second stop
Open savannah famous for framing big-tusked elephant herds against Mount Kilimanjaro. The herds are exceptionally habituated, giving close approaches and some of the clearest sightlines in Kenya.
Best monthsJanuary to February, and June to OctoberFrom NairobiBy bush flight, or by road
More on Amboseli
Big-cat country · Third stop
The northern anchor of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, with some of the most studied lion prides in Africa and the July to October river crossings. The bordering private conservancies add night drives and walking safaris without the crowds.
Best monthsJuly to October for the crossingsFrom AmboseliBy bush flight
More on the Mara
The arid north · Fourth stop
A wild, remote reserve along the Ewaso Nyiro River in Kenya's far north, home to the Samburu special five found nowhere else in the famous reserves. Fewer visitors and walking safaris give it a genuinely intimate feel.
Best monthsAll year, with far less rain than the MaraFrom the Mara or NairobiBy bush flight from Wilson Airport
More on SamburuMap tiles: Esri, National Geographic. Locations are indicative.
Featured Park
The Masai Mara is Kenya's most celebrated wildlife area and the northern anchor of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. The reserve covers 1,510 square kilometers (about 580 square miles) of open grassland, acacia woodland and riverine forest, all of it teeming with predators. Lion prides here are among the most studied in Africa, leopards are regularly seen along the Mara and Talek rivers, and cheetah families hunt the open plains in broad daylight.
From late July to October, the Great Migration moves into the Mara. River crossings, thousands of wildebeest plunging into crocodile-patrolled waters, are the headline act, with August and September the busiest months, but the entire reserve comes alive during this period. Predator activity intensifies, vultures circle overhead, and the sheer density of animals is unmatched anywhere on earth. The adjacent private conservancies (Mara North, Olare Motorogi, Naboisho and Ol Kinyei, among others) offer exclusive access with strict vehicle limits and the ability to do night drives and walking safaris without the crowds.
Many of our preferred camps sit within these private conservancies, positioned to offer the most intimate wildlife encounters possible. The combination of prime wildlife viewing and low-impact access makes the Mara the centerpiece of most Kenya itineraries. Two to three nights is the usual stay. Our Masai Mara vs Serengeti guide compares it with the Tanzania side of the same river, and our Masai Mara safari page goes deeper on the camps, the conservancies and when to go.
Featured Park
Amboseli is a photographer's paradise, best known for framing herds of elephants against the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro. The park covers 392 square kilometers (about 150 square miles) of flat, open savannah dotted with volcanic ash, springs and seasonal swamps, a landscape that offers some of the clearest sightlines in Kenya.
The park's principal draw is its exceptionally habituated elephant population. The herds have been studied for decades and are remarkably tolerant of vehicles, allowing close approaches and excellent photography. You will see bulls with tusks, family groups, and young calves, sometimes dozens of elephants in a single morning. Predators are present too: lions, leopards, and cheetahs hunt across these open plains, and the bird watching is exceptional year-round.
Amboseli's dry, dusty landscape contrasts sharply with the lush forests of other reserves. It is best visited from January to February and from June to October, when animals congregate around the remaining water sources and visibility is at its best, and Kilimanjaro is usually clearest in the early morning, especially in January and February. The park sits just a few hours' drive from Tanzania, making it an easy addition to a Tanzanian itinerary, and two nights is the usual stay.
Featured Park
Samburu is a wild, remote reserve in Kenya's far north, a place where the landscape is genuinely different from anywhere else and where wildlife encounters feel distinctly personal. The reserve is carved out along the Ewaso Nyiro River, which creates a ribbon of riverine forest cutting through red volcanic plains, acacia woodland, and rocky outcrops called tors.
What makes Samburu special are the species you find nowhere else in Kenya's more famous reserves. The Samburu special five, reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Somali ostrich, beisa oryx and gerenuk, are all here, along with lions, leopards, and elephants adapted to this arid environment. The river itself is a hotspot: crocodiles bask on sandbars, elephants wade through the shallows at dawn, and the birdlife is outstanding.
Samburu feels wilder than the Mara because of its remoteness and the lower number of visitors. Walking safaris and night drives add to the sense of adventure. For guests who have done the classic circuit and want to experience a more remote, intimate side of Kenya, Samburu is the answer.
How to Experience It
Game drives at first and last light shape most days. Around them, these are the experiences we add, depending on where you stay.
Open-vehicle safaris led by expert guides who read the landscape and predict where wildlife will gather. Early morning and late afternoon drives offer the best light and animal activity.
Witness thousands of wildebeest plunging into crocodile-patrolled waters of the Mara River from July to October. The most intense wildlife spectacle on earth.
See nocturnal wildlife with spotlight technology. Encounter aardvarks, civets, servals, and other creatures that come alive after dark. Night drives are possible in the private conservancies, not in the main reserve.
Slow-paced nature walks through the savannah and conservancies with expert guides. Encounter wildlife, plants, and cultural traditions on foot from a completely different perspective.
Meet Maasai and Samburu families in their communities, learn about their traditions, and understand the cultures that have shaped Kenya's landscape for centuries.
How a Kenya Trip Comes Together
Three shapes for Kenya. The Mara is the headline, the conservancies are the secret weapon, and plenty of our guests continue across the border to Tanzania. Every trip is private and priced to your dates, so these are starting points.
7 nights
Migration + Kilimanjaro views
Three Mara nights for the migration and big cats, three Amboseli nights for elephant herds against Kilimanjaro, and a Nairobi arrival night. The Kenya essential, with bush flights between the parks.
From, per personAbout $6,950Our sample trip, with bush flights between the parks
Day 1 · Land at NairobiDay 8 · Fly back to Nairobi
10 nights · Sweet spot
Plus walking + night drives
The Kingse default. Three Mara nights, three in a private Mara conservancy (walking safaris, night drives, strict vehicle limits), and three Samburu nights for the northern species (reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Grevy's zebra).
PricingQuoted to your datesConservancy camps depend heavily on the month and the camp
Day 1 · Land at NairobiDay 11 · Fly back to Nairobi
13 nights
The Mara to the Serengeti
A few nights in the Mara or Amboseli, then across the border to Tanzania's Serengeti, following the same ecosystem. Add Zanzibar and it becomes 16 to 17 nights at $14,700 to $17,200.
Per person$8,650 to $10,300About 13 nights, from seven of our 2027 quotes
Day 1 · Land at NairobiDay 14 · Fly home from Arusha
Prices are per person in US dollars for two adults traveling privately, taken from the quotes we've built for 2027, and they don't include international flights. Our Kenya safari cost guide puts a 7-night classic circuit at $5,500 to $6,950 at comfortable camps, $6,950 to $11,700 at established mid-range to premium camps, and $11,700 to $20,600 or more at the small luxury conservancy camps. See also our sample 8-day Mara and Amboseli itinerary and real trips with the real prices.
See the Mara and Amboseli ItineraryWhere You Could Stay
The 34 lodges and camps we recommend and use across Kenya, grouped by area in the order you'd meet them on a trip. The conservancies typically cost more than the main reserve, and deliver fewer vehicles and more activity variety. The final selection flexes around your dates and availability. More on our Stays page.
International flights land at Jomo Kenyatta and the bush flights leave from Wilson Airport across the city, so most trips open or close with a night here. Giraffe Manor is the famous start or finish.
Nairobi
Iconic giraffe breakfasts and a memorable start or finish to a Kenya safari
Ultra Luxury
Nairobi city
Business and leisure stopovers in Nairobi before or after safari
Premium
5 lodges and camps
Two nights is the usual stay, for the elephant herds and the clearest Kilimanjaro mornings in January and February.
Amboseli
First-time Amboseli visitors and families wanting reliable comfort with Kilimanjaro views
Premium
Amboseli
Couples and first-time safari-goers wanting elephants and Kilimanjaro views
Luxury2 lodges and camps
The centerpiece of most Kenya trips. Inside the reserve you get the highest game density and the river on your doorstep; the private conservancies on its edge add night drives, walking and strict vehicle limits. A common answer is both.
Masai Mara
Couples and discerning travelers wanting a quiet, crowd-free luxury Mara experience
Luxury
Masai Mara
Couples and game-viewing focused travelers wanting a quiet riverside luxury tented camp
Luxury
Masai Mara
Couples and small groups wanting exclusive, crowd-free conservancy game viewing
Luxury
Masai Mara
Couples and luxury safari-goers wanting an intimate, exclusive conservancy camp
Ultra Luxury
Masai Mara
Top-tier couples and special-occasion travelers wanting exclusive, uncrowded Mara game viewing
Ultra Luxury
Masai Mara
Couples and honeymooners wanting an intimate, spa-led luxury Mara camp
Ultra Luxury
Masai Mara
First-time Mara visitors wanting classic Triangle game viewing and river crossings
Premium
Masai Mara
Couples and honeymooners wanting top-luxury seclusion and Mara crossings
Ultra Luxury9 lodges and camps
The wild north along the Ewaso Nyiro River, for the Samburu special five and fewer visitors. Three nights is the usual stay on a ten-night trip.
Samburu
Families and first-time safari-goers wanting comfort and wildlife on the river
Premium
Laikipia / Samburu
Couples and culture lovers wanting an intimate luxury Samburu escape
Ultra Luxury2 lodges and camps
Private conservancies on the Laikipia plateau, with rhino, walking safaris and night drives. Far less rain than the Mara, so it stays productive when the south is at its wettest.
Laikipia
Couples and families wanting an exclusive private lodge with top rhino viewing in Lewa
Ultra Luxury
Laikipia
Couples and families wanting exclusive, low-vehicle wildlife in Laikipia
Ultra Luxury
Laikipia
Couples and honeymooners wanting an intimate sleep-out under the stars
Luxury
Laikipia
Couples and families wanting an exclusive Laikipia conservancy stay with varied activities beyond game drives
Luxury
Laikipia / Samburu
Families and active groups wanting an exclusive walking and adventure safari
Ultra Luxury
Laikipia / Samburu
Rhino-focused luxury stays and intimate, exclusive Laikipia safaris
Ultra Luxury
Laikipia
Families and first-timers wanting easy conservancy wildlife and rhino sightings
Premium8 lodges and camps
The Rift Valley lakes break the drive between Nairobi and the Mara, with flamingos, rhino and a quieter night.
Lake Nakuru
Intimate conservancy stay with bush walks and night drives near Lake Nakuru
Premium2 lodges and camps
A remote, uncrowded park in the north-east for travelers who have done the classic circuit.
1 lodges and camps
Kenya's biggest park, between Nairobi and the coast, with red elephants, waterholes below the lodges and Kilimanjaro on the horizon from Tsavo West.
Tsavo West
Classic Tsavo East game viewing with elephants at the Aruba Dam waterholes
Premium
Tsavo West
Luxury Tsavo West safari with Kilimanjaro views and spring-fed wildlife
Ultra Luxury
Tsavo West
Tsavo West waterhole game viewing with Kilimanjaro views
Premium3 lodges and camps
Beach finishes after a Kenya safari. We check the latest State Department advice for the coast before suggesting one, and often steer beach stays to Diani or Zanzibar instead.
2 lodges and camps
34 lodges and camps across nine areas, with the same comfort levels as our Stays page. Lodge names open each lodge's own website.
Plan Your Visit
Kenya works all year, but the Mara River crossings make August to October the peak, with the first herds from mid-July, and the green months are quieter and far cheaper. The map follows the herds month by month, from the Serengeti up into the Mara and back. Our best time to visit Kenya guide goes month by month.
This season, as of late October 2026. Most of the herds crossed back into the Serengeti in August. The Mara Triangle had filled to about 200,000 by mid-month, a storm on 17 August turned them back, and by the end of August very few were left (Mara Conservancy). Since then groups have moved back and forth with the rain, and in the third week of October some large herds returned to the Triangle (Angama Mara).
Map: Esri. Herd positions are typical, not exact.
Where the herds usually are
Reaching the Mara River in the northern Serengeti
SeasonShort dry season
The first herds reach the Mara River from the south, and the first crossings into Kenya start from about mid-month, usually small at first. The bush thins out and the dry season proper is under way.
The herds follow the rain, so this shifts from year to year. We talk in seasons and never promise a crossing.
Peak season
Dry season · Migration crossings · Best overall game viewing
The bush thins out, animals gather around shrinking water sources, and visibility is at its best. The Great Migration herds move into the Masai Mara, and the Mara River crossings run from late July through October. Skies are clear and mornings are cool. This is high season, with the highest reserve fees and camp rates, so the best camps book out early. For August and September, six to twelve months ahead is ideal, and the top Mara camps can need more.
Best for a first safari and the river crossings
Short dry season
Second dry window · Green and quiet · Best Kilimanjaro views
Once the short rains clear, usually by mid-December, Kenya enters a second dry window. The landscape is green, the resident wildlife is fully active, and the Mara is much quieter than in peak season. There are no migration herds, but the resident lions and cheetah are excellent. Amboseli is at its best now, with the swamps full and Kilimanjaro often cloud-free in the morning. Prices are well below peak.
Best for Amboseli, Kilimanjaro views and value
Green season
Long and short rains · Lush landscapes · Fewer visitors · Lower rates
The long rains run from about March or April to June, and are the heaviest of the year: some roads get difficult, and many camps cut rates by 40 to 50%. The wildlife doesn't disappear, the birdlife is excellent and the Mara is quiet, but the animals scatter across the green grass rather than gathering at water. The short rains arrive in November, usually as brief afternoon showers. The northern parks, Samburu and Laikipia, get less rain than the Mara and stay productive when the south is at its wettest.
Best for quiet parks, birding and value
From the US
Nairobi is the gateway, and the parks are a short bush flight away. Here's the shape of it. Our African safari cost guide covers what flights add to the total.
Step one
Kenya Airways flies nonstop from New York JFK to Nairobi. From other US cities you connect once or twice, and we build the connections around your city.
Step two
Kenya Airways flies it from New York JFK in about 14 hours. From other US cities we compare the one- and two-stop routes for your dates.
Step three
The international airport. The bush flights to the Mara, Amboseli and Samburu leave from Wilson Airport across the city, so we never build one tightly off an international arrival.
Two airports, across the city from each otherFirst night
After a long flight your first night is a rest night, with nothing planned beyond dinner. We meet you at the airport, and the bush flight to the parks leaves the next morning.
UTC+3 all year · 7 to 8 hours ahead of New York| Route | Airline | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Nonstop | Kenya Airways | New York JFK to Nairobi, about 14 hours. |
| One or two stops | Other carriers | From other US cities. We check the best route for your dates. |
We lock the lodges, then the flights. For August and September the best Mara camps book out first, so six to twelve months ahead is ideal, and the top camps can need more. Once your deposit is in, we place your camps, bush flights and park bookings together, and that's the time to take out your travel insurance.
Kenya Airways flies nonstop from New York JFK to Nairobi, about 14 hours in the air. From other US cities you connect once or twice. Fares depend on timing and how early you book. Schedules and fares move, so we check them when we build your trip.
Kenya runs on UTC+3 all year, with no daylight saving. That puts it eight hours ahead of US Eastern time in winter and seven in summer, and eleven and ten hours ahead of US Pacific time. A first night's rest in Nairobi before the safari starts helps with the jet lag.
The Practical Bits
The short version of what to sort before you fly. For entry rules and anything medical we point you to the official sources, starting with the State Department.
Kenya asks you to apply online for an electronic travel authorization (eTA) before you travel, from $30. Apply at etakenya.go.ke at least two weeks ahead. Since October 5, 2026 Kenya has also required its own government travel health insurance, bought through the same application. Conditions can change at short notice, so check the State Department's advice and the official Kenyan government site, and we'll remind you and help with the application.
Malaria and yellow fever are medical questions for your doctor. You don't need a yellow fever certificate flying straight from the US. Tanzania does ask for one if you arrive from Kenya, or after more than 12 hours in transit at an airport in a yellow fever country, so it matters on a Kenya-then-Tanzania trip and on a long layover in Nairobi or Addis Ababa. Either way, we generally tell people the vaccine is worth having, as one shot lasts a lifetime, but your doctor always has the last say. Check the State Department's Kenya page for any current health notices. Book a travel clinic or your doctor early and take your full itinerary. You will also need travel insurance that covers medical evacuation.
Kenya carries real risks. The State Department's advisory for Kenya is a serious one and it changes often, so read the current advice at travel.state.gov before you book and again before you fly. Terrorism and violent crime are a risk in parts of the country, the border regions with Somalia and parts of the coast most of all, and protests can disrupt roads and airports. Our safaris are in the Mara, Amboseli, Samburu and Laikipia, with arranged transfers and no road travel after dark.
Park and conservancy fees are in your quote. The Mara's reserve fee is close to $200 per person per day in peak season, one of the steepest in Africa. Tipping for guides and camp staff is standard, and our Kenya cost guide covers what is and isn't included.
Layers, because the Mara sits at 1,500 meters (about 4,900 feet) and mornings are cold even in the dry season. Neutral clothes, a hat, sunscreen and binoculars. Bush planes work to a baggage allowance and prefer soft bags. Our safari packing list has the rest.
It depends mostly on the camp and whether you choose the reserve or a conservancy. Our sample 7-night Mara and Amboseli trip starts from about $6,950 per person with bush flights. See the Kenya cost guide and African safari costs.
Go Further
Kenya sits beside Tanzania, shares an ecosystem with the Serengeti and has plenty of guests asking what to combine it with.
Across the border
The Mara is the northern end of the Serengeti, so the natural next stop is Tanzania, about half a day away by air. About 13 nights comes to $8,650 to $10,300 per person, and each country has its own entry requirements, so check the official sites for both. Arriving in Tanzania from Kenya also means a yellow fever certificate.
Beach finish
Safari first, beach second. Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar together run 16 to 17 nights at $14,700 to $17,200 per person across six of our 2027 quotes. For a beach after Kenya on its own, we also look at Diani.
Same river, two banks
The Mara River runs along the border, and crossings can be seen from either bank. The Mara is smaller and denser, with conservancies that allow night drives and walking. The Serengeti is vast and adds the calving and Ngorongoro Crater.
The Practical Questions
The questions travelers ask us most about a Kenya safari, grouped by topic.
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Go Deeper
Long-form guides that help you decide before you commit. Real numbers, real photos, no fluff.
Straight numbers help you decide before you commit. See what an African safari costs, what a Kenya safari costs, real trips with the real prices and how booking works.
Keep Exploring
The same way of traveling, in other corners of Africa.
Start Planning
Tell us your dates, who's traveling and what you'd love to see, and we'll design a private itinerary around you, with real prices in US dollars. From the Mara River crossings to a quiet morning in a conservancy, we'll plan it properly.
Five stars. 5.0 on Google and Tripadvisor37 five-star reviews, every one of them
“Could not have imagined how it could have been better planned and delivered.”
Email us or book a call
Samara looks after our guests from the US. Email her or book a call at a time that suits you, or message her on WhatsApp, and she'll come back to you the same day, US time.
Samara Imhoof
Bookings & Client Care
Whether you're just kicking around ideas or already booked. Dates, lodges, costs, changes, payments, flights.
Jackson Potter
Founder
Lodges, agents, media, or anything commercial. This one comes straight to me.
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