Private African safaris in Kenya
Luxury Kenya Safaris
The Maasai Mara, Laikipia, Samburu, Amboseli and the coast, privately guided and planned around you by our team.
Why Kenya with Nova
Kenya, Planned Around You
A luxury Kenya safari is one of the easiest African safaris to reach, with nonstop flights to Nairobi from Europe, New York and the Gulf, and it rewards local knowledge: which conservancy, which month, which camp suits your family.
We design each journey from scratch. You might spend a few nights on a private ranch in Laikipia with a family house and your own vehicle, then fly to the Maasai Mara for big cats and, in season, the Great Migration. Our team arranges the flights, light aircraft, guides and camps, and stays in touch from your first enquiry until you are home.
Our promise
“Luxury travel, focused on eco-tourism and protecting Africa’s wildest regions and animals.”
In Kenya that often means staying in community conservancies, where camps lease the land from Maasai families. Your stay helps pay those leases and supports rangers and wildlife protection, and vehicle numbers at sightings are limited.
Getting there
Nonstop to Nairobi from London, Amsterdam, Paris, New York and Dubai
Best time
July to October, and January to February
Ideal for
Big cats, the migration, families and honeymoons
Combine with
Tanzania, Rwanda or the Indian Ocean coast
Where we go
Kenya’s Safari Regions
Kenya is far more than one famous reserve. These are the areas we plan journeys around, often two or three in one trip.
Classic plains
Maasai Mara
Open grassland, big cats and, from about July to October, the Great Migration. We time drives and choose camps to keep you away from the busiest crossing points where we can.
Fewer vehicles
Mara Conservancies
Private conservancies such as Mara North, Olare Motorogi and Naboisho border the reserve. Vehicle numbers are limited, and walks, night drives and off-road viewing are allowed.
Elephants and Kilimanjaro
Amboseli
Large elephant families against the backdrop of Kilimanjaro, which rises just across the border in Tanzania. Nearby private land adds walking and quieter game viewing.
Ranches and rhino
Laikipia
A high plateau of private and community land north of Mount Kenya, with rhino, wild dogs, walking, horse riding and camel treks, and private houses that suit families.
Rhino conservation
Lewa
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, on the northern slopes of Mount Kenya, is known for its black and white rhino and Grevy’s zebra conservation, with walking and horseback options.
The wild north
Samburu
Dry country along the Ewaso Ng’iro River, with species you will not see in the south: reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich.
Space and solitude
Tsavo
Tsavo East and West together cover a vast area of lava flows, springs and red-dusted elephants, with few other vehicles. A good partner for the coast.
Beach and Swahili towns
The Kenyan Coast
Diani, Watamu and the Lamu archipelago, for white sand, dhow sailing and a few slow days after your safari.
Over the border
Tanzania
The Serengeti and the Mara are one ecosystem. Many guests combine both countries in one journey.
When to go
Kenya Month by Month
There is no bad month for a Kenya safari, only different ones. Here is how the year usually looks; weather patterns vary from year to year.
| Months | What to expect | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| January to February | Dry and warm after the short rains, with green landscapes. | Big cats in the Mara, Amboseli, Laikipia, Samburu and the coast |
| March | Hotter, with the long rains approaching. | Quieter camps and good value |
| April to May | The long rains. Some camps close, others offer lower rates. | Lush scenery and very few visitors |
| June | The dry season begins and mornings are cool. | Laikipia, Samburu and Lewa; in some years the first herds reach the Mara |
| July to October | Dry, clear days. The Great Migration is usually in the Mara. | River crossings, peak wildlife and summer holidays |
| November | The short rains, usually brief afternoon showers. | Green landscapes and quieter camps |
| December | Mostly dry and busy over the festive season. | Families, the coast and all regions |
Summer school holidays in July and August, in Europe, North America and the Gulf, fall in Kenya’s dry season, which is also migration season in the Mara. These weeks book early, so we suggest planning six to twelve months ahead.
Getting there
Getting to Kenya
Nairobi has nonstop flights from Europe, New York and the Gulf, and light aircraft take you on to the camps.
From Europe
Nonstop flights reach Nairobi from London with British Airways and Kenya Airways, Amsterdam with KLM and Kenya Airways, Paris with Air France and Kenya Airways, and Istanbul with Turkish Airlines, in about six to nine hours.
From the USA and Canada
Kenya Airways flies nonstop from New York JFK to Nairobi in about 15 hours. From elsewhere in North America, connect through a European or Gulf hub.
From the Gulf
Emirates, Kenya Airways and flydubai fly nonstop from Dubai to Nairobi in about five hours. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi, Qatar Airways from Doha and Air Arabia from Sharjah.
Into the bush
Light aircraft fly from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to airstrips near the camps, about an hour to the Mara or Laikipia. A private charter can save time on longer routes.
Flight times are approximate and routes change, including seasonal and regional changes, so we confirm the current options when we plan your journey.
Experiences
Ways to Experience Kenya
Every journey is built around what matters to you. These are some of the things our guests ask for most.
Amboseli and the conservancies
Elephant Families
Time with elephant herds and their calves, with a guide who knows when to wait and watch.
Maasai Mara
Balloon at Sunrise
A dawn flight over the plains, followed by breakfast in the bush.
Laikipia and the conservancies
Walking Safaris
Track on foot with an experienced guide and learn the smaller details of the bush.
At your own pace
Private Guiding
Your own vehicle and guide, so you decide when to set off, where to linger and when to head back.
Honeymoons
Time for Two
Secluded suites, private dinners and quiet sundowners, with a few beach days at the end if you wish.
Families
Safari Together
Family houses, a private vehicle and flexible timings that suit younger travellers.
Sample journey
Eight Nights in Laikipia and the Mara
A starting point only. We change the regions, camps and pace to suit you, and we add the coast, Tanzania or Rwanda if you wish.
Day 1
Nairobi to Laikipia
Fly into Nairobi. We meet you on arrival and connect you to a light aircraft north to Laikipia.
Days 1 to 4
Laikipia
Three nights at a private-conservancy camp such as Loisaba Lodo Springs. Game drives, guided walks and, where the camp offers them, night drives and camel treks.
Days 4 to 8
Maasai Mara
Fly south to the Mara for four nights at a tented camp such as Ilkeliani, or a camp in one of the private conservancies. Big cats, long game drives and, in season, the migration.
Day 9
Homeward
Fly back to Nairobi to connect with your flight home, or continue to the coast, Zanzibar or Rwanda.
Good to know
Kenya Safari FAQs
Do I need a visa for Kenya?
Kenya uses an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) for almost all visitors, including children. At the time of writing that includes US, Canadian, UK and EU passport holders, as well as GCC citizens.
Apply on the official site, etakenya.go.ke, at least two weeks before you fly. What counts is the passport you travel on, not where you live. Rules and fees change, so please check the current requirements before you travel.
When is the best time for a Kenya safari?
July to October is the classic season, with dry weather and the Great Migration in the Mara. January and February are also very good. April and May bring the long rains, when some camps close and others offer lower rates.
Is Kenya safe for a safari?
Kenya’s safari areas welcome many international visitors each year. On a Nova journey you are met on arrival, guided throughout and flown or driven between camps. We follow current government travel advice, such as that from the US State Department, the UK Foreign Office and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and plan routes accordingly.
Do I need malaria tablets or vaccinations?
Most of Kenya’s safari areas are in malaria zones, so speak to a doctor or travel clinic about prevention before you travel. Also check the yellow fever certificate rules for your route, especially if you are combining Kenya with Tanzania.
How much does a luxury Kenya safari cost?
It depends mainly on the season, the camps, how you travel between areas and whether you want a private vehicle and guide. Conservancy camps and the migration months cost more; April, May and November usually cost less. Tell us your budget and we will show you the best way to use it.
Is Kenya good for a family safari?
Yes. Laikipia’s private ranches and conservancies suit families especially well, with family houses, walks and flexible timings. Some camps set minimum ages for walking or game drives, and a private vehicle lets you set your own pace.
Combine Kenya with
More of East Africa
The Serengeti and beyond
Tanzania
The other half of the Mara and Serengeti ecosystem.
Start planning
Let’s Design Your Kenya Safari
Tell us when you would like to travel, who is coming and what you hope to see, and we will design a Kenya safari around you. Our team works across Dubai, the United States and South Africa, planning journeys for travellers from around the world.
Prefer email? info@novasafaris.com