Africa · 4 cities
Things to Do in Kenya
Four Kenyan destinations in one place: how you actually get to the Mara, what Nairobi holds in a single day, and the difference a conservancy makes.
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Where to go
Cities of Kenya
In the order Viator’s own catalogue puts them — most-booked first, not alphabetical.
Full list
All cities, by region
Grouped by region using Viator’s own map of the country. The first block is the places it files directly under Kenya.
Nature & wildlife
National parks, whale watching, safaris and jungle walks.
ExploreDay trips
Out of the city and back the same day.
ExploreAdventure
Rafting, zip lines, canyoning, quad bikes and climbing.
ExploreFood & drink
Street food, markets and tasting walks with a local guide.
ExploreBoats & cruises
Harbour cruises, catamarans, kayaks and sunset sailings.
ExploreCulture & history
Ancient sites, old towns and guides who know the dates.
ExploreCity tours
Guided sightseeing on foot, by bus and by open-top tram.
ExploreWalking tours
Small groups, old streets, two hours on foot.
ExplorePractical info
Know before you book
The things that change a decision — not a retelling of the guidebook.
The Mara has resident game all year
The river crossings that everyone photographs happen from roughly July to October, when the migration moves up from the Serengeti. Outside that window the Maasai Mara still holds lion, elephant, buffalo and cheetah permanently — it is not a seasonal park, only a seasonal spectacle.
Most people fly to the Mara
Nairobi to the reserve is five to six hours on roads that are rough for the last stretch, or forty-five minutes in a light aircraft. The flight costs more and saves most of two days on a short trip — which is why the airstrips are busy.
Conservancies allow what the reserve does not
The private conservancies bordering the Mara cap vehicle numbers and permit off-road driving, night drives and walking safaris, none of which are allowed inside the national reserve. They cost more per night and the game viewing is often better for it.
Nairobi holds a full day
A national park inside the city limits, the elephant orphanage at Sheldrick, the giraffe centre and the Karen Blixen house can all be done in one day. It makes the arrival or departure day useful rather than dead.
The Nairobi–Mombasa train is a real option
The standard gauge railway covers the five hundred kilometres to the coast in about five hours, comfortably and cheaply, passing through Tsavo. For getting to Diani and the beaches it is a genuine alternative to flying.
Two rainy seasons, one of them serious
The long rains run April and May and can make park tracks difficult; the short rains in November are lighter and rarely disruptive. The dry months either side of them are when game concentrates at water.
When to visit
Kenya through the seasons
What is open, how busy it gets, and when to book ahead.
Dry season
Jun–Oct
- Best for
- The migration in the Mara, the best game viewing, reliable weather.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- July to September is peak — Mara camps and conservancies book many months ahead.
Short rains
Nov–Dec
- Best for
- Green landscapes, newborn animals, bird migration, lower rates.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Brief afternoon rain rather than washouts — a good value window.
Dry & hot
Jan–Mar
- Best for
- Excellent game viewing without the July crowds, and the coast at its best.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- The second dry season, and quietly one of the best times to be in the parks.
Long rains
Apr–May
- Best for
- The lowest prices, empty parks and dramatic skies.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Some camps close and tracks get difficult — the trade-off is real.
Frequently asked
Kenya: common questions
How many days do you need in Kenya?
Eight to ten days: three or four nights in the Mara, two in Amboseli or Lake Nakuru, and three on the coast at Diani. A safari-only trip works in five or six days if you fly between the parks rather than drive.
What does a safari in Kenya cost?
Kenya is not in our fifty-city price index, so we avoid quoting a median. Park entry fees are charged per person per day in dollars and rise in the high season; conservancies add a separate nightly conservation fee on top of the accommodation.
When is the best time to visit?
July to October for the migration and the classic dry-season safari. January to March is nearly as good for game and much quieter. April and May are the long rains — cheapest and hardest going.
National reserve or private conservancy?
The reserve is cheaper and has the river crossings; the conservancies cap vehicles and allow off-road driving, night drives and walking. If the budget stretches, a couple of nights in a conservancy gives a markedly different and quieter experience.
Kenya or Tanzania for safari?
They share the same ecosystem across a border. Kenya is generally cheaper, easier to reach and better set up for shorter trips; Tanzania has the larger parks and higher fees. For a first safari of under a week, Kenya is usually the more practical answer.