Kenya embodies adventure in its purest form with a range of picturesque landscapes to explore, including wildlife-rich savannahs, bird-filled lakes and pristine white sand beaches.

An abundance of wild animals, including elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, lions and leopards – the classic “big five” game animals – make Kenya the ultimate safari destination. The white sand beaches of the coast offer a tempting escape from the mundane while the warm waters of the Indian Ocean present a whole new underwater world to explore.

Home to the largest number of savannah species in the world, the golden plains of the Masai Mara National Reserve in southwest Kenya are world-renowned for rich wildlife populations, including majestic lions, sleek cheetahs and stately elephants. From July to October, mega herds of wildebeest and zebra brave the crocodile-infested waters of the Mara River as part of the Great Migration, crossing from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park into Masai Mara. The adrenaline-inducing crossing is considered the greatest wildlife spectacle on Earth.

To the southeast, Amboseli National Park spreads out over the Tanzanian border, offering postcard-perfect views of Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro. Big-tusked elephants gather in the hundreds to graze among the park’s swamps and marshes, the fringes of which sometimes also attract stocky hippos. The plains end to the northeast, where the verdant green slopes of Chyulu Hills National Park begin.

The jagged, ice-covered peaks of Mount Kenya, the highest mountain in the country, pierce the sky further to the northwest. Hailed by UNESCO as “one of the most impressive landscapes in East Africa,” this World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve is renowned as a holy site to several local communities, including the Kikuyu and the Meru. Two of the mountain’s highest peaks require special skills to reach, but the third, Point Lenana, can be reached by foot and offers astonishing views of the park’s rocky landscape and glacial lakes.

To the west of the mountain, the landscape plunges into sheer rock walls that form Kenya’s portion of the intracontinental Great Rift Valley. Dozens of lakes attract some of the most diverse populations of bird species in the world, including massive flocks of bright pink flamingos. A variety of big animals, including critically endangered black rhinos, graceful antelope and elegant giraffes, graze in the nearby plains and woodlands.

Travellers looking for a more personal and intimate wildlife experience will marvel at the herd of Rothschild’s giraffes living at Giraffe Manor, just outside the cosmopolitan capital of Nairobi. The peckish animals will sometimes poke their heads into the windows of the iconic, ivy-covered brick manor in hopes of leaving with a treat. Set on private land in 140 gorgeous acres of indigenous forest, the manor is known as one of the most Instagrammed properties in the world.

Fairly consistent weather in East Africa makes Kenya an excellent travel destination at any time of the year. The country has two dry seasons which run from late-June to October and from January to February. There are two rainy seasons. From November to December the “short rains” appear, characterized by quick downpours followed immediately by sunny skies. From March to May the “long rains” appear.

June – August

• Visit the Masai Mara National Reserve to view the world’s most stunning wildlife spectacle, the Great Migration, crossing the crocodile-filled waters of the Mara River. Watch as mega herds of wildebeest and zebra brave the waters while avoiding lions, cheetahs and other trailing predators.
• The sunny skies of the dry season combined with plentiful populations of “big five” game animals make for the perfect conditions to set out on a hot air balloon trip over Masai Mara. Earn a new appreciation for the size of the herds that join up for the migration from up high and spot ostriches, giraffes and antelope.

September – October

• Take the opportunity to explore the gorgeous East African coast without the crowds seen during the peak season. Spoil yourself with a relaxing day on a sandy beach or gear up to dive into the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and follow the abundant, bright tropical fish to the colourful reefs below.
• The dry months are an excellent time to explore the Kisula Cave Complex, part of Chyulu Hills National Park. The cave system includes extensive lava flows, including one of the largest lava caves in the entire world.

November – December

• Enjoy the exclusivity and pricing benefits that come with booking a Kenyan safari outside the peak travel season, promising a more leisurely and personal adventure than you’d find during other times of the year.
• Spot the hundreds of flamingos that flock to the lakes of the Great Rift Valley to bask in the abundance of the rainy season. The algae-rich waters attract both common greater flamingos and near threatened lesser flamingos. The birds’ pink plumage stands out against the grey-blue water of the lakes.

January – February

• The dry season presents the perfect opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts who want to hike the forested foothills and steep valleys to reach the rugged, glacier-clad summits of Mount Kenya. The sacred peak – regarded as the realm of Ngai, god of the Kikuyu – is an awe-inspiring sight, but difficult to climb without the proper technical experience. At 4,985 meters, the peak of Point Lenana can be reached by foot and provides breath-taking views of the surrounding, untouched wilderness.
• During the dry months, water sources are limited for animals in the bush, providing plenty of opportunities to spot game in the wild. Fed by the melting snow of Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, the central belt of Amboseli National Park has a consistent water source to feed swampy springs where animals reliably gather in the heat of the sunny months.

March – May

• Roads and airstrips tend to get soggy during the rainy months of April and May and some lodges may close to adapt.
• March and April are fantastic times to visit the coast for travellers hoping to swim with the massive whale sharks that call the Indian Ocean home. While the sharks are the largest known fish on the planet, the majestic and endangered fish are docile, allowing for astonishing encounters in the wild.