Kenya Safari Holidays

The start of the year is generally dry and warm before the rains come at the end of March, and it is a great time for wildlife viewing with the animals easier to spot in the short grass. Birdlife is also more abundant around Kenya’s Rift Valley lakes until February.

The ’long rains’ come to Kenya from April through to May or June, bringing daily downpours and increased humidity. Some tracks can be trickier to negotiate but the main parks will be lush and green with fewer vehicles around, good game viewing and lower prices.

The summer is the most popular time to visit, with the dry season brings clear skies, cool temperatures and excellent game viewing. The sparse vegetation and arid climate means animals congregate around waterholes. When the migration actually crosses into the Masai Mara depends as ever on rainfall: may be as early as mid June, or well into August or even September.

The northward thrust of the migration continues and in a typical year you can expect the migration to have reached the Masai Mara by early August. River crossings often reach their climax during this month, much to the delight of the waiting crocs and lions.

In September, the focus of the migration should now be firmly in the Masai Mara, with wildebeest slowly moving eastwards. In October, the long trek south begins with purpose, gradually spilling from the Masai Mara into the northeast Serengeti and the Lolindo Game Controlled Area.

From late October to December the ‘short rains’ arrive meaning sporadic light showers which should not affect your wildlife viewing. By now most of the wildebeest and zebra masses have left the Masai Mara and are heading south through Tanzania’s Serengeti.

A magical way to view the vast plains and abundant wildlife of the Masai Mara and Serengeti national parks

Head to the Giraffe Centre, home a group of the endangered Rothschild's giraffe. There is an elevated viewing platform from which you can get close to these beautiful animals.

Inspired to visit Kenya by the film classic ‘Out of Africa’? If so, follow in the footsteps of Karen Blixen herself on this private tour that visits her farmhouse at the foot of the Ngong Hills. Afterwards you have a chance to get up close to endangered Rothschild’s giraffes at the nearby Giraffe Centre.