Kenya safari

Kenya is the safari most people should start with. The conservancies bordering the Mara give the big game without the queue, and Laikipia adds rhino and walking for parties who want more than a vehicle.

Tell us the season, who is travelling, and whether you want the open plains or a quieter conservancy. We write the nights around that.

Where we go

The conservancies on the northern edge of the Mara, where vehicle numbers are capped and off-road driving is allowed, then Laikipia for a change of landscape: rhino, walking, horse-riding and camel treks on the plateau north of Mount Kenya. Amboseli and the Chyulu Hills come into the plan for parties who want elephant and the view of Kilimanjaro.

How the week runs

Two camps is the right number for eight nights; three for ten. Days start early with a game drive and breakfast in the bush, pause through the heat, and end with a drive into dusk. Light aircraft connect the camps so nobody spends a day on the road. A coast finish at Lamu or Diani adds three or four slow nights.

Who it suits and when

First safaris, couples, and families with children who can sit through a drive. July to October for the migration and dry weather; January to March for short grass and clear light; the green months of April, May and November for value and empty camps.