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Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Kenya

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Kenya

Updated 1 October 2026 · 16 things to do

Pictured: Mara Serena Safari Lodge

Kenya is where the word safari comes from, and it still does the thing better than almost anywhere. Lions on the open plains, elephants beneath the snows of Kilimanjaro, flamingos on a soda lake, rhinos in a sanctuary: all of it on a single trip, with comfortable lodges at the end of each day and a tropical beach to finish.

The country is bigger than it looks, so decide what matters. A first safari usually means the Maasai Mara and perhaps Amboseli or Lake Nakuru, with Nairobi as the gateway. Add Samburu for species you won't see in the south, or finish on the Indian Ocean coast at Diani or Watamu, where the water is warm and the Swahili culture is strong.

Don't miss

  1. 1Maasai Mara
  2. 2Amboseli National Park
  3. 3Samburu National Reserve
  4. 4Lake Nakuru National Park
  5. 5Diani Beach

Safari

The parks and reserves that make Kenya.

  1. Maasai Mara

    Wildlife

    Zebras in the tall yellow grass of the Maasai Mara
    Photo: Volodymyr Burdiak, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Kenya's most famous reserve is rolling savannah dotted with acacia and alive with lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants and giraffes. From roughly July to October, huge herds of wildebeest and zebra cross the Mara River in the Great Migration, one of the world's great wildlife spectacles.

    Game drives at dawn and dusk give the best sightings. Some camps also offer a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the plains.

    Tip: Book camps well ahead for migration season, and treat the exact timing of river crossings as unpredictable.

  2. Amboseli National Park

    Wildlife

    Elephants in Amboseli with Mount Kilimanjaro behind
    Photo: Ninaras, CC BY 4.0

    Known for large herds of elephants and for the view of Mount Kilimanjaro, rising across the border in Tanzania, which dominates the horizon on clear mornings. Swamps and open plains make it easy to see animals, and the photographs write themselves.

    Tip: Kilimanjaro is often hidden by cloud later in the day, so be out at sunrise.

  3. Samburu National Reserve

    Wildlife

    The landscape of Samburu National Reserve
    Photo: "Daniel Fafard (Dreamdan)", CC BY-SA 3.0

    In the hot, dry north, Samburu has species you won't see in the south, including the reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Beisa oryx, the gerenuk and the Somali ostrich, grouped as the Samburu Special Five. The Ewaso Ng'iro river draws elephants and big cats, and the landscape is wild and rocky.

  4. Lake Nakuru National Park

    Wildlife

    Thousands of lesser flamingos on Lake Nakuru
    Photo: Syllabub, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A soda lake ringed by woodland, grassland and cliffs, famed for flamingos when conditions suit them, and a refuge for both black and white rhinos. The park is compact, easy to cover in a day and a good first stop on the way to or from the Mara.

  5. Tsavo East and Tsavo West

    Wildlife

    A red-dusted elephant in Tsavo East National Park
    Photo: Byrdyak, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Kenya's biggest national parks, two vast areas of bush and volcanic hills inland from the coast. Elephants here are often tinted red by the local earth. The parks combine well with a beach holiday, and are reached by road or air from Mombasa and Diani.

Laikipia and Mount Kenya

  1. Ol Pejeta Conservancy

    Wildlife

    A large conservancy in Laikipia with a strong conservation focus, home to a big population of rhinos, including the last two northern white rhinos on the planet, protected round the clock. It also has chimpanzees in a sanctuary and a good range of plains game.

  2. Mount Kenya

    Nature

    The peaks of Mount Kenya
    Photo: Ruud Zwart, CC BY-SA 2.5 nl

    Africa's second-highest mountain is an extinct volcano with glaciers on its peaks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site ringed by forest and moorland. Trekkers climb to Point Lenana over several days, while visitors on a lodge stay enjoy the views and forest walks.

    Tip: The summit is a multi-day trek, so go with an experienced operator and allow time to adjust to altitude.

Nairobi

  1. Nairobi National Park

    Wildlife

    A buffalo with the Nairobi skyline behind it in Nairobi National Park
    Photo: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. Feel free to use my photos, but pl, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The only national park in the world bordering a capital city. Lions, giraffes, zebras and rhinos roam the grassland while skyscrapers sit on the skyline. It's an easy half-day game drive on a layover, and a good way to ease into a safari.

  2. David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

    Wildlife

    A well-known conservation charity that rescues and raises orphaned baby elephants and rhinos in Nairobi, then returns them to the wild. Visitors can see the orphans at their daily mud bath and learn how the rescue and rehabilitation works.

    Tip: Visits are timed and limited, so check the arrangements and book ahead.

  3. Karen Blixen Museum

    Museum

    The Karen Blixen Museum house in Nairobi
    Photo: Alexander Leisser, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The farmhouse in the leafy suburb of Karen was the home of the Danish author Karen Blixen, who wrote about her life in Kenya in Out of Africa. The house is furnished as it was in her day, with gardens and views towards the Ngong Hills.

The coast

  1. Diani Beach

    Beach

    The white sand of Diani Beach
    Photo: FredD, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A long stretch of powder-white sand south of Mombasa, fringed with palms and bathed in warm, clear water. A coral reef offshore keeps the sea calm, and the beach has a relaxed mix of resorts, cafés, water sports and kitesurfing. It's the standard way to end a safari.

  2. Watamu Marine National Park

    Nature

    Watamu Marine Park and Mida Creek
    Photo: Queen Asali, CC BY 4.0

    Part of a protected marine area near Malindi, Watamu has coral gardens, sea turtles and calm, turquoise bays. Snorkel or take a glass-bottom boat over the reef at low tide, then walk back along a quiet beach.

  3. Fort Jesus

    Landmark

    A great coral-stone Portuguese fort overlooking the harbour at Mombasa, built in the late sixteenth century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk the ramparts, visit the museum and then lose an afternoon in the narrow lanes of Mombasa's Old Town.

  4. Gede Ruins

    Landmark

    The ruins of the medieval Swahili town at Gede
    Photo: Jeffmugendi, CC BY-SA 4.0

    In a forest near Watamu, the ruins of a medieval Swahili town, with mosques, a palace and houses overgrown with trees, were abandoned centuries ago. The setting is atmospheric, and monkeys and birds add to the mood.

Eat and drink

  1. Nyama choma

    Food

    Nyama choma, Kenyan grilled meat
    Photo: safaritravelplus, CC0

    Kenya's national feast: goat or beef grilled over charcoal and served in chunks, with a pile of salt and kachumbari, a fresh tomato and onion salad. It's a social meal eaten with friends and a cold Tusker beer. Go where the locals queue.

  2. Swahili coast cooking

    Food

    Along the coast, the food reflects centuries of trade across the Indian Ocean. Look for fish and prawns in coconut sauce, spiced pilau rice, biryani and sweet, sticky mandazi. Eat at small beach restaurants and let the daily catch decide.

Where to stay in Kenya

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Kenya →

Getting around

Most visitors fly between parks on small planes or travel by road with a safari company, which handles the driving and the guiding. Roads outside Nairobi can be slow and rough, so allow time. Between Nairobi and the coast, there's a train and plenty of domestic flights.

When to go

The long dry season, from about June to October, is the best time for wildlife, with the Great Migration in the Mara at its peak. January and February are also dry and good. The long rains fall roughly from March to May, when roads are muddy and many camps are quieter.

Questions about visiting Kenya

What is Kenya best known for?
Safaris and wildlife, especially the Maasai Mara and the Great Migration, as well as Amboseli, Samburu, Mount Kenya and the beaches of the Indian Ocean coast.
Is Kenya worth visiting?
Yes. Few countries combine world-class wildlife, varied landscapes and tropical beaches so easily, and the lodges and camps are very well run.
What is there to do in Kenya with kids?
Game drives in Nairobi National Park and Lake Nakuru, the elephant orphans in Nairobi, and a beach holiday at Diani or Watamu are all popular with families. Many lodges have age limits for game drives, so check before you book.
How many days do you need in Kenya?
A week gives you time for Nairobi and one or two parks. Ten days to two weeks lets you add a second region, such as Samburu, or a few days on the coast.
Do you need a car in Kenya?
Not for a safari. Most visitors use a safari operator with a driver-guide, or fly between camps, and taxis or ride-hailing work within Nairobi and the coast.

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