Plan My Safari
Stays And Camps
Where To Stay In Kenya
From Mara tented camps to Laikipia houses and Diani beach villas. Start with the place, then the stay.
From Mara tented camps to Laikipia houses and Diani beach villas. Start with the place, then the stay.
It is a dozen different worlds that happen to share a flag: golden plains, red dust, snow-capped giants, a freshwater lake with hippos in it and a coast that smells of cloves and salt.
Where you sleep changes the whole trip. So start with the place, then pick the stay. Every region below opens up its own page, with every camp, lodge, house and apartment we know there.
Clear, guest-focused advice for an unhurried Kenya safari.
Read the full guideThe right stay is close to the wildlife you came for and the season you travel in. A long daily drive just to reach the animals can make a beautiful camp feel less generous.
Look at tent or room layout, how warm the room gets, family arrangements, the guiding model, privacy and the activities on offer. These details matter more than a general luxury label.
Ask how you arrive, leave and spend the full days in between. A stay should improve the flow of the trip, with enough nights to enjoy it and no avoidable backtracking.
Parks, reserves and conservancies, from the famous plains of the Mara to the quiet red north.
Endless golden plains, big cats and the river crossings. Kenya's most famous reserve, and the heart of the great migration from July to October.
Places like Tayari Luxury Tented Camp and Mara Bushtops Luxury Camp, plus Mara Siria Tented Bush Camp & Cottages and Mara Serena Safari Lodge. 15 stays in all: 4 luxury camps, 6 bush and mid-range camps, 5 lodges.
See All 15 Stays In Maasai Mara
Elephant herds walking beneath Kilimanjaro. Flat, open and a photographer's dream.
Places like Elewana Tortilis Camp Amboseli and Hunter's Luxury Manor-Amboseli, plus Kibo Safari Camp and Tulia Amboseli Safari Camp. 10 stays in all: 1 luxury camps, 3 bush and mid-range camps, 1 private houses and villas.
See All 10 Stays In Amboseli
Hot red earth, the Ewaso Nyiro River and northern rarities such as Grevy's zebra, gerenuk and reticulated giraffe.
Places like Soroi Larsens Camp and Elephant Bedroom Camp, plus Soroi Samburu Lodge and Samburu Intrepids Tented Camp. 11 stays in all: 4 lodges, 4 luxury camps, 3 bush and mid-range camps.
See All 11 Stays In Samburu
Private conservancies on the Laikipia plateau, where you can walk, ride, drive at night and sleep under the stars.
Places like Loisaba Lodo Springs and Loisaba Tented Camp by Elewana, plus Sirikoi Lodge and Borana Lodge. 12 stays in all: 3 luxury camps, 4 lodges, 5 private houses and villas.
See All 12 Stays In Laikipia
Home to the last northern white rhinos and a chimpanzee sanctuary, only three hours from Nairobi.
Places like Kicheche Laikipia and Tambarare Camp, an A&K Sanctuary. 8 stays in all: 4 luxury camps, 2 private houses and villas, 2 boutique hotels.
See All 8 Stays In Ol Pejeta
A freshwater lake with fig forests, hippos and country houses with gardens. Gentle, green and a lovely first night out of Nairobi.
Places like Loldia House and Olerai House, plus Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort and Enashipai Resort & Spa. 10 stays in all: 5 lodges, 2 private houses and villas, 3 bush and mid-range camps.
See All 10 Stays In Lake Naivasha
A pink-edged soda lake with rhino, leopard and Rothschild's giraffe. A rewarding add-on to the Mara or Naivasha.
Places like Flamingo Hill Tented Camp and The Cliff Nakuru, plus Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge and Lake Nakuru Lodge. 8 stays in all: 3 lodges, 1 luxury camps, 1 bush and mid-range camps.
See All 8 Stays In Lake Nakuru
Kenya's largest park: red elephants, ancient baobabs, lava flows and a deep, wild quiet.
Places like Satao Camp and Severin Safari Camp, plus Kudu Camp Tsavo East and Tsavo Safari Camp. 13 stays in all: 2 bush and mid-range camps, 3 luxury camps, 8 lodges.
See All 13 Stays In TsavoThree very different stretches of the Indian Ocean, all within a short flight of the parks.
White sand, palms and a warm Indian Ocean south of Mombasa. The classic safari-and-beach finish.
Places like Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa and Southern Palms Beach Resort. 15 stays in all: 6 resorts and retreats, 4 private houses and villas, 5 boutique hotels.
See All 15 Stays In Diani Beach
Marine park, coral reefs and turtle beaches on the north coast. Quieter and more intimate than Diani.
Places like AHG Lion Beach Resort & SPA and Blue Bay IGV. 10 stays in all: 5 resorts and retreats, 2 private houses and villas, 3 boutique hotels.
See All 10 Stays In Watamu
A car-free island where dhows replace taxis and Swahili houses climb from the sea.
Places like Tulia House and Jahazi House, plus Manda Bay Lodge and Kizingo Eco Lodge. 10 stays in all: 4 private houses and villas, 4 boutique hotels, 2 lodges.
See All 10 Stays In Lamu IslandNairobi is where most journeys begin and end, so it is worth sleeping well.
Kenya's gateway city: giraffe at the edge of the skyline, the Karen Blixen house and some of East Africa's best restaurants.
Places like The Drexel House and Hidden Hills Luxury Boutique Hotel, plus Masai Lodge. 16 stays in all: 7 boutique hotels, 1 luxury camps, 5 apartments and airbnb.
See All 16 Stays In NairobiNot sure where to start? Find the sentence that sounds like you.
Times are approximate and depend on the road, the weather and your flight.
| Region | Best for | Best time | From Nairobi | Ideal stay | Stays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maasai Mara | Big cats, culture, first safaris | July – October, for the migration | Short flight or 5 – 6 hour drive from Nairobi | 3 – 4 nights | 15 |
| Amboseli | Photographers and families | June – October and January – February | Short flight or 4 – 5 hour drive from Nairobi | 2 – 3 nights | 10 |
| Samburu | Second safaris and culture lovers | June – October and January – February | Short flight or long scenic drive from Nairobi | 2 – 3 nights | 11 |
| Laikipia | Active travellers and families | Year-round, best June – October | Short flight or 4 – 5 hour drive from Nairobi | 3 – 4 nights | 12 |
| Ol Pejeta | Conservation, families and rhinos | June – October, January – March | Short flight or 4 – 5 hour drive from Nairobi | 2 – 3 nights | 8 |
| Lake Naivasha | Easy first or last nights | All year; June – March is driest | About 90 minutes – 2 hours from Nairobi | 1 – 2 nights | 10 |
| Lake Nakuru | Birdwatchers and photographers | June – March; dry months are easiest | About 3 hours by road from Nairobi | 1 – 2 nights | 8 |
| Tsavo | Wide-open wilderness, a coast combo | June – October, January – February | Short flight or 5 – 6 hour drive from Nairobi | 2 – 3 nights | 13 |
| Diani Beach | Honeymooners and families | December – March, June – October | Fly to Ukunda, about 1 hour from Nairobi | 4 – 7 nights | 15 |
| Watamu | Snorkelling and quiet escapes | December – March, July – October | Fly to Malindi, then about 30 minutes by road | 3 – 5 nights | 10 |
| Lamu Island | Honeymoons and culture lovers | December – March, July – August | Short flight from Nairobi or Mombasa | 3 – 5 nights | 10 |
| Nairobi | Arrival and departure nights, shopping, culture | All year, it sits on the way in and out | Jomo Kenyatta Airport, 30 – 45 minutes by road | 1 – 2 nights | 16 |
The best month depends on what you want to see, and where.
The long rains arrive in April and May and the short rains in November. The land turns emerald, camps are quiet and rates are lowest. A few remote camps close for the rains.
Dry, bright and often hot in January and February, which is superb in Amboseli, Laikipia and the quiet Mara. June is the start of the dry season.
The migration crosses the Mara River, usually from July to September. Game viewing is at its best and the camps are at their fullest. December is busy too, so book early.
The coast has its own rhythm. Diani, Watamu and Lamu are warm all year. The calmest, clearest water runs from October to March, and the windy months from June to August suit kite surfers.
Stays work best in twos and threes. Here are three combinations to borrow, and we will tailor any of them.
The classic: the plains, the cats, then elephants under Kilimanjaro. Easy flights, big sightings.
Two parks and a beach to finish. The most-loved combination we plan.
Rare species, walking, rhino and almost no crowds. For people who have seen the classics.
Kenya is one of the easiest countries for a first family safari. Flights are short, family tents and houses are common, and Maasai guides run bush-skills sessions for children.
Two or three is usually perfect. A common pattern is the Maasai Mara plus Amboseli or Laikipia, then a few days on the coast.
Inside the reserve puts you nearest the river crossings. Conservancies have fewer vehicles and allow night drives and walking. Both are excellent.
Karen is quiet and leafy and good for a relaxed start. Westlands is closer to restaurants. We can book either, with an airport transfer.
Yes. Diani, Watamu and Lamu are all easy to reach by short flight, and many guests finish their safari there.
Yes. These are the places we know well, but Kenya has many more. Tell us what you have in mind and we will check it, or suggest something similar.
Rates change with the season, the room and the length of stay, so we quote them for your exact dates instead of showing a number that may be out of date.
July to October for the migration and the best game viewing, and January to February for quiet, dry weather. The green season, April to May and November, has the lowest rates.
Seven to ten nights is typical, across two or three regions. Add three or four nights on the coast if you want a beach finish.
Tell us your dates and who is travelling and we will put the right stays together.
Plan My Safari