My trip to Kenya is probably my favorite trip to date. Kenya is a special place. Everything from the nature in national parks, the wild animals in their natural habitat, and cultural immersion to see the reality of people in Kenya with your own eyes will leave a huge impact on you. In this Kenya itinerary I will share everything you should visit while you’re in this incredible country. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
Are you looking for help with planning your trip? Check out these helpful resources:
- Flights
- Accommodation for all budgets
- Company I used for this Kenya trip (use code SOLOINSTYLE for $50 off any trip with them)
- Rental cars
- Activities, tours, and day trips
Giraffe Centre
When visiting Kenya, most people fly in and out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. So you should spend the first few days exploring the capital city.
One of the best places to start your Kenyan adventure is the Giraffe Centre. They were created by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, a Kenyan non-profit organization.
When they started the center there were only about 130 Rothschild giraffes in their natural habitat in Kenya. So they wanted to save them and increase their number.
There are now over 300 Rothschild giraffes in Kenya. The center does such a great job!
The center is also a place where tourists can feed the giraffes. Each person who visits gets a bowl of food for giraffes. Then you proceed to a terrace where giraffes come to you, and you feed them.
It’s the cutest thing ever! There is a mix of adult giraffes and baby giraffes at the center. They are all so excited to get food. It’s one of those experiences you will remember forever.
When you feed them, be careful if you’re taking selfies. The giraffes will headbutt you. They even have signs at the center to warn you about this.
Once you feed the giraffes you will go indoors in an auditorium where an employee from the center will teach you a lot of things about giraffes. And they will explain what they do.
From the terrace you will see a building a few feet away. That’s the famous Giraffe Manor Hotel. Yes, the one that charges almost $2,000 per night so you can have breakfast with giraffes.
Well, those giraffes are the same giraffes you feed at the center. And a ticket costs only about $20. So if you’re on a budget, go visit this center and skip the Giraffe Manor.
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
This organization rescues orphaned elephants and rehabilitates injured wildlife. When you visit you will be able to see baby elephants getting fed bottles of milk. And then they will walk around and play in the mud. It’s such a unique experience!
As the elephants walk around you will be able to touch them. Their skin is really thick and a little prickly. For some reason I always imagined they have softer skin, but that’s not the case.
The baby elephants are super playful. As they play around in the mud they will start splashing people. I got a little muddy souvenir on my pants. Some people who were facing them directly got really dirty. But it’s a lot of fun and everyone enjoyed. I mean how many people can say they got splashed with mud by baby elephants? There is a bathroom at the trust where you can clean up afterwards.
When I visited we were also able to see a baby rhino. They were helping him get back on his feet after a big injury. Both the elephants and the rhino were incredibly cute.
There are large crowds here, so make sure to visit in the early morning.
Kenyatta International Convention Center
If you want to take a break from watching wildlife and you love city views, then you should go to Kenyatta International Convention Center in Nairobi. Or KICC for short.
It’s a 32-floor skyscraper located in the City Square of Nairobi. This is the area where a lot of government buildings are.
You can buy tickets to go to the rooftop and enjoy the views. A ticket costs around $5 and you can pay by card.
The views are very nice. KICC is a great place to visit if you want to get a bird’s eye view of Nairobi.
Make sure to take your passport with you when you visit KICC. They need it when you enter the building and they will keep it downstairs until you finish your visit.
After your visit you can stop by Yolo Ice Cream. It’s very close to KICC. They have a lot of ice cream options on the menu and the place is very instagrammable.
Bomas of Kenya
Bomas of Kenya is an open-air exhibit of various traditional villages that belong to different tribes in Kenya. They built different villages here so people can see the different hut shapes and the way the huts are arranged within a village.
Polygamy is legal in Kenya so you will see the first wife’s hut, the second wife’s hut and so on. It’s very interesting to learn more about their culture.
Our guide was also telling us that besides being a touristic attraction, Bomas was also built to teach the younger Kenyan generation about their culture. Apparently the younger generations are westernized and they don’t eat traditional food anymore (they eat fast food at the mall instead), they don’t know the cultural traditions of their ancestors, and they become estranged with their culture. So in an attempt to educate them and keep the traditions alive the schools bring the children to visit Bomas of Kenya.
Besides being able to explore the different villages, Bomas also offers traditional dance performances from different tribes every day in the afternoon. The dance performances are included in your ticket price. You just have to go inside the auditorium when they start.
It was amazing to see the different dances and traditions the tribes have. My favorite moment was when a little tourist, he was around 3 or 4 years old, joined one of the tribes on stage. And he started to act with them and dance with them.
The performers went with it and they included them in the show. It was so wholesome to see.
Kobe Tough Beads and Leather
This is a center for women where a few hundred ladies make all kinds of accessories from clay and leather. They started this organization a few years ago and they were proud that even during the pandemic they kept everyone employed and were able to make things work, unlike other similar businesses in the area who weren’t able to do this.
This is a way to empower women, to give them a skillset and jobs, and to pay them for their hard work. It’s a very cool initiative.
They also have guides that will show you around. They will take you on a tour of all the different stations. For example, clay molding, bead painting and so on. You will meet the ladies doing the work.
And midway through the tour they will sing you the Jumbo song and they will dance as well. This is a song that welcomes people to Kenya. You will hear it often on your trip.
After the tour you will stop by their souvenir shop where all items are handmade by the ladies you just met. They have jewelry, Christmas tree decorations, keychains, and a lot of other things. The items are well made and they look beautiful. But you will mostly shop here because you know you help these women if you do it. You will literally have an impact on someone’s life. A $10 pair of earrings might not be a lot for you, but it is a lot for them.
I highly recommend you visit these ladies and buy some souvenirs here.
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park in the only national park located at the outskirts of a capital city. You won’t get this in South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia. In any other safari location.
Let’s say you’re on an afternoon game drive. You will see an elephant eating and you will also see skyscrapers in the background. It’s such a cool juxtaposition!
You will definitely remember the game drives here because of this unique blend of nature and city. I highly recommend you add the Nairobi National Park to your week-long or 10-day Kenya itinerary.
Great Rift Valley
As you make your way from Nairobi to the famous Maasai Mara stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint. It’s a gorgeous deep valley. It’s an excellent place to take some pictures and just spend a few minutes marveling at nature’s wonders.
You will also find toilets and souvenir shops around the viewpoint. This area is definitely worth a stop.
Maasai Mara National Reserve
The Masai Mara National Reserve is probably the most well-known park in Kenya. It is very large and it is home to all species of animals you would want to see when you go on safari.
If you time your trip well you will also be able to see part of the Great Wildebeest Migration here. I visited in October, so I wasn’t able to experience this.
I guarantee you will have some unforgettable game drives in this national park. When I was there we spotted lions, leopards, zebras, hyenas, cheetahs hunting, impalas, giraffes, elephants, buffalos, and so many other animals and birds.
It’s truly a breathtaking place. Seeing that raw nature and the animals in their natural habitats makes you feel in a way closer to God or the universe or however you want to call it.
It’s such a cool experience. Unlike anything else I’ve experienced so far. That’s why I think you should go on a safari trip if you’re able to. It’s magical.
Hot air balloon ride over the Maasai Mara
Besides game drives, another bucket list experience you should do in the Maasai Mara is to go on a hot air balloon ride. It will be pricy (around $500), but it’s so worth the splurge.
You will float over the national park and you will see the most incredible sunrise over the savannah. I get emotional about it even now when I’m writing this blog post.
You can see the animals below running around or if you’re lucky, hunting. And the most beautiful view of what looks like an infinite stretch of savannah.
The flight lasts one hour, but that hour passes so quickly. We all wished it was 2 hours. You get mesmerized by everything you see and you lose track of time.
I recommend you bring a jacket because it will be cold before you hop in the balloon since most of these rides happen at sunrise. Once you’re up it will get warmer since the hot air keeps you warm.
After the flight most hot air balloon companies offer a champagne breakfast in the bush. You will eat breakfast, drink coffee and champagne and watch zebras in the distance. No Michelin restaurant will ever be able to offer this experience. This was one of my top dining experiences.
Why champagne for breakfast? Because back in the day, hot air balloon pilots carried champagne with them as a way to thank people for the safe landing in their field and to avoid being attacked. And this tradition has been preserved, at least in the Kenyan bush.
Visiting a Maasai Village
Kenya has such a rich culture! One thing you can do to learn more about their culture is to visit a Maasai village.
The people in the village will welcome you with their traditional dances and songs. Then they will tell you about their traditions. I won’t tell you about these traditions because I don’t want to spoil them for you. But let’s just say they involve hunting lions.
Then the locals will invite you into their huts to see how they live. And you will spend a few minutes chatting with them and asking them questions.
I loved this experience. You will learn so much about their culture. And you get to see with your own eyes how they live.
My experience
The thing that probably struck me the most was that despite having very different cultures, we were on the same wavelength about a lot of important things such as independence and education.
The lovely gentleman I talked to in the hut told me that he values education very much and he is supporting his younger sister to graduate and become a teacher. And he wants his children to study and build a great life as well.
All people I met in Kenya were very kind, open minded, and all were striving to live a good life despite the extra challenges they have to face compared to someone from Europe or the US.
I think a trip to Kenya has such an impact on you as a human being not just because you see the animals on game drives. But because you see the reality of people who are less fortunate than you.
And that makes you very grateful for everything you have. Including the things we take for granted like clean water and having enough food for the entire family. When you’re there all your problems like stress at work or being stuck in traffic disappear. They become so insignificant.
And besides being filled with gratitude you also want to help local people. This can be something small like tipping all your drivers and tour guides. Or it can be something bigger like working with an NGO to help with their mission. Whatever you can do will be much appreciated and I encourage you to contribute as much or as little as you can afford.
Lake Nakuru National Park
This is a much smaller national park compared to the Maasai Mara one, but in my opinion it’s more beautiful. It has a large soda lake and it has more trees and vegetation. Because of this it looks like an enchanted forest in certain areas.
I still have this vivid image of a giraffe eating some leaves and being surrounded by trees and greenery. It felt like I was in a fairytale. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
You can also spot more black and white rhinos here as well. We saw a lot more here compared to Nairobi or the Maasai Mara.
The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lake Naivasha
I call Lake Naivasha the hippo lake. That’s because there are over 1,500 hippos in that area and you will definitely see at least a few of them.
This lake is also home to over 400 bird species. If you’re lucky you will be able to spot some pink flamingos here.
You can go on a boat safari on this lake. You’ll be able to see hippos swimming. And you’ll be able to spot birds as well.
The guide driving the boat will even throw some fish to make the birds come down from trees. Make sure you have your camera handy to take some incredible shots of birds flying and catching fish.
Hell’s Gate National Park
If you go to Kenya you must stop by Hell’s Gate National Park. This is the only biking safari in the country. You can bike through the national park and see animals.
It’s a really cool experience! You feel closer to the animals since you’re not in the jeep. And you can stop at any time to take pictures of the views and the animals.
This experience is only possible because there aren’t any predators in this national park. So you won’t run into any lions or leopards. It’s not dangerous.
This national park is the perfect place to get some exercise in and to get some close encounters with the animals.
The national park provides bikes. They are pretty old and not the fastest, but they do the trick. Some of the bikes have gears, so you’ll have to adjust them before or during the ride.
Usually the tour guides and the jeeps you use for the safari trip will come with you in the national park. So if you get tired on the way back you can hop in the jeep. That’s what a few people in my group did.
Crescent Island
While the bike safari is a good option if you want to be closer to the animals, Crescent Island allows you to get inches away from them. That’s because it’s a walking safari.
Crescent is a small island inhabited by non-predators. And all animals living here are used to people.
To get to the island you will have to take a boat ride. And once you hop off you will literally be greeted by zebras, giraffes, and impalas. You can walk around and see lots of animals.
It’s the perfect opportunity to take some cute selfies and videos with the animals. It feels surreal that you are that close to a zebra or a giraffe. This was one of my favorite experiences in Kenya.
It also feels like a private safari since there won’t be that many people visiting at the same time. I highly recommend spending time here.
Diani Beach
After spending at least a week in Nairobi and in National Parks you can head to the Mombasa area to relax by the water. You will find some amazing white-sand beaches in this area.
There are hotels for every budget here. In my opinion this is the best way to end your trip to Kenya. Just relaxing on the beach, swimming in the pool, and eating some delicious food. You deserve a little r&r after an active trip.
A lot of people don’t know that Kenya also has beautiful beaches. Kenya is a very diverse country and you can experience so many different things when you visit.
FAQs about Kenya
What should I pack for my Kenya trip?
I created this Kenya packing list for you. It has all the information on what to pack for a safari trip.
Which company did you use for your trip to Kenya?
I highly recommend you join a group trip when you go to Kenya. Otherwise it’s really difficult to plan everything and you don’t have the local know-how.
I traveled with Indy Escapes, an amazing tour company that organizes small group trips for solo travelers in their mid 20’s to early 40’s.
Indy Escapes was founded by Lucas almost 10 years ago. He is an Australian traveler who already visited 130+ countries and plans to see every single country. He still runs these group trips himself because he enjoys sharing some of his favorite destinations with new people every year.
This trip organized by Indy Escapes was such a dream! Besides spotting the Big 5 on multiple game drives, the trip also included visiting a local Maasai Village, going on a hot air balloon ride over the Maasai Mara, biking in Hell’s Gate National Park, exploring Lake Navaisha by boat to see hippos, and volunteering with the Ruben Center and Edmund Rice Centre Nairobi.
It was the trip of a lifetime and I am so grateful to Lucas for organizing such an amazing trip.
If you want to join the same Indy Escapes trip I went on, you can use the code SOLOINSTYLE for $50 off. This discount code works for all Indy Escapes trips if you want to explore some other destinations in a group setting.
Do I need cash for my trip to Kenya?
Yes, you will need cash for Kenya. Cash is king over there. Kenya’s currency is the Kenyan Shilling. However, the US dollar is widely accepted all over Kenya. My recommendation is to have a mix of shillings and US dollars with you.
There are plenty of ATMs in Nairobi and other cities, so if you forget to get some at the airport there won’t be any problem. Just go to the nearest mall.
Top tip: always get cash from an ATM in the country you’re visiting instead of going to an exchange place. Your bank will always have better exchange rates when taking out cash in a foreign currency from an ATM.
Restaurants and supermarkets in Nairobi usually accept credit cards, but everywhere else you can only use cash. So make sure you withdraw enough cash for your trip.
Do I have to tip in Kenya?
Yes, you do. You basically have to tip everyone: safari drivers, guides, restaurant workers. That’s because wages are typically low and in this way you help them and their families out.
What is food like in Kenya?
I was pleasantly surprised by the variety and the quality of the food in Kenya. Every hotel or lodge you stay at has either an impressive buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner, or they have a great a la carte restaurant on the grounds.
You will have a combination of Western food, Indian food, and Kenyan traditional food. This allows you to try local dishes. But if you don’t like them you can go with Western dishes instead.
Every day they change the menu, so you won’t get bored with the options.
The fruit are so fresh and good in Kenya. Some lodges also have freshly squeezed juices and smoothies in the morning. So delicious and refreshing!
Also, the coffee is amazing. Kenya is a coffee producer and they export it worldwide. Every single coffee cup I had in Kenya was amazing. The lodges usually offer free coffee all day. You can also buy coffee beans to bring back with you.
The one thing that I wasn’t a huge fan of was the dessert options. They just weren’t great compared to other places I visited. But that’s such a minor thing. You can always opt for fruit for dessert instead and that won’t disappoint.
Do I need to drink just bottled water?
Yes. The water in Kenya is not treated, so it has bacteria in it that our tummies are not used to. If you want to prevent traveler’s diarrhea you should only drink bottled water.
And you should also brush your teeth with bottled water to avoid swallowing tap water.
What are accommodations like in Kenya?
Kenya has accommodations for all budgets. There are tents, glamping tents, luxury safari lodges. It all depends how much money you want to spend on a safari trip.
There is a myth that safari trips are very expensive. This doesn’t have to be the case. They are only expensive if you choose to stay in luxury lodges.
If you join a group trip that offers mid-budget accommodations such as glamping tents with private bathrooms (that’s what I had on my Kenya trip), then a Kenya trip is quite affordable (less than $3,000 for 10 days).
Make sure you ask the tour company what accommodations are like to make sure they align with your vision.
I was very pleased with the accommodation on my Indy Escapes group trip. They were perfect. They had all we needed (including private bathrooms) and the cost of the trip was very reasonable.
How to get mobile phone data when visiting from abroad?
The cheapest and most convenient way to get data while visiting from abroad is to buy an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a data plan from a provider without having to use a physical SIM card. They are super easy to use.
I use Nomad eSIM (use code IOAN43TM for 25% off your first purchase). You can go to their website, select the country you’re traveling to, select how many GB of data you want, and how many days you want the eSIM to be active for. After you pay you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate the eSIM.
You can activate it on your phone and the process takes under 1 minute. Once the eSIM is activated you don’t have to do anything else. When you’re at your destination you will automatically get data.
Do people speak English in Kenya?
Yes, they do. English is one of the official languages in Kenya. The other official language is Swahili.
Everyone I interacted with over there spoke English. I still recommend you learn a few words in Swahili ahead of your trip though. I do this for every country I visit. It’s just a nice gesture and locals will appreciate the effort.
What is the best time to visit Kenya?
You should visit during the dry season, which is December – March and July – October. This is the best time for wildlife spotting. The great migration usually reaches the Masai Mara in July or August.
How long should I stay in Kenya?
I would say you need 10-14 days for a well-rounded Kenya safari itinerary.
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Ioana was born and raised in Romania, lived in NYC for 14 years, and is now back in Romania. She fell in love with traveling when she was little and used to visit her aunt in Vienna. Then in high school she was able to visit Siberia, Turkmenistan, Istanbul, and Tokyo through chemistry competitions. As an adult she started to travel solo once she turned 30 and visited 20+ countries so far. Ioana is a full time travel blogger and content creator with an audience of 75K+ people on Instagram. She loves to share travel recommendations and tips.