Kenya

As the original home of safari holidays, Kenya is especially popular with first time safari goers. Kenya’s most popular park is the Maasai Mara, famous for the Great Migration in particular. In peak months ‘The Mara’ can get unreasonably busy in some areas, but Kenya offers much more in it’s lesser known parks too. The country offers dramatic landscapes, a well developed and refined safari industry, and also has beach options, a popular add on to a safari.

Maasai Mara National Reserve

Kenya's most famous big five game viewing area, home to the great migration, dense predator populations and vast savannah landscapes. The peak of the herds of the great migration moving through the Maasai Mara is typically in August and September, when you are most likely to witness wildebeest or zebras crossing the Mara River. The downside is the park also gets very busy with visitors at this time of year, but the southwestern third of the park, known as the Mara Triangle, is less crowded than elsewhere in the park. Hot air ballooning and maasai village visits are popular extra activities.

Greater Mara Conservancies 

Adjacent to the Maasi Mara national reserve, these private conservancies have strict vehicle limits, less crowding and allow exclusive activities that are prohibited in the main park, including off-road driving, night drives and walking safaris. 

 - The Mara north conservancy is the largest of the conservancy's and provides excellent proximity to the Mara River crossing points. 

 - Naboisho holds one of the highest densities of lions in Africa, offers exceptional mulit-day safaris, and can be a good spot to see wild dogs.

 - Olare Motogori, with just five camps, is best for ultimate exclusivity and premier leopard and lion viewing.

 - Ol Kinyei offers good value camps for budget conscious travellers,

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli is a park famous for its views of Kilimanjaro and for its giant tusked elephants. This relatively compact park also offers reliable big-game sightings, unique swamp ecosystems and rich Maasai cultural heritage

Laikipia

Bridging the lush foothills of Mount Kenya and the dramatic landscapes of the northern deserts, Laikipia is an exceptional big game viewing area and is less crowded than some of the countries other parks. Formed from a patchwork of highly succesful wildlife conservancies in a former ranching area, wild dogs and black leopards are highlights here. Laikipia is also Kenya's rhino stronghold, with all three African species present, including the last two northern white rhinos in the world that are under 24-hour armed guard. The nearby Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary is the only place in Kenya where you can visit rescued and orphaned chimpanzees.

Lewa-Borena

Formed in 2014 when the fence between Lewa and Borena conservancies was removed. Offers big five game viewing, including a thriving population of black and white rhinos, and excellent predeator sightings with lions, leopards, cheetahs and endangered wild dogs all present. Horse and camel riding safaris and mountain biking are options too.

Tsavo National Park and Chyulu Hills

Tsavo National Park is Kenya's largest protected wildlife area, split into two distinct sections - Tsavo East and Tsavo West - spanning over 22,000 square kilometers of dramatic wilderness and volcanic terrain. Highlights include the areas red elephants, due to being coated in striking red volcanic dust, the Yatta Plateau, the world's longest lave flow and postcard worthy vistas of Mount Kilimanjoro, Africa's tallest peak. Tsavo East offers vast, flat plains and easier big five game viewing, and Tsavo West is best for dramatic volcanic landscapes and springs, though you may have to look harder for the animals at times. Nearby Tsavo west, the Mzima Springs offers a unique underwater hippo viewing area.

Samburu National Reserve

Further north, the Samburu national reserve offers a intimate, uncrowded alternative to the more popular parks. The park houses abundant predators, large herds of elephants and the unique 'Samburu Special Five', which includes the reticulated giraffe, a strikingly patterned giraffe and grevy's zebra, the world's largest zebra species. Alternative safari activites include camel safaris and tracking rhinos on foot in the nearby Sera Conservancy. Vists to Samburu villages are also popular. The Samburu are semi-nomadic people known for their distinctive vibrant red garments, ochre hair and beadwork. 

Meru National Park

To the east lies Meru National park, another uncrowded alternative to the busier parks. A tiny handful of camps and lodges in a huge wilderness make for magical safari experiences in a diverse range of savannah, lush green riverine forests and swamp ecosystems.

Lake Turkana

The largest desert lake in the world, Lake Turkana in the north is strikingly blue-green and cuts through an alien like landscape of lava fields, volcanic craters and arid desert plains.

Beaches

Finally, Kenya's coastline offers everything you could wish for from tropical beaches - with the bonus of a fascinating cultural tapestry. Diani Beach is the most popular, celebrated for its long stretch of powdery white sand and clear turquoise waters. For something quieter and more exclusive, consider Shela Beach, or Chale Island Beach.