Things to Do in Kenya

Kenya is where the safari was invented, and it still does it better than almost anywhere: the Maasai Mara in migration season is the greatest wildlife spectacle on the planet. But the country is far more than game drives — Rift Valley lakes full of flamingos, snow on the equator at Mount Kenya, and a coastline of white sand and Swahili towns.

Our programs are based in Nairobi, the only capital on earth with a national park inside the city limits, which makes weekend travel unusually easy.

The best things to do in Kenya

1. The Maasai Mara

The Big Five, enormous predator populations and — between roughly July and October — the Great Migration, when well over a million wildebeest cross the Mara River. Two or three days is the sensible minimum. We run joining safaris from Nairobi, so you can do it on a placement weekend.

2. Nairobi

Nairobi National Park has rhino and lion against a skyline backdrop, twenty minutes from the centre. Add the Sheldrick elephant orphanage, where orphaned calves are hand-reared for release, and the Giraffe Centre, where endangered Rothschild’s giraffes take pellets from your hand. The Karen Blixen Museum covers the Out of Africa history.

3. Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha

Two Rift Valley lakes within easy reach. Nakuru is a rhino sanctuary ringed by flamingos; Naivasha is a freshwater lake where you take a boat among hippos and walk with giraffe on Crescent Island. A classic two-day weekend from Nairobi.

4. Amboseli

Big elephant herds photographed against Kilimanjaro, which rises across the Tanzanian border and dominates every view when the cloud lifts at dawn and dusk. Flatter and more open than the Mara, and superb for photography.

5. Diani Beach and the coast

Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast is genuinely world-class: white sand, warm water, coral reefs and the Swahili culture of Mombasa’s Old Town and Lamu. An overnight train or a short flight from Nairobi, and the standard end-of-placement reward.

6. Hell’s Gate and Mount Kenya

Hell’s Gate is the rare park you can cycle through, past zebra and giraffe, into a gorge you walk on foot. For something bigger, Mount Kenya is Africa’s second-highest peak — Point Lenana is a demanding but non-technical multi-day trek.

When to visit Kenya

The Great Migration reaches the Mara roughly July to October, which is peak season and worth planning around. January and February are hot, dry and excellent for general game viewing. The long rains (April-May) and short rains (November) make some tracks difficult, but parks are quieter and greener. Nairobi sits at 1,795 metres, so it is far cooler than most people expect.

Getting around

Domestic flights link Nairobi with the Mara and the coast quickly and affordably. Overland, most volunteers use organised safari transport rather than public buses, which is safer and more practical for park access. Within Nairobi, use ride-hailing apps rather than hailing on the street.

Seeing Kenya as a volunteer

Nairobi is the safari gateway, so weekend trips are unusually straightforward here. Our Kenya placements are based in Nairobi, include accommodation, meals, airport pickup and 24/7 in-country support, and leave evenings and weekends free — which is exactly when most of this list gets ticked off. See volunteer programs in Kenya for live prices and dates, or read our complete guide to volunteering in Kenya for costs, visas and safety.

Kenya travel FAQs

Photo: Daniel Case / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)