Luxury Kenya Safaris 2026 and 2027: Maasai Mara Camps, Villas and Itineraries

Luxury Kenya Safaris, in Brief

What a luxury Kenya safari includes.

A luxury Kenya safari is a private journey through the country where safari began. It brings together the big cats and, from July to October, the Great Migration of the Maasai Mara; elephants beneath Kilimanjaro in Amboseli; rhino and walking safaris on private land in Laikipia and Lewa; and the Indian Ocean an hour away by air. We design each journey from our office in Karen, Nairobi, with private luxury Kenya safaris from USD 7,500 per person.

July to OctoberThe Great Migration
45 minutesAmboseli to the Mara
1 hourThe Mara to the ocean
4.9From 170+ guest reviews

By Abner Ongeri, founder, Karen, Nairobi

Where to Go in Kenya

Luxury Kenya safari destinations, on the map.

Choose a region to see when to go, how long it takes from Nairobi, and the luxury camps and lodges we use there.

Luxury Maasai Mara safari

Maasai Mara

Big cats, private conservancies and the Great Migration

Best months: July to October for the Migration, superb all year
From Nairobi: 45 minutes by air

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Maasai Mara 20 stays, scroll →

Mara TriangleOlonana Lodge
NaboishoMara Nyika
Mara TriangleAngama Mara
Olare MotorogiMara Plains Camp
Mara NorthMara Toto Tree Camp
Maasai MaraIshara Mara
Mara Triangle&Beyond Kichwa Tembo
Mara Triangle&Beyond Bateleur Camp
Maasai MaraParadise Plains
Sand RiverElewana Sand River
Mara TrianglePearl Mara
Maasai MaraKinara Mara
NaboishoOl Seki Hemingways
OlderkesiCottar's 1920s Camp
Olare MotorogiMahali Mzuri
Maasai MaraJW Marriott Maasai Mara
NaboishoNaboisho Camp
Private villaLorien Mara
Private villaZamara
Private villaWild Hill

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Luxury Amboseli safari

Amboseli

Elephants beneath Kilimanjaro

Best months: June to October, January to February
From Nairobi: 45 minutes by air

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Amboseli 4 stays, scroll →

AmboseliKitirua Plains Lodge
AmboseliAngama Amboseli
AmboseliTortilis Camp
AmboseliTawi Lodge

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Luxury Chyulu Hills safari

Chyulu Hills

Green volcanic hills with Kilimanjaro on the horizon

Best months: June to October, January to February
From Nairobi: About 1 hour by air

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Chyulu Hills

Chyulu HillsOl Donyo Lodge

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Luxury Tsavo safari

Tsavo

Red earth, lava flows and space

Best months: June to October, January to February
From Nairobi: About 1 hour by air, or by train

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Tsavo

TsavoHildana Lodge
TsavoFinch Hattons

Explore Tsavo →

Luxury Nairobi safari

Nairobi

First and last nights, and our home

Best months: All year
From Nairobi: Where every safari begins

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Nairobi 4 stays, scroll →

NairobiHemingways Nairobi
NairobiVilla Rosa Kempinski
NairobiGiraffe Manor
NairobiThe Emakoko

Explore Nairobi →

Luxury Mount Kenya safari

Mount Kenya

Rhino at Solio and the high tarns by helicopter

Best months: June to October, January to February
From Nairobi: About 50 minutes by air

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Mount Kenya

Mount KenyaJW Marriott Mount Kenya

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Luxury Laikipia safari

Laikipia

Private conservancies, walking, riding and rhino

Best months: All year, at its best June to October
From Nairobi: About 1 hour by air

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Laikipia 8 stays, scroll →

Laikipia&Beyond Suyian Lodge
LaikipiaLoisaba Tented Camp
LaikipiaTambarare
LaikipiaLodo Springs
Private villaArijiju
Private villaSirai House
Private villaLengishu House
Private villaSuyian

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Luxury Lewa safari

Lewa

Black and white rhino on private land

Best months: All year, at its best June to October
From Nairobi: About 1 hour by air

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Lewa

Lewa ConservancyKifaru House
Lewa ConservancySirikoi Lodge

Explore Lewa →

Luxury Samburu safari

Samburu

The northern special five along the Ewaso Nyiro

Best months: June to October, December to March
From Nairobi: About 1 hour 15 by air

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Samburu 4 stays, scroll →

SamburuSaruni Samburu
SamburuSoroi Larsens Camp
WestgateSasaab
NamunyakSarara Camp

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Luxury Meru safari

Meru

Born Free country, with very few other vehicles

Best months: June to October, January to February
From Nairobi: About 1 hour by air

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Meru

MeruElsa's Kopje

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Luxury Lake Turkana safari

Lake Turkana

The jade sea and the Suguta Valley, by helicopter

Best months: December to March, June to October
From Nairobi: A day by private helicopter from Laikipia

There are no camps at Lake Turkana that we recommend. Guests fly in for the day by private helicopter from Laikipia, over the Suguta Valley, and are back in camp by dusk.

Explore Lake Turkana →

Luxury Lamu safari

Lamu

A Swahili island of dhows and whitewashed lanes

Best months: July to March
From Nairobi: About 1 hour 45 by air

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Lamu

LamuThe Majlis

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Luxury Watamu safari

Watamu

Marine park reefs and one of the finest beaches in Africa

Best months: July to March
From Nairobi: About 1 hour 15 by air

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Watamu

WatamuHemingways Watamu
Private villaSirai Beach
Private villaCardamom House

Explore Watamu →

Luxury Diani safari

Diani

White sand, warm water and private beach villas

Best months: July to March
From Nairobi: About 1 hour 15 by air

Luxury camps, lodges and villas in Diani

DianiThe Maji Boutique
Private villaAlfajiri Villas

Explore Diani →

Private Luxury Safaris

Private Kenya safaris, the way few people see them.

Private land

Conservancies beside the Maasai Mara, where vehicles are capped and the land is yours to explore.

Private guiding

Your own guide and vehicle, on your schedule, from the first morning to the last.

Private skies

Light aircraft between regions, a helicopter to Lake Turkana, a balloon over the Migration at dawn.

Travel by private road safari, helicopter, balloon or private jet.

Luxury Kenya Safari Itineraries

Luxury Kenya safaris, priced and ready.

Every Kenya journey we offer, with its price. Filter by where you would like to go, then travel it as it is or have us tailor it to your dates.

The Definitive KenyaOur most booked

9 Day Luxury Kenya Safari

DestinationsAmboseli · Maasai Mara · Laikipia
Duration9 Days · 8 Nights
HighlightsAmboseli, the Maasai Mara and Laikipia, flown between so no day is lost to a road. If you take one Kenyan safari in your life, this is the one we would build.

Starting fromUSD 16,450 per person

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Great MigrationJuly to October

8 Day Great Migration Safari

DestinationsMaasai Mara · Northern Serengeti
Duration8 Days · 7 Nights
HighlightsBoth banks of the Mara River in a single week, with a private vehicle throughout and a balloon flight at dawn.

Starting fromUSD 16,750 per person

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Big FiveRhino in Lewa

9 Day Luxury Kenya Big Five Safari

DestinationsNairobi · Lewa · Maasai Mara · Amboseli
Duration9 Days · 8 Nights
HighlightsBuilt around the fifth of the Big Five: Lewa holds black and white rhino reliably, and very few itineraries bother to include it.

Starting fromUSD 10,950 per person

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Two CountriesKenya and Tanzania

Icons of the Wild

DestinationsAmboseli · Maasai Mara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro
Duration11 Days · 10 Nights
HighlightsThe four landscapes everybody pictures when they picture Africa, on one grand circuit across Kenya and Tanzania.

Starting fromUSD 11,350 per person

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Bush and BeachSafari first, then the sea

10 Day Kenya Safari and Mauritius

DestinationsMaasai Mara · Mauritius
Duration10 Days · 9 Nights
HighlightsA week of five o clock starts while you still have the energy, then a week with no alarm at all.

Starting fromUSD 12,250 per person

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Special OfferPay 3, stay 5

Angama Mara 5 Night Safari

DestinationsNairobi · Maasai Mara
Duration6 Days · 5 Nights
HighlightsPay for three nights and stay for five, at the lodge suspended a thousand feet above the Mara Triangle.

Starting fromUSD 11,000 per person

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Safari and IslandTwo countries

11 Day Kenya and Zanzibar

DestinationsMaasai Mara · Amboseli · Zanzibar
Duration11 Days · 10 Nights
HighlightsThe Mara and Amboseli, then a flight east to the spice islands, without rushing either half.

Starting fromUSD 9,025 per person

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Ultra LuxuryPrivate conservancy

5 Day Mahali Mzuri Ultra Luxury Safari

DestinationsOlare Motorogi · Maasai Mara
Duration5 Days · 4 Nights
HighlightsTwelve tents in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, where vehicle numbers are capped and almost nobody else comes.

Starting fromUSD 9,750 per person

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The Way InPrivate conservancy

5 Day Maasai Mara Luxury Safari

DestinationsNairobi · Naboisho · Maasai Mara
Duration5 Days · 4 Nights
HighlightsFour nights at Hemingways Ol Seki in the Naboisho Conservancy. Four nights in one place beats seven spread thin.

Starting fromUSD 8,500 per person

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Road SafariOne guide throughout

9 Day Kenya Classic by Road

DestinationsNairobi · Amboseli · Naivasha · Maasai Mara
Duration9 Days · 8 Nights
HighlightsOne guide and one Land Cruiser throughout, with the Rift Valley escarpment as the highlight rather than the filler.

Starting fromUSD 8,800 per person

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Road SafariShort driving days

8 Day Laikipia and the North by Road

DestinationsNairobi · Laikipia · Lewa · Samburu
Duration8 Days · 7 Nights
HighlightsThe most beautiful driving in Kenya, through highland farms and up into the dry north, with short days throughout.

Starting fromUSD 7,500 per person

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Best Time to Visit Kenya

The best time for a luxury Kenya safari.

There is no bad month in Kenya, only different ones. Choose a month to see the weather, the wildlife, the prices and where we would send you.

Dry season

January in Kenya

Weather: Hot, dry and clear
Wildlife: Plains game with young, superb light
Prices: Moderate
Best for: Photography, value
Where we would send you: The Maasai Mara, Amboseli and Samburu, all at their clearest

Dry season

February in Kenya

Weather: Hot and dry
Wildlife: Excellent across the Mara and Amboseli
Prices: Moderate
Best for: Photography, value
Where we would send you: The Mara, Amboseli, Laikipia, and the coast for a beach finale

Green season

March in Kenya

Weather: Rains begin
Wildlife: Lush, fewer vehicles, newborn animals
Prices: Low
Best for: Value, Laikipia
Where we would send you: Laikipia and Lewa, which hold up beautifully as the rains begin

Green season

April in Kenya

Weather: Long rains
Wildlife: Green and dramatic, some camps close
Prices: Lowest
Best for: Value, green season
Where we would send you: Laikipia, Lewa and a private conservancy camp at green season rates

Green season

May in Kenya

Weather: Long rains ease
Wildlife: Quiet, lush, very good value
Prices: Lowest
Best for: Value, Laikipia and Lewa
Where we would send you: Laikipia and Lewa, or the Mara conservancies at their quietest

Shoulder season

June in Kenya

Weather: Dry, cool mornings
Wildlife: Herds gathering, excellent game
Prices: Moderate
Best for: Value before the peak
Where we would send you: The Maasai Mara before the peak, with Laikipia or Samburu

The Great Migration

July in Kenya

Weather: Dry and cool
Wildlife: The herds arrive in the Mara
Prices: Peak
Best for: The Great Migration
Where we would send you: The Maasai Mara for the herds, then Laikipia or the coast

The Great Migration

August in Kenya

Weather: Dry
Wildlife: River crossings at their most frequent
Prices: Peak
Best for: The Great Migration
Where we would send you: The Maasai Mara for the river crossings, close to the Mara River

The Great Migration

September in Kenya

Weather: Dry
Wildlife: Crossings continue, big cats superb
Prices: Peak
Best for: The Great Migration
Where we would send you: The Maasai Mara for the crossings and superb big cats

The Great Migration

October in Kenya

Weather: Dry, warming
Wildlife: Herds begin to leave the Mara
Prices: High
Best for: The Migration, fewer crowds
Where we would send you: The Maasai Mara as the herds begin to leave, with far fewer vehicles

Shoulder season

November in Kenya

Weather: Short rains
Wildlife: A green flush, quiet camps
Prices: Low
Best for: Value, birding
Where we would send you: Laikipia, Lewa and the coast, green and quiet after the short rains

Dry season

December in Kenya

Weather: Dry by mid month
Wildlife: Good game, festive demand late
Prices: High late
Best for: Early December value
Where we would send you: Everywhere early in the month, with the coast for the festive weeks

Luxury Private Villas in Kenya

Private safari villas and exclusive use houses in Kenya.

For families, celebrations and anyone who would rather not share: a whole house in the wild or on the ocean, from Arijiju and Lengishu on Borana to Lorien in the Maasai Mara and Alfajiri on Diani Beach, with your own guide, vehicle, chef and hours.

Sole useThe whole house, never shared
Your own guideAnd a private vehicle, on your hours
A private chefMenus shaped around your family
Every age welcomeChildren, grandparents, everyone

Borana Conservancy, Laikipia · Exclusive UseArijijuCarved into the hillside on Borana, with the stillness of a monastery and the comfort of a private home. One of the most admired houses on the continent.Best forFamilies and friends who want an entire estate

Laikipia · Exclusive UseSirai HouseA private house on the Laikipia plateau, with long views, a full staff team and the run of the conservancy around it.Best forMultigenerational trips and celebrations

Borana Conservancy, LaikipiaLengishu HouseSet high on Borana with Mount Kenya on the horizon, taken exclusively, with a chef, a guide and horses at the door.Best for Riding, walking and Mount Kenya views

Mara Triangle, Maasai MaraLorien MaraA private house in the Mara, taken by your party alone, with staff, guiding and a vehicle that answer to nobody else.Best for The Mara without other guests

Maasai Mara, near Mara NorthZamaraAn exclusive use camp in the Mara, with no fixed mealtimes and game drives that run to your rhythm.Best for A private camp for your party

Maasai MaraWild HillA private house set high above the Mara, with long views over the plains and the whole property held for one party.Best for Views, space and privacy

Diani BeachAlfajiri VillasThree houses on the cliff and the sand at Diani, each booked exclusively, each with its own chef, butler, housekeeper and pool.Best for A barefoot finale after safari

The Kenyan CoastSirai BeachThe coastal sister to Sirai House: a private beachfront villa with its own staff, its own pool and the Indian Ocean at the foot of the garden.Best for Pairing with Sirai House in Laikipia

The Kenyan CoastCardamom HouseA private house on the Kenyan coast where the cooking is the point as much as the beach, taken by one party at a time.Best for Food lovers and slow days

LaikipiaSuyianA working conservation estate in Laikipia, wild and unpolished in the best sense, held privately for the guests staying on it.Best for Conservation minded families

See every luxury private villa and exclusive use house →

The safaris were intimate, never rushed, and our guide made each sighting significant.

Guest, Maasai Mara · Rated 4.9 from more than 170 reviews

Good to Know

Luxury Kenya safari questions, answered.

How much does a luxury Kenya safari cost?

Our private Kenya journeys start from USD 7,500 per person and most guests spend between USD 10,000 and USD 17,000 for seven to ten nights. Small conservancy camps in the Maasai Mara typically cost USD 1,200 to 1,800 per person per night, with fees, game drives and house drinks included.

When is the best time for a Kenya safari?

July to October for the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara, and January to February for clear, dry weather with fewer vehicles. March to May is the green season, with the lowest rates of the year.

What is the best luxury safari camp in Kenya?

Angama Mara for its view over the Mara Triangle, Mahali Mzuri or Mara Plains for game in a private conservancy, Kifaru House or Sirikoi in Lewa for rhino and walking, and Angama Amboseli for Kilimanjaro. We match the camp to the month, your party and your budget.

How many days do I need for a Kenya safari?

Seven to ten nights across two or three regions, with at least three nights in each. Kenya's short flights mean more fits into a week than almost anywhere else in Africa.

Is Kenya safe for a safari?

Yes. The safari regions are well away from any areas of concern, camps are escorted after dark, and every journey includes Rescue.co medical evacuation cover. Our team is in Nairobi, in the same time zone as your safari.

Kenya or Tanzania for a luxury safari?

Kenya offers shorter flights, the private conservancy model and an easy beach finale. Tanzania offers vast space, the Ngorongoro Crater and the full Migration cycle. Many of our guests combine the two in one journey.

Can I combine a Kenya safari with gorillas or the beach?

Yes. Rwanda and Uganda are about an hour and a half from Nairobi for gorilla trekking, and the Kenyan coast, Zanzibar, the Seychelles and Mauritius all pair beautifully with a Kenya safari.

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