Kenya safaris are easily some of the best in all of Africa, and with so many great ones to choose from, the sky is virtually the limit. The sky is literally the limit should you choose to enjoy a safari in Kenya of the hot air balloon variety. Kenya is where the idea of wildlife safaris was born, and the word safari is Swahili for "journey."

The bulk of Kenya safaris start in the capital city of Nairobi, since most international flights to Kenya arrive here, and among the highlights here is the Karen Blixen Museum. The author of "Out of Africa," Blixen has no doubt inspired many a reader to book Kenya safari holidays, and if you've seen the movie, you have likely been inspired by the majestic Kenyan landscape. Kenya safari tours take you to places where the animals roam free while the tourists are usually confined to a safe vehicle. Helping to make your Kenya wildlife safari a most safe and memorable one are the Kenya safari guides, who are expertly trained and extremely keen on delivering quality service. There is a reason that the Kenya safaris are one of Kenya's top tourist attractions. The experience they are able to deliver is truly an unforgettable one, and should you share it with family or friends, you'll all have nostalgic stories to tell for the rest of time.

When you find yourself in Nairobi, Kenya and can't make it to one of the Kenya wildlife game reserves found further off, then you can always enjoy a safari at the Nairobi National Park. Reached in just 20 minutes by car from downtown Nairobi, Kenya's first national park offers quite the experience. It's odd when enjoying a safari here to gaze up and see the Nairobi skyscrapers in the near distance and low-flying jumbo jets coming in for a landing. It's a lesson of sorts on how man and animal can manage to co-exist on this wildlife-rich continent. The Nairobi National Park has one of the country's best rhinoceros sanctuaries, which is definitely worth checking out.

Kenya Map

If you have already been researching the available Kenya safari tours, you have likely learned that the Maasai Mara Game Reserve is generally hailed as the premiere destination. This is especially true in the months that the megaherd of wildebeest and zebra are in the park, having migrated from the Serengeti in Tanzania. The herds arrive during July/August, and return around September/October - all depending on rains. With these creatures come hunters, so besides the wildebeest, you will likely also see leopards and lions, which are two of the famed "Big Five". Rhinos, elephants, and buffalos are just some of the other animals that are commonly seen going about their daily lives at the Maasai Mara reserve, and you might even get the chance to visit a Maasai village, which is a special cultural treat. The Maasai Mara is a great destination for family and hot air balloon Kenya safari tours, so you might choose one of those experiences if you are interested.

Other top spots for a Kenya wildlife safari are Tsavo National Park, Amboseli National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, and the Samburu Game Reserve. Tsavo National Park, which is Kenya's largest safari park, is an ideal safari destination for those enjoying a Kenyan beach vacation, as it is found relatively close to such coastal cities as Mombasa and Malindi. Amboseli National Park is known to be an excellent "Big Game" viewing reserve, being home to lions, elephants, and cheetahs, among other animals. It is also the place for the best views of Mt. Kilimanjaro, highest peak on the continent. Lake Nakuru National Park is famous for its resident pink flamingo population, which is quite large. Congregating and feeding at Lake Nakuru, the flamingos are so numerous at times that the lake actually looks pink from a distance. Besides being a great birdwatching destination, Lake Nakuru also gets a nod for its rhino sanctuary. Found in the northern stretches of Kenya, where the land can be quite rugged, the Samburu Game Reserve has some fairly rare animals roaming about, so you might spot a reticulated giraffe or a Grevy's zebra, not to mention a few other curious comers.

You can enjoy Kenya safari holidays throughout the year, although most people tend to avoid the rainy months of April, May, and November. There are plenty of Kenya vacation packages and tours that either revolve around or simply feature a Kenya wildlife safari, so depending on what you have in mind, you can find the right fit for your agenda. Many of the safari guide companies will work with you to arrange a most ideal trip, and there are luxury Kenya safari tours if that piques your interest. The Kenya safaris tend not to be animal specific, meaning that if you book lion or elephant safaris, for instance, you will see much more than just lions and/or elephants. There are hot air balloon Kenya safari tours, walking safari tours, and single or multi-day safari in Kenya options, so you can pretty much have it your way. Plan your Kenya wildlife safari soon, and treat yourself to what promises to be one of your all-time best travel adventures.