Kenya has long been a place for overland safaris. Guests would travel from one place to another in “pop-top” minibuses with room for 6 to 7 people and a driver or guide. Flying has become a very popular way to travel since more regular flights have been added to many safari sites in recent years.

Why a fly-in safari is a good idea

1. It takes less time to get around. These days, people don’t have as much time for vacations, so they can see more in less time.

2. It’s a much more comfortable way to travel. Kenya’s roads are mostly good, but there are some places where they’re really bad and very dusty.

3. The roads tend to get worse very quickly when it rains.

4. Kenya looks pretty amazing from the air.

Fifth, guests already spend a lot of time in a car during game drives in the parks, and driving from one place to another adds to the time spent inside a car.

6. A courier, or special guide, can go on the trip with the guests, taking the place of the driver or guide.

Reduced the chance of vehicle breakdowns, accidents, and theft by a huge amount.

The main problem is that the flights are expensive.
We tell our guests to fly if they have the money. It is best for people who are older, weak, or have back problems to fly as much as possible.

When to fly: The times given are only rough estimates:

Kenya – Tsavo ±1 hr
Nairobi to Amboseli takes about 45 minutes.
Nairobi to Nanyuki* takes about 45 minutes.
About 45 minutes to get from Nairobi to Masai Mara.
Nanyuki to Samburu** ±20 mins
Nanyuki to Masai Mara takes about 1 hour and a half.

*People who live in or near the Aberdares, Mount Kenya, Timau, and Laikipia can use Nanyuki airport.*The trip from Nairobi to Samburu goes through Nanyuki and back again. The whole flight takes about an hour.

Safari drives in a minibus or 4×4 vehicle

In Kenya, going “on safari” used to mean taking a “pop-top” minibus from the beginning to the end of the trip. Since most safari places now have regular flights, this term can be used for both types of travel.

There are some 4×4 cars that are more expensive than minibuses, but the minibus is still the most common way to get around on an overland safari. Based on the type of car used, safari vehicles can fit anywhere from 5 to 8 people.

Overland safaris can be done in either a “seat in bus” or a private car. In general, “seat in bus” safaris have set departure times, but if enough people sign up around the same time, the trip will go ahead anyway.

Why an overland safari in Kenya is a good idea

1. From the time people arrive until they leave, the same driver/guide is with them the whole time.

2. A lot less expensive than flying.

The views of the very pretty Kenyan countryside and towns are great.

4. Can stop anywhere along the way if they see something interesting.

5. Great chances to take pictures.

What’s wrong with an overland safari in Kenya

1. Being stuck in a car for long amounts of time. It can get dusty and hot.

Two. Some roads are in bad shape.

3. Being open to problems, accidents, and theft.

Kenya Driving Times to Get There

The following times are only rough estimates; they will depend on what part of the area guests are going to.

3½ to 4 hours to get from Aberdare National Park to Samburu National Park.
± hour to get from Aberdare National Park to the Mount Kenya Safari Club in Nanyuki
Masai Mara National Reserve to Lake Nakuru ± 4½ to 5½ hours
Masai Mara National Reserve to Lake Naivasha: 4 to 5 hours
From Mount Kenya Safari Club in Nanyuki to Lake Nakuru, it takes about 4 and a half hours.

Mount Kenya Safari Club via Nanyuki to Lake Naivasha takes about 5 hours.
Mount Kenya Safari Club/Nanyuki to Samburu National Park ± 3 to 3 and a half hours
It takes about 2½ to 3 hours to get from Nairobi to Aberdare National Park.
Five hours drive from Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve

3 hours to get from Nairobi to Amboseli National Park.
Samburu National Park is about 4 hours from Nairobi.
Nairobi – Mount Kenya Safari Club / Nanyuki ± 3–3 and a half hours

Fly-in and Overland Kenya Safari Together

It gives people the best of both worlds, so this is the best way to plan a trip. Here are two of the best combinations:

1. Take a plane from Nairobi to Samburu National Park. There, a driver/guide will meet you with a car to start your overland adventure. After leaving Samburu, they drive to Mount Kenya, then to Lake Nakuru or Lake Naivasha, and finally to the Masai Mara to finish. The tour ends in the Masai Mara, where the driver/guide drops off the guests at the Mara airstrip for their flight back to Nairobi. When they get there, a representative meets them and takes them to either their hotel or JKIA for their flight home.

2. The driver/guide meets the guests when they get to Nairobi, which is where the land part of the trip begins. They drive from Nairobi to the Aberdares, then to Mount Kenya, and finally to Samburu. When their time there is up, they fly from Samburu to the Masai Mara. When the guests get to the Mara, a guide from the camp will pick them up and take care of them during their stay. The lodge takes its guests to the airport so they can catch their flight back to Nairobi. The Masai Mara is often the best part of a trip, which is why we suggest adding it to the end of the plan if you can.

There are many fly/drive combinations that can be used, and people don’t get as tired on safari when some parts of it are flown.

High-end mobile safaris

The luxury mobile tour was first thought of and created in Kenya many years ago. Because of this, the Kenyan mobile tour is likely one of the best and most well-run mobile businesses in Africa.

The idea is that both high-class lodges and Hemingway tents are used as lodging. As the crew breaks down the mobile tent camp and moves on to the next stop, guests drive or fly to a high-class lodge for a couple of nights and then continue their journey to meet up with their mobile camp. It looks like this is the coolest way to go on vacation in Kenya.

For people who don’t care much about money and like to take risks, this is the best type of trip to book. The schedule is customized in terms of the places that are seen, and the trips usually last between 10 and 14 days.

The Coast of Kenya

For a long time, the coast around Mombasa has been known as one of the best places in Africa to relax at the beach. Most tourists don’t go to Mombasa City; they go to the north and south ports, where there are more tourist spots.

Along this coast, most of the beaches are very big and full of tourists. The smaller, more private homes are further up the North Coast, in Malindi, Watamu, and on Lamu island.

When making a reservation, we suggest that you choose one of the hotels on the North Coast (like Voyager, Whitesands, or Serena) over one on the South Coast. This is because the North Coast hotels are usually of better quality and are run by more trustworthy hotel companies.

Please keep in mind that Mombasa is home to many European charter flight tour companies. During the summer, a lot of tourists come to the area, and the big resorts get very crowded.

From Mombasa, You Can Go on Safari

1. One great thing about Mombasa is that it’s close to Tsavo National Park. From most motels, you can take a day trip to the park. The guests leave their hotel by car at 5:30 in the morning and go to Tsavo East National Park. They spend the day in the eastern part of the park and eat lunch at one of the hotels. Around 17:00, they return to Mombasa.

2. You can also go to Tsavo for the night. Early in the morning, guests leave by road from their hotel in Mombasa. They go on a game drive in the eastern part of the park and spend the night at Finch Hatton’s or one of the other sites in West Tsavo.

3. You can also fly straight from Mombasa to the Masai Mara and back again.

There aren’t as many homes on the North Coast in Watamu, Malindi, and Lamu Island as there are closer to Mombasa. These places tend to have slightly higher prices as well.

Lamu is especially charming, and its past is very interesting. Air Kenya has a flight that goes straight to the airport on Manda Island, which is across the water from Lamu Island. After that, staff pick up guests at their hotel and take them by boat to Lamu.

If you cross straight to town, it only takes about 15 minutes, but it takes about 25 to 30 minutes to get to Kijani House and Peponi, which are a little further around the island. The boat ride to Kipungani Bay goes around the island three times and takes about 45 minutes. Guests should bring sunblock and a hat for this stop.

Guests who come to Lamu should take a tour of the town while they are there. The different places can make all the necessary plans for this tour.

It can be heart-stopping to not know what might be around the next turn. This feeling will be talked about for years to come. Guides who are fully trained and have a lot of knowledge in this field lead the walks.

Some hotels don’t offer walks because they don’t have trained guides who can lead them. Guests at the lodge book walks directly with the guides. At some high-end homes, walks are part of the price.