Holiday Tips / Vakantie Tips

If you are thinking of adding some time for holidays onto your trip to Kenya we’d love to share some of our favourite tips with you!

There is a lot you can organise yourself in Kenya, but if you’d like to organise a trip via a travel agency we can recommend Charlie’s Travel and Africa Calling Safaris who can help you plan a tailored trip, book accommodations and organise transport.

NAIROBI

  • Restaurants and bars: Cultiva Farm Kenya, beit é selam, Peppertree, Crafty Chameleon, Hob House, Habesha (Ethiopian Food), The Alchemist (party!), Talisman

  • Activities: Nairobi National Park (for a safari experience with the Nairobi skyline in the background), Giraffe Center (feed the giraffes), Karura Forest (walk / run), Sheldricks Elephant Nursery (baby elephants)

FOR SAFARI

  • Maasai Mara (for Big 5 five spotting)

    • Some recommended lodges: Karen Blixen Camp (luxury), Basecamp Masai Mara (comfort) or any of the other Saruni Basecamp lodges

    • Please note that the Masai Mara consists of multiple parks and there is not really 1 Maasai Mara. There is the Masai Mara National Reserve (this is the main reserve, is more accessible but busier) and there are privately managed reserves such as the Mara Triangle and Naibosho (typically more expensive and exclusive)

  • Amboseli (for giant elephants in front of a stunning backdrop of the Kilimanjaro)

    • Some recommended lodges: 

  • Tsavo West (for red earth and endless savannas)

    • Some recommended lodges: Satao Camp (comfort)

  • Ol Pejeta Conservancy (for rhinos)

    • If you rent a car with rooftop tent, you can book a private campsite in the middle of the park, which is an amazing experience, alternatively have a look here for lodges

Please note that fees for most camps do not include the entry fees to the parks themselves, which you will need to pay in addition to the lodge fees. Most camps will offer packages that include full board and game drives in a shared game drive vehicle. Make sure to check the details before you book!

LAKESIDE ADVENTURE

  • Lake Naivasha - a lovely “entry to Kenya”, explore crescent island, take a mountain bike into Hell’s Gate National Park and fall asleep to the sound of hippos when you sleep next to the lake

  • Lake Nakuru - a great place to spot flamingos and see rhinos

AT THE BEACH

  • Watamu (water sports, mangroves, and Italian pizza)

    • Accommodation: Book via booking.com (hotels) and discoverwatamu.com (villas for groups) or even airbnb has some options.

    • Restaurants: Ocean Sports, Lichthaus, Pili Pan, Papa Remos, Non Solo Gelato (ice cream)

    • Water sports and activities: Tribe Watersports for kite surfing, supping, yoga at Watamu Tree House, 

see also Wedding Schedule & Accommodation for our plans to stay there from 20th December 2026 - 27th December 2026

  • Shela, Lamu (for Swahili vibes)

    • Accommodation options: Peponi Hotel, Banana House, Cabanas (more remote and exclusive) or use East African Retreats to book a house for a bigger group

    • Restaurants: Peponi Hotel (you could honestly just eat here every day, it is that good!), Sea Suq (for the most tasty coconut beans with Chapati you’ll ever eat in your life)

    • Activities: Tour through Lamu Town, sunset cruise on a Dhow, yoga at Banana House

FOR THE ADVENTUROUS

(#OFF THE BEATEN TRACK)

  • Climb Mount Ololokwe and do a game drive in Samburu national park

    • An amazing place (Jolien’s favourite part of Kenya) to explore the Samburu culture and see a more remote part of Kenya. Book Ololokwe through Sabache Camp, and explore Samburu National Park from there, a lodge in the park or for example from Lion’s Cave Camp Samburu

  • Mount Kenya (3 to 4 days climb)

    • You can book this through a guide - let us know and we can share a number of some great ones!

  • Make an (organised) trip to Lake Turkana -  A truly unique experience. Let me know if you want more tips on this, but note that this is for the truly adventurous and you’ll be going to a very remote part of Kenya!

And many more amazing places! There’s a pretty good chance we’ve been there, so if you want some tips about other places, just let us know!