Kenya's game drives get all the attention, but the country has a lot more range than that, here's what's worth building into your itinerary beyond the parks.
Nairobi has more than a layover's worth
Nairobi National Park sits inside the city limits, genuinely the only capital on earth where you can see lion and rhino with skyscrapers on the skyline. Pair it with the David Sheldrick elephant orphanage and the Giraffe Centre for a full, worthwhile day even if you only have 24 hours in the country.
The coast is a different Kenya entirely
Diani Beach and Lamu Island offer white sand, warm water, and a Swahili coastal culture that has nothing to do with the savannah. Three or four nights on the coast after a safari is one of the most common, and most satisfying, combinations we book.
Our consultants build itineraries like this one every week. Tell us your dates and we'll reply with a tailored plan, usually within a few hours.
Hell's Gate: the one park you can cycle through
Hell's Gate National Park near Lake Naivasha is one of the only parks in East Africa where cycling and walking among wildlife (zebra, giraffe, buffalo at a distance) is permitted without a vehicle. Combine it with a walk through the geothermal gorge for a genuinely different kind of day out.
Other highlights worth the detour
A boat safari and walking tour on Lake Naivasha's Crescent Island, a visit to a Maasai manyatta for real cultural context (not a staged photo-op if you choose the right operator), and the flamingo shorelines of Lake Nakuru all round out a Kenya trip that's about more than just the Big Five.
