Custom safaris in Kenya

A custom safari in Kenya gives you the opportunity to decide how much of the country you want to experience and what you want to focus on. Wilderness Mara is the anchor of every Wilderness Kenya itinerary, placing you in the Mara Triangle for exceptional wildlife viewing and, at the right time of year, the chance to see the Great Migration. But your safari does not have to only include the Mara. Using partner airlines and transfer operators, and a collection of carefully selected third-party properties, a Wilderness Travel Designer can create a wider itinerary built around your interests – whether those are wildlife, conservation, photography, or combining a safari with beach time in Kenya.

With offices in Nairobi and over 40 years of experience working in Kenya, Wilderness brings local knowledge to the planning process, helping you work out which destinations complement the Mara and how best to connect them. In addition, Wilderness Touring offers additional excursions and activities to your Nairobi trip. It is also possible to combine the Mara with places such as Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Amboseli, Laikipia, Loisaba, Borana, Samburu and other northern conservancies, while Lake Naivasha and the Diani coast offer a change of pace. The Wilderness team can even arrange a full itinerary that combines a stay in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve with the Serengeti, or a safari and gorilla trekking in Rwanda. The team can co-ordinate accommodation, internal flights, road transfers, touring and other arrangements, taking care of the logistics while you concentrate on the experiences you want from the trip. Plus, as a safari operator with over 55 camps in 8 countries, Wilderness understands the complexities of wild environments. Wilderness24 is our proprietary incident management function. Run from within the business, internal experts and dedicated partners ensure that if any unexpected situation arises, it is handled swiftly and seamlessly.

When is the best time to go on a custom safari in Kenya?

The best time to go to Kenya on safari is June through October. This is dry season in the Masai Mara, which means the vegetation is thin, making visibility easier, and wildlife tends to congregate around water sources, including the marsh at Wilderness Mara. If your priority is seeing the Great Migration, this is also the best time to visit Kenya as herds gather along the Mara River to cross between Serengeti National Park and the Masai Mara, creating dramatic scenes. Additionally, cooler temperatures also mean more comfortable daytime game drives. The opposite season, November to May, offers a completely different experience. This is the rainy season in Kenya so the landscapes are transformed with lush greenery. This is the best time for birdwatching as many seasonal migrants arrive with the rains, while dramatic skies and thunderstorms provide atmospheric scenery for photography. This time of year also offers better value for money and fewer crowds than the peak safari season in Kenya. 

What can be customised on a bespoke safari in Kenya?

Every aspect is customised on a bespoke safari with Wilderness, designed around where you want to go, what you want to see and how you prefer to travel. While Wilderness Mara is at the heart of all our Kenya itineraries, you have complete flexibility in the length of stay, any partner properties, the balance between safari and time in Nairobi or on the coast, any additional tours and excursions, internal flights and road transfers, and your dates and time of travel. Your interests also influence the planning, whether that means prioritising big-cat sightings and the Great Migration, conservation, photography, family-friendly experiences or simply spending longer in fewer places. Even your days on safari at Wilderness Mara are customisable – you could add in a hot air balloon flight, visit a local Maasai homestead or book a private vehicle for total flexibility on safari. 

Is a custom safari in Kenya worth it?

Absolutely. Perhaps more so than any other African safari destination, a custom safari in Kenya is particularly worthwhile. The Masai Mara is one of Africa’s most famous safari destinations, but that popularity means some areas can become busy, particularly during the Great Migration. A tailor-made safari itinerary gives you more control over the experience: you can choose how long to stay, when to travel, what else to include and where to spend time beyond the busiest parts of the Mara and away from pre-packaged tour operators. For travellers who value more time in nature, a more relaxed pace and a truly wild experience, a custom safari in Kenya is certainly the best choice.