Holiday Guide to Kenya

Direct scheduled flight operations, schedule details, and passenger connectivity developments connecting the United Arab Emirates with key regional travel destinations.

By Dubai Times Staff • Edition: Dubai Times Archive (Jun 2022)

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Kenya is one of the most popular tourist destinations in East Africa, especially for travellers from the Middle East. This East African nation encompasses open savannah, picturesque lakes, the dramatic Great Rift Valley and the majestic mountain highlands. It's also home to a plethora of wildlife like lions, elephants and rhinos. From Nairobi, the capital city, you can visit the Maasai Mara Reserve, known for its annual wildebeest migrations, and Amboseli National Park, offering views of Tanzania's 5,895 metres high Mount Kilimanjaro.

For many people, Kenya is East Africa in microcosm. The wildlife safaris have been the top tourist attractions in Kenya for decades while other activities include trekking Mount Kenya, ballooning over the Masai Mara and snorkeling in Malindi on the Indian Ocean coast

What To See, Where To Go

Kenya is known for its exciting savanna safaris across its plains and offers a myriad of experiences for the intrepid traveller. The country's varied topography includes deserts and alpine snow-peaked mountains; forests and open plains; the cosmopolitan city of Nairobi and colorful tribal cultures; as well as a variety of freshwater lakes and coral reefs. However, the wildlife safaris have been the top tourist attractions in Kenya. Other activities include trekking Mount Kenya, ballooning over the Masai Mara, partying in Mombasa and snorkeling in Malindi on the Indian Ocean coast.

Masai Mara National Reserve
Samburu National Reserve
Amboseli National Park
Lake Nakuru
Tsavo National Park
Lamu Island
Hell's Gate National Park
Mount Kenya
Malindi
Nairobi National Park

How many days do you need in Kenya?

You will need at least five days to explore Kenya's main tourist attractions and cover the main must-view areas of Kenya's safari circuit. However, if you wish to go for an extended vacation, you can stay for as long as a month to explore the country's various tourism high points.

Best Time To Visit Kenya

July to September is the best time to visit Kenya – during the country's dry season. This is also when you can witness the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra. However, you can also visit Kenya during the rainy seasons as there are fewer visitors and hotel and safari rates are relatively cheaper.

Where to Stay in Kenya

Kenya enjoys a huge variety of accommodation types to suit anyone from families to vacationers. Whether you are looking for something rustic or more luxurious, Kenya offers just the place for you. Here are some luxury hotels, resorts and lodges that are known for their service, location and hospitality:

Elsa's Kopje
Ol Donyo Lodge
Loldia House
Finch Hattons Luxury Tented Camp
Lentorre Lodge
Tortilis Camp
Sasaab Camp
Saruni Samburu
Hemingways Nairobi
Giraffe Manor
Kinondo Kwetu
Alfajiri Villas
Laikipia
Loisaba Tented Camp
The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille
Sanctuary Olonana
Angama Mara
Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp
Bateleur Camp

How To Get There

Kenya's main airport is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), located 15km/9mi southeast of Nairobi. Kenya's second international Airport is Moi International Airport (MBA), located 9km/6mi west of Mombasa, but aside from flights to Zanzibar, this is primarily used for domestic and charter flights.

Currently many flights offer direct flight to Nairobi from the Middle East. These include Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Jambojet Limited, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Air Arabia, flydubai – to name a few.

Visa Requirements

You will need a visa to enter Kenya. Even citizens of the United States of America are required to have a visa before they can legally enter the Republic of Kenya. Fortunately, the process to obtain a Kenyan visa is quick and simple. You can also request a Kenyan visa online in certain countries.

Getting Around

There’s a wide range of travel options in Kenya. If you want to be looked after throughout your trip, you can travel on a shared or exclusive road safari where you sign up to an off-the-shelf or tailor-made itinerary; alternatively you can take an air safari, via scheduled domestic airlines (often in small planes with great visibility), or charter a light plane for your own use. If you want more independence, you can easily rent a vehicle for self-drive or with a driver. If you’re on a budget, you’ll find a wide range of public transport – though, to be clear, it is all privately operated – from air-conditioned buses run by large operators to smaller companies and “saccos” (cooperatives) with a single minibus. In towns of any size, crowds of Nissan minibuses, operating as shared taxis and referred to as matatus, hustle for business constantly. Kenya’s railway “network” appears to be in terminal decline, but the Nairobi–Mombasa line still runs a couple of services a week.