Alba’s Kenyan Family Safari

House in the Wild / Courtesy of House in the Wild

8-14 days | Between January 6-31, 2025

Kenya is a fantastic location for an all-ages family safari; I recommend keeping the trip at two stops to keep things simple for the kids.

  • 1 Night in Nairobi with a visit to Giraffe Center
  • 4 Nights in Lewa Conservancy
  • 4 Nights in Maasai Mara

I’m still waiting on pricing and availability confirmation, but with domestic flights, I anticipate it to be in the $20,000-25,000 USD range. Based on tentative availability, suggested accommodations are listed below.

Nairobi

Giraffes at Giraffe Manor, luxury Kenya safari / Courtesy of The Safari Collection Hemingways Nairobi / Courtesy of Hemingways Collection

Start your trip in Nairobi, which has direct flights from Dubai throughout the day. Depending on your arrival time, you may stay one or two nights. Spend one afternoon at the Giraffe Centre in the Karen neighborhood.

There are many places to stay in Nairobi, so I like to lock in the essential safari elements before deciding on Nairobi hotels. However, I think a great option for your budget would be Karen Blixen Cottages. They are close to the Giraffe Centre and have a nice pool for the kids to play in while you unwind from your flight.

Lewa Conservancy

You can take a two-hour flight from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to the Lewa Conservancy in Kenya’s high-altitude Laikipia Plateau, which surrounds Mount Kenya. Here, you can view fantastic wildlife, including Kenya’s highest density of rhinos. Lodges here also offer a wide variety of activities, including mountain biking, walking, and horseback riding. They do not have the rhino rehab like Ol Pejeta but have a higher concentration of wildlife in general.

View of Mt. Kenya from Lewa House

Suggested Accommodation: Lewa House

Lewa House is one of my favorite options in the Laikipia region. It is a high-quality lodge in the middle of the reserve, owned by a young family with kids. They are welcoming of children of all ages. Because it’s last minute and I know them, I’ve put in a special request that they match the rate of the more affordable Lewa Safari Camp listed below. Availability is somewhat limited here, so I’ll let you know what I hear.

Alternate Options:

  • Lewa Wilderness: A slightly more upscale version of Lewa House owned by the same family.
  • Elewana Lewa Safari Camp: A good tented camp option in Lewa. The location isn’t as good as Lewa House’s, but it will be a good fallback if we can’t match the price with Lewa House.

Maasai Mara

From Lewa, you can catch another flight to the Maasai Mara. The Mara’s dramatic landscapes and plentiful wildlife make it the highlight of any Kenya itinerary. For the best experience here, I almost always book private reserves outside the National Park for a more exclusive safari – no strict regulations and fewer vehicles.

House in the Wild / Courtesy of House in the Wild House in the Wild / Courtesy of House in the Wild

Suggested Accommodation: House in the Wild

House in the Wild is another family-run property that I love for children. It is located north of the Mara in the Enokishu Conservancy, but there is still abundant wildlife outside the park. I secured a free night with them to match Cottar’s, making it one of the best deals in the Mara.

Alternate Options:

  • Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp: My second favorite option for families here. It’s a classic tented camp option with a free night offer.
  • Angama Mara: This camp has one of the best views in the Mara. It’s not in a private concession, but that is less of an issue in January when the park isn’t as crowded.