Top 5 Wildlife Holidays in Kenya and Tanzania

Africa is very popularly referred to as the ‘Mecca of Wildlife’. While there are a lot of wild animals roaming this mighty continent, most of them are concentrated in the East African countries of Kenya and Tanzania. And you wish to be stupefied by the sheer number of wild animals and also see the ‘Big Five’ then, this is where you should plan your next wildlife holiday. To help you plan better, I have put together a list of top 5 wildlife holidays in Kenya and Tanzania based on my personal experiences. These places are ideal to see lots of wildlife and the chances of sighting are very high.

Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya

The great wildlife migration takes place here when millions of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle cross the Grumeti and Mara rivers every June in search of greener pastures. And since there is abundance of prey, the predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, jackals and the crocodiles are not very far away. Hence, you can say that it is like a wildlife bonanza and you can see millions of animals during the migration season. Even during the leaner months, you will still see abundant wildlife.

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania


This part is the equivalent of Kenya’s Maasai Mara and holds iconic status in East Africa. Like the migration from Serengeti to Mara in June, there is reverse migration from Mara to Serengeti and this happens in the months of October and November. Thus, this is also the place where you can see millions of wild animals. Lot of prey, predators, hunts, birds and much more can be seen here. 

Amboseli National Park, Kenya


Amboseli is famous for 2 things. One, for its elephants and their mighty tusks and the second, for the lovely view of Mount Kilimanjaro from Amboseli. This park can be an ideal place to stop before you continue further into Tanzania from Kenya. The Big five, lots of big elephants, great birdlife and plenty of scenic sights can be seen here.

Ngorongoro Conservation area, Tanzania


This UNESCO World heritage site and conservation area is also home to a large volcanic crater, which seems to attract a lot of wild animals. The entire area is so special that it has been considered by some as one of the ‘7 natural wonders of Africa’. A wildlife enthusiast can see tons of animals here that include ungulates, hippos, giraffes, elephants, lions, African Wild Dogs, Leopards, Cheetahs and lots of lions.

Samburu National Reserve, Kenya


The Samburu park situated in the arid desert of North Africa is home to some unique species of wild animals and birds. The Grevy’s zebra, the Beisa Oryx, Reticulated Giraffe, Impala, Grant Gazelle and many others are seen here in large numbers. In addition to these rarely species of birds and animals, you can also see huge herds of elephants and lots of lions and leopards. The beautiful landscape of the Samburu landscape is an added bonus.