Kenya and East Africa offer excellent wildlife viewing year-round. The dry seasons (June–October & January–February) provide the easiest game viewing, while the green seasons offer fewer crowds, lush landscapes, and great photography light. The Great Migration in the Masai Mara typically peaks July–October.

A perfect safari is usually 7–10 days, giving you enough time to enjoy multiple parks at a relaxed pace. Short safaris of 3–5 days are possible, while exclusive, multi-country safaris can extend to 12–15 days or more.

Each region offers a unique experience: Masai Mara – iconic Big Cat viewing & the Great Migration; Laikipia – private conservancies, exclusivity, walking safaris; Amboseli – elephants with Mt. Kilimanjaro views; Tsavo / Chyulu Hills – vast wilderness, red elephants, landscapes; Rwanda/Uganda – gorilla trekking. We help match destinations to your travel style, wildlife interests, and budget.

Accommodations range from: Luxury lodges, Boutique tented camps, Eco-camps & conservancies, Private villas & exclusive-use houses. All offer en-suite facilities, excellent service, and immersive wildlife experiences.

Most Designer Safari packages include: All meals while on safari, Daily game drives, Park and conservancy fees, Professional safari guide, Internal flights or transfers, Drinking water in vehicles, Accommodation and taxes. Extras may include premium drinks, tips, spa treatments, balloon safaris, and optional activities.

Pricing varies based on destination, season, and level of accommodation. Budget safaris: from USD 350 per person per day; Midrange Safaris from USD 350 – 700 per person per day; Luxury safaris: from USD 700–1,200 per person per day; Ultra-luxury safaris: USD 1,500+ per person per day. We customize itineraries to match your budget and travel goals.

Yes. Safari destinations in Kenya and East Africa are safe and well-regulated. You will be accompanied by trained guides and stay in vetted lodges with high safety standards. We provide practical advice on travel, security, and health precautions.

Most visitors require an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) for Kenya. Vaccinations may include yellow fever, typhoid, tetanus, and malaria prophylaxis. We recommend consulting your health provider for the latest travel medical advice.

We recommend: Neutral-colored clothing, A warm layer for early morning drives, Comfortable walking shoes, Hat, sunscreen & sunglasses, Camera, binoculars, extra batteries, Light rain jacket (seasonal). You'll receive a full packing list upon booking.

Absolutely! Many camps offer family-friendly rooms, child-minding services, and special activities for kids. Some conservancies and lodges have age restrictions for game drives; we will guide you in choosing the best options.

Kenya is home to the Big Five — lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard — plus cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, hippos, antelope, rare species like Grevy's zebra, and hundreds of bird species. Wildlife sightings vary with seasons and location, but game viewing is excellent year-round.

You can choose between: Scenic road safaris in custom-built 4×4 vehicles, Flying safaris with short internal flights between parks, Private charters for ultimate convenience. We tailor transport options to suit your comfort and schedule.

We recommend booking: 6–12 months in advance for peak season, 3–6 months for shoulder/green season, 12–18 months for migration or top luxury camps. We always have some last-minute offers available on our deals page. Last-minute options exist, but availability and choices may be limited.

Conservancies are privately managed wildlife areas offering: Fewer vehicles, Off-road game viewing, Walking safaris & night drives, Meaningful community conservation benefits. They're ideal for guests seeking exclusivity and authentic wildlife experiences.

Designer Safari supports sustainable tourism by partnering with responsible camps, encouraging carbon offset programs and reducing single-use plastics, and empowering local communities through ethical travel practices. Park and conservation fees from your safari also directly protect vital parks, keeping wildlife habitats safe for future generations.

Kenya is the classic East Africa safari — Masai Mara, Amboseli, Laikipia, and the Great Migration. It is the most versatile destination for first-time and returning visitors. Tanzania shares the same Mara-Serengeti ecosystem as Kenya and adds the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, and a Zanzibar beach extension. Parks are larger and more remote than Kenya's. Rwanda is primarily a gorilla trekking destination. It is compact, well-connected from Nairobi (one hour by air), and easy to combine with a Kenya safari. Uganda also offers gorilla trekking at a lower permit price than Rwanda, plus chimpanzee tracking and excellent bird life.

Rwanda's permit costs USD $1,500 per person; Uganda's is USD $800. Rwanda is the quicker, more polished option — just 2–3 hours from Kigali airport to the gorillas. Uganda takes longer to reach but costs less and has more gorilla families available. Both offer the same core experience.

Yes, and it is very common. Kenya and Rwanda pair well within 10–12 days. Kenya and Tanzania can be combined to follow the Great Migration across both countries. We handle all cross-border logistics and flight connections as part of your package.

The Mara is open savannah with the Big Five and the Great Migration. Laikipia is a high plateau with private conservancies holding species you won't reliably find in the Mara — black rhino, Grevy's zebra, African wild dogs, and reticulated giraffe. Laikipia also allows night drives and walking safaris, which are not permitted in the national reserve. Many clients include both on the same trip.

Standard terms: deposit forfeited if you cancel after booking; 50% of total cost if 30–60 days out; 100% within 30 days. Specific terms vary by property and are provided in writing at booking. We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers cancellation.

The standard structure is a deposit at booking to hold your space, with the balance due 60 days before departure. For bookings made well in advance, we can discuss staged payments. Contact us and we will work something out.

We itemise everything upfront. The extras that catch people off guard are: tips for guides and camp staff (budget USD $20 per room per day), hot air balloon rides (around USD $550), premium drinks at some camps, and travel insurance. Park fees and permits are included in our quotations unless stated otherwise.

At minimum: trip cancellation, emergency medical treatment, and medical evacuation by air. That last one is critical — a flying doctor evacuation from a remote camp to Nairobi can cost USD $15,000–50,000 without cover. We always include an AMREF Flying Doctors membership or a policy with equivalent East Africa evacuation cover in your package.

Most clients fly into Nairobi (NBO), then connect via short domestic flights from Wilson Airport to safari destinations. The Masai Mara is 45 minutes by air; Samburu is about 90 minutes. For Rwanda, Kigali (KGL) is a one-hour flight from Nairobi. We book all domestic and regional flights as part of your package.

Nairobi has excellent private hospitals. Remote safari camps are far from major medical facilities — typically 2–6 hours by road. All reputable lodges have trained first-aid staff and access to flying doctor services for emergencies. This is why we always include an AMREF Emergency Evacuation Cover in your package.

Yes. We build itineraries around golden-hour game drives, extended time at sightings, and private vehicles so you can position for the best angles. Several camps offer photography-adapted vehicles and specialist guides. Tell us your goals when you enquire and we will match the right destinations and guide.

Yes, in the Masai Mara, Amboseli and Tanzania's Serengeti. You take off at dawn, float over the plains for 60–90 minutes, and land for a bush champagne breakfast. Cost is approximately USD $550 per person, booked as an add-on. Book early during Migration season (July–October) as spaces fill quickly.

Both are available and highly recommended. Walking safaris are offered at private conservancies — a few kilometres on foot with a guide and armed ranger, giving a completely different perspective from a vehicle. Bush dinners are set up by your camp in the field — lanterns, a fire, a proper table in the bush. Most luxury camps offer both. Tell us your preferences, and we will build them in.

Every itinerary we produce is custom-built. We start with what matters to you — dates, group size, interests, budget — and design from there. Nothing is off the shelf.

Yes. Maasai community visits are available across the Mara and Amboseli. In Laikipia, Il Ngwesi Lodge is fully community-owned. In northern Kenya, Sarara Camp is owned by the Samburu community of Namunyak. In Rwanda, there are cultural visits near Volcanoes National Park. We recommend experiences embedded in your itinerary rather than added as an afterthought.

Most luxury properties have Wi-Fi, though in remote areas it is satellite-based and can be slow. Electricity is available everywhere — solar-powered at most eco-sensitive camps, with generator backup. You can charge all devices. A few camps limit power in tents overnight as part of their sustainability model; we flag this in advance.

At the luxury level, en-suite bathrooms are genuinely impressive — freestanding bathtubs, outdoor showers, hot water on demand. A few remote eco-camps use bucket showers (heated water in a raised drum), which is a traditional touch rather than a shortcoming. Toilets are flush at all luxury properties. We specify what to expect before you book.

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal, kosher, and allergy-specific diets are all handled at the luxury level with advance notice. The key is to tell us at booking — we confirm requirements with every property in your itinerary before you arrive.

East Africa is one of the world's best honeymoon destinations. Many camps have dedicated suites with private plunge pools, outdoor bathtubs, and sweeping bush views. We also arrange private bush dinners, sundowner setups, and welcome touches on arrival. Tell us it's your honeymoon at booking, and the camps will take care of the details.

The Migration is a year-round circular movement of 1.5 million wildebeest between Tanzania's Serengeti and Kenya's Masai Mara. Key windows: January–March: Calving season in southern Tanzania. Intense predator action. June–July: First river crossings at the Grumeti in western Tanzania. July–October: The Mara River crossings in Kenya. This is peak season and the iconic imagery. November–December: Herds return south. Quieter, greener, fewer tourists. River crossings cannot be predicted to a specific day. Allow at least 4 nights in the Mara during July–October for the best chance of witnessing one.

Lions, leopards, cheetah: Year-round in the Mara. Easier to spot in the dry season when grass is short. Elephants: Amboseli year-round; best in the dry season when herds gather at water. Great Migration herds: July–October in the Masai Mara. Black rhino: Laikipia conservancies (Lewa, Ol Pejeta) year-round. Grevy's zebra and reticulated giraffe: Laikipia and Samburu year-round. Mountain gorillas: Rwanda and Uganda year-round. Wildebeest calving: January–March in the southern Serengeti, Tanzania.

Not necessarily. The rainy seasons (April–May and November) bring lower prices, fewer tourists, and beautiful green landscapes. The trade-off is longer grass and some road and camp closures. Rain typically falls in short sharp bursts, not all day. We will advise on whether your specific dates and destinations are affected.

April–May and November are the quietest periods with the fewest visitors and best lodge rates. Within peak season, private conservancies surrounding the Mara — Mara North, Naboisho, Olare Motorogi — have strict vehicle limits and offer a much more exclusive experience than the main reserve.

Yes. Several lodges have adapted vehicles and accessible accommodation, particularly in Laikipia. A private vehicle — standard on our itineraries — allows full flexibility of pace and activity. Please share your specific requirements when enquiring and we will confirm suitability property by property.

Most camps require a minimum age of 6 for game drives; some set this at 8 or 12. For gorilla trekking, the minimum age is 15. Private conservancy camps are the most family-friendly option. We select properties suited to families with young children and brief guides on the group beforehand.

Absolutely. A game drive requires no physical exertion — you sit in a comfortable 4x4 while your guide drives. The safari day suits a relaxed pace very well. Walking safaris and gorilla trekking can simply be left out if preferred. Many of our most loyal returning clients are in their 60s and 70s.

For serious photographers: a camera body with a 400mm+ telephoto lens, spare batteries, large memory cards, and a beanbag for resting on the vehicle door. For everyone else: a bridge camera with a long optical zoom or a mirrorless with a 100–400mm lens covers most situations well. Modern smartphones are fine for general shots and video. Whatever you bring, test it before you travel.

We work with guides certified by the Tourism Regulatory Authority and the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association (KPSGA). Beyond certification, we prioritise guides with years of experience in the specific areas they cover. For specialist safaris, we match guides with relevant expertise and brief them on your group in advance.

Yes. We offer a pre-departure call covering your itinerary, what to pack, health and visa requirements, what to expect at each property, tipping, and any questions you have. We also provide a written pre-departure information pack with your travel documents.

Yes. If you have travelled with us before and want the same guide, we will do our best to arrange it. For new clients, we brief the camp on your interests so they assign the most suitable guide. All our safaris use private vehicles — you are not sharing with other guests. Vehicle-specific requests can be accommodated with advance notice.

Tipping is customary and genuinely meaningful to safari staff. Budget approximately USD $20 per room per day, split between your guide (tipped directly) and the camp team (via a tip box at reception): Safari guide: USD $10–20 per person per day; Camp staff: USD $5–10 per guest per day via tip box; Gorilla trek porter: USD $10–20 per trek. Tip in cash — USD or local currency. Bring clean post-2008 USD notes in small denominations.