Places to go for family safaris in Kenya

Kenya is East Africa’s best destination for family travels with a wider scope of family friendly lodges and most of the major attractions situated 1- 6 hrs drive from the major airports.

Importantly, most destinations in Kenya have a variety of age specific activities to enhance the experience for all. In this guide we will share some of the attractions that best fit a family   safari in Kenya.

1.   Nairobi National park

Nairobi National park is Kenya’s best destination for family safaris. Set inside Nairobi city, tourists seeking this accommodation has the widest scope of family friendly accommodations to choose. The park is also the only major attraction in the country that is less than an hour drive from Nairobi Airport the leading Airport for international travels.

Wildebeest, grant gazelles, common elands, giraffes and zebra are the most common wildlife varieties that you can sight within the first few minutes of game drive. Other wildlife include buffaloes, hyenas, lions and cheetah. The Nairobi safari walk/ orphanage one of the most captivating places for kids is situated nearby. Giraffe manor situated just 40 minutes drive from the park offer the best family accommodation near Nairobi National park The facility offer family groups unsurpassed opportunity to bond as they create memories in feeding the world tallest animals, giraffes, that quiescently sneak in their heads into the rooms through the window. Other family accommodations in Nairobi include Timarind tree hotel,Villa Rosa Kempinksi, hemmingsways Nairobi and Fairmont the Norfolk.

2.   Masai Mara

This is Kenya’s most popular destination famed for the dramatic river crossing event. Masai Marafits the second place for family safari in Kenya for having widest selection of family friendly accommodations outside major cities. The park is located 5 hrs drive from Nairobi Airport which is still manageable for kids to stay held on a vehicle seat. You can also access the park through one of 10 Airstrips that connect to both Nairobi and Mombasa. Here family  safari leads to unending game scenes, exciting landscape and one of Africa’s best kept traditional culture. Some accommodations have special activities for children placing them at the center of the whole experience. Mara serena lodge is the best family accommodation Masai Mara due to its strategic location in the mara triangle game hotspot and a unique set of kid activities. Other facilities include Sarova Mara, Kicheche Mara camp, samctuary Olonana and Governors private camp.

3.   Amboseli

The park in southern kenya boast the most outstanding view of Mt Kilimanjaro the highest peak in Africa and one of kenya’s iconic wildlife. The park is also a home to the famous kili elephants that have features in a number of African jungle films. It takes approximately 4 hours driving from Nairobi Airport to the nearest gate in Amboseli. The park is the second most sought after Masai Mara. Here, Amboseli Serena lodge is the best accommodation for

families offering family bush walk excursions, kids activities and others. Other family facilities are Ol tukai lodge and Ol Donyo lodge

4.   Lake Naivasha

Though lake Naivasha is not a popular game viewing spot, its incredible birds scenes and proximity to other major sceneries makes it a great location to stay while on family safari. Some of the closeby attractions include hells gate, crescent island and lake oloiden. You can as well access Lake Nakuru( 2 hrs) Lake Elementaita( 1 hr), Lake Bogoria (4 hrs) and Mt longonot (43 min) while staying in Naivasha.The destination is situated just 2 hrs drive from Nairobi Airport has one of the widest selection of family accommodations in Kenya Enashipai resort and spa is our best family lodge in Naivasha offering an incredible luxury stay for the family. The facility has a gaming room where the kids remain engrossed while the parents are ut for other activities.Others include Naivasha Kongono Lodge, Sawela Lodge, Lake Naivasha resort, and Chui Lodge Oserian.

5.   Lake Nakuru

The salty water lake is famed for hosting one of the worlds largest flamingo concentrates. The lake park is also an outstanding game destinations especially for rhinos. The small park is situated just 3.5 hrs from Nairobi Airport. Here,Mbweha camp is the most ideal facility for families offering a completely exclusive stay at the heart of a secluded private wilderness. Notably, the lake parks proximity to Nakuru town one of the major urban in Kenya offers families a wider scope of poctet friendly family options like Lake Nakuru lodge, eagle palace and sarova woodlands.

6.   Ol pejeta

This is one of the Laikipia conservancies boasting one of the best quality game view outside Masai Mara. The conservancies is one of the few places in Kenya where you are guaranteed of sighting both black and white rhinos all round the year. Here families can engage in joint activities like open sided safaris, bush walking, riding safaris and lion tracking. The sweetwater serena camp is the best accommodation for family safaris especially for young couples with kids. Besides bush activities children at sweetwaters are treated to exclusive experiences like archery, water colour painting, watching wildlife movie and bird walks.

7.   Tsavo West

The park is situated slightly over 250 km when approached from both Nairobi and Mombasa Airports. Unlike most of the parks in Kenya which majorly encompasses open savannah plains, Tsavo west is largely iconic bushvelds that inspire unparralled bush vibe.The park also has a unique set of sceneries ranging from beautiful lava flows and volcanoes, spellbinding springs and scenic crater lakes. Tsavo west host wildlife like elephant, leopards, lions, kudus and zebra. Here families can enjoy unmatched bush experience engaging in nature trails, game drives, rhino tracking and boat excursions. Kilanguni serena lodge is the best choice for family safaris and offers children specific activities like Aerobics and bicycle riding, cooking lessons and Masai dances.

8.   Aberdare

The aberdare is one of kenya’s most outstanding destinations featuring some iconic wildlife and dramatic montane vegetation and landscape. Aberdare country club set out 3 hrs drive from Nairobi is the best family facility in aberdare offering families joint excursions like game drives, bush lunch/candle lit dinner, riding safaris and bush walks. Children has programs like fishing, playing tennis, face painting and tree planting. The sanctuary host wildlife like elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, and leopards.

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Keywords: family safaris in Kenya, family safaris, Masai Mara