Kenya Family Safari

Few cities can claim to be home to endangered black rhinos, lions, giraffes and zebras, but Nairobi National Park is just half an hour from the center of this fun, fast-growing capital. Not only can travellers take a safari with a backdrop of skyscrapers and find the history of these creatures in Nairobi National Museum, but there’s also a thriving community of artists, musicians, party-starters and trend-setters that populate the independent shops and DJ booths around town. 

Between Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Range, Ol Pejeta is a private not-for-profit conservancy that plays a crucial role in Kenya’s conservation efforts. It’s the last refuge of the northern white rhino, of which only two remain in the world: Najin and her daughter, Fatu. Lions, cheetahs, leopards, wild dog, zebra, hippo and hartebeest roam the 90,000 acres.

Since its inception in 1983, Lewa has been a haven for endangered black rhinos, and now counts 248 of the beasts in its bounds, a remarkable increase from the initial 15. A significant proportion of its revenue is also invested into local community projects. Lewa is a private reserve, meaning guests have exclusive access to spotting the rhinos, lions, zebras and elephants that call the conservancy home, and can bed down in elegant lodges with breathtaking views of the powder-pink sunsets that bloom over the plains.

Bordering Tanzania in Kenya’s southwest, Masai Mara is named after its ancestral inhabitants and the dotted appearance of its acacia-studded plains. Its golden savannahs, riverine forests, low-lying mountains and sheer cliff are best known for hosting one of the most extraordinary events on the globe: the Great Migration, in which over two million wildebeest and zebra arrive from the southern Serengeti between June and November. Year-round, though, the reserve supports a range of wildlife from hippos, crocs, lions and hyena to elephants and eagles.