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Where we send people

Nineteen places.
Pick the one you are ready for.

Nairobi is where we are, not where we go. What follows is the whole catalogue as it actually looks — one photograph of each place, one honest line about what it is really for, and the four facts that decide whether it fits: how high, which months, how you get there, how long to stay.

Places
19
Countries
11
Regions
13
Departing
Nairobi
canvas
Drag to turn · arrow keys when focused · 19 of 19 facing Land is drawn as a lattice of real coastlines at 1:110 m — Natural Earth, public domain — sampled on the sphere and lit as a physical object. Positions are plotted from real coordinates. Read it as an instrument, not as a chart: no scale bar, no borders, no navigational claim. The furthest place we book is 7,455 km from Nairobi in a straight line.
The map is the index

Turn the globe, or name a place. Every one of the nineteen is below with its own photograph, its own advice, and the four facts that decide whether it fits.

Hover a pin · or pick one from the row

All nineteen, by name

Start from what you need

Not sure which of nineteen suits you? Start here instead of with the map. Nothing is removed — the page just reorders your attention.

Filter by what you are after

Open savanna in the Maasai Mara, a lone acacia on the horizon 01 Kenya Maasai Mara The migration is the headline. The cats, the private conservancies and the space between vehicles are the real story. 1,500–1,650 m Jul–Oct, Jan–Mar 3–4 nights See Maasai Mara

Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 4.0

The home ground

Nine places in Kenya

What we know best, and what most families come for. Everything here is reachable from Nairobi without a long-haul flight.

Southern Kenya 2 places

  1. An adult elephant and a calf grazing the green plains of Amboseli 02 Kenya Amboseli Everything here resolves into one photograph: elephants, swamp, and Kilimanjaro on a clear morning. PhotographersShort safariFamilies
    Alt
    1,150–1,200 m
    Best
    Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb
    Access
    4 h drive · 45 min flight
    Stay
    2–3 nights
    See Amboseli

    Photograph: Ray in Manila · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

  2. A red-dusted elephant in the dry country of Tsavo 09 Kenya Tsavo The natural hinge between safari and coast — red elephants sitting directly on the Nairobi–Mombasa road. Road tripsFamily safariPairing with Diani
    Alt
    300–1,000 m
    Best
    Jun–Oct
    Access
    4–5 h drive · 45 min flight
    Stay
    2–3 nights
    See Tsavo

    Photograph: Rob Oo from NL · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Northern Kenya 2 places

  1. The Ewaso Ngiro river running through Samburu National Reserve 03 Kenya Samburu The Kenya that never makes television — four species that live nowhere in the south, and almost no other vehicles. Return visitorsCulturePhotographers
    Alt
    800–1,200 m
    Best
    Jun–Oct, Dec–Mar
    Access
    5 h drive · 1 h flight
    Stay
    2–3 nights
    See Samburu

    Photograph: Panegyrics of Granovetter · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

  2. The wide, shallow water of Lake Turkana, the far shore on the horizon 08 Kenya Lake Turkana Not a first safari. The most remote water on this list, and the cradle of the human story. Return visitorsArchaeologyOff-grid
    Alt
    360 m
    Best
    Jun–Sep
    Access
    1.5 h flight to Lodwar
    Stay
    3–5 nights
    See Lake Turkana

Rift Valley & Narok 1 place

  1. Flamingos massed along the shore of Lake Nakuru 04 Kenya Lake Nakuru Not wilderness, and it does not pretend to be. It is the best rhino insurance in the country and the easiest night to add. One-night stopRhinoFamilies
    Alt
    1,750 m
    Best
    Year-round
    Access
    2.5 h drive
    Stay
    1–2 nights
    See Lake Nakuru

    Photograph: Bett Duncan · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Central Highlands 1 place

  1. The glaciated peaks of Mount Kenya 05 Kenya Mount Kenya Almost nobody climbs it. The part worth having is the forest belt and the highland farms above 2,000 m. WalkersCool escapeActive families
    Alt
    1,600–5,199 m
    Best
    Jan–Feb, Aug–Sep
    Access
    3 h drive
    Stay
    2–4 nights
    See Mount Kenya

The Coast 2 places

  1. White sand and shallow water at Diani Beach 06 Kenya Diani Beach The recovery stop: white sand, warm water and reef, one hour from Nairobi. Beach finishFamiliesDiving
    Alt
    Sea level
    Best
    Dec–Mar, Jul–Oct
    Access
    1 h flight to Ukunda · 8 h drive
    Stay
    4–7 nights
    See Diani Beach

    Photograph: Lebu Ayiga · CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

  2. A procession along the seafront at Lamu Old Town 07 Kenya Lamu A town with no cars, where the transport is a dhow and the pace is the entire attraction. CouplesCultureSlow travel
    Alt
    Sea level
    Best
    Jun–Oct, Dec–Mar
    Access
    1.5 h flight
    Stay
    3–5 nights
    See Lamu

    Photograph: Halfnhav4 · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Beyond Kenya

Ten places we ticket, visa and book

The other half of the business: the Gulf, Asia, Europe, Southern and North Africa, and the Indian Ocean. Nairobi is the departure point, not the subject.

East Africa 1 place

  1. The white sand and turquoise water of Nungwi, Zanzibar 10 Tanzania Zanzibar The shortest long-haul swim there is: a safari finish that costs you no jet lag. Beach finishHoneymoonFamilies
    Alt
    Sea level
    Best
    Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb
    Access
    Direct from Nairobi
    Stay
    3–5 nights
    See Zanzibar

    Photograph: Kamusiyakitaa · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Southern Africa 1 place

  1. The Cape Town city bowl and the sea, seen from the slopes of Table Mountain 11 South Africa Cape Town The city that answers every brief — holiday, conference, honeymoon or incentive — and pairs with a safari. City and wineIncentivesHoneymoon
    Alt
    0–300 m
    Best
    Nov–Mar
    Access
    Direct, or one stop via Johannesburg
    Stay
    5–7 nights
    See Cape Town

    Photograph: Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Middle East 1 place

  1. The towers of Dubai Marina at dusk 12 United Arab Emirates Dubai Two products in one: the stopover that breaks a long haul, and a short holiday that children actually love. StopoverFamiliesCorporate
    Alt
    5–40 m
    Best
    Oct–Mar
    Access
    Direct from Nairobi
    Stay
    3–5 nights
    See Dubai

    Photograph: Norlando Pobre · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

North Africa 1 place

  1. The pyramids on the Giza plateau outside Cairo 13 Egypt Cairo & the Nile The closest ancient world to Nairobi, and the least expensive way to stand in front of a wonder. WondersTeenagersSchool groups
    Alt
    23 m
    Best
    Oct–Apr
    Access
    Direct from Nairobi
    Stay
    4–7 nights
    See Cairo & the Nile

    Photograph: Chloekwak · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Europe & Eurasia 2 places

  1. The Istanbul skyline from the Galata Tower, with Topkapi Palace 14 Türkiye Istanbul Dense enough to walk: the whole historic peninsula on foot, and the strongest city break we sell. CouplesCity breakShopping
    Alt
    40 m
    Best
    Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov
    Access
    Direct from Nairobi
    Stay
    4–5 nights
    See Istanbul

    Photograph: Moonik · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

  2. Tower Bridge over the Thames in London 19 United Kingdom London & the UK Less tourism than you would expect: family visits, university runs, school trips and medical referrals. Family visitsStudentsVisa support
    Alt
    11 m
    Best
    May–Sep
    Access
    Direct from Nairobi
    Stay
    5–10 nights
    See London & the UK

    Photograph: Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

South Asia 1 place

  1. The Gateway of India on the Mumbai waterfront 15 India Mumbai & Goa Mostly a working destination for us — direct flights, a large business community, and a great deal of medical travel. BusinessMedical travelGolden Triangle
    Alt
    14 m
    Best
    Nov–Feb
    Access
    Direct to Mumbai
    Stay
    4–6 nights
    See Mumbai & Goa

    Photograph: Gannu03 · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

South-East Asia 2 places

  1. Gilded spires at the Grand Palace in Bangkok 16 Thailand Bangkok & Thailand The most holiday per shilling on this list, and the easiest long-haul trip to get right. FamiliesHoneymoonValue
    Alt
    1.5 m
    Best
    Nov–Feb
    Access
    Direct, or one stop via the Gulf
    Stay
    5–8 nights
    See Bangkok & Thailand

    Photograph: Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

  2. The Marina Bay skyline at night in Singapore 17 Singapore Singapore The least stressful long-haul city with children: small, safe, punctual and English-speaking. Young familiesFirst long haulBusiness and family
    Alt
    15 m
    Best
    Feb–Apr
    Access
    One stop via the Gulf or Addis
    Stay
    3–5 nights
    See Singapore

    Photograph: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Indian Ocean 1 place

  1. A Maldivian atoll seen from the air 18 Maldives Maldives Not a country you tour but a resort you choose. The work is picking the right island for your dates. HoneymoonDivingOverwater
    Alt
    Sea level
    Best
    Nov–Apr
    Access
    One stop via the Gulf or Colombo
    Stay
    4–7 nights
    See Maldives

    Photograph: Matheenfaiz · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Nineteen places, and every one of them built as a trip rather than sold as a package. Tell us the dates and the people and we will tell you which of these is the right one — including when the answer is none of them.

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