The Ultimate Guide to Family Vacation in Kenya

Kenya is a fascinating country to explore. It offers an African safari experience that is steeped in history and lauded with generous natural beauty. A family vacation in Kenya should be the trip of a lifetime. This is because Kenya is enticingly diverse and offers a multitude of amazing spots.

From breathtaking sandy beaches to the great rift valley, a snow-capped mountain, lush plains, beautiful, harsh arid deserts and impossibly rich savannahs dotted with wildlife, the number of fun things to do and see during a safari in Kenya is seemingly endless.

Contact Us to Book Your Family Vacation in Kenya

You can book your family safari with one of the best travel agencies in Kenya. Book your stay now by sending us an email at  james@ajkenyasafaris.com or safarioffers@ajkenyasafaris.com.  You can also call or WhatsApp us at +254-748-258-880.

Our Most Booked Kenya Safari Packages and Family Tours

Our Top Tours for 2023/24

Price Per Adult Sharing 

The Detailed Itinerary 

3-DAY LUXURY 2024 MIGRATION TOUR 

FROM USD 2845

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5-DAY MIGRATION SAFARI 2024

FROM USD 1655

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4-Day Mombasa Valentine Getaway 2024

From USD 2180

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3-Day Amboseli Safari 

From USD 734

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1-Day Nairobi National Park & Giraffe Center Tour

From USD 119 

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1-Day Nairobi National Park & Nairobi Animal Orphanage Tour

From USD 34

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12-Day Kenya Wildlife & Beach Safari 

From USD 4216

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18-Day Kenya Family Safari 

From USD 5849

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2-Day Hell’s Gate & Lake Nakuru Safari 

From USD 507

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3-Day Huduma Day Safari to Masai Mara 

From USD 950

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3-Day Masai Mara Camp Packages – 2024

From USD 985

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3-Day Masai Mara Christmas Packages 

From USD 1010

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3-Day Masai Mara Easter Packages – 2024

From USD 1035

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3-Day Masai Mara Festive  Packages 

From USD 1315

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3-Day Masai Mara Lodge Safari

From USD 995

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3-Day Masai Mara Packages 

From USD 955

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3-Day Masai Mara Packages from Nairobi – 2024

From USD 990

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3-Day Masai Mara Safari 

From USD 954

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3-Day Ol Pejeta Easter Safari

From USD 1175

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4-Day Africa Migration Masai Mara Packages 

From USD 1360

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4-Day L. Naivasha & Masai Mara Easter Safari

From USD 1249

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5-Day Tsavo & Diani Safari 

From USD 1606

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4-Day L. Naivasha & Masai Mara Safari

From USD 1174

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4-Day L. Nakuru & Masai Mara Safari

From USD 1162

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4-Day Masai Mara Camp Packages 

From USD 1195

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4-Day Masai Mara Easter Packages – 2024

From USD 1300

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4-Day Masai Mara Migration Packages – 2024

From USD 2490

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4-Day Mombasa & Diani Safari 

From USD 937

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4-Day Mombasa & Diani Valentine Safari – 2024

At USD 1541

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5-Day Flying Safari to Masai Mara & Ol Pejeta Conservancy

From USD 3777

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6-Day Kenya Wildlife Safari from India 

From USD 1730

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7-Day Kenya Christmas Safari

At USD 3093

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7-Day Kenya Wildlife Safari

From USD 1884

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8-Day Kenya Wildlife Safari 

From USD 4413

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8-Day Wildlife & Beach Safari

From USD 1585

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Best Places to Visit in Kenya with Family

Here are fascinating places in Kenya that offer unequaled opportunities for off-the-chart family vacations and opportunities to unwind the African way.

Masai Mara National Reserve – Catch the Big 5 in Action

Kenya is simply the world’s magnificent wildlife safari destination and home to some of the highest most diverse populations of wildlife on earth. Masai Mara National Reserve, perhaps the best-known reserve in the world, is the best place for you and your kids to get close to the wild.

Teaming with the big five – lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros as well as other amazing animal species, the iconic Masai Mara is a constant source of entertainment for families. A visit to Masai Mara is the family vacation that will go down in history books.

If your kids are animal lovers, the rolling greens of Masai Mara offer youngsters the definitive ‘Lion King’ territory. Game drives are a constant source of entertainment, and your kids will love spotting the incredible array of wildlife Mara has to offer.

The game of ‘I SPY’ will never be the same again as they search the horizon to spot a pride of a lion or a cheetah family. Other than nature and the wonderful wildlife, Masai Mara is also the setting of the greatest migration on earth.

Mara offers a real-life African adventure that you and your kids will ever enjoy together. Nothing beats the experience of a Masai Mara family vacation. Masai Mara National Reserve highlights include:

  • Game viewing
  • Spot the big five
  • Hiking (for kids above 12) and river swimming
  • Tracking animal spoor across the plain
  • Visit a Masai Village/ dance with the Maasai
  • Splurge on a hot air balloon ride
Family vacation in Kenya - wildebeest crossing
Wildebeest Crossing River Mara During the Annual Migration

Family Vacation in Masai Mara – Where to Stay

The Masai Mara is home to a wide array of family friendly hotels in Kenya that make a sensible choice for families with children. Mara Serena Safari Lodge and Mara Intrepids, located inside the reserve are often perfect for families looking for shorter game drives as well as all the facilities a bigger lodge has to offer.

Other than being located strategically at the heart of the Masai Mara National Reserve, Mara Intrepids it’s well known for its enthusiasm towards hosting families. It’s fully equipped with large family tents, kids Adventurer’s Clubs, swimming pool and friendly service.

Camps such as Mara Springs Tented Camp, Speke’s Camp and Gamewatchers Adventure Camp offer excellent values for families and the best children’s discounts while sacrificing nothing in terms of wildlife and wilderness ambiance. Kichwa Tembo camp offers a great location for wildlife spotting, friendly service and a pool area that your family will appreciate.

While no camp covers every category, other camps/lodges suitable for a family vacation in the Masai Mara include; Kicheche Mara and Karen Blixen Camp.

The Masai Mara National Reserve is approximately a 5 hours’ drive from Nairobi. Although the roads are a little bumpy, the rural life and scenery en route provide a useful distraction for tired kids. Alternatively, short 50-minute flights are available at an increased cost.

Basecamp Masai Mara - AjKenyaSafaris.com
Basecamp Masai Mara - Tented Camp

Southern Rift Valley – Enjoy the Best Views of the World

The geological force almost separated Africa into two, creating one of the most serene landscapes in the world. The Great Rift Valley is a beauty to behold. A southern rift valley is a leading tourist attraction and one of the fascinating places for family holiday in Kenya.

It’s here that you will find anything from volcanic mountains, forests, wildlife and some of the largest, deepest and oldest lakes in the world. You can expect nothing short of stunning views and many photo-worthy panoramas that your family will appreciate for eternity.

Dipping all the way from Nairobi to Nakuru, the better roads, scenic variety and child-friendly parks, the Rift valley ensures pleasant weather almost all year-round. This makes it the best overall part of inland Kenya for small kids.

The great rift valley is among the best places to go on vacation in kenya and its highlights include: 

  • Visit Lake Nakuru National Park to see the shadow soda lake that attracts thousands of flamingos to its shores creating an extraordinary pink hue over the shimmering waters.
  • Bird watching (over 460 bird species) in Lake Nauru
  • Bird and hippo sighting in Kenya’s most beautiful freshwater lake – Lake Naivasha
  • Visit one of Kenya’s best rhino sanctuaries, Lake Nakuru National Park
  • Trip to Hell’s Gate National Park to witness interesting geology and steam geysers
  • Visit Lake Bogoria famed for its fabulous reflections of the Laikipia escarpment
  • Visit Lake Baringo with its hippos, crocodiles and fish eagles
Enjoying a family vacation in Kenya - giraffe
Feeding a Giraffe During a Family Tour in Kenya

Family Holiday in the Great Rift Valley – Where to Stay

The Southern Rift Valley has a range of lodges and small camps tailored to guarantee comfort for your whole family. They include, but not limited to:

  • Lake Nakuru Lodge
  • Lake Naivasha Crescent Camp
  • The Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort
  • Jacaranda Lake Elementaita Lodge
  • Mbweha Camp in Nakuru
  • Sweet Lake Resort in Naivasha
  • Kiboko Luxury Camp

Other than fascinating wildlife and geological features, the Great Rift Valleys come nothing short of great resorts, lodges, and hotels that are the perfect family setting.

Mbweha camp swimming pool
Swimming Pool at Mbweha Camp Nakuru

Family Vacation in Kenya– Sunbathe in Kenya’s Extensive White Sand Beaches

A short 50-minutes flight from the capital city of Kenya brings your family to a little slice of paradise that is Mombasa and Diani beach, both located along the Kenyan coast. Here you will find some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, which prove that the coastal area may simply be the best for a family vacation in Kenya.

The glorious sandy beaches of the Indian Ocean offer one of the most memorable family vacations in Kenya that you will treasure forever. There is something about the languid pace of life on the Kenyan coast that seems perfect for a family vacation.

Located on the southern coast, Diani Beach is the ideal family getaway at its finest and has loads to offer the youngsters. The white sandy beach is a sure-fire way to keep the kids happy. To the north is Malindi, a rustic historic town lying on a stretch of pristine beaches that offers fun activities such as forest walks and boat trips through mangrove swamps.

A visit to Malindi Marine National Park, Malindi is a must, especially when on a family vacation. Here you will find all sorts of kid-friendly activities such as snookering trips/lessons, glass-bottom boat rides, spot whale sharks, green turtles and so much more.

The Kenyan coats highlights include:

  • Watersports
  • Snorkeling
  • Day cruises to Marine Parks
  • Boat Rides
  • Fishing in the Indian ocean
  • Visit Mamba Village – East Africa’s largest crocodile farm
  • See dolphins
  • Visit ancient Swahili villages
  • ‘Bucket and spade’ is fun on the beach.
Family tour in Kenya - Diani
Family Vacation in Kenya - Diani Beach in Kenya

Diani Beach - Where to Stay

The Kenyan coast is very popular for a family vacation in Kenya due to the numerous all-inclusive and family friendly beach resorts. The Baobab Beach Resort and Spa located on the white sandy Diani Beach is an impressive all-inclusive resort that offers a kids’ club with many fun animators to keep your children busy.

Voyager Beach Resort is famous for many family vacations in Kenya especially due to family entertainments and animations and proximity to some attractions like crocodile farm and Haller Park. The resort also offers free accommodation for children from time to time.

Other than occupying 200 meters of pure white sandy beach in Watamu, Turtle Bay Beach Club gets credit for being the first all-inclusive resort in Kenya.

Your family can enjoy a vacation on one of the best beaches in the world, a number of water sports and an abundance of marine life. Neptune Paradise Beach Resort & Spa located on Diani beach is also an all-inclusive resort that constantly offers free accommodation for children, special entertainment as well as a kids-only pool and kids’ club to keep the children busy.

Your family can also enjoy their stay at the all-inclusive Southern Palms Beach Resort that has one of the longest swimming pools in Africa. Other all-inclusive resorts Medina Palms, PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort, The Majlis Resort among others.

Alternatively, the Kenyan coast has numerous slightly smaller family-run establishments (still with that all-important pool and located near the coastline) which are great for a family vacation in Kenya.

Kenya has a lot to offer for a family vacation. Although it’s not one clothing-fits all situation, there is always something for everyone. So, go ahead and spoil your family safari in Kenya, and your family will forever thank you for it.