This interactive map of Kenya plots every major safari park, game reserve, conservancy and coastal escape, with verified sizes, driving distances from Nairobi and the best months to visit. Pan, zoom and tap any marker to see what lives there and how to reach it. Trunktrails Safaris built this as a real planning tool, not a static picture, so you can shape a route before you ever pick a date.
- Interactive map
- Kenya by region
- Detailed maps
- Parks & reserves
- Cross-border parks
- Distances from Nairobi
- Getting around
- FAQ
Interactive map of Kenya’s safari destinations
Kenya sits on the equator in East Africa, bordered by Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, South Sudan and Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the northeast, and the Indian Ocean to the southeast. The shaded areas are real park boundaries drawn to scale; smaller sites are shown as pins. Everything is colour-coded by type. Major parks in neighbouring Tanzania and Uganda, including the Serengeti that joins the Mara into one ecosystem, are drawn in green for anyone planning a cross-border safari. Use the layer control in the top right to switch each group on or off.
Park boundaries from OpenStreetMap contributors and from the World Database on Protected Areas (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN, Protected Planet, protectedplanet.net), simplified for display; basemap © CARTO. Sizes and distances verified against KWS, official park sites and Wikipedia. Drive times are typical, not guaranteed, and vary with road and weather conditions.
Kenya by region
Kenya’s safari country splits into a handful of natural circuits. Most tours and safaris combine two or three that sit close together, which keeps driving sensible and the scenery changing.
Southern Kenya: Amboseli and Tsavo
Elephants beneath Kilimanjaro at Amboseli, then the vast red-earth wilderness of Tsavo East and Tsavo West, Kenya’s largest protected complex. Easy to pair with a Mombasa beach finish.
The Maasai Mara and the southwest
The Mara is Kenya’s flagship. Big cats year-round and the wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River roughly July to October. Surrounding conservancies add quieter, low-vehicle game viewing. See the detailed map of the Maasai Mara with every gate and airstrip.
The Rift Valley lakes
A chain of soda and freshwater lakes within easy reach of Nairobi: flamingos and rhino at Lake Nakuru, hippos at Naivasha, walking and cycling among the wildlife at Hell’s Gate.
Central highlands and Mount Kenya
Cool forested slopes, tree-lodge game viewing in the Aberdares, and Africa’s second-highest peak. A scenic gateway north toward Laikipia.
Laikipia and the Samburu north
Private conservancies such as Ol Pejeta and Lewa protect black and white rhino, while Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba hold the dry-country “Special Five” you find almost nowhere else.
The coast
Indian Ocean reefs at Watamu and Malindi, the white sand of Diani, and the sable antelope of Shimba Hills, the one place in Kenya you can see them.
Detailed maps
Zoom into any region with these detailed maps, each with park boundaries, airstrips and roads:
- Map of the Maasai Mara and the wildebeest migration map
- Map of Amboseli and map of Tsavo
- Map of Samburu and the Rift Valley lakes map
- Kenya national parks map and the best time to visit guide
- Route maps: Nairobi to the Maasai Mara and Nairobi to Amboseli
- Quick answers: where is the Maasai Mara and where is Kenya
Kenya national parks and reserves at a glance
Every destination on the map, with the figures that actually shape a trip. Sizes are official areas; distances and flight times are measured from Nairobi unless the coast is noted.
| Park / Reserve | Region | Size (km²) | From Nairobi | Drive | Signature wildlife | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maasai Mara National Reserve | Southwest | 1,510 | 270 km | 5-6 hr | Big Five, wildebeest migration | Jul-Oct |
| Amboseli National Park | South | 392 | 240 km | 4 hr | Elephant, Kilimanjaro views | Jun-Oct, Jan-Feb |
| Tsavo East National Park | South | 13,747 | 325 km | 6-8 hr | Red elephant, lion | Jun-Oct |
| Tsavo West National Park | South | 9,065 | 232 km | 4-6 hr | Black rhino, Mzima Springs | Jun-Aug |
| Lake Nakuru National Park | Rift Valley | 188 | 163 km | 2.5 hr | Rhino, flamingo, lion | Year-round |
| Lake Naivasha | Rift Valley | 150 (lake) | 90 km | 1.5-2 hr | Hippo, Crescent Island | Year-round |
| Hell’s Gate National Park | Rift Valley | 68 | 100 km | 2 hr | Gorge, walking and cycling | Year-round |
| Lake Bogoria National Reserve | Rift Valley | 34 (lake) | 250 km | 5 hr | Flamingo, hot springs | Year-round |
| Aberdare National Park | Central | 767 | 100 km | 2.5 hr | Elephant, bongo, tree lodges | Jun-Oct, Jan-Feb |
| Mount Kenya National Park | Central | 715 | 180 km | 3.5-4 hr | Trekking, montane forest | Jan-Feb, Aug-Sep |
| Nairobi National Park | Central | 117 | 7 km | 30 min | Rhino, lion, city skyline | Year-round |
| Ol Pejeta Conservancy | Laikipia | 364 | 217 km | 4 hr | Last northern white rhinos, chimps | Year-round |
| Lewa Wildlife Conservancy | Laikipia | 250 | 250 km | 4 hr | Rhino, Grevy’s zebra | Year-round |
| Samburu National Reserve | North | 165 | 320 km | 6-7 hr | Special Five, elephant | Jun-Oct, Feb |
| Buffalo Springs National Reserve | North | 131 | 320 km | 6-7 hr | Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk | Jun-Oct |
| Shaba National Reserve | North | 239 | 325 km | 6-7 hr | Crocodile, oryx | Jun-Oct |
| Meru National Park | North | 870 | 350 km | 5-6 hr | Rhino sanctuary, “Born Free” country | Jun-Sep |
| Shimba Hills National Reserve | Coast | 193 | 33 km (Mombasa) | 1 hr | Sable antelope, Sheldrick Falls | Year-round |
| Watamu Marine National Park | Coast | ~10 | 140 km (Mombasa) | 2 hr | Coral reef, turtles | Oct-Apr |
| Diani Beach | Coast | 17 km of coastline | 30 km (Mombasa) | 1 hr | White sand, reef diving | Year-round |
Cross-border parks: Tanzania and Uganda
Many of our tours and safaris cross into the wider East African circuit. The Serengeti joins the Maasai Mara into a single migration ecosystem, so the two are best understood together. These neighbouring parks are drawn in green on the map above.
| Park | Country | Size (km²) | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serengeti National Park | Tanzania | 14,763 | Same migration ecosystem as the Mara; year-round plains game |
| Ngorongoro Conservation Area | Tanzania | 8,292 | The crater caldera, dense Big Five viewing |
| Kilimanjaro National Park | Tanzania | 1,688 | Africa’s highest peak, the backdrop to Amboseli |
| Tarangire National Park | Tanzania | 2,850 | Elephant herds and baobabs |
| Lake Manyara National Park | Tanzania | 330 | Tree-climbing lions, flamingos |
| Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | Uganda | 331 | Mountain gorilla trekking |
| Queen Elizabeth National Park | Uganda | 1,978 | Tree-climbing lions, Kazinga Channel |
| Murchison Falls National Park | Uganda | 3,840 | The Nile, big game, the falls |
Distances and travel times from Nairobi
Nairobi is the hub for almost every Kenyan safari. Wilson Airport handles light aircraft to the bush airstrips; Jomo Kenyatta International handles long-haul and coast flights. Here is how far the main destinations sit from the capital.
| Destination | Distance | By road | By air (Wilson) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi National Park | 7 km | 30 min | n/a |
| Lake Naivasha | 90 km | 1.5-2 hr | 20 min |
| Aberdare National Park | 100 km | 2.5 hr | 30 min |
| Hell’s Gate National Park | 100 km | 2 hr | 20 min |
| Lake Nakuru National Park | 163 km | 2.5 hr | 25 min |
| Mount Kenya National Park | 180 km | 3.5-4 hr | 40 min |
| Ol Pejeta Conservancy | 217 km | 4 hr | 45 min |
| Tsavo West National Park | 232 km | 4-6 hr | 50 min |
| Amboseli National Park | 240 km | 4 hr | 45 min |
| Lewa Wildlife Conservancy | 250 km | 4 hr | 45-60 min |
| Maasai Mara National Reserve | 270 km | 5-6 hr | 40-45 min |
| Samburu National Reserve | 320 km | 6-7 hr | 90 min |
| Tsavo East National Park (Voi) | 325 km | 6-8 hr | 60 min |
| Meru National Park | 350 km | 5-6 hr | 60 min |
Getting around Kenya
Two airports in Nairobi do the heavy lifting. Wilson Airport is the safari hub, with daily scheduled flights to bush airstrips at the Mara, Amboseli, Samburu, Tsavo, Laikipia and Meru, most of them 40 to 90 minutes. Jomo Kenyatta International (JKIA) handles international arrivals and the quick hop to Mombasa for the coast. The Standard Gauge Railway links Nairobi and Mombasa in about five hours if you prefer the ground route to the beach. For the classic circuits, a road safari in a pop-top 4×4 is still the most rewarding way to travel, and flying only the long legs keeps a two-week trip comfortable.
Map of Kenya: frequently asked questions
Where is the Maasai Mara on the map of Kenya?
The Maasai Mara National Reserve sits in the southwest of Kenya, on the Tanzanian border, about 270 km from Nairobi (a 5 to 6 hour drive, or a 40 to 45 minute flight from Wilson Airport). It joins Tanzania’s Serengeti to form one continuous ecosystem.
How far is Amboseli from Nairobi?
Amboseli National Park is roughly 240 km south of Nairobi, about a four-hour drive, or a 45-minute scheduled flight. It sits right at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro on the Tanzanian border.
Which is Kenya’s largest national park?
Tsavo East is the largest single park at 13,747 km². Combined with neighbouring Tsavo West (9,065 km²), the Tsavo complex covers around 22,000 km², the biggest protected area in Kenya.
What is the best region for a first safari?
For a first trip, most travellers pair the Maasai Mara for big cats and migration with either Amboseli for elephants and Kilimanjaro or Lake Nakuru for rhino and flamingos. All three are close to Nairobi and deliver the classic Big Five experience.
When is the wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara?
The herds typically cross from the Serengeti into the Mara between July and October, with the dramatic Mara River crossings most likely from August to September. Exact timing shifts each year with the rains. See our full wildebeest migration map for the month-by-month route.
Can I download the map of Kenya?
Yes. A high-resolution printable version is available on request, and the interactive map above works on any phone or laptop. Get in touch and we will send the print-ready file along with a suggested route.
Turn this map into a route
Trunktrails Safaris is a native Kenyan-owned operator, and we plan tours and safaris around exactly these parks every week. Tell us which markers caught your eye and we will build a realistic itinerary, with the right order, the right months and honest driving times.
WhatsApp +254 113 208888 | info@trunktrailssafaris.com
Request a quote
